Chapter 17

"Now, this is more like it," Riley proclaimed, hopping slowly, finding herself in a vast parkland that separated the two monolithic stone buildings to her left and right.

Green grass and copses of trees stretched out to the limits of her vision, and birds sang as if drifting upon the morning fog that collected in shallow depressions as if there were great cauldrons set into the earth, bubbling their witch's brews.

It didn't matter that her paws were damp; the sun shone brightly up here, set against the backdrop of a perfect azure sky punctuated by white puffy clouds.

Best of all, there was no noise, no traffic, no thick choking smells of exhaust or air pollution, just fresh air, thousands of sweet scents, and bird songs.

Tobias was leading them towards a particular tree, a massive oak that seemed ancient with its towering branches, some of which went near to the ground, that had gaps interspersed at its base, allowing for semi-private booth like spaces.

Within one, ensconced between two branches, a gray robed mage with broad shoulders and impressive height leaned against the trunk of the old tree with his hood up.

Upon seeing him, Tobias quickened his pace.

"Good Morrow!" Riley recognized the voice almost immediately as the one from the crystal call earlier.

The man lowered his hood.

Strikingly handsome and ruggedly built, long blonde hair spilled down towards his shoulders and was swept back, keeping it out of his hazel eyes, blazing like twin gems filled with mirth and confidence.

"Justinian," Tobias said, his tone serious and broody.

"Oh, buck up. Did you have your tea yet, and more importantly, did you get my homework done?" Justinian grinned and slapped Tobias on the arm before pulling him into a light headlock and fuzzing his hair.

"Stop! Yes, it's done!" Tobias complained but still seemed to be going with it like this was all part of the routine.

"That's more like it," he said, letting Tobias go as his eyes fell upon Riley.

"So this is the creature, huh?" Squatting down, the broad shouldered sorcerer looked her over. "Cute little thing, but those eyes are staring through my soul."

"About that…" Tobias began.

"I'm Riley, nice to meet you," she said.

His eyes went wide in shock.

"Holy shit, she talks! It talks! She's one of those kind of magical creatures. Are you, you man? Did she bind you?" Justinian was backing up towards the tree. A red glowing flame engulfed his right hand, as he tapped a spot on his belt with his left.

The air turned opaque while he took a defensive position.

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"I'm not fae blind, and she's mostly harmless, though she will talk your head off. I tricked her into a magical oath and got the truth out of her," Tobias explained.

Justinian relaxed, but only just; his defenses stayed up while his body language suggested he was peeking out the curtains at calm. "You're sure?"

"I swear by spirit and by my magic, I didn't do anything to harm or bind him," Riley intoned the words, waiting for the prompt.

Right on time, it blazed to life.

You have uttered a true statement and sworn upon the power of your spirit. Words have power and can be used as weapons to defend or harm your own soul. Beware, there are lines you shouldn't cross.

"Oh, thank the Thirteen Gods, so you can talk, and you're just second tier, huh… I thought that was a first tier thing. Well, nice to meet you, and welcome to the conspiracy," Justinian's defenses dropped as he squatted again, looking Riley over with a critical eye.

"Nice to meet you too; so you make magical things?" Riley asked.

Justinian's eyes lit up.

"I'm an artificer; think of me as your roguishly handsome magical blacksmith. If you need a special crystal, a special armor, or a vorpal sword, I'm your man," He bowed dramatically with a broad sweep of his massive right hand, "M'lady."

Riley giggled as Tobias rolled his eyes.

"He's also a terminal braggart but as good as his word, most of the time. Speaking of which, I'm calling in a favor," Tobias said, making his pitch.

"Hey bud, whatever ya need," Justinian nodded in emphasis of his words.

"I need a set of Cram Crystals, just the standard stuff for years one through three," Tobias said, handing over a parchment case.

Justinian grinned again with avaricious intent.

"Hold this, please," He said, handing the case to Tobias as he rolled it out. The parchment, having no intent towards closure, yawned open as he inspected it, "This all looks good, so what do ya need those crystals for?"

"A hunch. Riley is new to this world and doesn't understand exactly how our magic works beyond instinct. I want to give her the basics like we do with every new batch of sorcerers. It could give me a leg up if I don't end up cloistered," Tobias explained, the look of worry returning on his face.

Justinian reached into a pouch on his belt and pulled out a green crystal. "Speaking of cloistered, this baby here would let me pass my trials if only it wouldn't expose me as an academic fraud."

He kissed it, then gently stroked it in exaggerated affectation, "Oh, I love you, baby; you're the only reason anyone thinks I have any sense."

Riley could see the electric energy sparking inside it as he ran it over the paper, and, to her amazement, the handwriting changed.

"Done and done," Justinian said a few moments later. "By the dead gods, man, you look like shit. Have you ever gone a day without worrying?"

"Not lately," Tobias stared down at the grass, the difference between the two was stark, but to Riley's mind, they seemed like brothers, the jock and the nerd.

"Keep practicing, keep trying, and you'll get your breakthrough. Every caster does. You're just holding out for the drama." Justinian pulled Tobias into a sidelong hug before fuzzing his hair again.

"Why do you all swear by dead gods here?" Riley puzzled.

"Because it would be right stupid to swear by a live one. They might just show up and hold you to your swearing. Even I know that," Justinian grinned.

"Huh," Riley considered this new information, as well as her previous speech, as, distantly, a bell began to chime.

"We're half past seven, I should get to the shop, and you should move towards class," Justinian looked over towards the massive keep.

"The crystals?" Tobias reminded.

"Done. Meet me here after the last bell, and I'll have 'em for you, along with today's homework," Justinian grinned, "I'm so glad you don't sleep."

"Cassius doesn't; he always comps us tea, and I'm afraid I'm going to bankrupt the poor soul," Tobias grinned, cracking a weary joke.

"He overcharges the rich idiots that don't know any better for the cheap stuff. "Finest brew in Ashenvale," my ass, I could take you to half a dozen shops in the lower quarter that had better, and so could you. He saves the good stuff for us," Justinian winked as they all began to move again. After clearing a small rise, a portcullis gate was revealed to the keep, with students milling about out front.

"Now my day is perfect, I think I see Chadrick," Tobias moaned.

"Want me to kick his ass?" Justinian smiled savagely this time.

"Oh yeah, that would go over well. Let's just hope he doesn't see us." Tobias replied, his tone dripping with a weary defeatism, causing Riley's curiosity to peak.