Douxie had been reluctant to sit quietly and relax, but over the next few days he started to warm up to it. He couldn't really remember the last time he had truly been able to relax. It felt nice, though it took several days for Douxie to really get into it. He kept on trying to go back to his magic or music, but Archie wouldn't allow him to do so. Whenever Douxie strummed so much as a single note on his lute, or fingered his bracer, Archie would get at him.

Douxie tried to point out that he found using magic, and playing music, fun and relaxing in its own way, but Archie wouldn't hear a word of it. He just said that Douxie needed to find some other way to relax.

Eventually Douxie started to calm down and not feel the need to be productive. Archie helped a lot. He tried to show Douxie how to relax like a dragon. It didn't work very well, as it wasn't in Douxie's nature to be able to practically hibernate until his natural magic sensed a threat, at which he would wake up in an instant. That was something that came naturally to dragons.

Still, Douxie enjoyed it because he got to spend some stress-free time with his familiar. He and Archie were always with each other, but because they came across so much danger and life-threatening situations they rarely ever got to just sit and enjoy each other's company. Douxie had almost forgotten how nice this felt.

By the time they got to Spain Douxie hadn't practiced his magic properly, and he'd never felt better. Magic was a part of him and always would be, and he would never want to change that. However, since he had first discovered his magic as a small child he had used it every day at least a little bit. He'd been a wizard in training for as long as he could remember, and he'd never had the chance to experience what it was like to just be a normal person. It was unfamiliar, but an interesting enough experience. It definitely made him appreciate his magic more.

When they finally docked, Douxie said goodbye to the sailors and left the ship. He took Archie and followed the flow of people to find the town square. The very first thing that Douxie noticed was the music. It filled the square, and Douxie loved it. It was fast and had a good rhythm that almost made him want to dance, and Douxie wasn't even a dancer.

"Arch, do you hear that?" Douxie grinned excitedly.

Archie nodded. He couldn't talk, as they were too close to other people. Douxie reached for his lute and strummed a few notes, trying to mimic the sound that he was hearing. The rhythm was fascinating. If he hadn't come here to learn magic he would want to learn more about the music of Spain. Perhaps after he'd gotten better at his magic he could find someone to teach him some classic songs.

First though, Douxie had to find a sorcerer or magician. He didn't exactly know where to begin looking, but fortunately he had somebody with him who could sense magic.

Douxie reluctantly put his lute away and left the plaza. He ducked into an empty alley, looking around, just to make sure they were alone, before turning to Archy.

"Can you sense anyone?" Douxie asked.

Archie frowned slightly and sniffed the air. His ears flicked back and his fur stood on end. "I sense something." Archy sniffed again and hissed. "It's unnatural."

"Isn't all magic unnatural?" Douxie asked.

"Not for creatures of magic who were born with these abilities." Archie said. "I mean, compared to other kinds of magic this feels wrong, dark."

"What, like shadowmancy?" Douxie frowned. He remembered Merlin saying numerous times that Morgana's chosen magical specialty was unnatural. He hadn't thought that Archie would believe the same thing about shadow magic. "You know, just because Morgana ended up being evil doesn't mean that her magic itself is evil."

"No, not shadowmancy." Archie said. "It's a different kind of dark." Archie sighed and nuzzled close to Douxie. "It's hard to explain, but I don't think it's safe."

"Well then, we'll go somewhere else." Douxie said. "What other magic is there?"

Archie shifted uncomfortably. "That's just the thing, I can't sense any other magic. The dark magic is too thick, it's overwhelming everything." Archie looked around nervously. "I don't think we should be here."

"What?" Douxie gave him a slightly wounded look. "But we came all this way to find a magic teacher for me. You really want to leave before we even find someone?"

"There are wizards everywhere," Archie said. "I'm sure we can find some somewhere else."

"Where?" Douxie asked almost desperately. "We left England and Ireland because there were too many magic hunters, and now you want to leave Spain because there's magic? That's what we were looking for!"

