"Rythian, where are you?" Zoey called from atop the fortress's wall. The Mage had a knack for knowing exactly when Zoey needed his help, and disappearing before she could find him. "Rythian, I need your help! Please come out," she called. Taking a quick survey of the land surrounding the castle, she almost missed the lone figure climbing over a hill, towards their castle. Almost.
"Rythian, there's someone coming towards the castle!" She yelled, hoping he'd believe her.
"What? Where?" He said suddenly, startling Zoey out of her skin. He had teleported behind her, and was it her imagination, or was there purple dust dissipating at his feet? She knew he had a void ring, but she couldn't get over the strange purple matter that seemed to appear when he teleported. It didn't matter, either way.
"Over there, on the hill. I don't recognize them,"
"That doesn't mean he or she isn't a threat," Rythian muttered. "Go back in the castle. If this person is friendly, I don't want to scare them off. If they aren't, I don't want to warn them we're home,". Zoey obliged, and Rythian followed suit. Together they sat on the ground level of Blackrock, waiting for the mysterious traveler to show up.
A while passed, and Rythian sighed. "I really need to get back to what I was doing. Zoey, call me if this person shows up, I'll be upstairs. Do you want me to find Teep?" he paused to ask as he ascended the stairs. Zoey shook her head. It was cute how Rythian would look out for her like he did, even if she knew she'd be fine on her own. So she sat and waited.
And waited.
And waited.
And wai-
"Hello?" A sharp voice asked from the other side of the door. Definitely female, but there was a harsh edge to the voice that reminded her of Rythian when he talked about the Old World. She answered the door.
"Hello!" She greeted the figure. The girl- and she really was only a girl, no more that twenty- narrowed her eyes. She looked to be young, but she was incredibly tall.
"Is this Blackrock Stronghold? Home to a mage?"
The question was harsh, but Zoey was still determined to be nice to the stranger. "Well, the rocks are certainly black, so I would think so," she replied happily. "So who are you?"
"I came here to talk to a mage. And since you're obviously not him, I think I must be in the wrong place," The other girl spat.
"See, I think-" Zoey was cut off by the sound of Rythian from the direction of the stairs.
"Zoey, who's this?" He asked cagily.
"She hasn't told me her name yet," Zoey replied. The pair stole a glance at the girl in the doorway, who's eyes lit up at the sight of Rythian.
"You must be the mage," she said, not without a hint of awe and respect.
"That'd depend on who's asking. Why are you here?"
"I want to learn to fight. Swords and simple TNT aren't enough, I want to know more,"
Rythian guessed the rest. "So that would mean-"
"I want to study in the ways of magic," She finished curtly.
"Anyone could study magic on their own. Why are you here?"
"It isn't obvious? I want to study under someone,"
"No, why are you here? You could go to any of the other places near here. Why'd you choose mine, as opposed to the castle with the telescope?" Rythian asked.
"I could hear the machinery inside that castle from a mile away," the traveler replied disdainfully, but not without a hint of anger.
Rythian looked pleased and surprised. "So you're opposed to science?"
"Science," the girl snarled, eyes narrowing to slits and filling with rage. "Science is an abomination! It's destructive and needlessly complicated, and if the idiots at home had given up on science, maybe-" The girl broke off there, and her eyes widened with the realization that she had said something she shouldn't have.
Rythian seemed to understand, and kindness and respect filled his words. "Your reasons for disliking science are your own. I understand that. If you don't want to keep talking, you don't have to,"
The girl seemed to calm down some. "I came straight here because I've heard tales of a great mage who resides in a fortress overlooking a volcano. I've heard tales of who you are and what you can do, what you have done. I want to learn from the best, and from what people seem to think of you, I believe I came to the right place. I wish to be your apprentice," she finished, looking Rythian in the eyes. She detected something odd there, a sort of purple hue mixed in with the hazel, but she brushed it off as nothing.
Zoey felt a need to cut in there. "The thing is, you can't be his apprentice, because I'm already-"
"Apprentice? Interesting idea," Rythian mused.
Zoey was incredibly saddened by the fact that Rythian made no move to mention he already had an apprentice, and that that apprentice was listening to the conversation.
"If- and I mean if- I were to take you in, what could you do for me? What would I gain from this?" Rythian asked.
"My services, of course. Protection, fighting, building, anything I could help with,"
Rythian thought about it for a long moment. It must've only been a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity before Zoey heard Rythian decide. "Alright. I'll take you on as my apprentice. You can come with me- we still need to talk,". She watched the two walk into the stronghold. There was absolutely no explaining it, but Zoey felt the smallest twinge of jealousy.