Family domain.

"welcome to my tower young Derek, my other apprentice just arrived yesterday and you'll meet her soon. I heard that you have a strong talent and that you are very studious but you'll soon learn that in the world outside the capital you need to be resourceful and even get your hand dirty. " Told you Master Lorenzo.

You could barely believe your luck, not only had you been sent to a master that had his tower on the edge of what had once been your family domain but he had taken another apprentice, not only that but a girl. You could already see it, long hours doing chores together, bonding in adversity against a strict master, it would be what would inevitably draw you together and then who knows?

"I'm honored that you chose me, master! I'm ready to learn more and I'm not afraid to work. " you replied with enthusiasm.

You had chosen to wear a long dark red coat over some leather pants and linen shirt rather than the colorfull robes in vogue at the capital. A teacher had been kind enough to tell you that those were only ever worn at the Academy, at court and for some ceremonies.

Your old master was a balding man with a long grey beard, he wore an open blue robe with silver thread over felt black pants and a silky silver shirt that was distended by his large belly.

You had taken a carriage from the capital and it was strange that you didn't notice his apprentice on it as it was the only one going that way this week. You had a only a small bag with you. You hadn't brought much but the runes on this bag allowed it to contain anything you could stack in four large chests.

Master Lorenzo was explaining to you about the time you'd have to be ready for dinner and some of your tasks when you were interrupted by a high pitched voice.

"Well if it isn't the little Ashcroft, I'm surprised they let you out of the library! " Said a beautiful blonde girl wearing a long red dress that left a lot of her ample cleavage visible."I hope you remember this land isn't yours, it belongs to my family."

There must have been 70 young girls ready to become apprentice this year and you had to find yourself paired with Cynthia Donovan. Not only did her family usurp this land from yours with the help of the emperor but she was one of your most fervent bully at the Academy, worse her brother Gareth was trying to seduce your sister, oblivious of how ridiculous it was.

"Hello Cynthia, what a surprise to see you here. " it was the best you could manage to stay cordial and not a lie you had been truly surprised to see her." how did you come here anyway? "

Your dreams of seducing the other apprentice were over, you would have now to bear her presence and watch you back for pranks for the next 3 years.

"I just took my dad's carriage when he went back to Castle Victory." she replied.

The city of Embervale home of the Ashcroft for millenia had been razed during the war, the Donovan after the Empire won the war and they had been gifted the land that should have returned to your grandfather, built a ridiculous castle nearby the ruins and called it Castle Victory, an even stupider name.

"you will both go out in the wasteland and look for artifacts of the war. I expect you to come back k with some interesting piece before dinner, if you don't find anything don't bother coming back before lunch tomorrow. " announced Master Lorenzo.

You had walked for hours in the bone littered ash fields than had once been a green fertile plain. You had in hand a small device, a small quadrant with 2 needles, one pointed to the strongest magic sources around, the other indicated how strong it was.

It led both of you to a really good find. In the remains of what should have once been a small village stood the massive shape of a dragon skeleton. Not one of the big ones that burned this land but bug enough to be a terrible threat. You were looking at his head, seeing if you could bring back his skull when Cynthia approached you.

If anything her dress looked even more scandalous now, her sleeves rolled up and the hem of the dress folded over her knees let a lot of skin on display.

"I need to talk to you follow me! " she told you in an harsh tone.

As you did so she stopped you.

" Here this is perfect. You know, Derek our families are not obligated to be at war, look at our siblings. Once Valeria marries Gareth we will rebuild Embervale. Some even talk about us and strengthening our Alliance further. " she was talking tenderly and approached you as if to kiss you. She hugged you, her large breasts barely constricted by this skimpy dress.

"But you'll never see it, and your slut of a sister will become the sex toy of my dumb brother. This ends now, no more Ashcrofts, ever. " said Cynthia, standing an inch from you face.

You felt strange, cold. A strong stream of hot blood that left your body came from the hole In your kidney.

Stiletto in hand she just pushed you backward. You expected to fall on your ass and then fight back but a short spell opened the well you stood on and you fell to the darkness.