The Magician's Apprentice

by Kairos Fateweaver

The advantages of Elthin and his apprentice Lucine.

1. Chapter 1

'Book 1 - Prologue: Suppressed Power Awakens'

Black smoke and the choking fumes of burning wood coat the entrance to the Slums. Flames licked at the air, adding to the already suffocating heat of the surrounding desert, creating a perpetual volcanic atmosphere for those within the immediate area. The source of this inferno are the flaming ruins of a run-down abode. All that remains of this once-lived-in settlement are a few beams of charred wood and the charcoal remains of what was once a set of stairs. All the residents are presumed dead once the Magicians from the Local Guild arrive to douse the flames. A group of ten men, all dressed in the red, gold and black robes of the Magician's Guild, arrive moments after their summons. Most of these men appear aged and carry a sage-like aura with them, however, a handful of them are much younger. One of these younger men, a man in around his mid to late twenties with short red hair and green eyes, shows clear distaste for this section of the City. he has what can only be likened to a bag of smelling salts pushed against his nose as he inhales the aroma deeply, not wishing to take in the acrid scent of the Slums.

After a short while, the flames are soon douse, except for a single ball of fire in the middle of the House. This ball appears to be immune to the magics of the Guild Members as it continues to burn. The dome of fire, around five feet in diameter, slowly begins to fade away at the amazement of the Magicians. Inside the protective dome of fire was a young girl, with scarlet red hair, dressed in the brown rags of most Slum Dwellers. She appeared motionless, lifeless, even, as the older Magicians begin to go over to her to see if she's alive.

"She's a Witch! She should have burned with the house, the Heathen Scum!" The young man, with red hair, from earlier protests to the Older Magicians. "She's clearly the cause of this destruction!"

The older magicians remain silent, contemplating the occurrence of this strange phenomenon. The Young Man continues his protests, ignoring the silence of the Older Magicians for a while, before growing irritated from their lack of response. He then storms off back towards the Guild, leaving the remaining Nine Magicians to ponder this disaster.

Another young man in his earlier twenties stands aside. Watching as the black smoke rose into the clear blue sky with his black spiky hair and blue eyes. Looking upon the ruined building before him that had once been a home to the persons who had used to live there. He studied the events with a keen eye seeing as how a group of ten men arrived to douse the flames. He could feel the sage-like aura that his fellow Guild mates had. However while he himself had a similar aura about he wished to keep it hidden from others. Not wanting them to know who he was or really why she was here in the first place. That is why he kept to the shadows and was dressed in a flowing black cloak. That covered the clothes he was wearing beneath was also another reason as to why he had chosen to wear a cloak this day.

A short time later the flames were out, except for the single flame in the middle. Of the house, he studies this and wonders just why this only flame keeps on burning. He soon gets's his answer as the dome of fire soon fades away to reveal a young girl, with scarlet red hair and dressed in brown rags. She appeared motionless as the other Magicians headed towards her the young man with red hair spoke up. Calling her a witch as the other members of his group remained silent before storming back towards the Guild leaving the other nine magicians to think things over.

"That we clearly do not know there could have easier been another cause. For the flames that had burned down this dwelling," he stepped out from the shadows. Walking over to the other nine magicians once closer he knelt down on the ground on one knee. His cloak moving aside to reveal part of his black ithilmar armor he wore now one had to wonder. Just why a member of the Magicians Guild was wearing a suit of armor that was a question for another day.

"I must also point out that we don't know if she truly is a witch. Another member of her family could have been one and burn in the other flames. After having cast a spell to save this girl from harm for some reason" He pointed out.

With his right hand, he checked for a pulse and to see if the girl had any sort of injuries on her.

While the Older Magicians examined what they could of the remains of the dwelling to draw upon a conclusion, one of the more secretive Guild members arrived on the scene, giving his own interpretation to the situation.

"You've a keen eye, young man." The oldest Magician present answered. His voice sounded dried with age and his skin looked like old parchment. "The burn marks around this girl's shield appear to be coming from the street."

The magician indicated what he meant with a pointing of his cane. The direction of the burn marks did attest to that theory.

"It could be an attempted arson, or, more disturbingly, a Rogue Magician." The Elder Magician finished.

The Young man in armor checked the girl for a pulse. While it was weak, she still appeared to be alive. Most of the wounds on the girl had come from shrapnel of exploding lanterns and falling debris. She appeared to be clear of any burns or critical injuries. However, her skin felt as hot as a naked flame, but not enough to cause any real injuries. This could by why the other Magicians had not touched her, as of yet.

"The only abnormal thing about this disaster is the fact that the shield around the child had its center of origin where she currently lies." The Elder continued. "She could be a born Magician, or somehow came in possession of a Fire Stone."

While he was still checking out the girl one of the oldest Magician's spoke up. He looked over where the magician pointed out with his cane. In his line of work one needed a keen eye he studied the burn markings on the street.

"Could perhaps these markings been some sort of trap. Placed here with this girl's knowledge as you as they shielded her while doing the rest of the home harm. Maybe this has a far deeper meaning than we know about" he said.

While Rouge Magician's were a common threat in these parts of the country. It was this young man's job to find these magician's and either bring them too justice of kill them outright. "While it could be what you pointed out elder we won't know more until this area is further studied."

He went back to checking the girl she had wounds on her from the shrapnel of exploding. Lanterns and falling debris her skin was also hot to the touch. He was glad this girl hand no serious injuries on her. He stood back up and looked at the elder magician again then back at the area around the girl.

"Has something like this ever happened before?" he asked. Looking again once more with his eyes at the area around the girl.

The Young Man continued his investigation, while the magicians did their own.

From a once-over of the surrounding area, it appeared that, whatever caused the fire, was't an accident. There were no oil marks anywhere in the remains of the abode, and no indication that the fire started within the house, Whatever did this was thorough and methodical. Nearly all evidence was either burned up or lost to the exposure of the outside, save for some clear marks in the floor a little bit back from the girl. There were scratch marks, dents and chinks in the remaining wood, like a fight had broken out during the fire. Even more disturbingly, there was dried blood burned into the flooring as well. By the look of the sphere's area of effect, it was probably covering the Girl's family, and not just herself, however, only the girl remained. Had the rest of her family perished in the fire, or was there something far more sinister going on?

"The Slums are a dangerous place, Young Man. It is not uncommon for there to be random acts of unprovoked assault and wanton destruction happening." The Elder answered. "However, Rouge Magicians are indeed a threat as well."

The Elder checked over the girl as well once her skin had cooled a little.

"She could very well be orphaned, now." The Elder commented as he passed a hand over the girl a little ways away from her body. "She does, indeed, bare all the right qualities needed for a Magician. She was the one who made the Barrier. While the earlier accusation of Witchcraft may be the answer, I do not bare it in me to take the life of one so young. However, we cannot just let her run free and unprotected after this tragedy."

The Elder pushed himself up and regarded the Young Man.

"What, say, do you think should be done?" The Elder asked.

The young magician still looked around the area. From what he could tell was that it wasn't an accident that caused this what he also picked up was that there wasn't much other evidence to find as it had all been either burned up or lost to exposure. However when he looked closer he did see some marks on the remaining wood and the dried blood that appeared on the floor. That appeared to have been burned there this just raised even more questions that needed answers to.

"That I know of Elder for in my journey's across this country. I have seen many Slum-like areas like this one where these acts of assault and destruction have happened." The young man said when the Elder mentioned once more of Rouge Magicians the young man was silent once more. "If perhaps a Rouge Magician has found their way into the city then we have a far greater problem on our hands."

He looked as the elder checked her out.

"Neither do I, as for what will be done about this girl. I will take her under my care for the time being there are still questions that must be answered. Maybe once this girl fully awakens and giving time to heal. We can find out the answers to the questions that we seek. Maybe in time, I can come to teach her how to be a Magician but for now, that will have to wait" he pointed out.

The young man that reached down and took the girl into his arms. "If you find anything else in your quest for answer elder I would very much like to know them. I also believe I haven't told you my name as I still am fairly new to our guild having just transferred here from the capital a month ago my name is Elthin Veldhar" Elthin said.

The Young Man appeared to be well traveled and knowledgeable about the current situation of this Country. After the question from the Elder, the Young Man offered to take the girl into his care. The Young Man introduced himself to the Elder.

"I will aim to keep you informed, Elthin." The Elder answered with a nod of his head. "She will need to attend the Guild, however, as I am certain she has little to no control over her Gift. The creation of the barrier could have just been an automatic reaction based on her emotional state. If she doesn't learn control, we could face another disaster like this, and she may no longer be the innocent party."

With that closing statement, the Elder bid farewell to Elthin and headed off to the Guild with the other Magicians, leaving Elthin with the currently unconscious girl.

Elthin listened closely to what the elder had to say about the young girl. The Elder agreed to keep him informed of matters and that she would need to attend the Guild If she didn't learn to control her powers than they would be facing another disaster or something much worse.

"Given proper teaching, she will learn to control her gift. But it takes a time to fully control ones' powers I have seen some people learn quickly while others. Take years just to learn the basics of control."

The Elder then bid farewell to Elithin leaving. Him alone with the girl while he wished to study this place further that would have to wait for another time. Turning he followed the group of Magicians into the Nobles district where after turning. East and then right, left and right once more Elthin arrived at his current estate. Saying a word in the tongue of the ancients the door to his home soon opened and Elthin entered.

Inside Elthin's home was much like any other high-ranking noble of the city. However his was also much different for Elthin was a collecter of sorts. Upon the walls and in shelves were priceless pieces of art and old artifacts from several old civilizations. He walked by these and took the girl into his room where he set the girl down gently upon his bed.

Inside Elthin's bedroom, there was a simple desk in the far right corner of the room. Upon said desk where many scrolls and books. To the right of the desk was a large bookshelf filled with more books ranging from history, the arts, old civilizations, magical artifacts, to the knowledge of the four basic magic elementals. For Elthin was a seeker of knowledge he liked to learn and study things his current field of study was on old civilizations.

To the left of Elthin's bed was a stand for where he placed his armor. When not wearing it along with a weapon stand for the weapon he always carried with him. Upon the middle wall of the room was a grand painting of various colored dragons flying across the sky.

Looking back at the young girl Elthin left her be so, she could get some rest. Leaving the room to make them both something to eat.

Elthin took the unconscious suspected Magician Girl to his home and left her to sleep some more on the bed. When he looked back at her, she appeared to be waking up somewhat, but was still not quite awake yet. When she wakes up, she'll more than likely need a bath to prevent the grime of the Slums from ruining the nice furnishings. Most nobles wouldn't even dream of bringing a Slum dweller into their own homes, but Elthin was clearly not a normal Noble.

A few moments after Elthin left the room, there were a few quiet sounds coming from the girl as she began to move around a little more. After a short while, her eyes began to open groggily.

