"Callie please!" Arthur groaned, "I've just been at the shop all day, cut me some slack."

"Up." She insisted. "You are cutting into my teaching time, and the dog will be back for his turn and he won't CARE if you've cut into my teaching time. If you have Excalibur, you have to learn to use it to defend yourself."

Hauling himself to his feet, Arthur sighed, picking up Excalibur from the corner. Callie positioned herself behind him, winding her arms around his, and repositioning his grip.

"Not that I don't appreciate all this Callie, but when are you gonna teach me how to attack? We've been here two months, and I'm still on defense with you."

"Attack won't be necessary. Just hold them off long enough and I'm sure your loyal guardian will maul your assailant to death." She muttered.

Arthur set the point of the sword against the ground and pinched the bridge of his nose. He could already feel a headache coming on. "Callie, it's getting old. It was old by day three. How long are you gonna be ragging on Mystery?"

"Until he's gone." She returned, releasing Arthur's arms. "Which I understand won't be happening. I'll co-exist in the same space with him, but not happily. Do not expect it of me."

Arthur set the sword back against the wall. "Lesson's cancelled today. I'm too tired to deal with either of you." He flopped back onto the mattress. "How's Vivi doing?"

"She has a great aptitude for magic." Callie drifted over to the sword and rested on top of it, draping herself over the hilt. "The books she inherited are worth their weight in gold. It's good she keeps them locked away."

Arthur nodded. The sole reason Vivi still kept the necklace that had cursed her line was because it doubled as the key to the cabinet that housed the ancient books. The cabinet couldn't be opened or closed without it, and fire-tests by Lewis suggested it was protected from tampering by several spells.

"What's she learning lately?"

"Shielding, neutralizing a curse, and solidifying her will against possession."

Arthur's head dropped back in exasperation. "All defensive maneuvers Callie. In the situations we've been in the last two months it would have been REALLY useful to be able to attack, why won't you teach those things?"

"You could have prevented quite a bit with just as many defensive measures." Callie's eyes narrowed. "Besides, the demon dog is more than happy to teach any form of destructive spell and offensive swordplay you please."

Arthur's eye twitched. "I don't believe you… You really think he's… fine, you know what, when he comes, you hide in the sword or whatever. You can be late to your lesson with Vivi, I'm getting so sick of this."

Frowning, Callie collected herself in the little blue gem set in the hilt, out of sight. With a groan, Arthur peeled out of his grease-spattered clothes and changed into clean, loose-fitting clothing. It had been an extra-grueling day at the shop, and he hadn't even gotten a chance to eat yet. He lay back on the mattress, his eyes dropping closed. He'd just rest a couple minutes until Mystery-

The smell of bacon snapped his eyes wide open. Mystery held a couple of slices under his nose, grinning. "I have to admit doing this is somewhat satisfying. Good boy." He dropped the bacon, snickering as Arthur grabbed it, shoving it in his mouth.

"Jerk." Arthur muttered. "You just get here?"

"Yes. Vivi's doing very well on her lessons."
"Oh yeah?" Arthur stood slowly. "What lessons are those?"

"Same as last time. Solidifying her will against possession. Neutralizing a curse. Basic shielding, that sort of thing."

"Mystery, she's gonna need to learn attack spells at some point."

"No she won't." Mystery chuckled. "You'll both be fine with basic defense. Now bring that sword up, I want to see if your blocking has improved."

"Callie get out here." Arthur growled.

Callie slowly swirled out of the hilt. Mystery bristled, his jaw clenching. "I thought you had left for your lesson with Vivi."

"I was asked to remain. I sense we are about to be lectured."

"Lectured isn't even the half of it!" Arthur threw out his hands. "Guys! What's your problem? Do you realize the only thing you two actually agree on is the one thing that's doing Vivi and me no good at all? We can't be on defense all our lives, what if something happens and neither of you is around?"

"That won't happen." They spoke simultaneously, their eyes meeting briefly.

"I'm not interested in taking that chance!" He plopped down on the mattress, pulling the covers up over his head. "Lesson's off for tonight. I'm not agreeing to learn anymore until I get an offensive lesson in there somewhere."

Mystery sighed heavily. "Sleep if you must then, you look too tired to take a lesson anyway. Before you drop off just know Lewis found a job for us tomorrow."

Arthur pulled down the covers slightly. "A ghost bust?" He asked, uncertainly.

"A very lucrative bust. Should allow us to find slightly more spacious quarters."

Arthur sighed, pulling the blankets back in place. "I really hope this one's better than my last two ghost encounters…"