Riley panted with effort but stopped before her mana bar bottomed out.

Tobias, losing his casting partner, looked down at her, "Potion?"

"I'm ok. Unlike some people, I'm trying to pace myself," she grumbled sourly, fatigue eating at her easy demeanor, "Where do you get all of those anyway?"

"I make 'em. Potions are the one thing I was kinda good at before I worked out my casting," he smiled, showing a bashful pride, before he looked down at the floor.

"Huh, I suppose that makes sense," Riley pondered as five bells distantly reached her ears.

Here, the sounds from above carried faintly, giving her the barest impression, but it wasn't like her ears missed much.

"Yeah, formula, precise measurements, the application of heat; I am a fire mage, after all," he beamed.

It was amazing what a few days of success could do for a soul.

"You're sounding better, more confident," Riley stalled for time. Distantly, the sound of heavy boots falling in a particular pattern caused her ears to swivel.

Justinian!

Her heart thrilled. After three torturous days, she was going to get out!

"Heya Boyo!" He stuck his head in with a smile and, to Riley's surprise, was dressed in a silk-like tunic with heavy black trousers and black boots polished to a high shine. A large belt with a polished brass buckle dominated his midsection, on which hung a sword and a large coin purse crossed by a satchel he wore crossbody.

Atop his head was a broad-brimmed hat made of some type of animal hide with a long white feather coming off of it.

Riley giggled, "You certainly clean up nice. I've yet to see anyone in that kind of dress."

"It's more common among the minor nobility," Tobias shook his head, "What are you all dressed up for?"

"Why, to rescue you, the Margrave of Solstheim does request and require your presence this evening," Justinian straightened up as Riley's eyes went wide.

"You're a noble?" She boggled.

"M'lady," He bowed in a sweeping action, removing his hat all the while.

"But, how? You're blue collar as they come! You swing a wrench for a living!" Riley balked.

"Uh, this tunic doesn't have a collar, and I swing a hammer most of the time," Justinian puzzled.

"I mean, but… uh… your work on my world would mark you as working class. I thought you were from a poor family," Riley explained.

Justinian's eyes went a bit wide.

"Me? No, my aunt is a first tier sorcerer, guaranteeing our title for this generation. I come from a family of them. My mother married a second tier, which caused a bit of a dust up, and it resulted in me. Second tier, but still deeded my hereditary rights by magic and birthright," Justinian replied.

"How did that work out?" Riley wondered, growing curious.

"Oh, Dad was a ranger, a black blade, and died on a mission. I was just a baby, so I never knew him. Anyway, that quieted things right down, not to mention that I was born with magic. That's all you need, magic and bloodline to inherit a title," Justinian shrugged, grinning like the cat that ate the canary.

"But it's ok for you to hang out with Tobias?" She wondered.

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"I'm only a minor noble, and Tobias is magical too, which affords him some status. He's also been my best friend since four. I could hardly give a shit if someone saw it as a scandal, not that they would. The rules of your world don't apply here," Justinian explained.

Riley nodded thoughtfully, "I'm starting to see that."

"Do you really need me? I have hours of work to do yet," Tobias complained.

"Should I get a servant down here to make it official? You know I don't stand on my title much, but you need a break, man, and I've got the power," he grinned devilishly.

"I hate you, but whatever you've got planned, I stink from here to your family's lands. I'm going to need to go home to bathe, then I have to get ready," Tobias made excuses. Still, Riley could see the bulwarks of his defenses eroding.

Justinian reached into his satchel and tossed a small blue bottle over towards Tobias, who deftly snatched it out of the air.

"Mr. Magiclean? You're serious. These cost a silver!" Tobias threw up his hands.

"Wait a minute, I cost a silver!" Riley protested.

"You were a real bargain, then," Justinian praised as Riley felt her ears flush.

"That's not the point; this costs real money!" Tobias protested.

"And? Pop the cork, dump it out over your head, and let's get underway to the Prancing Cockatrice. I'm buying you dinner, Riley, too," He stood implacable as Tobias sighed.

"There's a good lad," Justinian said as Tobias opened the bottle and poured it out.

Riley saw it glowing blue; a similar light covered him before vanishing in a flash.

"Minty," Riley sniffed the air, regarding the now clean Tobias with wonder; even his robes looked sharp.

"It's good stuff, and I keep a small supply. You should see me after a hard day at the forge," Justinian said, holding out his hand towards the door, "You coming?"

"Fine," Tobias said, fetching his satchel full of potions off the table before trudging out the door sullenly.

"Thank you," Riley said as she hopped by.

"Oh, there's something in this for all of us," Justinian turned and brought up the rear, shutting the door behind him.

The sun was still up but beginning to touch the horizon as they emerged on a cool, misty early evening. Birds sang their nighttime song as if in farewell to the day as Riley made her way down the switchback path, only to find another surprise at the base.

A carriage was waiting.

"Justinian, we can walk. This is too much," Tobias protested as a footman opened the door.

The artificer knocked on his head. "Next week, one way or another, they're splitting us up, friend. You're going off to your destiny, and I, mine. I'm certain we're going to stay in touch, but this could be our last chance to meet and have a laugh over a good ale for a while. I'm going to miss you, brother," he reached out and clasped Tobias' arm.

Tobias looked down sadly.

"I hadn't considered that. This is it, isn't it? The last night. Wow, it's finally here," Tobias said, his tone tinged with wonder and regret, "There's no time left; you're right."

Justinian nodded soberly, "After trials next week, I'm to report home. My aunt apparently is pulling strings about my final destination, assuming I pass. This really is our last shot."

"Then let's make the most of it, but we should go easy on the ale. I still need to be able to cast straight in the morning," Tobias said, boarding the carriage.