The Girl, once mostly awake, began to slowly push herself up from the bed as she looked around her current location. She was a mixture of awed, shocked and scared. This was obviously not her home, and she knew it. It looked far too pristine and well maintained to be her home. Just where was she? Had she been kidnapped? Had she passed over to the other side? Was this paradise, or damnation? The last thing she remembered was waking up in the middle of the night to lots of noise and the smell of woodsmoke, followed by the bangs and crashes of panicked movements. Was it all a dream? Then, it hit her...A sharp pain cut through her abdomen and caused her to yelp a little. She clutched at the source of the pain, only to make it hurt worse as she felt something digging in to her side. The searing pain continued as she felt her clothing become warm and damp. She looked down to see a patch of red pooling against the brown of her clothing near her left hip.

Her breathing became rapid and her mind began to swim with memories of the previous evening. The smoke, the screaming and shouting, the bangs and crashing, the crackle of flames and the shattering of a gas lamp, the spray of glass shards and the pangs of pain as a shard hit her.

"Help! Anyone, HELP!" The Girl screamed out of instinct as she tried her best to staunch the bleeding of her side. She'd probably made it much worse by pressing it further in.

Elthin didn't know that the girl was waking up before he had left the room. He was busy taking off his armour when he then heard the girl scream. Elthin quickly stopped what he was doing and ran back into his room to see that the girl was in a panic. Elthin also faintly smelt blood in the air and over a few moments time knew the girl was injured. Walking further into the room he held up his hands.

"There's no need to be afraid my name is Elthin what is your name?" Elthin asked He was now standing a few feet away from his bed still with his hands up. In a gesture nothing was going to happen he knew the girl was shocked and scared and didn't want. To do anything that might set her off in a bad way so he tried speaking to her once more.

"Are you hurt if you'd let me I can take care of your injuries?" Elthin asked.

During the panic from the wound, it appeared that the girl's screams had attracted the attention of the resident of this house, who came rushing in. He began to speak to her, but she wasn't in any condition to focus so it didn't mean much to her other than some background droning. There was now a clear indication as to where her wound was, if the large patch of dripping red on her clothes was anything to go by. The bleeding has become a little worse due to her current heightened state of panic and attempts at stopping the bleeding. The person, whom was now in the room with her, didn't seem to be hostile, so she decided to try her chances.

"Help, my side..." The girl gasped out through pain and gritted teeth. Tears were now welling up in her eyes. "glass...stuck in...it hurts..."

The girl told him that it was her side that hurt Elthin hurried over to her side. Pulling back the bedcovers he got a closer look at her side. Elthin could see a small trail of blood had soaked onto the bed and some glass that was indeed stuck in her side. "I'll do what I can to help" he reached down with a hand and held it near the girl's side. Chanting some quiet words in the ancient tongue much like what he had used to enter his home.

A blue light formed in his hand moving it closer. With his index finger he touched the tip of the glass shard slowly it began to slide out of the girl. Until it was all the way out placing it upon the desk he went back to the girl. Again he chanted once more and placed his glowing hand against the girls side. Closing his eyes he held his hand there as he chanted a small healing spell which was enough to close the wound on her side.

"I've closed the wound I suggest that you take it easy for a while. And do nothing too serious to reopen it" Elthin told her he left the room for a moment to look for some bandages which he found in a supply closet. He returned shortly after and started to attend to her side with them.

Expecting a call to a Doctor or some other kind of medical person, the girl was extremely surprised to see the Homeowner come over to tend to the wound by himself. Due to the pain, she couldn't really process much of what he was doing, but soon found that he had removed the glass shards from her side, causing it to bleed and hurt even more than before, enough for her to cry out in pain. Soon after, she felt a warm feeling against the wounds and the pain began to dissipate, nearly completely being healed. Was this person a Magician? If he was, what was she doing in his house? Questions will have to come later as the Homeowner left the room for a bit, leaving her all by herself. Now that the predicament was mostly sorted, she could finally process things a little better, if only slightly.

Moment later, the homeowner, whom introduced himself as Elthin earlier, returned with some rolled up pieces of cloth. She hadn't seen anything like these before in the Slums. If they were used for medical purposes, why hadn't the Slum 'Doctors' used them aside from old bits of shredded clothes? Elthin began to pull up her dress once more to apply the cloth to her side. The cloth caused her healing wounds to sting a little more than they were, so it was obviously doing something right. If this person had kidnapped her for selling as a slave, why was he being so nice to her? She could stay silent no longer.

"Why are you doing this for me? If you're a noble, why would you be nice to a Slum Dweller?" She asked. "Are you trying to sell me to the highest bidder, like you people did with my friends?"

Until she was certain that Elthin was on her side, she wasn't going to give away her name or any other details about herself so easily.

Elthin had placed some bandages around her side. While doing his best to make the process as painless as possible. While he knew how to treat wounds his skills were rather basic at best. Once he had taken care of her he placed her dress back down. Not having any interest in doing bad things to her or not for Elthin wanted to appear nice he wanted her to trust him. Soon the girl began to talk with Elthin once more.

"I'm doing this because you're in pain, while I am a noble. I have nothing against Slum Dweller's as you put it I believe a noble. and slum dweller is just people nothing more. I don't plan on selling you or anything of the sort and please don't label me with 'those' people. For I have my own interests as you can see from around my room I like to study and collect things" Elthin said.

He let the girl take this all in before speaking again.

"Can. you please tell me your name my name is Elthin?"

Elthin passed the first test after bandaging the girl up. He didn't try to do anything questionable to her, like most men his age would do to a Slum Dweller. Still, he was far from being classed as a 'Decent Person' as he didn't even ask her before or apologize after inappropriately undressing her. Guess things could have been worse...

Elthin then answered her questions, giving the obvious answers which someone with vile intentions may give. While this gave her some comfort, she still didn't trust him. He then asked for her name. While she was unsure whether to give up that piece of information just yet, she deemed it necessary.

"Lucine." The girl replied. "Guess you need something to call me by if you're going to be confining me here and I'll rather not be called 'tramp' or 'temptress', so it's better for me this way."

While her tone was even, if a little accusatory, it was obvious that her trust issues were down to mistreatment from other Nobles to her and people like her. It was basic knowledge that Slum Dwellers hated Nobles.

While he had done things like not apologizing to her he had more pressing concerns. He didn't want anything bad to happen to this girl let alone set her off again. Like what had happened at her home and with his talk with the elder. If things were indeed true anything bad might cause a bad reaction which could lead to much worse things.

"Lucine, that's a nice name" Elthin replied. "Why, would I call you those things I have no need to your a guest in my home and I will treat you with respect and courtesy."

Elthin knew that she had issues with his kind. As any basic noble or slum dweller would tell you that they hated the other kind. He then pulled up a chair and sat down across from her "As I'm sure you've already noticed is yes I am an Magician and I work for the local guild."

Elthin, again, gave expected answers for someone trying to entice a naive girl to do their bidding. He didn't seem to be one for breaking the mold just yet. If 'respect' and 'courtesy' were anything like the Nobles tried to enforce onto Slum Dwellers, then she'd rather be treated with disdain and repulsion.

"You've got quite the silver tongue." Lucine slyly smiled to Elthin. "Do you say that to every girl you bring in here?"

He was trying to butter her up, or so she believed. She'll play along. She leaned forward a little on the bed, causing her dress to fall forward and show off her chest, which was clearly lacking in any bosom. However, the small pink tips of her nipples could just about be seen before the dress covered them. The pink was very clear against the colour of her tanned skin.

Elthin introduced himself as a Magician who worked for the Local Guild. As she'd never seen him around the city before, it was likely he just transferred her from one of the neighboring cities. Magicians could easily be drawn to sin, so she thought she'd try something a little 'extra' to determine this person's personality.

"You've already seen nearly everything down below, so...wanna see what's up top?" Lucine asked Elthin as seductively as she could.

"I don't bring many people into my home, as I spend much of my time traveling the world," Elthin says he was being truthful with Lucine.

He knew she was playing games with him as he had seen things type. Of things happen in the past and he wasn't going to play her games. Seeing as how she learned forward causing her dress to fall forward showing off her bosom. Elthin looked away he didn't want to be seeing this "can you please lean back to how you were sitting before?" Elthin asked.

He waited for her to do so she appeared not to be doing so.

"No thank you Lucine, and please would you kindly stop this?" Elthin asked.

Finally, Elthin's answers didn't seem so scripted as before. According to what he said, he was a traveler of sorts.

Lucine's temptations fell on barren lands as Elthin didn't seem even the slightest bit interested in her actions and, actually, looked to be quite put off by them. Could he be that way inclined? Did he yearn for the touch of, not a woman, but something else? This could be fun to probe. If he did, then, by order of the Governing Bodies...

When she found out that her temptations weren't getting through, Lucine returned to her previous position and her chest was no longer on display. Now was the time to press it further.

"So, you don't like girls?" Lucine asked innocently. "Is tender flesh not good enough for you? Would you rather the coarse touch of another Man?"

Lucine made a play of being both shocked and intrigued. He could be fun to play with.

Once Lucine was sitting like before he turned to face her once more. She then tried the innocent act with him as she played another one of her so called games.

"I prefer girls my own age thank you" Elthin says.

Not even going on to answer her other questions.

"Why are you playing these games with me I took you into my home because you were. Hurt some sort of explosion destroyed your home and I've been told you might have been the one. Who caused it I've been nice to you this entire time and I would please like it if you were nice back to me and stopped playing these games." Elthin told her.

Elthin's answer was kind of what Lucine expected it to be. Little girls just didn't do it for him. She was about to put on an act of being hurt by his comment that she wasn't 'Womanly' enough for him, but was soon stopped by Elthin spilling everything he could to get her to comply. So, he knew it all, then?

"Guess you wanted to do the deed yourself, huh?" Lucine asked matter of factly. She didn't seem to be too surprised by the fact that she was taken in by a Magician after she was expected to have blown up a house. "Could you make it quick? I'd rather not suffer by burning at the stake or being drowned."

"I'm not doing the deed myself, I have questions I'd like answered if you can answer them." Elthin told her. Lucine then said she wanted things to be quick, "I have no plans of killing you or anything of the sort so, you need not worry about your life coming to an end." Elthin added. He got up from his chair and looked back at her,

"Are you okay enough to walk a little ways to the kitchen I bet you are hungry?" Elthin asked. He then thought of something else "I believe you should also get cleaned up later, I have bath you can use to do your personal things."

Elthin vehemently refused to do anything final to Lucine, despite how he seemed to accuse her of causing the fire.

"Guess you're not a stickler to the rules, then." Lucine answered as a ghost of a smile could be seen on her face. "Took me in to stop the others from doing it, did you?"

Elthin asked if Lucine was well enough to head into the kitchen.

"As long as I take it slow, I guess so." She answered as she slowly got up off the bed.

Elthin informed Lucine of the fact that he had a bath she could use. At first, she thought she'd misheard him and just got wishful thinking stuck in her mind.

"You mean a real bath? Not just an old barrel of rainwater and some torn rags?" She asked as her eyes began to light up. "With that slippery nice smelling stuff they call 'Soap' as well?"

