As Kir hovered to a landing on the wall, Malz and Anko stared up at him. Bardoulf was shouting for the defenders to hold their fire as he landed, putting his wings away as he embraced Malz in a silent hug.
"What, no hug for me, big guy?" Anko frowned.
"It would probably burn you. I swallowed that mana gem he created." She pushed against Kir, who pulled her back into the hug, "You're squishing me!"
Anko complained, "Hey! That was my blood!"
"He offered it to me. Maybe it would have been more effective for you, but..." She thought for a moment. "Actually, I think it would have been much more effective for you. Ferro ate one made of his own blood, after all."
"So if I ate a mana crystal made of my own blood, it would give me a boost like Ferro?"
"Worst case scenario, it would explode you unless you're an archmaven."
"Come on! Ferro's a weaker mage than I am a maven!"
"He's evolved twice. Have you?"
