Rime looked up when the Arch Mage called his name as he walked in the room "Get Cyra and your things, it is time for us to go." Rime was quick to put the books he had taken down back in place and pack his and Cyra's bags before he went over to her and untangled her from the princess. The nanny collected the Princess so Rime could pull Cyra's cloak over he before picking her up and holding her close to him.

By the time he turned around to go grab the bags he saw that the Arch Mage gad already picked them up and was making his way to them. He pulled Rimes mask over his face and did the same for Cyra, before he turned and lead them out the room. They headed down the long hall that was lined with guards and then they went through the double doors. There were many members of the war council making their way through the hall and gave the Arch Mage and his two companions strange looks.

One look from the mage and they were on their way, they eventually made it out to the gates where the Golden Dragon was standing as he spoke to one of his guards. The man gave them a nod and they were out the gates, as soon as their feet touched the soil they were flashed from the spot to Rime and Cyra's room. Rime placed Cyra down on her bed and took off everything she was wearing and then changed her into her sleeping clothes before covering her up.

He turned around to see the Arch Mage was still standing in the room and followed him out to the hall when he was signaled to. He pulled in the door behind him and watched as the Arch Mage scanned the hall and then turned back to him. "Rime I do not think it wise to make friends with the Empress and I think it is even more foolish to involve her in your training and studies. She and the Emperor do not see you for what you are and so they will not understand the threats you will face in your life."

"They only see you and Cyra as children and in normal circumstances that would be a wise assessment, but your lives no longer carry normal circumstances. I already told you the three options you have and I told you what it necessary for you to survive, I can only help you as long as you want my help. But if you don't want my help while you can get it then there is nothing I can do for you but bid you good luck. So I need you to stick to the training Sic and I will work out for you and just keep in mind that it is for your own good."

The Arch Mage didn't wait for a response before he vanished from the spot and Rime was a bit miffed by his actions, but deep down he knew the Mage was right. The lesser the training meant the lesser the advantage he would have and he couldn't afford to have his advantage lessen. It would mean trouble for him and Cyra when the wheels truly started to turn.

^^

The sun was just raising above the Horizon when Rime and Cyra made their way down the hall and went straight for the kitchen. They greeted the chef who returned the gesture before putting a large bowl filled with udon noodles, fried vegetables, pieces of roasted chicken and a large cut of beef. He placed a large cup of honey milk next to it and left them to eat while he went about making their lunches.

The Kitchen was quieter than usual and that was because the night before when Rime had thought the Arch Mage had left, he had actually made his way through the house and had a word with everyone that worked there. But no one would tell the siblings because they were told not to. "Okay today for lunch you've got barbecued chicken, grilled beef, a hefty amount of garlic rice, fried chicken patties, and finally stir fried vegetables and to wash it all down, passion juice and water."

That was all he said and Cyra pouted because the whole time she had been listening for what she would get as a snack and he didn't say anything. The chef picked up on this and mumbled that there were red pickled mangoes, honey apple custard and some chocolate and that made Cyra brighten up even though she couldn't understand his behavior. Rime on the other hand immediately picked up on what had happened and it made him frown.

He decided to just leave it be because he knew it he brought it up it would only piss the mage off and he would be dealing with extra drama that he didn't need. He got Cyra down for the stool and helped her to slip on her back pack before grabbing his bag and their lunch packs. They headed out the house and pulled their black hood over their heads and pulled up their mask. When Rime had searched their draws this morning, he had found all their cloaks were now black and had mask attached to them thanking whoever was watching that there clothes hadn't been changed as well.

It didn't take them long to get to there first classes only to find the Arch Mage waiting for them at the door, the man said nothing as he took hold of their shoulders and lead them away from the class. Rime was puzzled as to what was going on but decided to just wait and see what would happen. They walked out the building and went around the left side, they were walking into an open field and stopped, Rime looked around to see that they had gone quite a bit away from the other buildings.

"From now on you will not be attending your regular classes, unless there is an exam for you to take, no from now on you will attend your academic studies here, so pay attention to what I say or she won't let you in." Rime was puzzled by what he meant until he spoke again "Call of the Crow."

Rime watched as an outline formed in the air and then something shimmered before a large building appeared in front of them, it was made entirely of black obsidian that had line of blue running along the surface. It looked like an old castle he had seen when he was first making his way to the capital, but it had a different feeling to it. All the windows that had been dark suddenly lit up and then the large metal doors at the front of the castle opened.

They were lead up the stairs to the door where a woman was standing, she had silver eyes that seemed to swirl, her long black hair ran down in curls stopping just above her butt. Her regal eyebrows arched before a smile formed on her thick black painted lips, she stood tall in a elegant black lace dress. "Well if it isn't our Arch Mage, it's been such a long time since you visited me and now you're here to ask me a favor, I'm afraid to say that I'm feeling used, I hope that is not the case." she spoke with a sultry tone and folded her arms under her breast.

Arch Mage bowed to her pulling Rime and Cyra to do the same before he rose up "that is as far as the truth as you can get, it is just that I don't trust anyone with them, they are too important for us to just give to anyone to teach."

The woman nodded and turned around gracefully to head inside, the Arch Mage, Rime and Cyra coming after her. "You know the last time you were here was when your third born grandchild had shown great academic potential. So I guess these children are just as important to you as he was, let me know if I'm wrong."

The Arch Mage nodded "yes to me they are just as important but to our kingdom they are even more so, that's why I need you now just like I needed you back then."

The woman just gave a slight nod and that brought a conversation to an end as they made their way down a hall, they stopped in front of large double metal doors. The woman pressed her hands lightly on them and just like that they flew open and the dark hall had a burst of light that suddenly rushed through it. Inside the room was a library but not a small one, no from head to toe shelves ran over the gold painted walls and each shelf was filled with book after book.

Some of the books had golden covers, black obsidian covers, silver covers, marble covers and ruby covers and as you looked at each they seemed to call your name, singing a silent tune that commanded you to pick them. The floors were made of black obsidian and throughout the grand room had different sitting areas that were build from gold but had red and black cushions. You could see floating lamps and shelves that had writing material on them.

The entire thing was breathtaking, straight across from them the only wall with no books was made of clear glass that allowed you to look out a breathtaking view of a lake that was surrounded by different plants of many different colors. Rime held Cyra's hand and moved to walk to the glass but was stopped by the woman who tapped his shoulder lightly.

"Do not ever go out there without me to accompany you, sometimes dark things hide in beauty, remember that and you'll live a long life." Rime nodded and turned away from the glass and followed after the woman as she lead them through a smaller set of double doors. The room itself was small and only had a seating area, the woman walked over and took a seat and waited for the Arch Mage, Rime and Cyra to do the same. "I'm sure you came here with a plan for their academic training."

The Arch Mage nodded "I would just like you to run over everything they had been thought and get them more in depth information and also continue from where they left off on their course work. And if you could help them carry out there practical training like casting spells and such it would be good."

The woman tilted her head and nodded before looking at him "it will be a lot but I'm sure I can help them go through everything, but I might have to use that room. So I would need to train their mind to accept the training for that to happen, you must let them stay with me or there is nothing I can do for them."

The Arch Mage nodded and stood up "well then I will go and speak to the dean and then bring their things to you in the meantime you can get them settled." that was the last thing the mage said before he vanished from the room.

The woman looked from the spot where the man had just been standing before she turned to Rime and Cyra "well children shall we begin?"