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Dark eyes peeked out from beneath his wizarding hat. Shooting a combination of loathing and displeasure from beneath his now greying hair a cold and quiet "Yes...." seemed to pour from all corners of the tower. Xiag spent most of his time upset about something. And today wasn't one of his better days.
"Excuse me, uh, Master Xi....." the apprentice started.
"I told your master, I told your master's master, It's just XIAG!" came the response. It wasn't yelling, but it wasn't a cordial either..
"Well, um, Xiag, as you know I'm just an apprentice, and I was wondering..." the apprentice started to trail off.
"If you'd ever finish your question? Yes, I was wondering the same thing too." Xiag quiped as he turned to pour through his recently discoverd Liturgy of Truth.
"Well, I was wondering how you started..." the aprentice hastily spit the words out, starting to get more upset at the disrespect and less impressed with the Archmage.
"Hmmm... finally showing a little sand, eh? Better toughen up kid, my attitude is the smallest problem your going to face in the comming days of Sossaria. As for how I began... well, things were different then...
I started out pouring through the texts in Britain's Library. Finding records of old Sosaria, before British. Stories and fables about things were only now starting to rediscover. Take meditaion. No one knew what or how to meditate when I was a young mage. I saw records of it from long ago, rumors that Yew had been filled with healers and druids.
So, I took the moongate to the Lycacium. Started my studies in Moonglow. Would you believe that library doesn't have a firking thing on old Sossaria? When I got back, neither did Britain's. Someone's covering it up I tell you... But that's not what you're interested in is it? You want to know how to become a mage...
Well, you've already got a leg up on what I did. I didn't have a teacher to take me through. I wandered the land and tried things. Gathered my spells off orc mages, and eventually the elementals of shame. Occasionally I could trade for some in the shops, but mostly had to pry them out of a monsters cold dead fingers.
Ahh, but Shame is jumping ahead. I did gain one traveling companion, El Scorcho. Yes thats right, El Scorcho the guild leader. We used to push ourselves, see who could kill an ettin first. Back then I was hell with a staff....
You look suprised. Yes, I was a master of the staff, still a master of tactics, but spell craft has resigned me to unarmed combat now. You have to you see. Staves are cheap, reagents are not. As a young mage you'll run out often, and then where will you be. Well now you'll be surrounded by guild members, but then, the only things surrounding me were monsters and murders.
Yes, I started in Felluca. Back before there was a Trammel. Organized a few hunts on murders, tried to protect miners at the cave up north of Britain. Never did too well. Didn't have the organziation I have now. Didn't have a plan.
I drifted around Sos, er sorry, Britania" Xiag sneered the word " learning what I could about its creatures and ways. Every week, I'd transfer all my equipment to gold, gather some reagents from the woods, and start walking in a direction. Yes, I walked, I didn't gate eveywhere, I couldn't. I learned to heal myself with bandages, and not count on spells....
Yep, don't look shocked that I said it. You're not ready to rely solely on magic yet. Neither was I, no shame in that, heh. Until you can summon the elements to aid you, some bandages and good stick will take you a long way.
Well, thats how I started, walking around Britania, empty handed, making use of what I could find. Its a hard way to go, but I'm better for it."
"But ma... er Xiag, how can that apply to me." The apprentice had an almost confused look...
Xiag pointed to the door and said "It doesn't, there is nothing you can learn in here, its all out there, start walking....." then, without another word Xiag turned back to his book.
"So what are you doing in here?" retorted the apprentice...
"At the moment..." Xiag's gaze lifted from his studdies as an aura of darkness seemed to pour off him, "Babysitting you...." Xiag, for the first time today, smirked.
"I guess I was asking what brought you to the guild..." the apprentice's patience was gone and the words were short and sharp.
Xiag's smirk broadened to a grin. "See, you're more like me than you'd like to admit."
The apprentice's face went from frustration to shattered hope within the blink of an eye.
"Oh don't look down about it, " Xiag pushed. "Weather people agree or not, that attitude is what makes for good leaders. Leaders will never be liked. Period.
I started out with ideals and dreams of helping the world the same as everyone else. El Scorcho and I started this to help people, and we feel we can best do that through an aknowledgment of the old ways, before British. As for what brought me here, my friend ship with El Scorcho, and the hopes of making others. I, however, am a bit more reserved and caustic when it comes to such things. Which is why El Scorcho is in charge, and I'm alloud to pursue my studies and my organization in my own terms.... Which is why I stay...
And, is why I'm now going to take my leave of you. Have fun...." with that Xiag uttered the words: Ort Por Ylem. The apprentice and his chair were slid out to the hall and the door shut behind him.
Starring at the barred wood door, the apprentice stood up, turned, and stomped down the stiars. Darkness seemed to pour from beneath his hat as he turned and looked back at the tower. Now angry and driven to be better than Xiag, he turned to glare with displeasure at the tower one more time. Xiag peered from the window, a smile of victory on his face.