Family domain.

You were a bit pissed off. Your brother got to stay in the capital enjoying civilization and modern comfort and had been sent to the wastelands, that this bit of it had once been your family domain did little to alleviate that feeling as it was the Donovans that now possessed it.

Their son Gareth was a stupid oaf that wanted to marry you so that his children would be more legitimate on this land and their daughter Cynthia was a spoiled brat that enjoyed ruining your life and bullying your brother.

"Ah the young Valeria, as beautiful as I was told. I heard that you have a strong gift and that things come to you easily but don't imagine yourself rid of books and learning. There is always more to learn if you want to be a real mage. My other apprentice just arrived and you'll meet him soon. With you two here we will get started." said Master Lorenzo

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. It was a gift from your brother that had made one similar for himself.

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 loud voice.

"well if it isn't the lovely Valeria! I knew you could live without me, now we will spend a lot of time together. " said the large and portly boy in a deep voice. He was blond with a ridiculous attempt at a mustache and was wearing a red and yellow suit of the utmost bad taste.

Over 90 boys looking for apprenticeship this year and you had to be paired with him. At the very least his sister wasn't here too. You would have to spend three years here with him trying to peep on you and seduce you.

"What a surprise Gareth, how did you get here anyway?" you asked. A surprise it was and not a good one.

"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 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 nothing but your instincts and your luck to search the ashes for relics, you never learned spells to detect magic, it was more your brother's domain. And to be honest your luck seemed to have ran out recently.

The garish suit of Gareth was soiled with ashes and would be ruined before the end of the day.

You had found in what might have been a village two large skeletons, one of a large demonic beast the other a giant bear.

It was when you were inspecting those that Gareth made his move.

"Valeria would you marry me? " he asked on one knee holding a very expensive ring with runes on it.

"What? Are you insane? Your family stole our land and your sister passed the last 5 years bullying me and my brother and you want me to marry you." you spat back in anger.

"those things don't count, it's in the past. Think of the future, together we will rebuild Embervale and our children could become important people in the Empire. Derek could even marry Cynthia and become my vassal, I'll give him a small bit of land. " he told you.

As sexy as she was your brother despised Cynthia as much as you did Gareth. This was too odd and this ring was strange. Why runes on an engagement ring?

"No Gareth I will no marry you, there is nothing between us." you replied.

"listen you bitch you will put this ring that you want it or not. It cost me too much to waste it. " he shouted rushing at you and trying to put the ring on you.

In a blink you focused your inner fire on the ring until it was too hot to hold and he dropped it on the ground.

" I'll never marry you or let you touch me perv! No magic ring would be enough. " you told him.

He was faster than his weight made you think he could be and despite your bravado was now hugging you. You were shocked from his presence, his face held against yours and his dick clearly noticeable pointing in his pants.

"Well if I can't have you, no one will. " he replied in your ear. As he pushed you back you saw the dagger in his hand and the stream of blood that flowed from your side.

You were ready to scorch him the second you hit the ground but you fell on very thin rotten wood and went right through it.

You had been standing in front of an old we'll and were now falling into it.