It was amazing how excited a person could get over the prospects of a proper bath.

"If I had let the others deal with you things would be even worse. Would you want bad things to be happening to you right now or nice things like being in a nice warm house? With a warm meal and the possibility of a nice warm bed to sleep on other than being chained in a cell that is cold and damp?" Elthin asked.

"May I help you into the kitchen?" Elthin asked. This time showing her more of a nice said by asking first instead of just taking her along.

Lucine seemed to be happy about taking a bath.

"Yes, a real bath with nice warm water and 'Soap'" he looked at her again. "I also believe we need to get you some new clothes sadly I have nothing in my collection that can fit you. When your well enough we can go to the shopping district to buy some things for you."

Elthin asked rhetorical questions, acting like Lucine was the cause for all of this hassle. He didn't really give her much of a choice in ways of how to answer.

"Do I even need to answer that?" Lucine asked, looking a little annoyed by the accusations and the pointless question.

Elthin offered to help her into the kitchen.

"So you do wanna touch me then?" Lucine asked, returning to her playful charade from earlier. "Guess a little reach around won't hurt me. Just go easy on the side, okay? And no touching below the waist or above the stomach."

Despite the questionable wording, that appeared to be an answer of acceptance.

Elthin elaborated a little on the idea of a bath and even threw in the prospects of shopping.

"A bath, warm food and some new clothes?" Lucine listed. "Guess I've been blessed today. Maybe you aren't so bad after all. However, I'd rather get the clothes today. I'm well enough to move around, really."

He knew she seemed annoyed but just ignored it. "Will you stop with the games please!" Elthin told her he wrapped a arm around her stomach and helped her slowly walk towards the kitchen. During the walk Elthin didn't touch her anywhere bad and they soon reached the kitchen. After a few minutes of walking he then helped her sit down in a chair by. Pulling one out for her to sit on the kitchen had the basic table and two chairs. It looked like a normal everyday noble kitchen one would see in a noble's home.

"Yes, every one of those." Elthin said. "Once your done eating and all cleaned up we will go get you the clothes." Elthin added he went around looking through his supply of food. "Is there anything special you'd like to eat?" Elthin asked.

It appeared that Magicians didn't really have a sense of humor. Or, maybe, it was just this one. Lucine sighed in frustration before putting across her intentions.

"Would it kill you to have a sense of humor?" Lucine asked, slightly annoyed by the lack of understanding.

Elthin assisted Lucine with getting into the kitchen, being as gentlemanly as possible. He even went as far as to pull out a chair for her to sit on at the table.

"How nice! A meal and additional service." Lucine commented as she did a mock curtsy before sitting down. "Much appreciated, my Lord."

Maybe a less innuendo ridden and more direct humor approach was all this person understood? There's no fun in obvious jokes, she believed.

Elthin gave a rough outline of what he intended to do with her.

"No peeking while I'm in there, okay?" Lucine answered, returning to her previous line of comedy. It was fun to watch him go overboard with acting like she actually meant what she was saying. "If you do, guess we'd have to be wed as soon as possible to protect my dignity. Of course, I wouldn't mind marrying your money."

Elthin asked if there was anything in particular she wished to eat. Given the choice of food, Lucine couldn't think of anything.

"As long as it isn't dried, moldy breadcrusts, I'm up for it. Just none of that green stuff, though." Lucine replied.

Elthin did have a sense of humor he just didn't show it all that often. 'Would you rather have me go like this?" Elthin asked, he started to laugh for no reason then stopped after she had sat down. He went in search of some bowls and silverware and set them on the table. Followed by searching through his stock of food for something the both of them could eat.

"You need not worry about me peeking in on you unless you want me to?" Elthin said showing his rare sense of humor then he returned to normal. "I have no reason to marry someone so young you couldn't offer me anything anyway." Elthin soon pulled out a loaf of bread, and some meat which was cold he'd have to cook it. He set the bread on the table if was fresh and warm, going along and setting butter and jam on the table too.

Going over to his stove he placed the rabbit meat on it. Lighting it up it slowly started to cook "it will be a short while before the meat is finished cooking, want anything to drink?" Elthin asked.

Elthin further elaborated on Lucine's belief that he was not quite all there with a random outburst of laughter.

"Been sniffing too many Cauldron fumes, or something?" Lucine asked in response to the randomness. "Magicians are so weird."

After all her hope of smutty humor was all but lost, Elthin finally went along with the direction of her latest probe.

"I thought that all men ever thought of was how to return to where they came from?" Lucine smiled in response to the play-along. "While I might not have much to offer now, who knows? I may turn into quite the Woman when I'm older."

Elthin placed a selection of produce on the table. Luncine knew that one of the items was bread, fresh from the oven if the delicious scent was anything to go by. However, she had no idea what the cream colored solid stuff was, or the fruity smelling sticky stuff. Maybe they were some form of appetizer? If they were, why were they bought out with bread?

While Lucine pondered what the two foreign foodstuffs were, Elthin asked her another difficult to answer the question.

"What have you got?" Lucine asked. "Anything but well water will be fine. Perhaps, some Wine? Or some of that sweet smelling stuff they call Mead."

"Look at yourself you're the weird one here playing all games" he was silent for a while as he was checking in on the meat making sure nothing went wrong. "You just don't know men very well do you? all them don't only think about sex" Elthin says "maybe you who knows what the future holds in store." Elthin added.

He noticed Lucine seemed confused by the two things he put on the table. "The fruity stuff is jam and the cream colored stuff is butter you can place it on the bread there with your knife," Elthin told her. He walked over and then cut a slice of bread using a small silver knife it took some of the jam and spread it on the bread showing her how to do so.

"I've got fresh water and wine but I think you are too young for that stuff. Sorry but I haven;t got any Mead here at all" He walked back to the stove. The meat was cooking nicely and smelled great he turned to Lucine and asked another question.

"So, why not tell me about yourself how long have you been living in this city?" Elthin asked.

Elthin tried to accuse Lucine of being weird. She just giggled a little at the comments.

"I'm more normal than some of the Slum dwellers. Someone I knew once stole a pipe from an old Magician and ended up babbling on about dragons on mountains of cream and faeries made of sugar beets. I think the pipe was laced with some of the stuff Magicians snorts." Lucine chuckled wile recounting. "And you call us weird? If that's what magicians use, then they probably see those kinds of things all day."

Elthin tried to defend the honor of Men but was only met by suppressed laughing from Lucine. She didn't seem to believe him. He then elaborated on the things he put on the table with the bread. Both of them, apparently, could be spread onto bread. He showed her what to do, but she still looked rather confused.

"Okay..." Lucine answered after the explanation. "Nobles have so many strange things."

Despite how complex it all looked to her, it still smelled very nice. Unsure of how to eat things in a Noble's home, Lucine just tried her best to eat as dignified as possible, taking small bites of the jammed bread to test the flavour. When she reached the jam part, all her dignified practice was lost as she returned to scoffing down the food as fast as possible. Jam, whatever it was, was really nice. Fruits were extremely rare in the slums, and this stuff they called 'Jam', was nonexistent. Wanting more jam on bread, Lucine took another slice of the bread and slapped on a large dollop of jam before roughly spreading it around and wolfing down her second slice. She was about to go for a third when Elthin talked to her once more.

"Fresh water it'll have to be, then." Lucine answered regarding beverages. "Guess Mead is more of a Slum drink than a Noble one."

Elthin wanted to know a little more about her.

"Born and raised here. Never been outside the City walls." Lucine replied. "How about you? What do you do for a living? All of these...things on your walls look like they might fetch a high price."

Hearing Lucine laugh was actually quite nice to hear she had a cute one at that. He then listened to her as she spoke once more. "Well, I don't snort anything as you put it or even smoke for that matter," he didn't answer the last part of her question as the meat had finally finished cooking Elthin went over and took it off the stove, Using another larger knife he started to cut it up into smaller pieces and began placing them onto another plate.

He then heard her burst of laughing and for a moment joined in then stopped again. "So, do Slum dweller girls as well but I'd rather not get into that,"

He set the plate on the table and then got up and got both them. Cups of fresh water from the tap in the kitchen and handed on glass to her. Before helping himself to some of the rabbit on the plate next to him.

"I was born and raised in the kingdom of Glacialis, which is located on the continent just south of this one. As for what I do for a living I'm a studier of knowledge and a collector of sorts. These things that you have seen around my home. Are stuff that I have collected over the years in my many travels across the land. Perhaps one day I if you like I can take you on one of my travels"

Elthin didn't comment much on the idea that some Magicians had questionable pass-times. He just insisted that he never took part in those things. In regards to Lucine's comment on what weird things Nobles had, Elthin, once again, accused her of being weird. Or, more accurately, all Slum Dwelling Girls. On his return to the table, Elthin bought along the meat which was being cooked. It had a strange aroma, but, in truth, all the new things Lucine had been experiencing in this short space of time could have been explained the same way.

Unlike how Lucine normally collected water, Elthin's manner was much easier. He placed the glass under a strange metal implement over a large bowl-like hole of metal in a worktop. It looked close to the pumps near the wells in the Slums, except, this one was much cleaner, and the water it produced was not a murky colour. It also had nothing floating inside it, like well water normally did. How convenient. No pumping needed. Just a quick turn of a valve was all that was needed. Once the glass was placed on the table, Lucine leaned over a little to look through it. The water was pristine. She could even see the other side of the table through it. All these new things she never knew about were all popping up before he. She had a hard time believing this was really happening. Cautiously, Lucine picked up the glass of water and took a sip of it. It didn't have any taste at all, which was strange. Well water normally tasted rather bitter or, in some cases, sickly. Additionally, unlike when she drank from the well, this water didn't cause her stomach to hurt at all. She could get use to this.

Elthin, in response to her question, gave a little more information about where he came from and what he did. It sounded very bizarre to go searching for old dusty things like the stuff in his home but, if it allowed her to finally leave the confines of the city and see the world, she'd do anything.

"If it means leaving this place, I'm all for it." Lucine happily replied. "I want to see the world. I want to learn more about what's outside the city."

Elthin ate his meal in peace and watched how Lucine ate and drank. Everything she was going through must be rather strange for her since she had never done these sort of things before. Let alone been in a Nobles house like his maybe she had been in other Noble's placed before but he wasn't going to ask her if she had at all.

Lucine seemed all for the idea of leaving the city. To see the world and learn what life was like outside. What she didn't know that his travels were also filled with danger having to stop Rouge Magicians from time to time. "Then on my next travel you can come along," Elthin told her with a smile he then got serious for a while.

"I'm about to ask you a serious question and would like a serious answer. While I'm not sure whether or not you have another family to stay with in this city. Or if you are truly alone now after what happened to your home my question is would you be interested in perhaps becoming my apprentice. I would teach you everything that I currently know about the world outside of this town and a few others things as well?" Elthin asked.

He went silent to let this sink into her.

