Noah touches Gansey's cheek, and his hair, and he doesn't let his smile dim at the thought of being gone. He knew he would be. He knows that's what his future is back home. It isn't news and he isn't going to let it ruin this.

"It's different here," he says instead, trying to think of the best way to explain it. Himself and everything else. "Adam and Dorian-- he's like a wizard? Sort of like Gandalf. It sounds crazy. But anyway, they created a way to tie my soul to an object instead of the ley line, to keep me from decaying. This place is like a parallel universe and people come from all over."