True enough when LaMonte opened the lab door the High Council entered. Surprisingly none of them looked particularly disgruntled. In fact two member were hanging back to snicker among themselves. A joke, the council was treating them like a joke.

“Master LaMonte,” The Head of the Council nodded acknowledging the young man’s presence. “Monsieur Flamel.” Nick flinched internally at the amount of emphasis the man place on the ‘Monsieur’.

“We could not help overhearing a small disturbance coming from your group. Is there a problem?” The man always reminded Nick of a serpent eyeing its prey.

“No sir. Nicholas and I were merely having a debate on certain aspects of the experiment. It’s certainly not a problem worthy enough of your time.” LaMonte assured his superiors. The old man gave a smirk before turning his attention to Nick.

“And what sort of problem would that be?” For the second time in less than an hour all eyes were on him again. Swallowing hard several times Nick knew there was no way of talking his way out of this. He had always been a terrible liar.

“I don’t agree using human remains for war is helping anyone.” He admitted realizing how much he sounded like a child. “We should be looking for ways to stop people from dying, not cause more deaths!” There a few seconds of silence as everyone looked at Nick like he was mad.

“Ever the idealist.” The man’s smirk widened revealing several missing teeth. “As admirable as a trait that may be, the reality is there are some people in this world who refuse to get along. Tell me Nicholas,” The man took several steps closer to Nick. He folded his leathery hands behind his back. If he was trying to look more intimidating it worked. Nick had seen that exact look in the eyes of scavenger birds waiting their turn. “If not on this experiment, where would you like to be? I’m sure we could get you your old position back if you like.”

“No!” Nick exclaimed louder than he wanted to. “I mean, no, I don’t want to go back to Master Pelletier.” He stopped himself from talking, fearing he would keep going and say too much.

“Of course not. After all, why work on someone else’s experiment when you can work on your own?” The man looked at Nick’s horrified expression before wandering back towards the other council members.

“That’s not. What I mean is.” Nick kept stumbling over his own words trying to figure exactly how to answer that accusation. Seeing this as an opportunity Nick took a steading breath before speaking. “It’s true I would rather work on my own project than Master LaMonte’s. Yet I don’t want to do anything to sabotage his research in favor of my own. I just…I just really really don’t want to work in this lab anymore.” Seeing the blank stares he sighed. “I’ll see myself to the stables.”

Nick made his way towards the door to gather his things from the main floor room the lab had been assigned to. Like with the meal time tables everyone is to sleep in the same room as a unit. Even the girls. He got three steps before the Head of the Council spoke out.

“Bit of an overreaction.” Said the old man. Nick stopped short at the man’s light hearted chuckle. “I have an idea, if the rest of the Council is willing.” He glanced over at the other members who nodded in approval. “Recently our royal highness called your former Master to help with an exploration of the Dark Continent. I propose we give your idea some attention-“

“YES!” Nick shouted earning him a group glare. Clearing his throat in embarrassment he gave a small apology.

“As I was saying, we have enough funding left over to fund your experiment for one year. However, we can only provide you with one apprentice.” Nick felt his smile fade a little.

“Thank you sir! I wouldn’t disappoint you.” Nick declared. The Head of the Council held up his bony weathered hand to catch Nick’s attention.

“I have but one condition.” The old man paused to make sure he had Nick’s full attention. “As I stated we only have a year’s worth of funding. If you go past that year without any substantial findings your experiment will be declared a failure. If your experiment is declared a failure you are to return to Master LaMonte lab without a further word of protest. Do we have an understanding?”

Nick looked around the room for some sort of moral support on whether or not this was, in fact, a good deal. When he was met with stony looks of indifference he decided it was now or never.

“Yes, High Councilman we do.”

Nick was beginning to realize how terrible of a deal he had agreed to. His one assistant had a reputation that was turning into a running joke around The Academy. His name a Griff and he had been passed around from several labs already. Upon one speaking to one of the other members of the staff he discovered that the man who helped him in the library before would be his new assistant. From there initial meeting Nick had no idea that the Griff from the rumor was now, in fact, his Griff.

Now Griff wasn’t stupid by any means. He was quite useful as a resource having read more books in the library than most of the higher ranking Masters. Beyond that however he was as useful as a broken broom. Determined to make the best of his situation he made his way towards the library where his new assistant is. Everyone has ‘something’ that drives them. Money, power, even on the occasion, food remembering how this one boy acted when he and Nick were brought to The Academy.

Judging by the glare he received from the old man sitting at the front most in the library he was told of Nick’s arrival. Nick continued to make his way further into where he was assuming his new assistant would be shelving books. Listening for the sounds of someone moving around he was perturbed at the pressing silence surrounding him. No walking or the sounds of shuffling papers, just silence. Spotting a pile of bedding and assorted books he felt his stomach sink. Getting closer he noticed that in the middle of the pile closest to the fire was Griff.

“Found you.” He barked taking slight satisfaction in how startled this ‘Griff’ was. When the man rubbed the sleep from his eyes Nick started talking. “My name is Nicolas Flamel, from this day forward I am you’re new Master. To start, I need a book about rocks. Specifically gem stones if you know of one.”

Blinking the man gave a sleepy ‘What?’ as if he was still processing what was said to him.

"If I didn't need that brain of yours I would have replaced you with a monkey by now," Nick spoke through gritted teeth down at his supposed colleague. Griff didn't have enough energy to respond, it took everything he had to extract himself from his nest next to the fire. Covering his eyes while taking a few calming breaths Nick counted to ten in his head before asking,

"Tell me you at least found something relevant to the project."