Lucine, like before, had dropped any form of dignity and began to eat at her usual pace. She hadn't eaten this well ever, and she wasn't about to miss this chance. She only stopped to answer questions posed to her.

"Even if you didn't offer that, I would have probably tailed you in secret until we got far enough away from the city," Lucine replied with a smile. It was unclear whether she meant that as a joke or if she was serious.

All joking was thrown aside when Elthin asked a heavy question. Lucine took a few moments to think through her answer before giving it.

"I want to know what happened last night and the only way I can do that is by sticking close to you. I'm not sure if my family is alive, or dead. From what I remember, they are alive, or that could just be wishful thinking. Someone, a Magician from the look of their clothes and their ability to use Magic, or maybe even a Witch, broke into my home last night and took my family away. I think they were looking for me, as they kept going on about a 'Witch' in my family as they torched whatever they could a a threat. If I have any hope of finding out who they were, I need to know what to look for, and you can help me with that. It's true, I can use magic, or at least that's what I remember, but I don't know how to use it. You're the only one who can help me with this and not try to kill me for the accusation of Witchcraft. Or, at least I hope." Lucine answered, her usual jovial manner from earlier replaced with earnest. "It's either work with you, or get passed over to be executed, isn't it. I plead the second."

Elthin looked to see that Lucine seemed quite hungry so he let her eat. How she liked not wanting to bother her at all as she ate. He took in what she had said next picking up on what she had meant. "That wouldn't have been very wise who knows what would happen to you out there" Elthin pointed out.

Soon Elthin got the answer to what he had asked.

"While I would also like to know what happened to you last night as well. I do think that it would be best if you did stay close with me for now." Elthin stopped speaking as she explained things further to him that someone might have broken into her house last night. His eyes darkened at the thought of a Rouge Magician doing something like this. "Then a Rouge Magician has indeed found their way into the city," Elthin said quietly he would have to let the elder know about this and what Lucine had just told him.

"I can teach you to have to control the magic that you can cast. However it will be a long and hard road for you as learning magic takes time if not years to fully learn about. Or even to cast a simple spell while you do have some talent I don't anything bad to happen to you." Elthin was serious in what he was saying to her. "I will help you in any way that I can I would also think it would be wise to teach you other methods to defend yourself other than just magic. I can teach you swordsmanship if you like?"

He let all that sink in.

"You will be staying with me I can have an extra you prepared for you this evening"

After Lucine explained her case to Elthin, he returned to his usual seriousness with more questions.

"I could use all the help I can get. I know that Magic can be faked with Elemental Stone, but I don't have one of those, and neither did this person from last night. If I could properly learn how to use these 'Powers' I've got, then I'm certain we can bring this person to the end they deserve. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get these powers under my control." Lucine answered. She smiled at his concern for things ways of self defense other than Magic. "Mister, I was raised in the Slums. Give me dagger over weighty swords any day and I can show you that I'm more than just a pretty face. Ever been kicked where it hurts before? That's self defense. And I'm the master of busting those nuts up."

Elthin informed Lucine that she'll be staying in this house. She had no complaints but, also, now was the time to make everything less serious. She hated deep conversations.

"In my own room, I hope. Don't want to be sleeping in the bed of a strange man. Who know what'll happen to me?" Lucine returned.

"I would rather not go down the Elemental Stone path unless needed. As I have seen some bad things happen when those stones are used. You will learn how to control those 'powers' but also you will be given a complete education as well. I'm glad that your will to learn we will start tomorrow or whenever your ready." Lucine seemed already to know some skills as she had mentioned a dagger. "I would rather teach you other methods to take a foe down but having those you already know of can help as well."

Elthin went back to eating his dinner which he soon finished up.

"You will have your own room, anyway, we should get you to the bath to freshen up. Before we head out later as we have quite a few things to do."

Elthin explained about Elemental Stones and the potential drawbacks of using them. He also went on to say that Lucine will be getting a full education as well and that she can start whenever she was ready.

"I think we should start the proper education a little later as...well...I don't know how to read or write and I think that they're needed for this 'proper education'." Lucine admitted. "We get taught life skills in the Slums, not book skills. I can pierce three apples with a single dagger throw, but I can't write anything, or read up on how to write."

Both of them soon finished their food.

"Okay. Where's the bath?" Lucine asked as she pushed herself up from the table.

"I can teach you how to read and write and yes those things are needed" Elthin explained. Lucine then got up from the table and he mentioned for her to follow him. "It's this way" Elthin led her out of the kitchen and down a long hallway towards a single set of doors. He soon opened them up and led her inside of the bathroom.

The inside of Elthin's bathroom was quite elegant it was typical Nobles bathroom. With a large tub in the middle of the room with neatly carved dragon's heads that can be used to. Turn on either hot or cold water when needed the tub was large enough. To hold two people inside of it but was mainly used for one person. There was also soap and various cleaning materials used for when one normally takes a bath located around the tub.

"I will leave you in peace, to turn on the water just turn these numbs here to the right. Which will release water into the tub you don't want to use very hot water. As you might burn yourself I would say make the bath nice and warm for starters." Elthin told her showing her how to use the numbs.

Elthin lead Lucine to the bathroom. Upon entering the bathroom, Lucine, once again, showed how little knowledge she had about Nobles and the world they live in.

"That's not a bath. That's a small lake." Lucine commented, awe evident in her gaze. "Just what's with the stuff around it. How many types of soap are they and how many things does one person need to get clean?"

Elthin showed what the dragon-statue things were used for. When he looked back to explain what he was doing, Lucine had already removed all her clothes and thrown them on the floor. Aside from her usual questionable advances, this one looked to be completely different. This wasn't joking, this was pure lack of knowledge. It was clear that she didn't know what should be shown and what shouldn't be shown to other people. She obviously didn't understand the concept of modesty.

Lucine stepped into the large expansive bath and sat down in the corner closest to the left Dragon, not caring what was on display or not.

"So, aren't you getting in with me?" Lucine asked. Again, this was not down to her questionable advances earlier. This was lack of knowledge once more. "Bath water's hard to get where I'm from, so we've got to use it as much as we can while we have it."

"It only takes on soap to clean yourself, these other things are shampoo which can. Be used to wash your hair with you can also use some body lotion to make your skin. Nice a silky smooth of you want to that is,:

When he had turned back to look at her he could see. That she had removed her clothes and was now naked he blushed as he looked at her then looked back at the water. Making sure it was all warm for her to step into which it was Elthin. Turned off the water and got up as Lucine stepped into the bath and sat down.

"N-No it wouldn't be right for me to do so. I would like to point out that next time you should wait until. After I have left the room to remove your clothes as it isn't really nice to be just dropping them and doing what you did." Elthin explained.

He got up from the tub and turned away from Lucine. He was clearly uncomfortable around her when she was naked. "I will leave you in peace" He then left the room.

Elthin gave a quick explanation of all the things around the bath and what they were used for. So many things for such a simple action of taking a bath...It'll take some getting used to to fully understand the world Lucine's been thrown in to.

Strangely, Elthin acted a little different from earlier. Did he appear...embarrassed? Lucine didn't understand what was so embarrassing about taking her clothes off before getting into a bath. Did Nobles bath with their clothes on?!

"Oh, okay. I'll remember that." Lucine answered, still confused as to why he was acting as he was.

Elthin then left Lucine alone to take a bath. At first, she didn't know how to use some of the things in the room but, with some trail and error, she managed to find out how soap was meant to be wet before she could rub it on herself to get clean. It took her some time as well to understand that soap got very slippery when it was wet. She didn't even try to understand how shampoo and conditioner was meant to be used just yet. She wanted to get the basics of Soap use down before anything else.

Elthin had gathered up Lucine's dirty clothes he took them. To a private room located just off to the right of his own speaking an ancient word. The door opened and Elthin stepped inside the room was completely dark when he entered but four torches suddenly lit up once he entered. Tossing her clothes into the air they began to hover in the air.

Moving his hands in complex patterns the very air around the room grew cold. As the temperature dropped a freezing cold wind blew throughout the room. As the cold wind blew as her clothes they started to freeze the dried blood and dirt upon them seemed to be washed away. In a matter of seconds as they were cleaned by his magic. The wind died down as the ice on her clothes melted away leaving the clothes clean and looking like new they were totally dry as well.

He stopped casting her magic and took her clothes. Leaving the room he headed towards a second room two doors down from his opening the door. He looked around inside this room would serve as Lucine's own room.

After mastering Soap usage, Lucine moved over to flannel use. Using this piece of particular scratchy fabric was very similar to using the old dirty rags she had while bathing in the slums. The only difference was that this didn't make her dirty, unlike the rags from the slums. taking extra care around her current injury, Lucine finished up washing down her front, arms and legs and was left puzzling over how to clean her back down. Looking at all the different items strew around the large bathtub, she found a long sick of wood with a spongy end to it. This must be used to wash her back down. After soaping up the sponge, she found this tool the easiest to use out of all the stuff in the bath. Now, it came down to washing her hair.

Being unable to read made it very hard to find out what this 'Shampoo' Elthin spoke about was. Some letters looked quite close to 'Shampoo' but, also, they could have been 'Conditioner'. She'd have to take her chances with this. Picking up the first bottle of soapy liquid she found with an 'S' looking letter on, she squeezed some into her hands and began to rub it into her hair. With all the knots and split ends in her hair, she found it quite the painful experience to try and remove the knots from her hair as well as trying to avoid getting the suds in her eyes. Eventually, she managed to lather her hair enough to call it being reasonably clean. Now, how was she going to get the suds off her hair without getting them in her eyes? She'd have to figure that out like the rest, with good old trial and error.

While looking around the room Elthin wasn't sure how to really. Make up a room for a female before sure the room had the basics a bed, writing desk and a chair, bookshelves and a chest to place books or belongings into. There was even a closet where one would keep there clothes so he left it alone for now and with Lucine's clothes. Still in hand he took them and walked back to the bathroom where Lucine was.

"I'm returning your clothes to you," Elthin said.

He had knocked on the door letting her know it was him. He walked inside avoiding looking at Lucine and placed her clothes over on the counter. Before retreating out of the bathroom where she was still busy he walked down the hallway towards the crystal ball which served as his phone.

While trying to clean the soap suds out of her hair, Lucine heard the door to the bathroom open. Having her head down as she tried to pour some water from the tub over her head, she couldn't really see who it was. Going by basic logic, it had to be the only other person in the house. Time for some more fun,

"So you did want to peek after all?" Lucine slyly joked. "No harm in wanting to see my adorable naked body. Take it in all you want. Just no touching."

It appeared her joke ended how all others did, with the target of the joke leaving rather quickly. Damn...

Elthin intoned the incantation to activate the Stellar energy inside the Communication Foci and entered, via mental communication, the required Constellation coordinates for the Communication Foci in the Magician's Guild Administration office, where the Elder Magician normally spent their time. After the runes around the base of the Foci lit up, the Elder Magician appeared inside the Crystal Ball of the Device.

"Greetings, Elthin. How fares the young girl?" The Elder asked.

