[b]"A bit like street magic, I suppose..."[/b] he answered Clarisse, not having thought if it in quite [i]that[/i] way before.  [b]"I guess it's toying a little with the variables of the Universe.  Tilting the odds in my favor."[/b] Magic seemed to be a very personal thing in this world. No two magicians seemed to practice magic in the same way, despite it being taught in academies.  He wondered if there were things he could lean from such places...or if there were things he could teach them.
  [b]"We did well against slow, unthinking monsters.  It was a good introduction to each other and our particular talents."[/b] he had to temper the nascent god's enthusiasm.  [b]"There are undoubtedly much greater challenges ahead of us.  Clarisse wouldn't be here if not."[/b]
  When the subject of their next step arose, he was willing to follow the possibly more challenging path; he was no stranger to risk, after all.[b]"Far be it from me to interfere with the whims of Fate."[/b] Samuel agreed. [b]"But she can be a fickle mistress at times. Beware her vicissitudes."[/b]