[i][b][h2][center][color=pink]Cuyler[/color] & [color=#9B30FF]Arya[/color][/center][/h2][/b][/i]
	[color=pink]“Arya, would you mind if I spoke to you in private for a moment?”[/color] Cuyler had asked tentatively. Their group conversation had come to a hault inside the Tower and he felt compelled to speak with her. He understood there was much to be done but he had the images of those words in his head and her responding blush. Now was the time to ask or the moment would pass both of them by. 

	Arya felt her eyes drawn over to Cuyler, as if by some magnetism. There were important affairs to attend to, news that had just recently arrived and events that had been brought to light. As ExtraOrdinary Wizard, her job had just begun and would need to be completed with ruthless efficiency during this uncertain time for the Castle. With an inexperienced and new Queen, the ExtraOrdinary Wizard was the true power behind the throne. Yet as a human being...Her thoughts and loyalties were divided. She couldn't take her eyes away from Cuyler, as if he had cast some sort of [b]Magyk[/b] upon her. [color=#9B30FF]"...Of course, I can spare a few moments."[/color]

	Cuyler smiled and took her hand, leading her away for a more private moment. As they walked his hand slipped from a simple hand hold to intertwining their fingers. He felt comfortable, at ease with her and this only secured the question he wanted to ask her. Of course Cuyler was still nervous so he when he turned to face her he glanced away shyly before clearing his throat. 
[color=pink]"I was thinking, perhaps we should revisit the Myth of Four and what the siblings present in the Castle could mean. Maybe we could discuss the topic over a meal?"[/color] Cuyler asked. His eyes found their way back to Arya's rich green eyes. 
His hand was still very present in Arya's and there was an unnatural warmth to their hold that brought him to stand closer to her. 

	She felt as if a thousand butterflies burst into being in her stomach. She blinked slightly, trying to concentrate as she stared into his green-almost-hazel eyes. For a moment, language felt foreign and strange as she tried to come up with an answer. Thankfully Atkin wasn't there - she had a feeling her apprentice would have some strong emotional reaction to this, though she wasn't sure if it would be positive or negative. [color=#9B30FF]"Would this meal be business or pleasure?"[/color] she asked, taking a slight step closer to him, nearly closing the small gap between them. 

	She took her own step towards him with her question, closing the gap further and Cuyler grinned. Their eyes were locked on each other's nice and he could feel the buzzing connection between them. The hair on his arms and back of his neck stood on end, just like it would back home before a snow storm hit or when an avalanche would come off the mountain. 
[color=pink]"I think we both know the answer to that,"[/color] Cuyler said coyly. The fingers on his free hand twitched and he lifted his hand, letting it follow it's own path to her hair and ran his fingers through a few of her curled strands. 
There was a hesitation within Cuyler as a moment passed between them but he didn't let another moment pass. He grew up watching how his father handled his mother and even though his childishness prevented him from enjoying or understanding the reasoning behind those moments, he seemed to understand them completely now. He leaned in, his nose brushing across Arya's and rested there a moment. His lips were only inches away from hers but he didn't move any closer, even though every muscle ached to close the short distance. It was a silent question, an invitation that he hoped Arya would except. 

	Arya was quivering gently as Cuyler placed his hand in her hair - she was hyperaware of every moment of his and yet entirely oblivious otherwise to her surroundings. Queen Meliscente's ghost could have flown into the room shrieking that Rowland had been the true murderer after all and she wouldn't have noticed. Her eyes closed slightly as his nose brushed hers and her entire body was screaming out in need for the Northern Trader, prompting her to take another step until they were both pressed against each other. Simultaneously, she closed the gap between their lips, kissing him softly at first before giving into her heart's craving for him, putting her arms around him. She kissed him as if he were air and lifeblood.

	For a moment, his heart stopped. Arya's body pressed against his and her lips soon followed, allowing Cuyler to respond accordingly and he kissed her back. Their hands let go and her arms slipped around him before his went around her waist. The close contact caused Cuyler's body to finally relax and he settled against her, pulling her close. There was no hesitation, no awkwardness, even though this was their first kiss. His lips molded to hers, almost as if their were made for each other. Curiosity got the better of him and Cuyler's lips parted, his tongue slipping out and traced her bottom lip where he could taste the morning tea, still on her lips. 
Their kiss lingered but Cuyler was the first to pull away, his lips leaving hers but he didn't separate their bodies. His forehead rested against Arya's, eyes still closed for a moment while he took in the silence of the space around them. Her breath was the only thing he could hear at the moment, next to the pounding of his heart in his ears. His lips still tingled from their kiss and Cuyler was surprised such a simple thing could cause such feelings to arise inside someone. 
[color=pink]"Is that a yes to dinner?"[/color] Cuyler asked. 