"I know, I know." Archie said. "We've been searching for a while, but I think we need to keep searching at least a little more. It's not safe here."

"It's not safe anywhere." Douxie said. He gave Archie a pleading look. "Maybe you just think the magic you're sensing is a threat because it's so different from what you're used to." It was a long-shot, and Archie looked dubious, but Douxie wasn't going to give up so easily. He needed to get better at his magic, prove to Archie, and himself, that he deserved this bond of theirs. Douxie was born with power, but he didn't want to take it for granted.

Archie looked tired. Finally he sighed and lowered his head. "...I'll save my judgement until after we find a wizard." Archie said. "But if I still don't trust them then we're getting out of there, no questions asked, deal?"

Douxie breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't like that Archie was still trying to take care of him. They were supposed to be partners, and it seemed like Archie was carrying much more weight than he was. Douxie wanted to hold his own, as well as cover for Archie's weak spots, but he wasn't strong enough to do so yet. That was why he needed the magic teacher.

Archie's suggestion wasn't ideal, but it was better than being immediately dismissed, and Douxie was going to take it.

"I can do that." Douxie said.

"Swear it to me." Archie said. Douxie could feel the magic of their bond amplify as Archie put magic into the oath. Douxie had only made a handful of magically binding oaths. It was a very serious commitment for a creature of magic to make. Douxie would do so for Archie though. He'd do anything for his familiar.

"I swear it." Douxie said. He felt the oath become binding. "I'll follow your lead if you don't think it's safe."

"Thank you." Archie finally relaxed. "Now, let's find you a wizard." Archie walked out of the alley, and Douxie followed close behind him. Archie sniffed around, trying to get a sense of magic. He seemed really confused, and for a few minutes he seemed to be leading Douxie in circles as he tried to find his bearings. Douxie wished he could sense magic the way that Archie could. What did he mean when he said that there was overwhelming dark magic? And why was it so difficult for him to narrow down the exact location?

Eventually, after a lot of wandering around and getting turned around Archie stood in front of a shop that looked like any other apothecary. Archie sniffed the air one more time and sneezed. He rubbed his nose with his paw.

"This is it." Archie said roughly. "This place stinks of unnatural magic."

Douxie frowned slightly as he looked at the shop door. It looked harmless. "Are you certain what you're sensing isn't medicinal herbs?" Douxie knew that there were plenty of suspicious mortals that mistook natural remedies for the supernatural. Magical beings knew that they weren't at all related, so Douxie hadn't thought that Archie would mistake magical powers for the natural, but maybe he was so tired that his magical sensing abilities wereren't working as well as they normally would.

Archie gave him an unimpressed look. "Yes, I'm certain." the dragon turned back towards the apothecary. "There's magic in there."

"Well, if you insist." Douxie bent down and picked up Archie, setting him on his shoulders. "Let's see if they can give us what we're looking for." Douxie hoped that whatever wizard they found in here was willing to be his teacher, but he knew that there was a very real possibility that they had no interest in taking on an apprentice.

Douxie opened the door and his nose was suddenly assaulted with the overpowering scents in the shop. Douxie coughed and rubbed his nose to try to clear his senses. Archie growled and curled up close to him. He almost seemed to be trying to hide himself.

Douxie cleared his throat. "H-hello?" He looked around. With the way that Archie had been panicking Douxie had almost expected a place that looked like a cross between Merlin's workshop and the parts of the castle dungeon that Morgana had adopted as her own personal work area. He thought he'd see signs of magic everywhere. Spellbooks, tomes, and potion ingredients. However, this looked like any other apothecary full of completely natural and unmagical ingredients.

"Coming," The sound of an older woman said from a back room. She came out a moment later, her hair tied back and covered in remnants of the powdered ingredients that she made in her shop. "Oh, a boy. I don't often get your kind in my shop." She wiped her hands against her apron and moved behind the counter. "What can I do for you?"

"I...well, I was looking for a teacher," Douxie said almost reluctantly. He didn't know for sure if this woman truly was a wizard. If she didn't have magic, it would be a mistake to say that he did. Douxie didn't want to be driven out of town so soon after getting here.

