The apprentice and the magician (with Lordoftacos)

[Little Sayuri]

It was a normal day, the sun was shining and the city was busy as a teenage girl was walking through a crowd of people. Her hands and feet were cuffed in thick iron and she walked, along with other girls her age towards a house. Her blue eyes seemed soulless and her skin was pale and dirty, along with the rest of her hair, body and clothes.

Once they reached the house, all girls had to wait in line. Then, a man called each of them and they slowly marched up and onto a stage.

The girl looked around shortly. A lot of people sat there, staring at her and the others, while a spotlight started shining onto each of them.

"And here we go ladies and gentlemen! Our girls! If anybody is interested to get one, please call me, and I tell you everything about the item of your object of desire", the man said.

The black haired girl looked down on her feet. She felt miserable. She wanted home, except she had no home. She lived on the street since she could remember and she was a thief since then. And even if she had been more skilled than others, it was just enough to survive, not much more. So she was skinny and felt hungry, as well as thirsty. But right at the moment, the pain and sadness which she felt, was more overwhelming.

Stupid slave traders...they HAD to get her. She had been distracted for one short moment, and here she was. Anger started boiling inside of her body and she suddenly looked up, right into the eyes of all these people, hatred and desperation in her gaze. "Fuck you all!", she hissed angrily.

[Lordoftacos]

One man in the audience looked up at her as she swore out to everyone. “500. For the foul mouthed one.” He said.

He was dressed in a decorative rope of gold and red. And obvious man of wealth and buy the outfit to powerful wizard that. From what you could see underneath the hood he was pale but looked rather young.

[Little Sayuri]

The man who was in charge of the girls went to the girl who swore and was about to slap her for her behaviour, as he heard a man bidding. "500 ladies and gentlemen, 500 going once, 500 going twice, sold!", he said and grabbed the girl by the hair, pulling her towards the man. "There...but be careful, she tried to bite one of my men earlier", he warned and threw her into the dust in front of the stranger.

The girl looked like a fragile doll, her blue eyes looked up defiant, but also desperate. Maybe she could make it out once they were far enough away...but she doubted it. The man seemed rich...maybe she could steal something and run from his home...

She didn't say a word and snorted.

[Lordoftacos]

He calmly leaned down and took her hand into his own. He was gentle and did not grasp her firmly as he helped her up.

Once they were standing in making eye contact he asked her. “What’s your name.”

[Little Sayuri]

The girl let him help her up, noticing that he was gentle, unlike the men who forced her into the situation she found herself in a few moments ago. "My name is Mina, Sir. What is your name?", she asked calmly and stroke a few black curls out of her face. Her hair was more grey and brown at the moment, from the dust and dirt, but she tried to comb it with her hand every now and then.

[Lordoftacos]

“My name is Avin Conner.” He says with a straight and unchanging face. “I have purchased your freedom in exchange that you will become my new apprentice.” He says leading her out of the slave market.

“Slavery.” He remarks with an utterance of disgust. “People should not be bought and sold like cattle. Such a detestable act should of been done away with long ago.”

He then looks back at her. “I hope you appreciate that I saved you from such a fate Mina.”

[Little Sayuri]

"Your...apprentice?", Mina asked confused and followed him quickly. She felt ashamed to walk next to him with her dirty clothes. He looked so clean and well-groomed.

"I agree, but there is nothing you can do against it... as long as there are people who are willing to pay for a slave, they'll continue doing it...", she answered shyly and looked away. He continued and she nodded, even more shy. "Yes.", she said and looked up. "What kind of apprentice do you want to have...?", she asked after a moment of hesitation.

[Lordoftacos]

“One who will both be able to learn what they are taught and do chores as they are told.” He says still very calmly. “You Will of course have your own say and freedom on matters and be treated very well, but you are to maintain your discipline. Otherwise you will force me to maintain it for you.”

He then looks back again and gives her a reassuring smile knowing that last line sounded a bit to authoritative. “But so long as you behave yourself you should be under no distress.”

He then makes his way over where others have stored their weapons and picks up his wizard staff which has a raven quietly perched atop it sleeping.

[Little Sayuri]

Mina listened and frowned. She cocked her head and continued to follow him. "I ... that wasn't what I meant, Sir...I ... what is it that you want to teach me?", she asked, trying to be more specific for him.

Then, she noticed the wizard staff and gasped. "You're a magician?!", she asked and looked at him in disbelief. "Do you ... don't I... do you really think I can ... learn magic? Don't I need to have... a special gift or something...?", she asked and looked at him with big eyes. She wasn't special after all, and certainly not meant to learn magic... or was she?

[Lordoftacos]

“Anyone can learn magic.” He says affirming her. “But it is very hard and can be very dangerous if you aren’t careful. Of course I expect that if you listen to me and follow my instructions you’ll at least make a good adept before you leave my apprenticeship.”

The raven then slowly starts to awaken before peering at you. “So which brothel did you get this one from.” It spoke in a cackling voice followed by squawking laughter.

“Quiet Saturn.” Said Avin sharply to the bird. “Her name is Mina and she will be staying with us for a while.”