Alexander: "Come on, let's grab some sticks while we talk."
Alexander motions with his head for Nullthara to return back to the forest.
"How old are you Nullthara? Your age may limit how long we stay at the temple. Also, I've seen some of your fighting capabilities, but what else have you learned?"
Nullthara: "I'm 8 years old as of last summer. As you have seen, I have practice in hand to hand combat. I'm even better with an elven longsword, on that note I can also speak Elvish…. And, it's only because of your promise that I'll tell you this. I'm a sorcerer, with the blood of the shadow fey running through my veins."
Alexander, with a face of elation, fist pumps.
Alexander: "Fucking score! Nullthara, you are invaluable. Now, we will need to train together and hide our skills for the next four or so years, until I think we are ready to live on our own. So every other day, on top of a daily exercise routine, when we come to the forest I'll train you with daggers along with teaching you more effective hand to hand combat. You'll also learn a language that nobody else in this world knows. On top of this I would appreciate being taught your swordsmanship. Though I won't have much talent with the arcane, I'll need you to constantly practice your spells. We're gonna go up against a lot of people in our lifetime."
Nullthara: "Haha! You're an odd kid, you know that? Alright, training I can do, I've been preparing to fight monsters my whole life. Practicing for smaller targets won't be too hard."
Alexander: "That's a bit cold Vanilla Ice. No, but seriously, we're gonna kill a lot of people, get mentally prepared."
In that moment Alexander sees a flash of his past. Bullets flying by, people no matter age or gender at the end of his gun, and an entire town set aflame at his order. Then he snaps back to reality with glossy dazed eyes.
Nullthara: "You ok?"
Alexander: "Uh, ya, I think so…. As I was saying, a lot of people will die. I have an associate who's a druid that I'm working for, you'll come to work for him as well every morning. Although druidic and arcane magic do not overlap, it couldn't hurt to learn more from him. Also, we'll use him to learn alchemical techniques to make an assortment of potions. This will be essential to learn, for when we gain more recruits having his knowledge will help us thrive."
Nullthara: "Does he have any idea of what your goals are?"
Alexander: "No, only those on a need to know basis will learn about them. So far only you know. Come on, let's not do anything suspicious for the rest of the day. We're just some kids picking up sticks for the next couple hours."
Moving away from another crime scene and picking up sticks, the comrades make their way to the priest after hearing his call. Without doing a headcount he lazily starts to lead everyone back to Orbis.
Alexander: (Whispering) "This guy is seriously the worst. I mean we killed some kids, but he just got into trouble for losing two children. Even now he doesn't notice losing four more."
Nullthara: (Whispering) "That seems a bit…"
Priest: "Hurry up you little hellspawn."
Nullthara: (Whispering) "Nevermind, I take back what I was going to say."
Alexander: (Whispering) "Oh, I saw you throw your pillow last night. Sorry about that, I used to use it as my towel. It was one of Alfonso's, a capricious prick that's now dead."
Nullthara: (Whispering) "Ha, funny, but gross. I'll have to steal a new one from one of our newly fallen friends."
When the group passes through the gates of Orbis, Alexander points out Mound of Potions to Nullthara. Outside the shop is a different group of hooded figures handing Genmar a package. They eventually get back to the temple of Cognitios. Anera actually does a head count noticing that children are missing. With the guide not worried she walks up slapping him across the face.
Anera: "What is wrong with you?! Two trips in a row! Two trips, and now, twice as many children! What happened to them?! Of course you don't know! I'm going to have to get the guard to send out a search party for them!"
As Anera storms off she shoots her middle fingers at the priest, who just rolls his eyes. Alexander motions Nullthara to follow him, leading her towards the library.
Alexander: "Come on Nullthara, knowledge is power, and we have a lovely center of learning. Surprisingly nobody really uses it."
Nullthara: "It isn't really surprising, why would someone read about something they won't ever need?"
Alexander: "Well, we'll use everything and anything that can be useful. Geology and Geography, give us information on where resources, monsters, along with large populations are. Finance and Trade, will aid us in anything to do with coin, such as knowing what nations like to import or export. It should also help with picking juicy targets to raid. Politics and History will show us who hates who, allowing us to possibly join or start wars. It is integral to people in our future profession to know these things. This is also the perfect place to teach you the English language."
Nullthara: "Ok, ok, I get it. You sound like an old man."
Alexander: "Fair point, but still rude. Now repeat after me." To the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Alexander sings. (English) "A B C D, E F G, H I J K, L M N O P, Q R S, T U V, W X, Y and Z, now I know my ABC's, next time won't you sing with me!"
Nullthara: "Congratulations, you're going to be the greatest killer of all time. Anyone that hears your vocals will stab themselves through the heart. What song was that anyway?"
Alexander: "It's meant to teach the alphabet for the language that you need to learn. Since you have the half-elven affinity for language, becoming trilingual should be easy. Alright, try to repeat the song after me, I'll also write the letters down for you."
Alexander and Nullthara continued the linguistic lessons for four hours. In the afternoon Alexander then taught her the strict routine she would have to follow to build muscle mass and stamina. Finally before bed they got permission for Nullthara to work at Mound of Potions too. As they walk to their beds Alexander puts out his fist.
Nullthara: "What's that?"
Alexander: "It's a fist-bump, you are supposed to bump my fist."
Nullthara: "Um, maybe later."
Alexander: (Whispering) "Sheesh, kids today."
The duo drift to sleep mentally preparing for the future tribulations they will face.