The Black family estate was a rather mid sized affair compared to many of it's neighbors, though still large enough to contain the nessecary equestrian track and tourney field to acquiesce the Nobles two favored pastimes. The building was a U shape comprised of three rectangular buildings jointed together, the main building was for entertaining guests, while the other wings made up the quarters for the servants and the family's private quarters. Each estate was custom built by Imperial Guild of Architects according to the family's ancestry once they gain nobility, this gave the Noble's Quarter a unique charm as there were a great many buildings showcasing the Empire's history.

The building was rustic in style feflecting their family's northern barbarian heritage, much of the wooden building was carved with depictions of dragons, wolves, and other beasts of the north facing off against long forgotten heroes. It's interior however was the height of modernity with in the empire, magic lamps provided every room with it's own light source, the furniture was upholstered in crimson and black silks and embroidered with silver thread.

Margitte awoke with a strech feeling her taught lithe musculature, there had been little for her to do in preparation for her young Lord's return, the Guild of Maids was responsible for much of the cleaning between absences in the estates. Now all she had to do was interim cleaning and keeping the pantry restocked, as well as speaking to the grounds keeper about the hutches of chickens and rabbits.

She had a lot on her mind and had little to occupy it, thankfully the grounds had a private archery range where she could clear her mind. Each morning the twang of a bowsting could be heard for hours on end. Allowing Adrian to see her bestial side had caused no small amout of shame and worry in her heart. It was something that could only be shone freely among her own people for fear of prejudice, a reminder that though the had once been human, they had long turned their back on humanity.

Like all demi-humans Margitte was a stable mixture of a human and a non humanoid species, normally produced via inter breeding with magical creatures such as dragons. Wolf kin were produced differently, collectives of outcasts trying to survive the freezing harsh climates of the north turned to worshiping powerful deity spirits. Wolf spirits took pity on the starving and frozen humans and bound themselves to the pitieous mortals, the spirits gifted the humans with new bodies that could survive the harsh climate. They had fur to keep them warm and claws and fangs with which to hunt game in a season where humans were hudled together inside for warmth. These new powers came at a cost, they became feard and reviled in much of the north as monsters in human flesh further ostracized then before.

The ancient past of her people was of little intrests to Margitte as she and her mother had been forced to flee from their tribal homelands after her father, the former chieftain of the Blood-Claws, had been murdered. Someday she would have to return and face her father's killer, her only hope was that Adrian would not push her away and would stand by her side when the time came. For now however she needed to focus on the task at hand, already there was a stack of missivives awaiting her young Lord's attention as soon as he could leave the tower.

Thery largely frivolous things, invitations to tea by young ladies with a desire to climb the social ladder, lunches with older ladies seeking to secure their daughter's futures, a few more valuable looking missives were selected and set aside as these could not be ignored regardless of how boring their contents may have been. She also trashed several invitations which were clearly lascivious in nature smelling of perfume with vague promises of late night galavanting.

Another few were set aside, these were written with stiff militaristic tones indictative of males, most filled with platitudes of loyalty and service, those from reputable families were saved while those less reputable were trashed. Some were invitations to private tourneys whilst a few were challenges to friendly duels.

She had almost gone through the mountain of mail when a familiar scrawl caught her attention, it was a missive from the Duke. It was sealed and spellbound, only Adrian would be able to open it with out the contents bursting into flames and injuring the foolish individual.

In a rush she changed out of her armor and into her maid's livery, hiding her ears and tail underneath the layers of frills and petticoats that she despised and dashed out to where their coachman was busy at work caring for the carriage and horses.

He was an elderly man with short white hair and a face carved from stone with a stern expression, he like many of the Duke's men was a grizzled old veteran. In his younger days he was an Equestrius, a soldier rezponsible for securing, trainging, and caring for war horses for the Calvary and the private horses of officers. Though he walked with a limp and was no longer a soldier he still had arms like corded firewood and a mace hung at his waist, he had cracked quite a few skulls of deserters, would be horse theives, and the occasional cutthroat.

"Master Barrington, I've need of your services, I've a letter from the Duke I must deliver post haste to his young Lordship" Margitte called out causing the old man to stop and raise a brow. He recognized the once little girl that the Duke had taken in during a campaign in the north, he had already been in his thirtys then. "I'll have her up an ready in fifteen minutes, my lady" he replied before walking into the storeroom for the tack and harness.