Elthin waited for the crystal ball to activate soon when the Stellar energy. Was ready for use he was able to contact the Magician's Guild and was able to talk with the Elder Magician who he had chatted with earlier in the day.

"Greetings, Elder. The girl fares well she was only a little injured with a small gash. In her side that I treated a short while ago, I would say she's a rather weird case someone who likes to play jokes. On people as she did this to me several times tonight" Elthin sighed.

He thought about what else he was about to say.

"On other important news, I have learned that the girl is named Lucine. She told me what she remembered from last night it appears a Magician broke into her house and took her family away. They appeared to be looking for Lucine even going as far to call her a witch. Before they went about setting the house on fire. As we both know Lucine can use magic and I have agreed to take her on as my apprentice." Elthin added.

He let the Elder take in what he told him.

Some silent time later Elthin spoke once more. "I've also agreed to help her find this person along with teaching her swordsmanship and a basic education when the time comes. What I'd like to know is why this Magician was looking for her in the first place and how. Did they know that she could use magic this all sounds rather confusing."

Elthin answered the Elder's question.

"Ah, that's good. Very good." The Elder nodded in response. "I trust you are not familiar with the sense of humor of Slum dwellers? Some may consider it rather...crude and distasteful but, if you've lived in the world they have, you'd understand why it is like that. It is excellent that this ordeal hasn't scarred her that much."

Elthin gave a run-down of his conversations with Lucine.

"That is grave news indeed." The Elder sighed with a shake of his head. "If people are hunting her, then she is not safe wherever she goes. The only people who would know for certain if a person bares innate power would be other Magicians. we may be dealing with Rogue Magicians after all. Witches would not openly announce their presence like that. I trust she will be safe with one who has had previous experience locking blades with Rogue Magicians."

Elthin returned another answer.

"Teaching proper swordsmanship to Slum dwellers will be difficult. They prefer to not hinder their mobility with heavy weaponry and would rather place their trust in Daggers or lighter weapons." The Elder informed Elthin. "One reason she could be being hunted is that they wish for her demise, like most people believe Gifted Girls deserve. Some cannot grasp the concept that Magic is not only reserved for Men and would rather fear and execute what they cannot understand. Such is Human nature. If we are dealing with a Coven, they may want her to add to their ranks to overthrow the Magician's Guilds spread across the lands. There are too many unknown variables at present for an answer to be revealed."

Elthin listened to what the Elder had to say.

"While I have had some dealings with Slum Dwellers before I had normally. Choose to ignore that feature in the so all in all no I do not."

Elthin next listened to the Elder's thoughts on what he had mentioned about Lucine.

"I would have to agree while we don't know yet if this is just the work of one person. Or more than one working in a group it would make things harder. As I believe almost no one can be trusted she will be safe in my care I'll make sure of that" Elthin told him.

The elder went on with his thoughts.

"Yes, Lucine did mention that she was good with a dagger. I believe I have something that she can use" Elthin says as he listens more. "While that may be true what if they were hunting her as a means to capture her and turn her to their side as you mentioned. That would be a worse case option are there any known Coven's that currently with to overthrow the Magician's Guild that I wouldn't know about?"

Questions regarding Covens with usurping intentions were asked.

"Most Covens decided that warring with their peers is unnecessary and place their talents to good use in Villages which do not have access to proper medicine. Like all humans, there are good and evil in Witches as well. There are only three known Covens who are against the Magicians Guilds and their names are still not confirmed. Insignias, however, have been the current means as to which we have identified these groups but, alas, it is not my Virtue to impart this information. We do not want the Citizens to fear another attack, or know of the Covens' targets. What I can say, however, is that they establish their Covens in certain types of ruins. Their usual motivation for decision is the latent knowledge available in these locations and their natural affinity to the Leylines of the world." The Elder explained.

Elthin took all that was said about Covens to heart.

"Would these Covens be within the city here or located somewhere outside the city limits. When was the last Coven attack?" Elthin asked he wasn't liking the fact that there may have been other attacks against people. "Would you know of any ruins that are located close by that would be worth searching out for clues. Why would they want the latent knowledge of the Laylines?" Elthin went on to ask.

Elthin asked a little more about Covens.

"Covens, especially the ones which we need to be wary of, are normally located a good distance away from any large gathering of people, but within enough distance to allow spies to infiltrate and cause unrest. Sometimes, the passive Covens can be within the sewers of large Cities, accessed normally by Manholes dotted around the districts. However, these holes are locked with Magic and can only be opened a certain way, or if the Witch wishes for them to be opened. As for the last Coven attack, there was a Minor raid around eleven years ago. However, this raid was contained within the Slums. Casualties were few, and none of the attackers were harmed. It was like they were just trying to test the strength of our Guard, or gather some information during the Chaos." The Elder explained. "The closest Ruin which has been a Coven base before is the Escher ruins located four days travel from here, just past the Brent Oasis. As for their obsession with Leylines, it should be clear that, during certain phases of the Moon, these Leylines are a font of immeasurable Magical Strength. In regards to their thirst for Knowledge, you, as an explorer of those kinds of things, should know just how great the Lost Generation was."

The Elder explained more about the Covens

"I would have to agree as one would want to be found out. But sometimes being located within the city does have it's advantages if things are played out right. I think it would be a good idea for me to search through the city myself for answers." Elthin the heard about where the closet Ruin was located at. "The Escher ruins that will be my first stop. Yes, I would know about the Lost Generation as I have found some kinds of things in my travels linking certain items and events that. Have had a negative impact on the world as we know it to be linked to them."

After the information about Covens, the Lost Generation became a little more apparent.

"If you are going to search the city, be cautious. We do not want the Citizens to question the Guild or for any harm to come to anyone. Do not try to force your way into information or be too reckless with your means of gathering it. Suspicion should be non-existent if you want to get the best information." The Elder cautioned.

The Lost Generation seemed to be a rather interesting topic.

"Most of the technology we have now came with gratitude from the Lost Generation. All of our records about it have either been wiped or destroyed, like our Ancestors did not want us to find them out. The ruins are the only thing we have now which proves that the Lost Generation did, in fact, exist. No explorer has ever been able to fully understand these ruins or how to reach their depths. The ruins are...alien in their structure and design and seem to be ever changing. We can only dream about what kinds of things can be found in the deepest reaches of these pieces of history."

The Elder spoke a little more.

"I think taking Lucine along with me on my search would help. As she might have some skills that would help me gather more information than just. Doing so alone as normally I'm not one to force my way or get too reckless when seeking things out," Elthin says.

The Lost Generation was talked about more.

"I have found several such Ruins located on my home contentment of Artaria. Even in my searches, I've only been able to gain small bits of knowleadge even when. Exploring them they were too old and as you mentioned their structure and design did always seem to change. We can only hope that whatever is at the bottom of these Ruins can be used for the greater good and not something that. Can lead to another great war I'm sure you remember how bad the last one was?" Elthin asked.

"You wish to take a child on your searches?" The Elder asked in shock. "I'm afraid I cannot allow one with such little experience with her Gifts to be conducting searches against those who may wish to use her for nefarious ends. Perhaps, when she is a little more attuned to her abilities, then I may believe she would be ready to assist in searches."

Talk of the Lost Generation continued.

"Everything in this world can be used for both good and evil." The Elder agreed. "Such is the way of the world. The Discovery of Magic sparked a war and that was only further intensified by the discovery of Relics from the Lost Generation. Some scars of that war still remain, like the fear of Witches and the execution and exile of any female practitioner of Magic, regardless of how they use it."

The Elder seemed not wish for Elthin to take Lucine out on his searches.

"As a means to protect her and also to see if anyone tries anything. But after some more thought on this, it would be a bad idea as. Citizens could get harmed if something bad were to happen and I wouldn't want that to happen. So, I will agree that when she is more attuned with her abilities I will take her with me."

They talked more on the Lost Generation.

"Yes, everything can be used for both good and evil," Elthin says. "I have come across some groups of Rouge Magicians how have had access to some old relics from the Lost Generation. While these were only small ones I would say. That in the lower depths of the ruins in the world would have relics that are far more destructive in nature. I remember hearing about one suck relic that was once used to wipe an entire kingdom off the map in the span of a single night. Those old scars do still remain from fear to even marks upon the land itself."

Elthin agreed to keep Lucine out of harms way until she was better prepared.

"Until she has learned to mask her presence from other Magicians, defend herself from their attacks and, potentially, have some way to retaliate or escape, I believe that she should stay inside your House until she can do those. Masking her presence would need to be the first thing you teach her once she has mastered control." The Elder suggested.

Good and evil intentions were debated further.

"The destruction of the Gott Kingdom was one of the cornerstones for the Great War. It was initially done as a show of power, more for intimidation factor than declaring war, but it soon escalated from there. We still cannot access the ruins of Gott just yet due to the aftereffects of the Relic. The toxins still remain in the air, even after so long. Anyone who gets closer than the mountain range bordering the crater quickly succumbs to an incurable illness and perishes within weeks. Some even say that they turn into hideous monsters and kill the rest of the exploration party before retreating into the crater, like they believe it to be their home. Not even Magic can protect people from those fumes or the creatures that inhabit the crater and the surrounding peninsula."

The Elder wished for Lucine to stay inside Elthin's house. Until she was better able to defend herself and hiding her presence from other Magicians.

"My home has it's own masking field so only powerful. Magicians would be able to locate her here but I will teach her how to hide herself. But she can't stay here all the time she would be needed to leave the house for clothes shopping later or other basic things when they come by." Elthin said.

They spoke more about Good and evil intentions.

"Wasn't the destruction of the Gott Kingdom caused by the magical relic. Moonshine, Executioner of Invocation it happened to be a staff of vast destructive power? I heard that the staff was lost within the ruins of the Gott. Though whether the staff still remains there or not is a mystery I do know that I had wished to travel to the ruins of Gott but wasn't able to closer due to the illness or roaming monsters. That is also why if any other relics are found they must be either disposed of or given over to the right people."

While Elthin wished to discuss the Lost Generation further. With the Elder which he was finding rather fun, he had other important matters to attend to.

"While I would like to talk with you further on this subject Elder. I'm afraid I will have to cut our chat off at this point as I need to check in on Lucine. I thank you for your time and all that you have told me." Elthin says before bidding farewell to the Elder and powering down the crystal ball.

"As long as you keep her close by and allow her into your personal masking spell, she can have her presence hidden as well. However, you will need to keep physical contact with her for the spell to be channeled to her as well." The Elder informed Elthin. "This taxes the defending Magician quite considerably, so I will not recommend you keep it up for too long. Do what needs to be done and then head back as soon as possible."

A recounting of the Incidents surrounding the Gott Kingdom was given.

"There has been no concrete evidence that the Relic which caused the destruction was a staff, we only have vague witness reports to attest to that. However, that is the popular belief, next to the idea that it was a Spear. All we know is that the attacker flew over Gott in an Airship and released the Relic while above it before pushing the Vessel's engine to its limits to escape the blast zone. They only just managed to clear the area before it was decimated." The Elder answered.

