Ridley raised her eyebrows. Removed? she mouthed, assuming he meant his AI2. That was the one that prevented people from pulling magic from the environment.
Archer nodded. “But I had it put back a little while before I returned. I figured it was the safer option.”
“Good thing you did,” Ridley said, “considering you were arrested shortly after you got back.”
“Yes. Though the first time I returned, I didn’t have it. That was quite a risk.”
“Why’d you come back that time? Was it only because of the flash drive? And was that when you traveled through the wastelands?”
“Yes. And even though I have no magic of my own, I was fine. I did get tossed around a bit here and there, but as long as I remained calm and didn’t try to fight back I was always okay in the end. It was a challenge, of cours
