The salve had swallowed the bruise in minutes, it completely vanished. And eventually Cullen decided to escort Kyra up to Irving's office, as she had only stumbled into Cullen because she was heading in the wrong direction.

They we're halfway up the stairs to the second floor and she was bickering to Cullen about her height. "But I'm only 5"2! I should AT LEAST be 5"5." she complained. "Kyra, your only 13, your not done growing yet, don't be unreasonable." "Hey! I can be as unreasonable as I want!" she retorted.

Cullen chuckled.

"And why do you do that?" He looked at her with a confused face, "Do what, laugh?"

"Nono, count the stairs. You got a disorder or something?" she teased. He scoffed playfully, "Why you little punk, I just hate these damned stairs, there's so many of them and they swirl around and there so high and ugh, I just hate them."

"Oh my, so sorry for prying on your racism towards stairs." she held up both of her hands and grinned.

He grinned back, "Smart mouth." Her smile widened, "Heh, you know it."

Once they had reached Irving's office, Cullen opened to door for her, she gave him a quick smile and a nod as if to say thanks, he returned it and closed the door behind her.

Irving's office was huge, and full of all sorts of things. There were candles, multiple trunks, robes, stave's, trinkets, and books, dear Maker, so many books. But, no Irving? He wasn't any where in his office, so Kyra with nothing better to do thought it would be polite to just sit in the guest chair and wait patently.

It had only been about 2 minutes and she was bored. Stubborn kid. She grabbed one of Irving's books from atop his desk titled Aveline: Knight of Orlais. She smiled with delight, this was one of her favorite books, her mother had owned it before her, and gave it to Kyra when she turned 8. She opened it at the beginning her favorite chapter, #6, and began to read with content.

She was at the ending of chapter #9 when Irving burst though the door with Greagoir on his heels, Kyra was so startled at the noise stood up immediately, but neither of them noticed her.

"How dare you let Duncan take that girl! She assisted a blood mage AND GETS AWAY WITH IT?" the Knight-Commander shouted. She had no clue how Irving could be so in control of his emotions, "I am aware of what she did, and I am disappointed to. But he invoked the right of Conscription. That is beyond either of our power combined." he said with a sigh.

Greagoir opened his mouth to argue back, but Kyra cut him off. "I-I'm sorry, is this a bad time? I can come back later.." she said cautiously, not knowing what was going on or even if she should be there. Irving looked at her kindly, "No need child, my business is done, OUR business is done Greagoir, I have things to attend to with our new Apprentice."

Greagoir scowled at her, "She's an apprentice already? She got here yesterday, and shes only 13." Irving just looked at her more endearingly, "She's special, very talented young girl. So talented that I decided to... well to give her the Cardinal Test this week."

Greagoir looked at Irving as if he was sprouting tentacles or something. "WHAT?" he shouted. "She got here yesterday and shes taking the Cardinal Test ALREADY? Irving shes not ready!" Irving looked so calm it was surreal. "If she doesn't pass, I obviously wont put her through her real test. But she will, I have faith, I have seen something in her, she will succeed, she will be... Great"

Kyra hadn't a clue what was going on, but stood there quietly not wanting to interrupt, Greagoir did frighten her. Greagoir looked at Irving, then to the floor. When he looked back up, he appeared calm, serene. He sighed in defeat, "Well shes your apprentice Irving. Just be sure your making the right decision, she is very young after all." Irving looked at his colleague, straight in the eye, "But with an old soul."

After Greagoir left, Irving had given her a written test, mainly about what magic should be used for, what the fade is, defensive magic vs. healing magic and so on. When she asked what is was for. He said he needed reference for the Cardinal Test, not that she new what that was, she new better than to ask.

He had also given her two books, both on different kinds of spells, and told her to read them tonight. She obliged and took them, eager to read them she loved books. He wanted Kyra to get used to the circle, "Make it your Home" he said, so she was now on a tour of the circle with a Mage named Petra.

Petra was 19, much older, but she liked her. She was kind and answered all of Kyra's questions, which once she got comfortable around Petra, she had had tons of them. She showed her the Apprentice Quarters, Mage Quarters, The Harrowing Chamber (Not that she could go in there), The Stock rooms, and when she had gotten to the library, she never wanted to leave, personal heaven, she would defiantly be spending time here.

They we're passing the Mess Hall now, and Kyra's stomach grumbled. Realizing she hadn't eaten in almost 2 days, but she was used to forgetting to eat, her mother complained about it constantly. "Hey uh, Petra? Can we get something to eat? I've haven't eaten in a while."

"Oh sure! I think it's about Dinner time anyway. I'll grab you something and you can go sit at a bench." Petra walked straight off and left Kyra a little exposed. Petra was right, it was obviously time for a meal because when Kyra walked in people we're everywhere. Mage's sitting at long tables, talking and eating what looked like some type of soup.

Not knowing what to to, she nervously walked to a table where no one was sitting at one end, and took the last seat for her own. She pulled her sleeve over her hand and rested her head on it at an angle that no one could see her face and stared at the wall. Get over yourself Kyra. She scolded at herself, You're going to have to shape up eventually and make more friends.

Then Petra had found her and sat down across from her with two bowls of soup, "There you are! I didn't see your face anywhere." she said as she placed a bowl in front of Kyra. "Oh... sorry Petra, I'm still a little nervous." Petra smiled sweetly, "I understand sweet-heart, but you'll make more friends. I promise!"

Kyra smiled back and tunred to her soup, and breathed it in, it smelt wonderful, like homemade Turkey stew, it reminded her of her Mother, she would make Turkey Stew at least once a week for Kyra. Delighted, she set her books down and grabbed her spoon. Petra looked up from her soup and made a weird face at the,. "These are a little out of your rank, Irving gave these to you?" she said curiously.

Kyra swallowed her mouthful of soup, "Yeah, he gave me a written test to. Said he needed reference." Petra gave a weirder look. "Reference, for what?" "Something called the Cardinal Test."

Petra's jaw hit the floor, "Your getting your Cardinal test ALREADY? I didn't get mine until I was 17! And you got here yesterday!" Kyra looked at her, confused. "Why? What is it?" "It's the test you take before you go through your Harrowing..."