Douxie looked to Archie. Maybe the dragon would know for sure if she had magic. Archie was glaring at the woman. He looked like he was about to start breathing fire, blowing his cover as just a normal cat.

Before Archie could do anything to ruin it all, the woman gave Archie an eager look. "A familiar." She seemed unbothered by Archie's clear distrust. She looked intrigued and almost excited. "I've heard of familiars, but I've never seen one with my own eyes." She stepped closer, reaching out to Archie. "May I see him?"

Archie hissed and dug his claws into Douxie's shoulder. The young man grimaced and pet Archie, soothing him. "I'm not sure if that's such a good idea."

The woman was disappointed, but she respected Douxie's words. "What's his name?"

"Archie," Douxie said. "And I go by Douxie." He knew it was a mistake to give her their true given names.

"My name is Breha," The woman said. She finally tore her gaze away from Archie to look at Douxie. "This familiar, he is yours, yes?"

"Yes." Douxie said.

"Are you a child of magic?" Breha asked. There was something odd in her tone that made Douxie feel a little uncomfortable and caused Archie to hiss hatefully. Douxie waited for Archie to say that it was dangerous and insist that they leave, but the dragon said no such thing, so Douxie thought it was safe enough to answer.

"I'm a wizard in training." Douxie said. "I've been looking for someone to teach me more magic."

Breha's eyes seemed to flash dangerously, but the look was gone in an instant and Douxie convinced himself that he'd just seen things because he'd let Archie's paranoia get to him. "You need to be taught magic?"

"Of course." Douxie let out a small laugh. "How else am I supposed to learn?"

Breha gave him a knowing smile. "If it's a magic teacher you're looking for, I can introduce you to my master. He has the strongest magic I've ever known, and he's always looking for new pupils."

"You have a master?" Douxie felt a little hopeful. "Who is he? Maybe I've heard of him?" He didn't think that her master was as powerful as Merlin, because he had a difficult time imagining anybody as powerful as Merlin. However, there were lots of powerful wizards in the world. Douxie hadn't thought that any of them were from Spain, but maybe he'd just missed something. It was possible that he had heard of this master of hers.

Breha chuckled, and even though there was nothing overly dark in her tone it still sent shivers down Douxie's spine. "Oh, I'm sure you've heard of my master. Most people have, though very few understand him."

Douxie gave a small chuckle himself. "I've found that there are a lot of people that don't understand magic." I was why he had to leave Britain in the first place. "Is your master here? Can I talk to him?"

"My master isn't exactly here," Breha admitted. "But you can certainly talk to him. I'm sure he'd be interested in you, and in your familiar."

Douxie felt a pit of doubt in his stomach. He would be eager to speak to Breha's master if it was just about him, but he didn't know how he felt with her fascination with Archie. Douxie knew that there were a lot of wizards that were curious about familiars, as he was just one of a few who had them, but it always made him uncomfortable. He didn't like the way that some magic folk would look at Archie like he was a sentient tool. He may be Douxie's familiar, but more than that he was his friend.

"Follow me." Breha said. She made her way towards the back of the store. Douxie stood for a long moment, uncertain. He looked to Archie, who looked a little frightened.

"Are you okay, mate?" Douxie asked. Archie shook his head and burrowed closer to Douxie.

"I don't know what it is about her magic, but this is dangerous." Archie said quietly.

"Do you want to leave?" Douxie asked. He'd made a deal with Archie, and he fully intended to follow through with it. Archie thought for a long moment before he sighed and shook his head again.

"No, it's fine." Archie said. "But be on your guard. If something happens, we need to be ready to defend ourselves."

"I can do that." Douxie said. He took a deep breath and found his nerves. "Alright, let's go meet this master of hers."

A/N: I'm afraid there's no Witcher reference in this chapter. I'm just a little tired right now and feeling a bit burnt out with this particular story. Next chapter should hopefully be more enjoyable to write, as well as longer and with a perfectly suited reference.