"A gift?" Theo shoots the man an incredulous look. Forming fire out of thin air seems like far more than a gift. It makes him wonder what a present like that must demand from its wielder. What will he be expected to trade in return?

The mention of weapons leaves him feeling no more comfortable about this place. Theo clearly has no natural aptitude for the magic they're trying to teach him, but he's absolutely sure he'll be even worse with a sword. Or any other weapon, for that matter. He's spent enough time adjacent to firearms to know that's a kind of power he has no business trying to contain or control. Yet he's found himself in enough dangerous situations to understand the importance of keeping those who are competent at it close at hand.

"You find yourself using a sword often? Others have mentioned war. Is it that close to us here?"