A bold new world

Korvus gathered his favorite shirts and pantaloons and decided that a cloak with a hood would not violate his 3 outfit mandate. He looked at his life spilled there in the snow. He glanced over his shoulder to see if anyone was watching him and then snatched up a wooden horse his father had carved him and tucked it under the clothing in his arms. He began to look over the piles for more of his treasures but then he heard the great doors closing. The last thing he wanted was to be left out on the glacier all night. He dashed for the quickly disappearing light between the doors. Sliding in between, his cloak got caught in the closure and spun him awkwardly back towards the doors. He tugged at it with one hand and it came free. Korvus gave a thankful sigh and turned to find the stairs. "Wicked!", was all the boy could muster.

The tower was unlike anything he had ever imagined. The doorway in the tiny spire opened into a massive great room that defied all means of logical understanding. Outside, the tower had looked about the size of a small cottage in width, but inside, it was easily the size of a grazing field. Several rags and brooms scurried along marble floors and over polished furniture cleaning all the oddities held in the front room. Translucent figures paced about carrying items up and down the gigantic double stair case on the far side of the room and animated plants watered and cleaned themselves. Riven stood in the middle of the entryway and watched as Korvus took it all in. In part he was letting the boy bask in the awe of the room but in part he was watching to see if the boy would break down under the illogical overload of seeing magic on such a grand scale for the first time. For a brief moment Korvus's features went limp as though a stroke had stolen his facial muscles, but then the wonder set in and his eyes began to glow. Korvus's little shoulders spread back widening his chest and he dropped his cloths on the floor as he began to pace forward. His tiny finger followed his eyes and his lips, in full wide grin, muttered half questions about each wonder he saw. "You had a question young apprentice?", Riven asked, still observing his pupil.

"Did...did you make all this?", Korvus asked in excited and hopeful tones only a 9 year old could create.

"Oh yes, what you see here is a lifetime of enchantment rituals. I have had my share of apprentices and associates here to help me over the years of course. But all of this, every secret, can be yours...if you listen closely and do exactly as I say. Your first job as an apprentice, on top of practicing your cantrips, will be to learn what magic can do and learn all the various material components for rituals. You will find a number of books in your room with such basic knowledge. Come, I will show you where you sleep."