[He falters, then smiles tightly. That was a clumsy slip of the tongue on his part, and in front of a human, no less.]

Must be.

After all, I'm an old bookseller. Without being granted at least a touch of the magic they use here [He glances down at the symbol on his tunic and gives it a light tug.] I'll be quite in trouble when it comes to any world-saving adventures.