Samuel slipped through the crowd of students, nodding in response to their muttered congratulations and well-wishes. Now that he was off the stage and out of the auditorium, he was back to being nervous at the prospect of so much attention. Surprisingly, Tobi was still with him. Samuel has asked him if he needed to attend any afternoon classes, but the apprentice had shaken his head.

“I have been excused from lessons for the week,” he explained. “Then I have a month off, in order to spend more time on my Issho-Ni duties.”

“I see,” Samuel replied. “Then I suppose you will be accompanying me to see your father when I am finished here?”

“If you will allow me,” Tobi had said formally, then ruined the effect with a sly grin. “I imagine my father will be most surprised to see you.”

Samuel pushed through the last of the crowd now and reached the door of the faculty building. There were some students here, either working on records or asking about last-minute class changes. It was in this building that all the class management and student-faculty interactions took place. It was also, as Kiinor had explained, where Samuel had to go to set the curriculum for students of his school.

“What was causing them to crowd around this building?” Samuel asked as he pushed through the doors, straightening his new white robes. “Surely they’ve classes to attend themselves.”

Tobi could only shrug in reply, not knowing the answer himself. Samuel pushed the hair out of his eyes, thinking for perhaps the hundredth time that he should get it trimmed. Taking a deep breath, he crossed the space from the door, coming to a stop at the large wooden desk and offering a tired smile to the grey-robed student sitting behind it.

“Good morning, Archmage!” The student said in surprise, jumping up to stand at attention. “Who are, err, how can I help you?”

Samuel resisted rolling his eyes at the jumpy Acolyte, but it was a close thing. “My name is Samuel Bragg, newly promoted Archmage of Knowledge. I’m here to set my students’ curriculum?”

“Ah, yes, of course!” the young man said nervously. “I will get you the paperwork. Please, wait here.”

Without another word, the grey robe whipped out of sight around a corner. Samuel glanced back at Tobi and raised an eyebrow, receiving another shrug. He couldn’t get used to the way the other members of the College stammered and stuttered in his presence. Archmages may be one of the highest authorities within the College and the Guild, but he was still young, and it was his first day on the job. Surely they could tone down the celebrity treatment.

“Tobi, I need you to do something for me,” Samuel said.

“Of course,” Tobi said, looking surprised at the sudden request. “What can I do for you?”

“Don’t ever call me Archmage, Master, or Lord,” Samuel said shortly. “Just call me Samuel. I don’t mind if you put san at the end, though I prefer you just call me by my name.”

The Apprentice didn’t look the least bit surprised. “Sure thing, Samuel. In return, take me on as your personal Apprentice.”

Tobi must have known that the Acolyte would return at that exact moment, distracting Samuel from asking the young man why, or perhaps what was wrong with him to want to learn from a novice like himself. But the Acolyte did come, jogging and puffing, back into view, and Samuel was forced to switch his attention.

“Here you are, Archmage,” The Acolyte said, placing two pieces of paper in front of him. “Just pick the classes you wish students of your school to study, sign that second paper, and I’ll take care of the rest!”

“Thank you,” Samuel replied, reaching over to sign the indicated form. “While I’m here, is there any special paperwork required to take Tokugawa on as my personal Apprentice?”

“Not at all, sir,” the clerk replied. “All you need is to seek the permission of his parent or guardian.”

That wasn’t likely to be difficult, Samuel thought to himself, staring down at the first sheet pensively. The difficult part was setting his curriculum. As a student himself, he had studied Transmutation, Travel, and Divination. The choice had been an easy one at the time because he’d dreaded the idea of fighting, so he’d chosen the best non-combat-oriented schools he could.

But if he were being honest, a little knowledge of Destruction and Restoration would have come very much in handy on his journey. He could have had more powerful spells at his disposal, not to mention the ability to heal Shigeru’s injury more effectively. Making up his mind, Samuel made a small tick next to Transmutation, Travel and Divination, marking them as required. But on the bottom of the page, he scribbled a quick note. If you are a student of the School of Knowledge, then it is required for you to take one extra class of your choice pertaining to combat.

Satisfied, Samuel slid the paper back to the Acolyte. “That should do them fine. Is that an acceptable answer?”

“Very fine choice,” the Acolyte replied. “I will circulate this straight away. I hope you have a very enjoyable day, Archmage.”

Samuel winced but made sure he hid the expression. The Acolyte’s farewell had bordered on sycophantic, which he definitely did not like. Suppressing a slight shiver, Samuel turned to Tobi and gestured for the exit. Tobi was all too obviously suppressing a smile, so Samuel ignored him, pushing his way out of the building first.

They walked through the crowd again, keeping their eyes forward to avoid tempting the students to start a conversation. There was no need, it seemed, for as soon as Samuel was clear of the building, the group of students began to enter it. Glancing back in some confusion, Samuel watched the crowd slowly trickle into the building. They looked excited about something.

