“Sir, we have found them, or rather her.” A young thin man, appearing to be in his early twenties, wearing a loose blue top, complete with mandarin style collar, and dark blue pants.

This was the standard academy uniform for lower mages who were hired to work and still furthered their own studies at the academy. They were the footmen of the academy. Doing the bidding of higher ups that had sponsored them out of the lower college or magic studies. The lower college was a place for all mages, who could afford to attend, to study all things magic, and to showcase their talents in hopes of acquiring a more vaunted position in the academy through a sponsor. Sponsors were required to provide training, and materials for the student’s further study. Which was all sponsored by the Monarchy. Each area of study received a different amount of stipend dependent upon how important it was to the current Monarchies needs or desires.

“Come in, close the door.” The young man’s sponsor replied with a bit of energy in his voice.

The young man did as he was told, then sat in one of three chairs to grace the front of his sponsor’s quite long desk. It was made from an almost black wood and inlaid with a silvery metal that ran down the corner legs and top edge, it seemed to flow as water when the light played off it.

Once seated, the man’s sponsor bade him continue.

“She is with four adventurers as we speak, on the road toward town. Her appearance is that of a northerner. Which may put some stress on your plans. As they hold no affiliation with our land.”

The older man behind the desk, who had black hair and a few grey streaks, leaned back into his high-backed padded chair, that allowed a slight tilt back to allow a slight laid-back feeling.

The young man waited patiently in quiet as his sponsor deliberated.

“I do not think it should pose us too much in the way of trouble.” The older man said leaning back forward to better face his junior. “After all, it is not like we intend to kidnap or coerce her to do anything untoward. She would obviously be a great asset to our work. Also, if she is in with a group of adventurers, well all the merrier. We might get some extra muscle free of charge.” The man finished with a smile.

“Still, the Northerners are not known for their open heartedness. It might take a lot of convincing to get her long-term involvement sir.”

“Nonsense Ford. If she has come to these lands, she might be an outcast with no means. Or she is required to gain knowledge of current affairs outside of her lands for their tribunal brotherhood. I would suspect the former if she has taken up with locals. Especially with her potential talent for the magic arts. If we could garner her abilities for ourselves, we would also gain a larger stipend due to our gain in strength. Just sending talentless scouts off to die is getting us know where. And we absolutely need to figure out what has been happening in the mountains to the north. There has been far too much activity around there the last few years. Since her highness wishes us to keep law in these parts, we, as the war mages lead that fight in many ways. Ever since the loss of Renick, we can assume some power has taken up there. How else can I explain a war mage of his talent simply disappearing with no trace.”

Without waiting for a reply to his non-question the sponsor continued. “So, to reiterate, I would like you to make contact with this young lady and sway her to our cause. She may enroll at the college if she requires magic tutoring. I doubt a simple adventurer like Nick Doth could give her sufficient tutelage. Even he isn’t that arrogant to try such a thing. If she does, I will attach you to assist with whatever teacher she is assigned. This will not be a problem, as they will just see it as my wanting to vet a student in the class, which is of course not out of the ordinary. We will give it two weeks’ time. If she shows no intension of joining the college, we will approach her through either the adventurer’s guild or you will just have to make an offer in person. If it comes to that, a simple meeting with Mr. Doth, we should be able to persuade him see the need to her proper training. Which would be the best option in my opinion.”

Ford listened intently to discern his instructions, after all his sponsor was not always a direct man, and left things to chance. He made you think on your feet with little love if you failed to live up to your “full potential”. Which Ford knew meant he was passing on responsibility and reaping rewards in the hand when you succeeded. Though Ford knew his sponsor was an intelligent man and gave you most of the tools to succeed. He also made you prove your worth by showing results. As he understood it, he was shown at least four paths to avail himself to the young lady. For now, he would wait.

“I understand sir. I will wait the requisite two weeks. If there has been no shown desire to join the college, I will approach the guild to acquire her services long term and for further training. Failing that I will contact Mr. Doth and set up a meeting to discuss proper etiquette for mage training. Otherwise, I am to at the very least offer her a long-term position under our umbrella using pay and resources as the carrot.”

“Good man Ford. Now off you go. I have other things I need to attend.” The man looked to the papers upon his desk, then as an afterthought, “By the way Ford. How is your studying progressing? Have you made any headway?”

“A decent showing sir. My connection has expanded himself into the underworld. He has informed me that there are currently no mal goings on in the town. Nor word of any dark magics being the cause for our problems in the mountains. We still cannot get eyes or ears into the region and the Adventurer’s guild, which has lost two parties of its own, and knows about Renick going missing in the same area, refuses to send more. Unless we supply them with appropriate back-up.”

With a bit of thought his sponsor finally added. “This girl may be the key to it all. Though first we need to assess and likely train her. I wish there was a faster option. I cannot however just off and go myself. I have far too much work behind this desk to just up and travel the wilderness just to view some trouble at a mountain.” Then he picked up a page and started reading. “Well, nothing to be done but wait for the pieces to fall where they may. Put your efforts into this girl for now. It may take some time to get her trained up to our standards.”

“Of course, sir.” Ford said with a bow after rising from his chair. Then he left the room, making his mental itinerary for the following weeks to come. He hopped things would go his way. Another notch in his belt could see him getting a raise. Which he could put toward his own growth. Components to work up new spells, or create items were not cheap, and this towns budget was meant for protecting the area, not progression. Sometimes he regretted joining the war mages. While he was very suited to the combat way of life. There just wasn’t a budget to waste on a lot of progress. That was what the creation mages were for. Though waiting for them to come up with something you needed was just a roll of fate, and he, like other mages, wanted more now. He was no where near as powerful as his sponsor. But unlike his sponsor, he was still a young man moving up, and to move up, you needed more.

The girl and their group should be entering the city today. He would have an eye watch her moves. Then he would know how to respond. He almost hoped he could get posted into the college, then he could appropriate a few materials for himself while he was there. After all, it was only wrong if you got caught. Even then his sponsor would probably just give him a slap on the back of his hand and make him pay restetuition.

First, he would have to be caught.