Sylgja chided. "This is your room. It's kind of a mess. I thought you said you had maids."

Rasmus shrugged."I do have maids, though I'm not sure what became of them when the wards were set off. As for this being a mess. I think not my dear. Though it looks like a fireball went off in here, everything is where I want it to be, everything is where I need it to be. It is order out of chaos. I've instructed Vetta and Vandia to leave everything be, less it interferes with my research. "

Reinhardt rolled his eyes. "Yeah sure, research. Say where do these other doors lead?"

Rasmus pointed to the far door first and identified them in a clockwise fashion. "That is my personal room, there is my equipment component room, that one there leads to the other students rooms. I'm the head apprentice so I get my own domicile, the others share a barrack and a research area similar to this one but smaller, and the maids live there."

"Other students, where are they?" asked Reinhardt.

"I don't know. Some of these doors I could not open when the wards were activated. They might still be in there, or they might have wandered off into the fog," Rasmus said sadly. "I hope they are alright."

"Magic lock door eh?" said Reinhardt as he studied the sealed portal. The Infernal said a few magical phrases, before jabbing the door deeply with his spear. The door held at first, but ice started to form where the spear struck it. When the ice covered the door completely, Reinhardt simply twisted his spear in a quick fashion, shattering the portal into wooden flinders.

"Anyone there?" shouted the Infernal. "I'm with Rasmus, I won't hurt you."

No one responded.

"I'm going to scout out the other student's rooms. You two secure my payment and stay out of trouble okay? Let's try not to get attacked by any more guardians."

Sylgja started to protest but Rasmus shook his head and pointed to his room with his chin. "Let Reinhardt be, I want to show you my room."

Sylgja raised an eyebrow and smirked."Are you sure this is an appropriate time for that."

Rasmus looked confused for a second before turning red and chuckled. "I don't mean like that, though maybe we can rent a room at an inn after we escape this place."

The paladin smiled and shook her head. "You sure are a presumptuous little mage aren't you."

Rasmus ignored her comment and pushed open the door to his room. A small magical light flickered on as the door opened, revealing a large well-made bed, a cloak stand with a few fine garments hanging from it, and a vanity with several strange objects on it.

"Well, I'm glad your maids have at least done their work on this room," said Sylgja as she examined the room.

"They do a good job, though I must admit I enjoy their other favours," admitted Rasmus.

"Favours?" asked Sylgja as she raised an eyebrow.

"Oh not like that. I mean they treat me better than the other apprentices. Vetta not only cleans my clothes but presses them. She also makes my favorite sandwiches and soups and have them ready for me in my small lab outside, saving me the trouble of going to the dining hall. Vandia, well…she gets books for me from the main library, and sometimes she reads to me."

"Vetta is the tiefling and Vandia is the pretty one right?"

Rasmus sighed."Tiefling is such a harsh word. So much connotation attached. I prefer planes touched. Vetta does have some monstrous traits about her, but she really is sweet. And well…Vandia looks like you if you want to know. Except with a straight nose, about fifty pounds lighter, a lighter voice, and long curly blonde hair."

"But other than that, we're practically twins," said Sylgja sarcastically as she subconsiously touched her own crooked nose, sucked in her gut, and brushed her short white hair.

"It's hard to believe, but yes. You two do look like twins. She's just a smaller, fresher, more domestic version of yourself," smiled Rasmus.

Sylgja's glare turned cold as she turned away from Rasmus. "Well, I'll guess I'll go guard the door. You can retrieve Reinhardt's payment or you can daydream about your maids or whatever."

Rasmus laughed. "Oh don't tell me you're jealous. I mean, those two are my servants, it's not like we do anything unbecoming," lied the mage. Even with his failing memory, he did recall sneaking a few kisses from Vandia on the rare occasion. He had a stronger rapport with Vetta, but Vandia was the one that his always heart yearned for, at least that was the case until recently.

"What am I to be jealous of? We just met. If those gargoyles hadn't ambush me, I probably would have killed you when I first saw you."

Rasmus motioned her to his vanity. "Look, I didn't bring you to my room to brag about my maids. I wanted to give you this." The mage then pointed to his collection of objects and rarities he kept. One of them was a large smooth stone with a runic symbol carved on it.

"I know that you're an Ulfen or at least from Ulfen stock, but I also know that Cheliax and the kingdoms of the Linnorm kings don't exactly get along. I'm guessing you only know about your mother's heritage through her tales which is a shame since their society is much more noble and spiritual than most people think. I've collected various oddities, mostly bought from travelling merchants, throughout my life, and I want you to have this particular rune stone to remind you of your people."

"My people are the homesteaders of Vyre."

"Yes, yes, well the Ulfen are also your people. Take it, just take it please. It's a rune of strength, and believe it or not it does have magical properties. I would use it myself, but as a mage, I have little use for it. Use it in good health."

Sylgja regarded the rock suspiciously and made no move to take it into her possession as Rasmus offered it to her.

Rasmus frowned and then dug further into his vanity for a lock box. He shook it and the sound of clinking coins could be heard from inside. "This was to be my emergency money if I got in trouble, now it's my Cacodaemon payment. Which I guess is sort of the same. This means I'm going to leave the tower soon, which means I'll go my way and you'll be going yours. Which is a shame since I found you very agreeable company, and wished we met in other circumstances. Please take this rune stone. Even if you don't use it, at the very least you can remember me by it. You know the clumsy mage that triggered his own master's curse."

Sylgja nodded and took the stone from his hand.

With her attention diverted, a heavy chain lashed out from the doorway. Sylgja barely reacted in time and twisted her body, having the chain strike her shoulder instead of the back of the head. Regardless, the blow rocked her to the side, and in a flash a winged creature pushed her forward from the doorway.

Despite the surprise attack, Sylgja managed to square herself against the attacker. The paladin blocked the next chain strike with her shield, but before she could counter attack, the winged creature lashed out with its fangs at her neck. Sylgja was ready though, and flashed her forearm into the monster's face, staggering it before following through with a heavy elbow to its chin.

The attacker fell back though and suffered a blade through one of its wings. It shrieked in pain, but simply spun in a circle at the pressing paladin. Sylgja had her shield at the ready, blocking a low chain strike, but the creature's tail caught her square in the face, stunning her and sending her slamming into the wall.

The creature seized its opportunity and pounced forwards at her staggered foe, but was struck twice by twin jets of flame. It instinctively wrapped its wings about itself, shielding itself from Rasmus' flames. Though some fiends, like Infernals from the pit like Reinhardt, were immune to fire, this creature was at best only resistant. It screeched in pain and collapsed into a flaming heap. It was wounded, but hardly dead.

Rasmus had expected Sylgja to have recovered from the unexpected tail lashing by now, but she was still stunned by the blow to the head. The winged beast though was in better shape, it was more angry than hurt. It slowly rose from the ground, turning its attention to Rasmus with pure hatred in its eyes.

"Vetta?"

"Rasmus?"