Elthin excused himself from the conversation, stating that he needed to check up on Lucine.

"As would I, though the Girl is more important than any ramblings." The Elder bid Elthin goodbye. "Stay safe."

The communication foci powered down.

After Elthin had finished speaking with the Elder. He remembered back to their last few words before he had left. Everything was said were indeed things that he would need to do also he wanted to study up more on the Gott Kingdom. Wanting to learn if the weapon was truly a spear and not a staff. Walking down the hallway he had made his way towards the washroom where Lucine was.

Knocking on the door once then twice he spoke up.

"It's me Elthin are you just about done I think it'd be best if we got going?" Elthin asked.

Lucine had just about finished in the bath when she heard a knock at the bathroom door. So, he knocked this time? That's a pity...

"Just a bit, I'm just getting out." Lucine answered as the sound of water sloshing around was heard from the other side of the door. "You can come in if you want. I'm not sure how to drain this thing."

Lucine mentioned that she was getting out of the tub. Elthin wasn't sure whether or not he wanted to enter the room or not. So he remained outside of the door "I'll take care of that when your out and dressed again" Elthin told her.

He waited on her to get dressed and leave the washroom.

Sadly, Elthin's response wasn't what Lucine wanted to here. Damn... Foiled once more!

"Okay, I'll hurry it along then." Lucine answered as the sounds of movement echoed from the other side of the door.

Around five minutes later, Lucine opened the door to the bathroom, surprisingly, fully dressed. She was still toweling her hair down, though.

"Thanks for cleaning my clothes. They're much softer now." Lucine told Elthin, her voice muffled by the towel. "I heard you talking to someone while I was in the bath. Mind telling me who it was? Unless, of course, you were talking to yourself, like some Magicians do."

Elthin waited and five minutes later Lucine had left the bathroom. She was once more fully dressed which he was glad about.

"You're welcome it's the least I could do. As for who I was talking to I was talking to one of the Elder's of the Magician's Guild" Elthin told her.

He wasn't sure if he should fully tell her just what they were talking about. In time, he would but not right now "I believe that this evening we should also go shopping. For a weapon for you to use to help defend yourself, you mentioned you were good with a dagger so we should start there." Elthin says.

Elthin informed Lucine who he was talking to. She didn't appear too shocked by the revelation but curiosity was clear on her face, when she pulled the towel away from her hair.

"What were you talking about?" Lucine asked. "And don't try the old 'just general boring adult stuff' on me, as I won't fall for it."

Elthin pushed, once more, the prospect of weaponry onto Lucine. She just smiled in response to this.

"Nobles are so dense." She giggled. "Guess you didn't check my clothes before cleaning them after all."

Upon that statement, Lucine reached underneath her dress and pulled out a small metallic object. It didn't look like anything interesting at all. It looked more like a trinket a child would carry around. With a click of a button on the side a blade shot our of the tip of the object. A disguised switchblade? It didn't look too threatening but it could still cause some serious damage. Lucine pressed the button once more and the blade popped back into the casing.

"Gotta protect myself someway, huh?" Lucine smirked.

Lucine still wanted to know what Elthin and the Elder had been talking about.

"We were talking about the Gott Kingdom" Elthin mentioned which was just part of it.

"I didn't think it would have been wise," Elthin says as he sees Lucine reach under her dress. To pull out a small metallic object he saw that it was a small switchblade. "Well, you do have to protect yourself and all but I think it would also be good to have another weapon. As the one you have can be used as a surprise."

They both soon left Elthin's home and once outside started to head. Towards the marketplace where every Noble did their shopping.

Elthin gave a broad answer to what the conversation was about. Lucine didn't seem too impressed at the vagueness of the answer.

"You mean the 'Cursed Kingdom', as we call it where I'm from?" Lucine asked. "The one full of crazy people and illness?"

Elthin still insisted that Lucine had a better weapon. More weapons can't hurt, it seems.

"Guess so." Lucine shrugged.

Both Elthin and Lucine headed out of the house and into the Noble's Market. As expected, Elthin got a few filthy glares from the other Nobles at the sight of him with a Slum Girl. Some Noble woman even fainted at the prospect of them being together. Of course, Lucine took full delight in the attention and decided to play a few jokes on the Nobles, mainly including lewd hand gestures and suggestive winks, while also pulling up the corner of her dress when one Noble stared at her for longer than she wanted him to.

"I've gotta say, it's fun playing with you rich people." Lucine commented with a beaming grin.

"Yes that very one, maybe in time we can go in search of the area. Or at least, how far we can travel before having to turn back."

As they entered the Noble's Market Elthin saw some of the other Noble's glaring at him. He saw as one woman fainted as he looked over he saw Lucine was playing some jokes on the people. Watching her he soon stopped her for a moment when they were away from the others.

"Is that really wise to do, what if one of them could be the person. Who tried to do you harm earlier you're just giving yourself away to them?"

As usual, Elthin killed the fun Lucine was having before she could really enjoy it.

"Lighten up a little. I doubt any of these pampered blooms could even so much as create a small flame." Lucine complained. "I can take care of myself."

Lucine, being born and raised in the roughest parts of the City, didn't really take kindly to be coddled by anyone.

Elthin was just wanting to take things slowly. Anyone here could have been the enemy it would be best to be on the safe side.

"Fine, fine" Elthin sighed.

The pair started up again and soon came upon a weapon shop and walked inside.

After the dispute of ideals, Elthin headed over to a weapon shop.

Once Elthin entered, the clerk at the counter looked up from the book they were reading.

"Greetings, Sir." The Clerk said, sounding as pretentious as most Nobles. They then noticed the fact that Lucine was with Elthin. They were about to inform him that Children were not allowed in weapon stores until they saw the Slum clothes Lucine was wearing. "You appear to have picked up a...rodent...on your walk here. I would check your pockets if I were you."

The Clerk then turned to Lucine, disgust evident in their face at talking to a Slum girl.

"Begone with you, vixen, lest I call the Guards on you." The Clerk ordered. "Your wiles will not work on me."

Once they entered the weapon shop Elthin was greeted by the clerk. "Greetings," Elthin said back to the clerk right as they noticed Lucine and spoke up about her. He could see the look of disgust on his face.

"Actually sir, she is with me and I can promise you that no trouble will happen in your store." Elthin turned to look at Lucine "isn't that right Lucine?" Elthin asked.

Before turning to look back at the clerk.

Elthin tried to explain the situation to the Clerk, but it appeared to fall on deaf ears.

"A Noble, consorting with a temptress?!" The Clerk exclaimed in shock. "Unthinkable! Impossible!"

Lucine just kept out of sight by standing behind Elthin. She clasped the folds of his shirt between her fingers.

"I hate these crazy people." She quietly commented. "Let's just get out of here. Let's get get the stuff and go. I don't want to be here if the Guards arrive. Maybe it'll be better if I wait outside of the next store?"

Lucine's mood seemed stoic, but it was evident that something was getting at her. She hadn't tried to mess with anyone upon coming into this store.

Elthin just sighed after he had tried to explain things to the clerk, Who didn't seem to believe him soon he heard Lucine speak up once again.

"Okay, okay we will head to the clothing store and you can wait outside" Elthin whispered.

The pair both left the store and walked down a short ways. They soon came upon a clothing store and Elthin walked inside after leaving Lucine to wait outside.

After the ranting from the Clerk, Elthin took Lucine out of the Weapon shop, leaving the Clerk to bring out every scrap of potpourri and Incense they could find to 'cleanse the slum's taint' from their store.

"Be quick. You know my size, don't you. I don't want to hang around any longer than needed." Lucine informed Elthin as he headed into the clothing store, leaving her by herself to wait outside.

Before Elthin had gone into the store fully he cursed himself for forgetting something. However, Lucine soon brought it up moments later.

"I'm afraid I wouldn't know your size" Elthin admitted.

Soon after Lucine told him what it was he walked back into the store.

"Just get the 'petite' size. That's what Nobles call children's clothing. 'Petite Young Miss' will be a better fit, as that's aimed more and girls my age. Try to keep the colours as basic as possible. Gaudy doesn't suite me. Darker colours are better as well because, well, I'd just look strange in light coloured clothing." Lucine informed Elthin.

Elthin headed into the clothing store to select the Clothing for Lucine.

Elthin played over in his mind everything that Lucine had told him. About what to pick up for her wanting to make things quick. He looked around for the store clerk for some help in deciding on what to pick up.

Once more something else popped into his mind that he was forgetting something. But wasn't sure on just what it was so he forgot about it.

While things seemed mostly quiet outside, perhaps the thing Elthin was forgetting was more important that it seemed. While concealing Lucine's aura with magic, that doesn't disguise the fact that she sticks out like a sore thumb among the rich and wealthy Nobles. Also, in this district, Magicians from the Guild are sure to mill around. All things seemed quiet, for now, or so it seemed...

But for how long?

Soon enough Elthin found the clerk and asked for some help. He told them that he was looking for some new clothes for his daughter. As he wanted the very best for her he also mentioned that he was looking for something in a 'petite' size and of a dark color. The clerk told him they had a few things in those colors. And went on to show Elthin just where they were working over he saw various clothing types in Lucine's size.

But wasn't sure on what color she would like. Soon enough he picked out something in black that he thought would look good on her. Followed by two more black sets of clothes even going along and picked out a dark colored cloak for her as well.

While Elthin flitted around the Clothing store like a scared bird, trying to pick as many things which he believed Lucine would like, all was silent outside. Perhaps his worry was in vain? Or maybe there was just-

"Filthy witch! What do you think you're doing here!" An angry male voice from outside shouted in disgust, "Trying to burn another place down?!"

"Hey, Teach, let me take her on! I've wanted to try out my new spells." A younger voice, possibly of a young male, followed the commanding tone of the older man.

"What tha hell are ya talkin' 'bout!" Lucine's voice followed the previous two. She didn't sound as refined as she did when talking to Elthin. She probably slipped back to her Dweller Accent. "I ain't no Witch! Get ya head on straight, ya stupid brat!"

"The fiend speaks in tongues!" The older Male countered. "That's possession if ever I heard one!"

They seem to have gathered quite the crowd outside, as jeers for Lucine and cheers for the other two echoed around the Marketplace.

With everything picked out for Lucine Elthin headed up to pay for things. Once more that feeling of him having forgotten something entered his mind. Yet he still wasn't sure on what it was so he ignored it at the counter. Elthin used some gold coins to pay for the clothes and cloak for Lucine and then headed out of the store. When he exited the store he was greeted by a large crowd of people.

"What's going on here?" Elthin asked.

Having not heard what was said earlier but from looking around. He could see that two people were facing off against Lucine.

As Elthin left the store in a hurry, the Clerk followed him shortly afterwards to check on all the ruckus. When outside, it was clear just who was trying to execute Lucine. The older man's voice belonged to the red-headed male from the scene of the inferno, the one who left due to his hate for the slums. The younger voice belonged to a young boy, no older than Lucine, dressed in the finer clothing of young Nobles. Like his master, he also had short red hair but his eyes were brown.

