Standing at attention much like a butler would, I saw the familiar visage of the furry and memorable Lion man from the first day I came to the city. With his red streaked orange mane, he looked to be the same one that granted me entry into the city council chambers. Looking far more professional and mature than Steven did with his own lion-man avatar, this gentleman gave off an air of refined lethality.

“Greetings Apprentice Andrew.” He stated in formal tone while giving a faint bow. “My master bids thee enter while awaiting his return from council meeting.” Saying that, he stepped to the side of the door and waved at me to enter.

Inside was certainly something that I could associate with the exterior in beauty and richness. Glossy tile floors with white supporting pillars at tactful intervals, supporting various stairs, overhangs, and other aspects of the mansion reflected light back at me.

Off to the side of the entryway was what I assumed to be a waiting room filled with white fabric furniture bound by dark wooden framing. Monroe apparently probably liked the color white as well.

My observations were interrupted by the lion-man butler as he spoke up again. “It was noticed by some of our staff that you appeared appreciative of the front gardens. Wouldst thou like to remain here, in the reception room for my master’s return, or wouldst thou prefer to explore the front gardens from their interior?”

‘Oh My goodness, how I would love too!’ The thought rang out in my head. However, feeling the edges of the apothecary book digging into the flesh of my underarm and rib cage, I regretfully forewent pleasure and remained true to responsibility. As such I politely replied. “I would truly appreciate sometime being allowed to view the interior beauty of his gardens. However, I must needs be faithful to my master’s teachings and continue my study of her book.” Holding up the apothecary book for the Lion-man to see, I added. “The reception room, will probably be a better place for me to study.” I found myself matching some of the way he spoke. It only felt natural to respond in kind, but it still threw me a bit off mentally.

Nodding in acceptance the butler inquired further. “Wouldst thou be pleased with a drink or refreshment whilst you await my master’s return?”

Looking at the white furniture in abundance, I was afraid to ask for anything that had the slightest risk of staining the white fabric. As such, I simply asked for water.

Soon enough, I was left alone to study and sip at the iced water that I had been provided.

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.

.

About an hour passed since I had settled in, and I was about halfway done with memorizing the recorded plants on the 3 planned pages of study for the day. The Lion-man had dropped in twice in that time frame to make sure I wasn’t feeling neglected or anything. I had nothing for him to do as I was still nursing the now melted ice-water.

Another about 20 minutes from then, Monroe finally returned home from his council meeting. “Andrew!” He called out congenially at seeing me. “It’s good to see you again.”

The Lion man butler seemed to instantly appear at the door, gracefully assisting Monroe in taking off his professional sash and coat. “Dalton,” he said in a chiding tone addressing the lion man. “I appreciate the aid you are providing, but please remember that I prefer to disrobe myself, especially in front of a casual audience.

“I understand sire.” The Dalton lightly rebuked him. “However, your mother, deities rest her soul, would have my hide, if I did not do my utmost to support your appearance among the visitors that you do entertain.”

*Sigh* “Very well.” Monroe acquiesced. “I’m certain you did your due diligence in assisting Andrew with any needs he had?”

I answered that for him. “He has been great, Monroe. I have been made to feel very welcome in your home. Thank you.” I said that while nodding to both of them.

Dalton bowed back, while Monroe gave a pleased yet casual nod in return before saying. “In that case let us get familiar with what it is that you are seeking from me.”

Joining me on a separate piece of furniture in the reception room, he sat across from me and asked about my situation.

I went on to tell him of the experiences I had in the red district with the toughs, in the sewers with the slimes, then I cut to the time I spent and I what I encountered in the dungeon that the patrol and I found yesterday. Monroe waited patiently as I explained, only asking occasional clarifying questions before allowing me to continue on.

At the conclusion of my multi adventure recap, he sat back in his seat with his right-hand lingering on his chin and his gaze focused to the upper left of his vision in thought.

He didn’t take very long before he spoke up. “It seems to me that your current experiences, are quite different from the norm that you might expect to encounter. Exempting that time you dealt with the toughs, and even that was limiting in your interaction, the remainder of your experiences does not allow for the average individual to thrive in those situations.”

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He paused for a moment again before speaking. “Regarding your situation in the Red District, I could offer training and pointers to better deal with those like the men you encountered then. However, special tools, assimilation of elemental stones, and experience is more so necessary to thrive in those other environments you experienced. I will admit that your experiences are certainly different from the norm. Most individuals will frequently face opponents that can be resisted or fought off through physical prowess and technique. Whether it be a wolf or monster in the wild, a bandit on the road, or an opposing faction member bent on your demise.”

