What Mages Do (Patreon)

Navette rooted about in her overcoat's pocket, and pulled out a well-worn, brass lighter with a symbol of some sort on it. She flicked it open with a practiced hand, thumbed the top, and a bright flame burst into existence. She crouched, holding the flame to the kindling she'd laid out until it began to catch. Then she stood, flicking the lighter shut and sliding it back into her pocket.

"It that magical?" asked Davies.

"What? No." Navette sounded surprised, but never paused as she began to build the campfire.

"Why not?"

That did make her pause, her deep brown eyes locking on Davies for a moment.

"Why in Providence would my lighter be magical?"

Davies stammered a bit. "Well, ah, I mean, um, because you're a mage, right? Isn't that what mages do? Isn't there a magical way to make fire?"

Navette went back to tending the fire, which was already crackling warmly.

"Davies you said you were, what, a shift manager?"

"Well, yeah." Davies was a bit defensive. "So what?"

"So," her voice was even and calm, "is there a way you could call the people who work for you, get them to bring you some kerosene and road flares, and then direct them into making a fire, later taking credit for it?"

"Well, sure" Davies said. "I could. But that'd be ridiculous. Why would I bother?"

"Because," Navette sounded amused, "that's what shift managers do, isn't it?"