"Um." Griff hummed trying to buy himself some time. Piled around him were books of all different topics, none of which seemed like something Nick would find useful.

"Rocks, Griff, rocks!" Nick barked his patient finally leaving him. "I needed you to research various ores and minerals so we can design a way to synthesize rare metals in the lab."

"Oh. Yeah. Right." Remembering now Griff located the book mixed in with the others he had pulled off the shelf. Nick snatched the book without a word of thanks. With furrowed brow the Alchemist flipped through the pages skimming over each passage searching for answers. "Doesn't tell me how gemstones are made just where they are found. Griff, a bestiary, specifically one with dragons."

Griff managed to stand up to hobble over to the animal section of the library. He could tell Nick exactly what the book was going to say but Griff knew Nick wanted to read it for himself. Hoping that this was the end of it Griff lowered himself back into his nest to finish the book he started last night.

"Alright, this should do for now," Nick announced closing the book with a loud thud. "Come along Griff there is much to be done." Griff faltered for a second causing him to lose his balance to land hard on his tailbone.

"What? Why?" Griff managed to protest. Nick huffed as if to express how frustrating Griff was before explaining himself. Pulling off his shoulder bag Nick unbuckled it to place both books inside.

"You're the only Mage the High Mages were going to let me have. My project didn't warrant enough merit to deserve one of the other Mages in the guild so you'll have to do." Griff had to give it to Nick; he didn't like to mince words for anyone. "So come along now. We have a lot of work to cover." Nick ordered pulling Griff up by his arm. Griff knew he couldn't fight it. Up until this point, none of the other Mages had pull rank like this ever before. Most wanted him as far away as possible.

“I already have a Master. Master Apricot.”

“Well now I’m your master. You got that. And if you don’t like it I can have you sent down to the stables or even the kitchens peeling potatoes for the rest of your miserable life.” Threatened the other teen staring down at him like a deranged man. Griff nodded not trusting his voice. “Good. Grab your things, we’re leaving.” Griff could only stare after the strange man claiming to be his master now. Not wanting to risk it Griff grabbed the issued bag filled with his Academy issued clothes he started to keep in the library. It’s started out as a joke from Master Apricot about how much time Griff stayed in the spot he carved out for himself. Not looking back he followed after his new Master.

Passing by the front desk he tried to catch eyes with Master Apricot on his way out. The man’s eyes were closed but Griff could tell he wasn’t sleeping. Feeling put out Griff lowered his eyes he wished Master Apricot a silent good day.

Apprentices followed after their masters not sparing the two a glance. Amazing how years have gone by yet nothing really changed except the faces. Too soon the two of them were down below in the lower lab areas. Nick opened the door to the lab to see someone was already in there. The other man didn't look like much, average build with dark black hair. He had a strange glint in his eye as if he was sizing up the world around him. When he saw Nick walk in with Griff in tow the man chuckled.

“I still can’t believe you convinced the council to go along with your Theorem.” The man shook his head throwing more objects into a small crate.

“What’s all this? You have a lab on the upper floor already.” Griff’s master approached the other man as Griff looked around the room. Two beds stationed near the fireplace. On the opposite side of the fireplace was a work station shoved up against the wall. Bare bones basic but it is functional. Needed more books in Griff’s opinion. The conversation going on turned louder as the two masters started talking louder.

"Ugh. Not this again. I swear all you and the elite care about is bloodshed." Accused Nick with a sneer. The darker haired man face turned dark.

"While you tinker away in your labs trying to figure out how Dragon stomachs work the real world is knocking at our door." The man knocked twice on the door while saying,

"Knock knock. Who's there? Genocide!" Griff looked away. He knew there was a group out there systematically slaughtering villages making their way north, but he had no idea it was that bad. He did want to think about it, it was simply too much to think about. Choosing the left bed Griff dropped onto it with a ‘wump'. He noticed there was a lump under the covers he had not spotted before. He stood back up to pull away the noticeable thin covers to see what it was. Nick and stranger's bickering was interrupted by Griff screaming. Lying in the bed was the stuffed pelt of a beaver/duck looking creature. The stranger walked over to see what the big deal was to only start laughing.

"Aw did my little friend frighten you?" The stranger teased.

"Alright, as you can see we still have a lot of prep work to do and we don't need your insults to nature cluttering our workspace." Nick walked past everyone to grab the stuffed creature. With a harder than necessary shove, Nick handed the creature to the strange also pushing him towards the door.

"Actually this creature is naturally found in the newly discovered lands near-" The last words from the stranger were cut off by Nick slamming the door.

"How can anyone be so annoying?" Nick laughed trying to lighten the mood. When Griff didn't as much as smile back Nick walked over to the bed. "I can take this bed if you like." When Griff still refused to talk from embarrassment Nick took a deep breath through his nose.

"Look, I know this isn't ideal for either of us. However, if you help me prove my theorem I will make you my permanent assistant and-"Nick made sure Griff was making full eye contact now. "You will never have to leave the library ever again." With a puzzled look, Griff asked, "Can you do that?"

"When you are top tier working in the upper labs you can do whatever you want," Nick assured Griff with a smile. Griff searched Nick's face for any sign of lying but not having too much experience dealing with other people he chose to trust the man.

“Fine,” He sighed. When it came down to it, he really didn’t have much choice.

“Excellent. I’ll make up the list of supplies I need from storage and you’ll go get them. Meanwhile, I will go down to market to pick up our supplies.” Nick was jotting down a list for Griff on a scrap piece of paper. “If we are quick we can all this done before dinner tonight.” Griff gave a hum of acknowledgment that Nick didn’t hear.