Oh my goodness! Until he mentioned wolves, I had almost completely phased out that encounter in the woods with Victoria’s test. Go figure, getting involved in far more stimulating situations as I had recently, tended to make one forget or push back on memories that appeared to have less standing in the current wake of things. Sitting up to listen more intently to this applicable topic, I awaited his decision for what to do.

Standing up from his chair, Monroe beckoned at me. “Come, let’s go to my training room where I can give you some practical pointers and examples for things to look out for.”

Standing up as well, I followed to join him.

Maintaining my hold on my staff to keep it in close proximity, I saw Monroe take multiple glances at it in puzzlement and deeper scrutiny as we had made our way to his training room.

Walking past several rooms and entryways I was continually drawn in to the decor and fashion sense that Monroe had. It wasn’t long before we approached a room where once again Dalton appeared to almost instantly appear at the entrance of.

“Getting ready to do a little sparring Sire?” He inquired of Monroe.

“I am in fact.” Monroe replied. “And I could actually use your help in the demonstrations, if you wouldn’t mind.

“It wouldst be my pleasure.” Dalton bowed before Monroe.

As I joined them in entering the room, I saw each of them removing their footwear just inside the entryway. Following suit, I too removed my shoes before stepping onto the main floor area. This was very interesting! The ground beneath my feet gave way a little, much like a large dojo. There were even mirrored walls on opposite sides of the room, giving a clear reflection of oneself as they practiced their movements.

“I will be back in just a moment.” Monroe called out before disappearing into a side area off from the padded floor room.

It didn’t take long before he returned wearing a much looser piece of clothing, resembling somewhat like a karate gi, at least in function. His butler also returned to the room, having relieved himself of his original raiment. Now the Lion-man appeared to be far less a professional butler, and far more a vicious and formidable killing machine. Monroe himself, minus the elven ears and general polite demeanor simply looked like the average young to middle aged man walking the streets of Missouri.

Watching them both limber up was a treat in and of itself. Watching them go through a seemingly normal routine of stretches, brief one-armed hand stands, and even a quick paced round of what looked like flares from break dancing, they both appeared to be very light on their hands and feet. However, I knew that appearances can be deceiving.

I’ve seen others do in real life what they just did, making it seem just as easy as if it was simply an extension of their will. I had tried copying them only to fail miserably. Only once was I able to replicate the feat of the rare individual that could climb up a light pole with using only their hands as grips.

I had at one point in my college life, hung up a climbing rope in the tree outside my living place. Climbing multiple times to the point of getting countless rope splinters in my hands and shivering with my muscles screaming in agony. Only after such intense repetitive training and subsequent recovery was I able to accomplish that feat of climbing a similar light pole. Since then, I unfortunately allowed my muscles to degrade to that of an average young adult. The resulting trouble in my hands from those splinters had effectively dissuaded me from attempting such again. I had long since healed from such, but finding a proper location where the managers of such a place would allow me to hang a rope up again, and getting a better climbing rope that wouldn’t cause splinters has proven problematic.

Now, I was getting to watch two individuals who appeared to have trained their bodies to an incredible level of discipline, as they prepared for their demonstration.

Finally, it seemed that they had completed their warm ups. At that moment Monroe spoke up. “Growing up in the military as I did, I had ample opportunities, some desired, others not, where I was able to clash with other trainees in the program.”

Rotating then clenching his wrists, he continued. “Due to a flaw in my family’s constitution, we were far more suited to that of mages, rather than physical fighters. My father and most of his predecessors called it a blessing, as they considered it such due to the resulting magical insight and power that it gave us in return for sacrificed life span.”

My eyes widened at this surprising detail of his life that he opened up to me about. Seemingly uncaring about the mental bomb he just dropped on me, he continued. “I in my hubris, decided that I did not want to follow my father in his dreams of magic powered grandeur at the cost of my longevity as a pure blood elf.

Due to several past failed attempts from other family members in seeking to free themselves from this curse. I was able to use their past failures as a guiding post for what not to do. I knew that I had to attempt something far more different and radical in order to have a chance at succeeding. As such, I, with the help of my butler Dalton here, and the secret aid of my still living mother at the time, was able to procure a cultivation instruction manual that originated from across the seas. It was from a land that reveled in physical enhancement, practically above all else to the exclusion of most other forms.”

Pausing a moment as if trying to find the right words he then continued. “Despite my success in obtaining that manual, there was still a problem to be worked out. Our resources for strengthening ourselves unfortunately differed notably from that across the seas. You see, you may not yet know this, but the form that mana and magic takes and presents itself in, is greatly determined by the joint belief of those that dwell within its influence. Just as we are influenced by the many forms of magic present around us, so too do we influence it simply based off of our perceptions and faith.”

I raptly listened to this new information as it was something that I had not learned of since I first began apprenticing under my apothecary master.