A wizard arrives

With you stomach full for now and your missing companion found you now have a bit of exploring to do. With Tozi and Mother fox on your back you again take to the sky’s of your world. Not to high or fast but you begin to reconnoiter this pocket world. The castle, town, agricultural land and surrounding mosaic forest it contained to a massive platow. The raised land stretches for miles. Bordering it to the north is a massive mountain range that you are definitely not going to attempt to fly over with your current passengers on your back. To the east and west at the base of the platow are massive forests that look to have never known the bite of axe or saw. And to the south the same thick forest looks to transition to a mangrove delta and at the horizon you can just make out the reflection of sunlight on the dark blue of seawater. Quite the impressive starting map if you do say so yourself.

Then, a strange sound, you hear it through your connection to this dimension. It’s… well the closest comparison is like someone politely knocking on a door. Landing you take a moment to figure out how to match a portal to where the knocking is coming from. “Tozi, you and your mother conceal yourselves and be ready. I am about to open a portal foe someone and I’m not sure if they will continue to be polite once they are through.”

With your backup concealed and ready you carefully open a portal to Elderia. Through the portal steps an old man leaning on a staff of polished wood with a brass cap at each end. “You would deny an old man his walking stick?” The iconic line flashes through your mind instantly setting you on edge. The old wizard makes no hostile moves and your arcane senses detect no active spells. Still you are a true novice in the presence of a master so assuming anything is likely a mistake.

“Well boy, are you going to extend hospitality to an old man or should I go back home?” As he speaks you catch a mirthful twinkle in his eyes and a hint of a laugh in his voice.

“Well grandfather, if you will agree to be a polite guest I will be a gracious host.” Hopefully guest and Host rights and responsibilities are similar to Earths classical period.

The old man cracks a smile, you clearly passed some kind of test. Sweeping his hat off, he bowes respectfully. “My gracious host I am Arch mage Bonius, and I offer my magical experience as an advisor and instructor.”

You are shocked. When you passed over the arch mages wish you figured you would at best have to seek out and beg for the master wizards aide and at worst he would hold a grudge. You were definitely not expecting to have him knock on your front door and politely ask for a staff position.

“Well, I welcome you master mage, I find myself dearly in need of the skills of a master of the arcane. While several of my companions are skilled in the arcane arts your name is spoken with respect and I would be a fool to turn away such a skilled wizard.”

You exchange further pleasantries with the arch mage and subtly signal for Tozi to come out of hiding. Going by how little he reacts Bonius probably knew they were there the whole time.

Gathering up your companion you make ready to return to your castle. “Master Bonius, are you able to keep pace with a dragon in flight?” “Yes my boy, I can keep up with you please lead the way.”

A shrug and you are of the wizard keeping up with you, seemingly without effort. Even at a relatively relaxed flying speed you are quickly back over your castle circling around you come in or a landing in the main courtyard. As you land you are greeted by Illenwyn, Azralynn, and Bixi. As he lands Bonius takes in your welcome party. “Well, well, young Bixihow have you been girl? Finally found a patron who won’t try to clap you in irons to pacify their wife?” “Master Bonius… you heard about that?” The young woman blushes in embarrassment. You detect a history between the two.

“Of course I heard. I do take the time to keep track of my better students even when the leave my instruction in the middle of the night without notifying me.” Oh yes definitely history.

“Master mage welcome, my lord we were hoping for your return we have several theories for the ritual but we need your input and help to continue as we can not proceed without knowing how your magic will interact with the ritual” Illenwyn waisted no time getting to the point. You are honestly very surprised that the hav made any progress in the little time you were away.

Looking to Bonius, you can’t help but note the interest in his eyes. You had been kicking yourself over not recruiting him when thinking about this earlier. “Master Bonius, I feel your arrival here if most fortunate and your timing is excellent as we have a complicated and delicate magical problem that you may very well be able to help us with.”

The old man’s face splits into a broad smile “Well then, let’s follow your lovely ladies to where they are working on this problem and I can assess how much of that latent potential you can access at the moment.”