The Apprenticeship
"Good morning, welcome to Pierre's! What can I get for you?"
"Your daughter, please."
Pierre's shoulders slumped and his face flattened. He knew this day was coming. "Yes, sir." He left the counter and knocked on his daughter's door. "Abigail? Mr. Rasmodius is here for you."
"Oh! Okay, thanks!" She hurried out to the counter, carrying two chunks of quartz. She offered the larger one to the wizard. "Hi, would you like some?"
"Make sure you wash those first, honey!" Caroline called out from the kitchen.
"Already did, Mom!"
"Thank you, Abigail," Rasmodius said, "but I've already eaten."
Abigail took a bite of the smaller quartz crystal. Pierre cringed; he hated the sound of crunching rocks and the outright weirdness of having a daughter who eats them, but he knew Abigail wouldn't stop, and it surprisingly wasn't hurting her, so he couldn't stop her.
Rasmodius seemed unfazed. "I suppose you wonder why I'm here."
Abigail nodded. Her mouth was full.
"I am looking for an apprentice. You seem to have an interest in the arcane and the occult, as well as a significant amount of raw magical talent."
"What?!"
Rasmodius simply gestured toward the quartz in Abigail's hand. "Most people can't eat those, for one." He smiled. "I have been observing you, Abigail, and would like to ask you to become my apprentice. There is no need to answer right now-please, just come to my tower and we'll speak at length there."
Her face lit up. "Dad, can I go?"
"Yes, you may," he sighed.
She wrapped him up in a hug. "Thank you!"
"Pierre, sir, I do not know when she will return to you."
Pierre scowled.
Rasmodius continued. "When is her curfew?"
"11:00pm."
"It is not my intention to cause trouble, nor to put your daughter in danger. I will walk her home and she will return by 11:00pm tonight."
"Oh!" Pierre's face softened. "Thank you."
With that, Abigail and Rasmodius left the store. As they walked to the tower, the wizard occasionally pointed into the bushes. "There's a Junimo," he'd say. "There's a fairy." He pointed to a roughed-up patch of ground. "Shadow people. That's how they get out from the underground at night. Be careful."
When they got to the tower, Rasmodius pulled out a seat at a sturdy wooden table covered with papers. "Sit. Would you like some coffee? Tea? Amethyst?"
"Awesome, thanks!" Abigail said. "I'd like some coffee with cream and an amethyst, please. What a treat!"
The wizard ascended the stairs of the tower. He continued talking, and his voice sounded just as clear and just as close as before. "I've brought you here because I need an apprentice. Eventually, I will leave the trappings of this mortal world. Still, my arcane studies must continue. In addition, to combat the dark magical forces of both the local witch and the Gotoro Empire's magical practitioners, the Valley needs a strong witch or wizard with the power of the light. All things in balance."
He walked down the stairs carrying two cups of coffee and an amethyst. "Do you have any questions?"
"Are you my dad?" she blurted. Go big or go home, right?
"I am not," he said simply. "While your suspicions are correct that I … ah … supplied the seed needed to create you, I am not your father. You are my daughter by heredity, though the honor of being your father goes to Pierre. To be a father requires unconditional love and dirty work, and Pierre has given both of those things in abundance."
Abigail raised an eyebrow.
Rasmodius continued. "He was expecting me this morning. Last week, I spoke with your father and your mother about my intentions for you."
"He didn't like that, did he?"
"Not one bit."
"He wants me at home in the kitchen, making his dinner," she scoffed.
"He wants you safe and alive, my dear! He stops you from adventuring because he doesn't want you to get killed by monsters. He dislikes the spirit board because he doesn't want you to anger the ghosts. He wants you to cook because of his admittedly outdated views; he wants you to have a husband and keep him happy so you're never alone."
She rolled her eyes.
"He was actually more willing to let you go with me than your mother was."
"What?"
"Your mother fussed about your college classes, about the dangers inherent in magic, and about needing your help at the store. While your father didn't like the idea either, he understands that you have an interest in the arcane. He understands that you want a life of adventure and novelty. His only concern was your safety."
"Really? He actually said that?" Abigail leaned back in her chair and took a sip of her coffee.
"Yes." Rasmodius neglected to mention Pierre's grumblings about having to pay an employee-that concern had nothing to do with Abigail herself. "You and I are related through heredity and magic, but Pierre is your father."
"Wow. Thanks for letting me know."
"You are welcome. Now, do you have any questions about the apprenticeship?"