The ride was a pleasant one as they navigated through the nobles quater towards the heavily guarded entrance into the Mage's quarter. Barrington as taciturn and gruff as he was was good company as the cart rolled gently across the cobles. The large sigil of the Duke carved onto the side kept them free of being accosted as they pulled up to the Mage's quarter, though two men insisted on escorting them to their destination for their own saftey.

Any one who entered the Mage's quarter would quickly realize thst they were no longer in the normal world, massive towers invisible to the outside world soared above the heights of the rest of the city. From outside the Mage's quarter these massive structures were, hidden from prying eyes. It was said that a wizard's tower was a feflection of their psyche, with the myriad of colors, materials, shapes and sizes displayed with a dizzying chaotic array she would have to agree.

Almost every civilized culture on the continent was reflected in the non standardized architecture of the mage's quarter, at it center was the Onyx tower, a colossal sky scraping building of glistening pitch black crystal. It was both a thing of beauty and terror, its entire length spiraled upwards narrowing at the middle before widening at its top into a crown of thorns reminiscent of a gaping maw trying to devour the sky.

Just looking at it caused Margitte's fur to stand on end, luckily one did not have to see it's entirety when standing at it's entrance. Two panther shaped statues with glowing blue eyes sat motionless as she approached the steps, it was not until she reached the first step that the statues moved to block her path. "What is your purpose,speak" they inquired in unison with strange monotone lifeless voices with their heads tilted slightly to either side. "I come baring a letter from Duke Arrianus Black adressed to his son Adrian Black" Margitte replied with her muscles tensed ready to spring into action. "The master has spoken, you will follow" they replied with the same disturbing lifeless voices.

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Adrian sat in deep meditation, ever since he escaped the clutches of that acursed library he had been doing so more often. The sheer volume of information that had been copied directly into his mind was what occupied the majority of his meditative sessions, while he managed to begin channeling arcane magic he was only able to cast three fireballs before the nausea and dizziness of minor Aether poisoning set in.

He found different natures of his powe amusing, he had an infinite amount of eldritch energy though it was like trying to force an ocean through a straw. He would not run out, but he could only channel a small amount each time. With Aether he was crippled by his low tolerance, he could put more power into his spells, but the consequences of doing so meant several days bedridden with a fever while puking out his guts. After each bout of Aether sickness though he could draw just a fraction more arcane energy than the previous day.

Soon he would be tested and most likey raised to the rank of apprentice, in the meantime he was exempt from the daily chores and instead was instructed to focus on his studies. He was using the new free time to try and quickly raise his Aether tolerance by reviewing what he learned from the library by focusing on spells listed for apprentices.

What he had discovered in those tomes was that Wizardry was seperated into different fields of study called schools. Destruction was dedicated to different types of spells used for directly damaging enemies, fireball was prehaps it's most iconic spell though the school was hardly limited to elemental spells. Alteration was a school that focused on manipulating the world around you, from what spells he found it seemed to focus on defensive spells. Conjuration was the art of summoning various creatures and beasts from across the plains of existence. Transmogrification was a peculiar school focused on transforming one's one body, a scribbled note in one of the tomes metioned an Arch Magus who could become a fully grown Red Dragon. Transmutation seemed of little use unless you wanted to turn lead into gold, or water into wine, at least he'd be popular at galas. He had seen illusionists preform spectacular shows before, but the seemingly innocent school had powerful mind affecting spells that could shatter the minds of even the staunchest men. Necromancy much to Adrian's suprise was a school that had the capacity not only to spread death and creat undead but also to heal those who were dying. Alchemy was not limited to only wizards but with out mastering it's basics they would have to purchase the expensive potions that could empower their spells and increase their tolerance. Enchanting was a craft centric shcool focused on imbuing various objects or even one's own body with magical properties. Divination was a rather esoteric school that focused on revealing the unknown, his martial background had already of several ways to put an otherwise neglected field of study to terrifying use on the field of battle.

