Mingyu immediately stepped in, caught Lee Chang's arm by the wrist. He was deeply inconvenienced by his lack of magic in this moment, as there was nothing he could do about a reckless man with a knife except try to talk him out of it.

That was what magic did, he supposed. Corroded at all else until there was nothing left. Talk was all Mingyu had before, and it got him by just fine. Now—

He took in a deep breath.

"They are loose. This place had problems before you, it'll have problems after. You'll, what? Go back? Die so you don't have to look your mistake in the eye? Leave me here to fend for myself? What did I say about big heroic gestures?"