Brone fiddled with his horned blue helmet, inspecting it for any fractures, when Lumikki arrived. He smiled as he watched his niece greet her teacher. His own immediate family weren't versed in magical studies, so he was proud to see her enjoying her studies; he could now relax knowing that she was receiving the proper care that her mother would want.
"Wonderful, Lumikki!" The gnome immediately dropped his stern teacher façade as he turned to face her, "It is indeed a relief to know that someone in your family can excel so quickly in magical studies". Brone nodded in agreement, but after a few seconds, he began to question if that was somehow an insult towards him, "Now we'll get to see you in practice; though we are not using any darkness base magic on the field yet, your skill with your already learnt magic will be enough to assess your ability in casting".
Brone was yawning halfway through Gnicholas' long drawn out explanation, but quickly closed his mouth when he realized the only reason why the gnome was joining them was to teach. For a moment he wanted to point it out, but decided against it, figuring it was for Lumikki's best interest, for she was getting the training she needed.
They mounted Geri, with Gnicholas riding in the cowl of Brone's cloak, and made their way to Ochidia city. Brone explained that the Horizon Apartment structure was dealing with an infestation of rats. They would scurry throughout the complex at night and retreat to the basement at daylight, which was why Gnicholas suggested to go during the day, so that they can find the nest which should be in the basement.
* * *
The city was filled with plant-life, trees all throughout, vines running along the side of buildings, the cobblestone streets had plants sprouting between the cracks. As if the settlement was infused with the forest. They arrived near the center of the city, the six-floor building stood tall, not luxurious, but homy; the top of the building seem to have a branches sprouting outward, giving the building shade, as if the building itself was a tree. "Alright, let's get to work" Brone said as he walked up the small flight of stone steps and in through the main doorway to find himself in a small lobby.
A human woman and a child walk pass them as they exited the building, the child seeming in awe of the mages while the mother prompted him to not point and stare, "I suggest you reframe from using Dhuraindarin" Gnicholas, sitting on the dwarf's shoulder, had said with his stern teacher's tone. Brone scoffed, knowing already that using the black axe was too dangerous for the residents. Now they just needed to find the basement.
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