For now he focused solely on Destruction as it provided the most effective immediate use of his power in battle, over and over in his mind he focused of the different patterns of Draconic runes, embedding their entire meaning, purpose, and interaction into his mind. The rune for fire encompassed many meanings, heat, flame, rage, passion, burning with its purpose determined by its accompanying runes, he focused on the runes fire and cone. Currently he could only channel enough Aether to link three runes and cast more than a single spell in one day, as each additional rune added to its cost. Spells with only two runes he could cast around six times a day, while three runes would be three, he could cast a spell with four runes once but afterwards the world would spin and he would become sickened.

Margitte had been led to the Mistress of Novices by the two panthers before they returned to their posts, she was currently occupied by a stack of requisition forms. "Can I help you novice" she questioned not bothering to look up from her work. "I'm here to deliver a missive from Duke Arrianus Black to his son Adrian Black " Margitte replied masking her annoyance beneath her proffesional mannerisms. "Ah I appologize, I thought you were another novice, Adrian should by in the training hall at the moment I'll lead you to him" she bowed her head slighly before raising herself from the desk.

"How is the young Lord and Annabelle preforming in their studies" Margitte inquired during their walk. "The boy started off quite disadvantaged but suddenly surpassed his peers and is about to begin testing, I didn't expect much of the girl, but I'm very pleased by her hard working nature, I'm not sure why but she has the Head Enchanter in a whorl she will likely become a candidate for testing with in the year" the Mistress of Novices explained with a voice full of nominal praise, judging by her character she was proud of having such accomplished students.

The training room was reinforced with Alteration spells to protect it from damage, it was designed as a place for advanced novices to practice their spells with out accidentally destroying anything but prehaps them selves. It was about thirty paces wide and a hundred paces in length, upon opening the door to the training hall the Mistress threw up a shield as a swirling mass of flames erupted cauing Margitte to sheild her eyes from the brightness. "He's been at this every day practicing every spell he can figure out, its impressive to see one so young so dedicated to their studies" the Mistress spoke with just a hint of pride. "He's always been like this, throwing himself head first into everything he decides to pursue" Margitte smiled.

"Margitte" Adrian called out excitedly once the flames cleared rushing over and picking up the shocked wolf girl whom he hadn't seen for the past few months causing her to blush with excitement and embarrassment. If her tail wasn't hidden it would have been wagging furiously. He kissed her plush lips several times in rapid succession before being intrupted by an "ahem" by an annoyed looking Mistress. Adrian set down Margitte and straightened hims self out while Margitte did the same. "Please excuse my shameful appearance, it has been some time since last we've seen one another" Adrian spoke in his tone reserved for when he acted as a Noble. "You're excused, now please deliver your missive so that I may escort you from the premises and return to my duties" the Mistress scolded. "You're father sent a missive for you to the estate, I delivered it to you as soon as it arived" Margitte spoke with a curtsy before handing the message tube over to Adrian with another curtsy before excusing her self.

Adrian was left staring at the message tube in stark silence, his father would not have taken such precautions unless the content's were of the utmost concern, what ever it contained filled him with worry. Gingerly he pressed his signet ring into a recess in the metallic tube causing the runes on it's surface to glow brightly for a brief second before hearing a distinctive clink as the tube unlocked. Nervously he unrolled the parchment with in.

"Dear Adrian, it has been but a few months since you have left but already tales of your battle in the Fortress of Seven Peaks have reached my ears. Your participation in the battle and your defeat of the enemy commander have already become know among quite a few courtly ladies, it also brought some prestige to the family name. However I'm writing to inform you of less than plesant news, I'm sure you are familiar with the long running feud our family has had with our northern neighboring province's ruling family. Much to my displeasure the Empress has taken it upon her self to put our families grievances to rest. I'm being forced, against my will I might add, to marry the youngest daughter of Count Dryse Reavar. Enclosed with in this parcel is your writ of heritage, if you ever find yourself in need, seek out Mage Lord General Irovid Angmar, he's an old friend, sincerly Duke Arrianus Black provincial Lord of Schwarzwald".

Adrian stared at the letter with a million thoughts racing through his mind, their families had more or less been in a state of relative peace since they were explicitly threatened with Imperial military intervention after Adrian's great grand father had murdered nearly half of the Reavar family and ravaged the Coravian countryside with an army of undead in retaliation after Dryse's grand uncle had kidnapped, raped, and tortured two of his daughter's and one of his sons.

Nothing good would come from this politically aranged marriage, there was too much blood spilled on both sides, something terrible was going to happen, it was only a question of who would throw the first stone.