“What do you suppose they’re doing?” He asked Tobi.

The Apprentice paused in his stride to glance back. “If I had to say, I expect they were waiting for you to set your curriculum. That would explain why they were gathered there, and why they seemed to pay particular attention to you.”

“You don’t say,” Samuel mused quietly. Surprisingly, he wasn’t annoyed or embarrassed that so many would choose his method of studying. He personally felt it to be a good practice, and it was flattering to see others willing to take on his way of thinking.

“Alright, that’s enough of the College for one day,” Samuel said. “Let’s go see Shigeru.”

Tobi seemed indifferent. “Very well. You can ask for his permission then.”

“Why do you want me as a mentor?” Samuel asked, his delayed reaction snapping back now. “You know that I know very little magic myself.”

Tobi shrugged. It seemed to be a favored expression with him. “I suspect that you will learn quickly, and I can learn after you do. Plus, I sense that you will take a trip soon, and I want to see other lands.”

“Aren’t you Nihon-Jan?” Samuel asked, tugging off the white Archmage’s robe and replacing it with his rugged blue one as soon as they exited the College grounds.

“Only by heritage,” Tobi replied. “I was born here, in Milagre. Father met me as a boy when I attempted to pick his pockets.”

Now it was Samuel’s turn to pause. “You were a thief?”

“I’m not sure thief is the right term. I stole not for profit, but to feed myself.”

“I see,” Samuel said. “I can’t imagine he was happy about that.”

“He caught me straight away, as you can imagine. But instead of hitting me or arresting me, he gave me a hot meal and took me in. I was his apprentice for a year, then he adopted me.”

“Somehow that sounds very in-character for him.”

They continued down King’s Road in companionable silence after that, struggling through the returning crowd of field workers who were coming in now for an evening meal. The two kept to the side of the road for easier passage, occasionally having to slip around a City Guard who was on duty, watching over the citizens. Each time, the guard would look suspiciously at Samuel, but they chose not to bother him once they recognized Tobi.

It didn’t take them long to find Issho-Ni. For one, it was right along King’s Road, allowing easy access for both visitors and the members of the group to come and go as they pleased. The building was also quite large, which surprised Samuel. He wasn’t sure how he could have missed it on his way into the city. It was very clearly Nihon-Jan in design, with sloping roofs that ended in upward points. There was a pale gray wall built around the compound, with two trees planted behind. They were cherry blossoms, Samuel noticed.

There were three buildings on the property, but it was the main structure that caught his eye at once. The second story was supported by large dark beams of wood and had several ornate patios for relaxation. Samuel was about to ask Tobi if this was standard in Nihon-Jan architecture, before remembering that the youth had been born inside the city.

There were no guards posted to keep strangers out, but a few lean figures in dark gray robes lounged around the lower patio, enjoying a quiet drink and talking amongst each other. They looked up to see the newcomers, then waved to Tobi once they spotted him. Tobi returned the waves with a grin, clearly more relaxed in this space.

Tobi led the way into the main building, and Samuel followed, his eyes studying the intricate decorative carvings that had been etched into the wood. They would have appeared almost magical if it weren’t for the fact that he could sense no mana radiating from them. It was all very minimal in effect, but awe-inspiring nonetheless.

The interior of the building was much simpler. There were no delicate carvings here, just more dark panels of wood for flooring and white walls. Banners and scrolls were hanging everywhere Samuel looked, most depicting Shigeru’s personal crest. The largest, however, was a long line of Nihon-Jan characters, with a large wolf’s head at the bottom. It was an obvious reference to Longfang, Shigeru’s Ancient companion, and the creature that was his weapon of choice.

Longfang himself was instantly recognizable, of course, laying along the opposite side of the room. The great beast had its head resting on its massive paws, the violet eyes open and surveying the stranger who had entered the building. The wolf perked up as it recognized Samuel, tilting its head in slight confusion.

The center of the room was a large square padded area, where the members of Issho-Ni presumably trained in combat. Two figures were sparring on it now; one young and bulky man, and another, older figure. The older man was clearly the better of the two, deflecting his opponent’s blows with almost contemptuous ease, controlling the youth’s momentum as he tried to break through the old man’s guard.

“I have returned, Father,” Tobi said. “And I have a guest who wishes to meet you.”

The younger combatant looked around at the sound of Tobi’s voice, taking his attention off his opponent for half a second. In that brief time, the older man darted in, grabbing an arm and sweeping his leg out from under him. The younger man crashed to the padded floor with a grunt, and the victor laughed. It was a very familiar laugh.

“And that,” said Shigeru, is why you should never allow your attention to wander, Sean-san.”

Turning to acknowledge his son, Shigeru gave a slight bow. Tobi returned the gesture with less grace, and then Shigeru’s eyes found Samuel. His mouth fell open in shock, and his eyes moistened. Samuel found himself grinning without meaning to, stepping toward his old friend.

“Hey, Shigeru. I’m back.”