Archmage II

Mina: Nah, it's a healing potion I made. Bulby here tests all my potions for me so I know their effects.

Duncan: "Bulby"? *looks at the garlic monster* What...is that?!

Mina: That's Bulby. He's my pet garlic.
Bulby hops excitedly and smiles.

Duncan: Pet...garlic? You're not a normal alchemist, are you?

Mina: No, I'm a witch. ^ ^ I use magic and stuff. Potions are just my hobby and all.

Edwin:So what brings you here of all places?

Duncan: Ah. Never met a witch before. From the stories, they're all green-skinned and wart-faced! Ha. Anyway, I still need to track down those bandits. They may be hiding out in some cave or something. Would you...want to assist me perhaps?

Seshail: Everyone says it's the best place to learn magic. And I really need to learn it. Fast. *looks around nervously*

Erin:We can help you with that. But my Master already started me on my studies.
Marcus:Arto could train you Seshail.

Arto: I will teach you. But learning magic isn't like training with the sword; it takes years of practice and study.
Seshail: I don't have years!
Arto: Why is that?
Seshail: Rrr...my home country is under attack by a rebellious clan lead by their patriarch, Amarat. He's a powerful spellcaster and I need to learn magic to defeat him!
Arto: Is this so? We should get to Royal Mountain, the King will surely send aid!
Seshail: No! My family is the ruling clan of Eiovar, and Amarat....has them. I don't know what he's planning with them, but if an army arrives on the shores, he'll execute them for sure!

Marcus gives Arto a look.
Marcus:I know how you feel Seshail. I'd hate for anything to happen to my family. But we have to do something,

Mina: Okay, I could assist you, I guess. Got nothing else to do and all.

Duncan: Excellent! Now, do you know of any caves in which they could hide out?

Arto: It seems to be an extremely delicate situation. I'm...not sure what to do other than teach her everything.
Seshail: Yes! When do we start?
Arto: Immediately.
(a few hours of intense magic-learning later, night starts to fall, and Arto shows Seshail her room, right next to the guest rooms for Marcus, Erin, and Edwin)
Arto: Have a restful sleep, Seshail.
Seshail: Thank you, master. I will see you bright and early tomorrow! *closes her door*

Mina: Hmmm... Well there is a cave deeper within this forest. Not sure anyone would want to go in there though.

Marcus: She has a gift for it.

Arto: Yes, she certainly has a vast, innate gift for magic. *walks down the corridor with Marcus* It took me a month to master my first candlelight spell, she did it in half an hour! Just imagine what she can do with proper education...*stops at a wall* .... Marcus, there is something very wrong. There was never a wall here... *turns to see another wall block the corridor down which they walked* They're trick walls! *casts a greater dispel spell that dissipates the walls, and Amarat stands behind it*

Marcus whistles and Asher flies up to the corridor and casts Dual Fireballs at the ready

Arto: What did you whistle for? This is an interior corridor, there are no windows! *to Amarat* Now, who are you? Are you...another dark elf? A refugee?
Amarat: I am a force of nature. *his hands glow, and a searing wind sweeps up from behind him and extinguishes the fireballs* The dark elf girl, Seshail. I require her.
Arto: Er...there are no dark elves but you in this institute.
Amarat: Do not play with me, old man. I've been watching. I know she's been learning here all day. She's taken to this magic like a fish to water. She's won the respect of her peers and mentors. Do NOT tell me that she doesn't exist.
Arto: Well, I can see that you are no simpleton. *readies an expert prism ray spell, and fires it at Amarat*
(Amarat casts a shield that reflects the spell and sends it back at Arto, but it sputters against his ward spell)
(Meanwhile, Seshail sneaks into Erin's room among the magic dueling)
Seshai: We have to get out of here! Amarat's too powerful for anyone here!

Marcus blasts him with the dual fireballs.

Erin:What's going on?*rbbing her eyes*

Amarat extinguished the fireballs.

Seshail: There's a very powerful wizard here from my country and he's after me! He's the leader of the rebellion! C'mon, we have to leave!

Erin:Alright.*packs up her stuff and grabs her egg,*But I wanna bring my friend Edwin. The Ranger you met.

okay, I'm running things back a bit. I'm cutting back to Arto agreeing to teach Seshail personally, then after that, she learns from him for a few weeks, thus giving more time for a bond to form between her and him, and also between her and Erin and Edwin I guess.

We rejoin our heroes in an lesson on summoning demon thralls.

Arto: Now that you've drawn your summoning circle, and set in place your wards, cast the beckoning spell that will call forth your demonic thrall from the nether realms. Your thrall will be absent of free thought, and will carry out all of your commands to the best of its abilities. Ready?
Seshail: Yes! *points her open hands to the circle, and casts the beckoning spell, which illuminates the magic chalk, and creates a shining portal*

Through the portal, a horned woman with long, ebony black hair and crimson skin walks out of the portal. The sleek, black tail poking out of her robes waves about as she looks around before setting her eyes on Seshail.
Eri: So, I take it that you're the one who summoned me?

Seshail: .....uh. I....yeah, I did...*to Arto* I thought you said it'd be free of free thought!
Arto: I did! You must have either done something wrong, or...you're inexplicably very skilled at summoning demons...

Eri: Nah, the kid's got nothing to do with it. I just managed to get myself onto the summoning list, that's all. *Smirks as she leans against the nearest wall*

Erin:That thing scares me.
Edwin: I hope she can be controlled.
His pet wolf lies down and puts his paws over his eyes.