[ It doesn't feel bad when Liem pulls away, exactly, except in the same way it always does when an attractive person moves away from him. But Matt has an uneasy sense that things have been left unsaid.

After "you sacrificed your hand," what else could there possibly be? ]

--Oh. [ If anything can distract him, though, it's a question about magic. Matt smiles faintly, and is quiet for a moment as he rolls the question over in his mind. ] It feels like ... using different muscles. But still ones that are a part of me, if that makes sense. [ Helping Gavial alleviate her discord had been a little different--more like the moment when he'd first harmonized. ] I think the big difference here is like, if I were back home and wanted to put up a protective ward over a neighborhood, I would've worked on it for an evening, maybe a few days. I'd've had to be sneaky putting it up, but it's still a longer time scale. [ He cants a little grin Liem's way. ] Less cardio.

[ As Matt regards him, scanning Liem's face, his bright expression fades to a more contemplative look. Almost apprehensive.

He glances briefly down to his hands. Gently tugs his sleeve back into place. ]

Are you sure that's it? [ he asks. ] I mean, if you had something else to say, I'm listening.