Okay, I forgot to mention there may be possible spoilers for the series, so if you haven't seen the last few episodes then just be warned that I refer to things that happened in my fic. That's all. Enjoy otherwise.

One

"Majic! Wait up!"

The smiling blond boy turned around to see Eris running towards him, looking haggard and breathless. "Hey Eris. You look a bit ruffled. What's wrong?"

She reached him and bent down, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. "We ... aren't ... supposed ... to ... go ... to ... the ... library ... today."

Majic looked a little confused. "But that's where Master said to meet us."

"I know," Eris had finally caught her breath and only looked a little red. "But he saw me on my way to the library and stopped me to tell everyone that class is cancelled. So we have to go to the library to tell everyone not to go there."

Majic nodded. "Then let's go." He and Eris set off to the library to meet up with the rest of the students in their class. Once they told everyone that class had been cancelled, Eris and Majic decided to stay in the library and spend a bit of time studying, considering they were about to have examinations on not only their knowledge, but also their practical magic skills.

After about two hours, Majic closed the book he was reading with a sharp bang, startling Eris. "Okay, I'm heartily sick of studying this. I know it back to front. What I really need to do is practical magic. That's where I'm failing right now."

Eris sighed. "I suppose. I really do need to study this though."

Majic smiled. "Then you stay here and I'll go see if Master is free yet." He closed the rest of his books and quickly gathered his papers. "I'll see you at dinner then."

Eris smiled. "Hope you go well with your studying."

"Thanks." Majic waved and walked out of the library, heading back to his room before seeking out Hartia for help.

"Master?" He called out approaching the redhead sorcerer's room. He knocked on Hartia's chamber door seeing as he was not in the front room.

"I'll be out in a moment." Majic nodded and moved away from the door. He walked slowly around the room. He wondered what it was like when Childman was here. Bookcases lined two walls and a single desk took a space before the large wide window. Majic smiled seeing something on one of the shelves.

He knew one thing, he was fairly certain that Childman did not have any Black Tiger comic books in his shelves. Majic put the volume back and noticed that something had fallen from the cover.

Frowning slightly, Majic leaned down and picked it up. He gasped seeing what it was.

A photograph of four people. One Majic immediately recognised as a young version of Hartia, the hair was unmistakable. The other young boy must have been Orphen ... or Krylancelo as he was known back then. He was smiling with Hartia, one arm wrapped around the boy's shoulder, the other making a V with his fingers. Behind them a girl with long flowing violet hair was grinning, leaning a hand on both of their shoulders. Azalie. She looked so happy and at peace. The final figure was standing to the side slightly. He looked older than Hartia and Orphen, perhaps the same age as Azalie, it was hard to tell. Even when he was young, Lai had an air of distance and mystery surrounding him.

"Childman had one similar to it, but I requested that one." Majic turned to see his master looking over his shoulder fondly at the photograph. "Lai has the only other copy that I know of. I know not where Azalie's and Krylancelo's are."

"What happened to Childman's?"

"He destroyed it. It was a different picture though. He was in that one. Now there is nothing left of him here, not even a picture." Hartia looked sad then he shook his head and smiled at Majic, accepting the photograph back. "So what brings you here? I would have thought you would be preparing for your examinations."

"I was trying to, but I really need to work on my spellcasting." Majic blushed slightly and looked down at the floor. "I was wondering if you could help me."

Hartia smiled gently. "I would love to help you. What in particular do you feel you need to work on?"

"Just basic casting."

Hartia nodded. "Let me see your stance." Majic nodded and prepared himself to cast a spell. Hartia studied him with a slight frown on his face. "How do you feel?"

"A little silly actually," Majic admitted.

"And so you should. You're concentrating too much on what your look like. Do not focus on the exterior, you need to concentrate more on your thoughts and emotions as you cast a spell."

Majic nodded. "How do you stand?"

"Depends on the spell." Hartia thought for a moment. "Sometimes you need to physically enact something if you're not as strong in that area as you would wish. I've always had that problem, but Krylancelo never did. His problem was he never practiced." Hartia smiled wryly. "If he'd practiced more, he would have outstripped both Azalie and Childman within a few years of being here."

Majic looked interested. "Really?" Hartia knew he loved hearing stories of Orphen's past. "How did he manage to pass?"

"With help from Azalie, myself and Lai of course. Krylancelo had this amazing quality of getting whatever he needed with barely a thought. He had me and Azalie wrapped around his little finger. Though with Azalie, the bonding was a two-way thing." Hartia rolled his eyes. "I don't think Krylancelo ever did anything to help me, but he was always there for Azalie."

"What about Lai?"

Hartia grinned. "Lai was always too smart to get too involved with Krylancelo. Weren't you Lai?" Majic whirled around to the door to see the psychic standing in the shadows.

"Indeed." Lai approached them, a soft smile on his face. "But I always had time for you, though you rarely needed it. You were the most studious of the three Hartia."

Hartia held out his hands and grinned. "And look what it got me." He smiled back down at Majic. "I know that you think you're not good enough to be here, but I've seen what you can do. You're one of the most powerful sorcerer's I've come across in long time, you should not doubt yourself. Isn't that what Krylancelo was always saying to you?"

Majic nodded, smiling sheepishly. "Yeah, I guess so."

"Remember, magic can only be performed with concentration, practice and perseverance."

Majic nodded again, knowing he was now dismissed. He smiled gratefully at Hartia and bowed slightly to Lai before walking to the door and going out.

Lai stood beside Hartia, seeing the wistful expression on his face. "You need not worry about Majic. He's talented and stubbourn. Like you." Lai grinned slightly and Hartia turned to him with a smile.

"I know. He can do this."

"No, really, he'll make it. Do you want me to consult my crystal ball again?"

"Lai!" Hartia looked scandalized. "You're not supposed to look into the apprentices futures before exams."

"I thought it might ease your worry and help you sleep better."

Hartia smile gratefully. "Thank you my friend, but it was not necessary for you to do so." He moved over to his desk and pulled out an empty photo frame and placed the picture of the four children inside.

"But I wanted to." Hartia looked up in shock at the statement from Lai. The diviner was looking away, slightly embarrassed. "I wanted to help you Hartia, I don't like to see you in pain."

"Thank you." Hartia blushed slightly. He looked up, suddenly curious. "Um, Lai, what else happens?"

Lai grinned. "I knew you wouldn't be able to resist the temptation to ask."

"Know-it-all," Hartia muttered good-naturedly and Lai laughed.

"I could tell you, but it would ruin he surprise." He looked suddenly serious. "I did see things about Majic though that may be vital to his future."

Hartia stilled suddenly. "He's going to leave us."

Lai nodded. "He does not belong here, he is not one of us and we cannot make him."

"I know. He was always and will always be Krylancelo's apprentice." Hartia sighed. "I'll make sure that he's well for him. I'd hate to have Krylancelo angry at me for not taking care of him like I promised."

"He'll be fine." Lai watched as Hartia turned away to the window, the bright golden red light of the sunset making him a dark silhouette against the light of the sun. It's you I worry about.

"Lai?" Hartia asked quietly after a long moment of silence.

"Yes?"

"Would you mind at all if I stayed with you tonight. I don't think I'll be able to sleep."

Lai nodded. "Of course you can." He smiled gently. "That's what friends are for, right?"