Upon hearing Elthin's exclamation, Lucine turned towards him.

"So 'ere ya finally are! Go talk some sense inta those there peacocks!" Lucine ordered Elthin. "Or, would ya rather let me att'em? I aven't had ta swing ma blades around taday, an' I'm dyin' ta do so!"

"Are you affiliated with this...vile creature?!" The Young man demanded Elthin. "Or are you there to take what's rightfully my Pupil's mark?!"

"Quit talking and let me torch the girl!" The boy interrupted. "She clearly wants a fight and it's a fight I'm willing to give."

As Elthin picked up on more details he knew he'd seen the red-headed man before. Having seen him at the scene of the inferno early today. He also saw the young boy who had the same hair color as his master and knew that the young boy was his student. Next Lucine spoke up once more at him.

"No, that's something I don't want to see here," Elthin told her.

The young man then spoke up asking if he was with Lucine. Elthin knew he could lie but that would upset Lucine and he didn't want that.

"Yes, I'm affiliated with this girl, and I'm afraid that your pupil will just have to find another mark." Elthin pointed out he had moved closer to Lucine.

"You will not lay a hand on her!" Elthin snapped.

His usual calm attitude had changed into that of the state of mind he used. When a fight my goes down he spoke up again to the boy. "If you try anything out on her anything at all you will be sorry" a cold wind blew across the plaza before it vanished. Elthin then turned his attention back to the boy's teacher.

"Who might you be and you pupil be?"

Elthin prevented Lucine from cutting the vanity out of the other Master and Student. She grumbled in disapproval but didn't disobey.

"If you are a Witch sympathiser, then you shall burn alongside her." The Young Man calmly replied. "Make peace with whichever Heretical Gods you worship, as I will be sending you to them soon."

The boy's moxie soon declined upon attracting the attention of a more powerful Magician. He quickly moved beside his Master before anything could start. Elthin then demanded that the pair identified themselves.

"Introductions for introductions, I would normally insist however, as you are soon to become suitable training materials for my Pupil and I, it is only common courtesy that you should know the names of your executors." The Young man answered with a confident smile. "Lord Arundal of House Karst, and his Pupil, Young Master Frantz of House Rulm. Might I request you identify yourselves as well, so we know what to carve into your Tombstones?"

The young man before Elthin was a rude and annoying little man. He would need to be brought down a level or two given time. "If you even try anything you will regret it" Elthin replied back he quickly looked back at Lucine. Then back at the two people before him, the boy had moved behind his master. It seemed like the boy was just all talk and a coward if someone more powerful than him spoke to him.

The young man then introduced himself and his Pupil.

"Training materials you think quite highly of yourself don't you? You're nothing more than a bully who needs to be taught a lesson." Elthin told him Arundal then wished to know the names of both Elthin and Lucine."Lord Elthin of House Veldhar, and his Pupil, Lucine." It then came upon Elthin that he had never learned what Lucine's last name was. Another thought then came to Elthin's mind and he soon spoke it.

"You spoke of training earlier than if that is what a low life thug. Such as yourself wants then I challenge you Arundal to a duel?" Elthin laid out the challenge. Normally Elthin didn't go around challenging other Magician's to duels. But he didn't like the way Arundal or Frantz were treating Lucine and he thought it would be a much. Better idea to put the young lord in his place for being such a jerk.

Elthin threw back a retort, bringing in the ego of the other Master.

"I seek nothing more than the cleanse this world of the corruption bought about by the lesser gender practicing something which is far beyond their knowledge capacity." Arundal simply answered. "A woman's place is the Home, and a girl's is beside her."

"Girls are too stupid to grasp magic." Frantz piped up, agreeing with his master.

"Scared that a girl is smarter than your dumb ass?" Lucine grinned back. Her speech seems to have returned to normal. "Better hit the streets if you don't want to be schooled by a 'dumb girl'. I could kick your ass into next week without so much as breaking a sweat."

Lucine's dig at the pair was soon to be met with retaliation if Elthin hadn't spoken up again, challenging Arundal to a duel.

"If it is a fight you want then, by all means, petition for one. I have no objections to putting fools in their place." Arundal confidently replied. "I trust you know the procedure, or are you lapsing into forgetfulness, considering your lust towards one of such low birth?"

"I challenge the stupid girl to a fight!" Frantz cut in, following in his Master's footsteps.

"On my terms only." Lucine responded with a grin. "Just weapons. No magic stuff. Sword to sword only."

Elthin listened to everything that was said by the other party members.

"Cleanse the world of corruption I'd say you would have to start with yourself." Elthin then went on to laugh at the mention of the woman's place being in the home. While this was usually true it was also known that woman did serve as either Magicians or members of the army. "Girl's and woman are allowed to do as they please."

Arundal then agreed to the duel followed by Frantz wanting to challenge Lucine.

"I know how to petition one and I would have to say the same for you. Tell me have you engaged in any sexual acts with young Frantz here it seems like you have?" Elthin says in a way to try and anger Arundal. He then turned to Lucine "is that really what you want to do?"

Elthin returned the jab at sexuality and sexual preferences. This only further fueled his anger.

"You question the Honor of my Family?!" Arundal replied, anger clear in his tone. "We are not predators to anything but the corrupt!"

The jab seemed to go straight over Frantz's head, but Lucine fully understood it and began to laugh.

"So you do have a sense of humor." She giggled to Elthin. "Good one there. I must be rubbing off on you."

Elthin questioned Lucine's resolve to fight.

"Are you kidding me? He's practically a stick. I doubt he can even hold a sword, let alone use one." Lucine replied with confidence. "He don't stand a chance against me."

His jab seemed to have had the right effect on Arundal it made him mad.

"Whatever you say" Elthin wasn't really in the mood to argue more with Arundal. He heard Lucine giggle it was a nice sound maybe she was right after all he just smiled. For a moment before it left his face and he looked back her way.

"Then we will petition a battle between the two of you," Elthin said. He wasn't sure if he was really happy or not with Lucine wanting to battle Frantz. While he could understand the reasons why she wanted to do so. He was also worried about what if something were to happen to her during the battle what if she got hurt?

"I believe our business here is done" Elthin then started to leave and mentioned for Lucine to follow.

Elthin finished the encounter and began to take his leave, with Lucine following shortly after him.

"You will regret ever opposing me!" Arundal shouted after the pair. "By the Honor of my House, I will pass judgement on you!"

"He still hasn't shut up?!" Lucine sighed. "All talk and no action."

The pair began to head home. Today had been eventful, to say the least. But, was it over yet?

Elthin ignored that last part of what Arundal had to say as the pair. Left the Noble's shopping area and headed for home the pair traveled in silence until they reached. Elthin's home and entered inside of it he placed the stuff he had bought for Lucine on a chair.

"I've picked out some clothes that I hope you might like. I've also bought you a cloak to wear if you wish to wear one" Elthin says.

He took a seat in one of the chairs to let Lucine look through what he had bought her.

"Also if it's not too much trouble can you tell me your last name?" Elthin asked.

The pair arrived home and Lucine began to look through the clothes she was purchased.

"Got the dark request spot on but colour variation could have been a little better. Whatever, clothes are clothes. Size seems alright too. Cloaks could come in handy if we go shopping again. Don't want a repeat of the Clergyman and Altar boy scenario. Lots of outer clothes, however, no underwear. Guess that's workable. Footwear is missing as well but shoes can be cleaned and polished so it's not really a big deal." Lucine began to list off before Elthin asked her a question. "Nothing as notable as a Noble's family name so I don't see why it's relevant. After all, I may be an orphan, if things went badly. Family names aren't really important where I'm from so I've never really had to give it out. First name will do, and family name can be whatever you want it to be."

Lucine then went on to give her thoughts on what she thought about. What had been bought for her and Elthin listened.

As he had never really bought clothes for a girl before. He was rather confused but slowly came to understand just what Lucine was speaking about. She then went on to say that it was okay to give her what ever family name he wanted to use.

"Would it be okay with you if say I were to adopt you into my family's House?" Elthin went on to ask.

"As long as it's only figuratively until I know exactly what happened to my family, I'm not fussed either way." Lucine answered as she looked through the clothes again. "Wouldn't want to just up and desert the ones who raised me."

Lucine placed some of the clothes against her and looked at herself in the mirror. They looked quite nice on her and complimented her very well. However, pairing the dresses with the cloak seemed to look a little bleak and depressing, like she was about to attend a funeral, however, they still looked rather nice.

"Girls clothes sorted. Now, on to problem two." Lucine began. "People still call me a Witch because I can use magic naturally. Witches, like the queer peacock pointed out, aren't well received in this town, or anywhere for that matter. When I can better control my power, things will be a little easier in the general populace, but skilled Magicians could still point me out. Now, onto the solution. Boys are free to show off their magic tricks without question. At present, I guess I don't look much like a girl so...you get the idea."

Lucine only wanted it to be for a while until she learned the truth about her family. "I understand how you want things to be."

Elthin watched as Lucine took some of the clothes and placed them. Against herself to check on how they looked before going on to talk some more.

"Then you would want to look like a boy to make things easier?" Elthin asked. He understood what Lucine was saying as it would be easier for her to move around and not always being pointed out.

"Guess I've not really got another choice." Lucine grumbled. "Wouldn't want to cause too much trouble than I already am. Your clothes are, obviously, far too big for me. I'd rather keep all my hair, but a trim might be needed to finish the disguise. Downside is, what if I need to pee while out? I can't just waltz into the Girl's room and I wouldn't dream of entering the Boy's room. Guess I've got to suck it up and go with the flow."

"You do have a choice in the matter you don't have to go that way if you don't want to" Elthin told her.

He didn't want Lucine to do something that she didn't want to do. Sure going around like a boy would make things far easier it would also cause problems. Like how she pointed out about going to the bathroom it wasn't right about having a girl use the Boy's room.

"Um that can be talked about at some other time" Elthin was a bit embarrassed about talking about that subject. So he thought on something else to talk about.

"About tomorrow I was thinking we could start your magic training. Followed by some weapons training as well as I like to see just how good you are with a dagger. After that it would be good to start to search for clues on what happened to your family and trying to find this rouge magician who's after you."

Elthin let all that sink in before speaking again.

"Is there anything that you'd want to add onto what we do tomorrow?" Elthin asked.

"If you don't want every Magician in the city looking to kill you for harboring a Witch in your house, then I really don't have a choice." Lucine answered, sounded a little annoyed by the supposed options she has.

Elthin proposed the idea for tomorrow's lessons.

"You're the teacher, you pick what you want me to do. I'll be a good student and go with it." Lucine simple replied. "I'd like to get a rundown of what the Magician's guild in this town is trying to go for. Plus, a floor plan would be nice for when I start there, which I'm positive will happen when I'm ready."

