Yui says "Alright, Ash. Nived, what type of magic did you study previously?"

Nived says "I was a fire mage, but that was a long time ago. We should start from the beginning."

Yui says "Alright. Please follow the sprite."

A red sprite leads Nived off and I spend some time petting Kechara and Asuna. I've missed them but at the same time I feel bad for leaving Lizzy alone for so long. I really need to finish up here and go find her, then head back to Illium.

Yui says "Alright, I have him in the library and starting on the basics. This is going to be challenging."

"Why??"

Yui says "I have never tried to teach a mage before. The mages always trained the apprentices."

"Oh, I guess that makes sense."

Yui says "I have a recording of all the lessons the mages taught. It just might take a little longer than normal."

"That is fine. We currently have time."

Yui says "So, what are your thoughts on the gateways?"

"Well, I was thinking we should set the one for the mages in the main entry hall. If you are okay with me claiming these rooms I thought we could set mine up in here."

Yui says "That should be fine, I doubt I'll be receiving any other VIP guests. That still leaves the problem of transporting and activating them."

"The mages shouldn't have any trouble activating theirs, as for mine I have a summoner who should have enough mana. For transporting them I am hoping you have something like a backpack of holding I can use."

Yui says "Sorry, I don't. Although, there is one possibility."

"What is it?"

Yui says "Now that you have passed the captain's test you can access an area that I can't."

"There is an area you have to be a captain to enter?"

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Yui says "Affirmative!"

"Okay, I'm curious. Lead the way."

A sprite appears and leads us out of our rooms and across the entrance hall to a door I hadn't noticed. The door opens onto a much less ornate common area that seems more suited for soldiers than guests. We follow the sprite down a hallway to a set of closed double doors.

When I step in front of the doors a crystal atop the door lights up and I feel myself being scanned. Once the scan is complete I hear the click of the door unlocking and push it open. On the other side is a small hallway lined with doors.

Yui says "I won't be able to speak to you inside, I am not connected to that area."

"Okay, this should only take a few minutes."

To my surprise the others have no problems entering the area, I was expecting a barrier of some sort. We start quickly going through the rooms but all the rooms off the hallway are small offices. There are no personal effects or anything useful in them.

It is only when we reach the end of the hall that we find something useful. The last door opens into a small armory, full of all sorts of shiny things. Everything in here is well made and magical, but it is all made for humans.

That eliminates all of the armor and most of the weapons as far as being useful to me. Kechara and Asuna can't use any of it, of course, but they still have fun poking through everything. The one thing that catches and holds my attention is a beautiful spear made entirely from Armatite.

Taking it down from its wall mount I find it to be perfectly balanced for throwing. It might come in handy and as I am wondering if it will fit into my pouch it suddenly shrinks. It ends up the size of a small dagger so I simply clip it to my belt and go back to searching the room.

Finally in the back corner of the room, hidden behind a shield, I find what I am looking for. At first it looks like an old pile of rags but when I pick it up I see it is a backpack. It is old and ratty looking, but it is definitely magical.

When I check it I find it is a bag of holding, although not a very big one. When I turn to check on the others I find Kechara and Asuna are playing tag. Bones on the other hand is staring intently at a pair of shining silver bracers.

"Bones, if you like them go ahead and take them."

He hesitates for a minute but in the end he takes them and follows the rest of us back out of the captain's area. After closing the doors I follow another sprite to the storage room for the gates. My luck holds, the bag just barely holds the two gates I need to carry to Illium.

Under Yui's directions I set up the other two gates, now it will be easy to return to the tower once I reach Illium. That makes me feel better since I haven't found any more clues about how to free Kechara from the mountain. Even now she has to fly down the mountain and visit the barrier every few days.

"Yui, is it going to be a problem if Kechara and Asuna stay and live here in the tower?"

Yui says "No, not at all. I've grown quite fond of watching their antics."

"Good, that will make it easier to come visit them."

Yui says "And me?"

"Yes, and you! If I have my way you won't ever be left alone again."

Yui says "Thank you for that. Does this mean you are ready to leave?"

"Almost, there is still one thing I have to do."

Yui says "What's that?"

"The original reason I came here. Take me to the Temple of Wind please."