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the spell he had cast on myranda again, prompting morethan a bit of cocern from the white ~ robed elf he wastalking to, when a pixie of some sort flitted up andpositioned herself directly between them. she began tospeak in an agitated manner. her voice was musical, andthe language was bizarre. it rose and fell in tone like thework of a talented flutist." all right, all right. calm down. yes, this is myranda...myranda, did you ask to be placed under solomonstutelage, or did he ask you? " deacon asked."he asked me, "she said."there, you see. . . well, i dont know. let me ask her. . . shecannot answer directly because she speaks northern. . .oh, it is not a vulgar language, "he said."it is. listen to me. i sound like an animal, " the tiny creaturesaid, shifting languages abruptly."you sound just fine. myranda, this is ayna. she recentlyearned the position of highest master of wind magic, "hesaid.as he spoke, ayna was darting around myranda, inspectingher from all angles. myranda tried to turn to face her, butthe fairy just fifted in another direction in a blur."you dont seem to be anything special, "she said."never claimed to be, "myranda replied.

"still, solomon has been at this for quite a while. he oughtto know a prime pupil. it is just like him to snatch up thefirst good one in years. i want her first, "ayna decleared."im afraid solomon made it quite clear. he was to have herbefore all others, " deacon said."so, ill challenge him, " she said. "why should he get toinfluence the newcomers with his element and prejudicethem against mine?""he holds seniortly over you. he can take his pick of anystudent, "deacon said."fine. i want her next immediately. i mean it, as soon as shepasses his trial, that day i want her in my grove for herfirst lesson," ayna said.

"ill mark it down, "deacon said."see that you do. and you, myranda. dont let all of that firenonsense cloud your mind. air is the true essence of thisworld. oh, and do ask deacon here to teach you a decentlanguage. it must be awful to be confined to this wretchedlittle dialect, "she said.in a flash she was gone."what just happened?" myranda asked."it would seem you are caught in a little power struggle.that makes two of the highest masters who have demandedyou be passed right to them. this is a huge opportunity foryou. if you pick things up quickly, you can trlm years off ofthe path to mastery! outstanding! "he said.

"air magic, fire magic. i never said i wanted to learnanything like that. all i ever wanted was to heal people, "myranda said." dont worry, youll have your white magic training. it isactually the smallest of our areas of study. not many whitewizards found it necessary to experiance trial by beast, "hesaid. "but, in addition, we require that you reach at least abasic understanding of all four elemental magics.i believei mentioned that.""i am not sure i like her. ayna, i mean, " myranda said.

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"thats all right. by the time youre through with her youwill be quite sure that you dont like her, "he said." how comforting, " she said flatly. "what are thesebuildings?"deacon looked about."well, this hut is the home of caloth. he is an apprentice totwila right now. she is one of our few dedicated whitewizards. that is the hut of milla. she is fresh out ofelemental training and working on her first steps intopurely black magic, " he said."why do you allow black magic here?" she asked."why wouldnt we? it is a vast and highly developed field, "he said."but it is evil, "she said."oh, no magic is a tool. it is no more evil than a hammer ora saw. i see you are confused, and understandably. you see,