Elthin thought over what Lucine had to say he could tell that she was annoyed. By what little choices she had he didn't want her to be like this. But there was really little that he could do to help her out.

"Well, going that way I'd need to go buy you more clothes as I currently. Have nothing here that would fit you I think there might be another way we can go about things."

Lucine spoke once more and Elthin listened.

"We will need to hit the Magician's guild so that's a top thing for tomorrow. As for a floor plan I could give you the tour tomorrow as well" Elthin says.

Elthin agreed to the tour of the Magician's guild.

"I think we'll need to fix the gender problem before that. I don't think they'll well receive a Slum Girl." Lucine commented. "Clothing isn't really that much of an Issue, you're talking to someone who used to live in the Slums here. I've got a few friends down there who've got hand-me-downs which might do for now."

The gender problem still needed to be worked on.

"Then we would need to trim your hair and maybe dye your hair as well" Elthin suggested.

Elthin thought over some other things.

"I should also give you more of a tour of my home as you've already seen. Some things like the kitchen, bedrooms, washrooms etc there are still some other areas of the manor that you haven't seen yet."

"Dyeing my hair won't be needed. As you've seen, red hair is pretty common around here. It'll be a shame to cut it short but it must be done." Lucine answered. "Why would I need a tour of this house? All I really need to know about are the bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen and training areas. The rest isn't of much interest to me."

"Because you don't know where the bathrooms or training areas are. As there is another area of the manor I would need to show to you. Once we have started on your education but that can wait for a while and all."

There was a quiet time for a while.

"I know where one bathroom and bedroom are. Why do I need to know where the others are? This house can't be that big, can it?" Lucine retorted. "Either way, we can get to the later thingie you mentioned when I know what this...thing...I have have is and how to use it."

After checking through all the clothes, Lucine picked them up.

"So, where's my bedroom? These'll get dusty if they're not stored right." Lucine asked. "Also, I'd like to give the room that 'lived in' feel I like."

"This house is fairly big as there is another level above and below us. The training area would be below us but you will see more of that tomorrow."

Lucine then picked up her clothes and wanted to see her room.

"Follow me please," Elthin says.

He soon led her down the hallway past a few more rooms until they came upon. The room that would be used for Lucine he opened the door and walked inside. Showing her the room with its large bed a writing desk was in the right corner of the room. A chest was at the foot of the bed which was empty as things could be placed inside. A closet was on the left side of the room for where Lucine could put her clothes.

Elthin briefly informed Lucine of the size of the house. He then led her to where her room would be. Upon entering it, Lucine took a quick look around and placed her clothes neatly in the closet, hung as they were in the shop.

"Not too sparse and not too full, just how I like it." Lucine commented on the room. "Just enough space for me."

Lucine began to look around the room some more, taking in all she could of it and making mental notes of where she may store some stuff.

"Will need that personal touch, though, but that can wait."

"You can change the room to how you want it to be. I only ask that you don't go overboard on how you want it to be."

Elthin watched as Lucine walked around the room.

"How could a Slum Girl go overboard?! We don't even know what luxury is." Lucine chuckled. "The worst I could possibly bring in here is a boy, and that's at a push."

Lucine, once she was happy with the layout of the room, headed back to Elthin.

"Let's get this tour out of the way as soon as possible." She requested. "I don't want to be bored to death after the training tomorrow."

"You completely trash it I have no idea as I normally don't have girls like you inside my house."

Lucine then wanted to get the tour over with.

"Then we will start first with the training area" Elthin mentioned for Lucine to follow him.

"Poor Elthin." Lucine sounded a little mocking in her sincerity. "Never had a girl in his house. Too obsessed with relics. Maybe you'll find a nice Mummy one day and settle down with them?"

Lucine returned to her comedic routine.

Elthin began to lead Lucine to the training area.

"I've had girl's in my house before just not one's your age" Elthin then decided to get back a Lucine on her last part. "Oh, can you be my Mummy I promise to treat you nicely we can even have many children together."

Elthin returned to his own routine,

They soon arrived at a door and he opened it to reveal a set of stairs leading down. They both walked down the steps until the reached a vast large open space. The basement of training area of Elthin's manor was large and I mean very large. The center of the room was where the training ground was located it looked to be the size of a large open courtyard. Where people could move around freely by doing any sort of movements or training with the various weapons located around the room. Swords. shields, daggers, bows and arrows and any sort of weapon one could thing over Elthin had a copy of.

Elthin literally interpreted the last part of Lucine's comment, causing her to falter a little before answering.

"Ew! Gross! I meant 'Mummy' as in the bandaged dead ruler kind, not a literal 'Mummy'." Lucine quickly answered. "It's not funny if I have to explain it."

Elthin took Lucine to the Training Grounds, which looked as daunting as they sounded. It covered at least the entirety of the house and even some of the outer streets, maybe. There were nearly every weapon in existence down here to be used to fight with. It must have cost a small fortune, even by Noble's standards, to make a area this large and well equipped.

"Wouldn't wanna get lost down here in the dark." Lucine commented, not sure how to take the size of the place.

Elthin didn't answer Lucine again on the whole Mummy thing.

"That would not be a good thing to have happen. This will also be used for you magic training as well for you can cast minor spells down here and not worry. About blowing something up as the latest wards have been placed through out the room. To protect not only us, but the house and others from harm. We are just not able to cast large spells and would need to be at either the Magician's guild or out in the land away from the city."

Elthin then led Lucine over towards where the real daggers he owned were. There were all kinds of different daggers ranging from small to large. Several were from his home Continent of Artaria while others were from another Continent which Lucine had never seen before.

Disinterested in the warding of the place, Lucine's interest soon piqued when she came across the dagger collection. She began to look over each dagger that took her interest, picking them up before eyeing them over and testing the weight of them in her hands. She especially took interest in a curved dagger with several runes on the hilt and some crossing the shaft of the blade. She looked over the edges of these particular daggers to see just how sharp they were.

Most of the daggers Lucine bared an interest in were the cruelly shaped ones, like the sort Assassins are commonly presumed to carry. The sort of daggers that, not only cut, but rip and tear the insides of a person if they're pulled out after a slight twist. Not the sort of weapon a girl would normally carry, of course.

"Nice collection here." Lucine commented. "Would love to try some of these out."

Elthin could tell by the way that Lucine looked at the daggers that. She was interested in them this made him feel happy in an odd sort of way. After a few more moments he led her away from them passing by several other sorts of weapons. Then leading her back up the stairs into the main part of the manor. They passed by several other rooms which were just the normal sort Elthin's bedroom, Lucine's the bathroom which he pointed out to her. As this was much different than the washroom that she had used earlier.

"You will be able to try those weapons out soon enough" Elthin told her at last. After he had showed her the bathroom they passed another room which was a relic room. Filled with nothing more than old artifacts that Elthin had found on his journeys across the world. Next they started up the stairs to the second level of the manor.

After a good look at the Daggers, Elthin led Lucine around the Manor some more, pointing out rooms of interest along the way. All the different rooms for different things just showed how affluent the Nobles were to be able to afford so many rooms for things would could be squeezed into one or omitted altogether. The bathroom, which was also one of the rooms, seemed obsolete to Lucine, considering the fact that there were technically portable versions of them in the form of Chamber Pots. She couldn't quite grasp the concept of sacrificing a whole room for something which could just be tucked under a bed and emptied into the streets the next day. Nobles had weird ways of doing things. Learning the difference between the 'Bathroom' and 'Washroom' was rather unnecessary, in Lucine's opinion.

Elthin began to lead Lucine up the stairs to see the second floor of the Mansion.

Upon reaching the second floor of the Manor if one were to look around. They would first notice that only a few doors could be seen about three actually the first door. Led to the library which took up one whole section of the floor. Elthin only pointed out that behind the door was the library he didn't open the door or anything knowing. That Lucine wouldn't be interested in seeing what else was inside.

The door to the left led to Elthin's personal office. Where he conducted private meetings and kept the most important finds he had found on his travels across the world. Locked up inside of that room the third door led outside into a small enclosed balcony. This area gave a perfect view of the surrounding city and the vast desert beyond. On clear days, one could barely make out the mountains in the far distance. Another good thing about the balcony was that one didn't have to worry about anyone looking in on you.

The second floor of the Manor was filled with uninteresting stuff. A library, office and balcony. Nothing worth investigating unless the person in question could read, or was severely bored and nothing else was working to stave off the boredom. Overall, it was a place Lucine would go if she wanted to pass some time wandering around aimlessly.

Soon enough the tour of the Manor was done and Elthin took. Lucine back to her room as he had nothing else planned for the evening. "While I'm not sure what time you wake up in the morning I would like to begin our training at 9 in the morning after a good morning meal." Elthin explained wondering if Lucine would be okay with this.

After the tour, Elthin took Lucine back to her assigned room. He then posed the option of starting training at 9am.

"Back in the slums, we got up with the sun and went to bed with it." Lucine answered. "Kind of hard to sleep with a giant ball of blindingly bright fire blasting through a broken down wooden window frame. Getting up at around eight in the morning is considered a lie-in."

"Well for now you no longer have to worry about. Having a giant ball of blinding fire blasting in your face whenever you wake up in the morning. Unless that was something you enjoyed perhaps you got a nice tan?" Elthin joked. Once again showing that rare side of himself that he didn't often show to anyone. But it was then agreed upon that eight in the morning would be the best time to begin things.

'I will see you in the morning' Elthin then let Lucine be and headed to his room.

Elthin, once again, tried to make a joke.

"Really. I guess that could be right. After all, we do live in a desert, so being tanned is quite common." Lucine answered. "Guess my skin colour comes from those sleepless mornings, and is not hereditary."

Perhaps, due to where Elthin came from, seeing a person as dark as Lucine was would normally connote a good tan. However, in this current place, dark skin was common due to the centuries of living under the blazing sun.

Elthin then excused himself from Lucine's room.

"Guess so." Lucine answered. She then began to sort the bedroom out to suit her tastes.

Elthin a moment later entered into his room and shut the door. Then a few moments later after undressing into his nightwear he climbed into bed. As he lay there for a few minutes before drifting off the sleep he began to think about what the future would hold for both him and Lucine. He was taking a big risk in caring for a Slum girl like her and from the ordeal in the Noble's marketplace earlier today there was going to be many more hardships for the pair in the coming future.

After spending a while sorting the room out to suit her liking, Lucine began to get ready to turn in for the day herself. Today had been hectic, to say the least, but was this the worst it was going to get? Would she face more hardships after awakening to this...power? Thinking about it was going to solve nothing. Only action bought results in her old life, and she expected the 'High Life' to be no different.

After thinking deeply about everything, Lucine began to let exhaustion take her away into the next day, where her new life would officially begin. The old Lucine died in the fire which took her house, as far as she was concerned, and it was now the New Lucine's time to rise from the ashes of her old life, like a Phoenix chick hatching from the flaming ashes of its parent's corpse. Would she blaze on for years to come and burn her mark into this world, or will she fizzle out and leave nothing but smoke behind? Only time will tell...