	A sensation of longing filled her as Cuyler ended the kiss, pulling away. Her eyes opened as she looked at him, breathing in his scent and for a few moments, the woes of the Castle had faded away. Her breath was in sync with his, as was her beating heart. [color=#9B30FF]"I think we both know the answer to that,"[/color] Arya quipped, her body still pressed against his. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the floor flashing a colorful message of congratulations but it hardly registered with her. She just wanted to lose herself in his kiss again. 

	Cuyler chuckled and pressed his lips to her forehead for a minute before he pulled back to look down at her. His arms remained securely wrapped around her, in reluctance to let go. Of course they had touched before and Cuyler was pressed up against her less than twenty-four hours ago and although his heart had raced then, this was much more different. He enjoyed their newfound closeness. 
[color=pink]"When would you like to have dinner?"[/color] he asked her. All of Cuyler's attention was on Arya that he never noticed the message flashing obnoxiously on the floor. 

	[color=#9B30FF]"...I have to go assist the Queen tonight..."[/color] Arya answered softly, reluctant to think about duties and authority at the moment. She just wanted to continue to feel Cuyler's warmth and stability, to continue to press herself against him. [color=#9B30FF]"...Perhaps tomorrow as well...Would two days' time be suitable for you?"[/color] she whispered, her lips less than two inches away from his again. 

	Two days. It didn't seem like much but with current circumstances, it seemed like forever. Yet Cuyler understood her duties and responsibilities. He valued them and he had his own to attend to. The wait would give him the time he needed to question Halvor and what happened to him. She moved close to him again, lips inches from his and Cuyler smiled. 
[color=pink]"It is acceptable,"[/color] he teased her. He moved in closer, just about to kiss her when he spoke again. [color=pink]"Will dinning on the Hefring be respectable enough?"[/color] He didn't want to make her uncomfortable but he didn't want her to be surrounded by thoughts of her job or the potential of someone interrupting their time together. Cuyler wasn't expecting to monopolize all of her time, considering all that had been brought to light but he wanted some quiet moments with her alone. 

	[color=#9B30FF]"Provided there's no midnight swim involved, yes,"[/color] Arya murmured, unable to help herself as she closed her eyes and kissed him again, slipping her tongue out from her mouth and beginning to explore Cuyler's, memorizing and drowning in the texture and sensations associated with it. She wished that they could have their meal sooner - but her job as ExtraOrdinary Wizard had to come first, even in affairs of the heart. 

	The responding comment slipped from Cuyler's mind as Arya kissed him again, his lips parting and their tongues tangled together. With one arm remaining wrapped securely around Arya's waist, Cuyler ran his hand up the ExtraOrdinary Wizard's back and into her hair. He rested his hand gently on the back of her head as they kissed more intimately, discovering more about the hidden connection between the two of them. His heart raced and skin burned where her body was pressed. It was a rather addictive sensation and Cuyler wasn't about to pull away this time. 

	She shivered where Cuyler's hand had been as it traveled up her back, pressing herself more firmly against him. As the kissing deepened, Arya was in a state of pure euphoria and bliss, letting out of a soft moan of pleasure. She had no knowledge of how long they had been standing there together, as well if anyone had seen them, but she could not bring herself to even consider pulling away from him. 

	When Arya let slip a soft moan, it sparked something inside Cuyler and he gripped her closer, responding to her desire of him. His heart leaped at the sound, confirming the rightness of his own feelings of bliss. His tongue took pleasure in roaming the inside of her mouth before it slipped across her lips again. He never imagined this would be their future. That when they met a few short years ago, her eyes wide with all the treasure he had on his table and the stories that came with them, that they would end up here. Kissing in the Wizard Tower with a [b]Magykal[/b] floor still celebrating their reunion. Cuyler pulled back but kissed her again, softly on the lips this time. 
[color=pink]"I should go,"[/color] he whispered, lips brushing along Arya's as he spoke. The sense of time had escaped him, leaving Cuyler unsure of how long they had been standing here, talking and embracing. Cuyler was sure though, that it had been longer then the appropriate amount of time. However, the Norther Trader still made no motion to release Arya. His lips slipped from hers and kissed her jaw line. Following the path to the right side of her face where he placed a kiss on her warm cheek. 

	[color=#9B30FF]"I know,"[/color] Arya said softly in agreement, longing to feel his lips against her jaw once more. Her entire body was quivering with need for him. Each shift of his hands, every movement - it was like fireworks were going off, just for him and her. Yet nothing could last forever and despite not realizing prior how much she wanted him, all of him, they had run out of time most likely. Queen Valda needed her - the Castle needed her. [color=#9B30FF]"I wish it were different, Cuyler...That I were a nobody and we would not have to part at this time. I truly do."[/color] 	

	This statement startled Cuyler and he looked at Arya curiously, his head slightly cocked to the side. He brushed his fingers through Arya's hair, watching the movements of her hair falling and concentrating on the smoothness of her hair. 
[color=pink]"Why? You know I understand who you are and the obligations you have right? Our lives started in different directions but the Urd brought our threads together and together they will remain."[/color] His thumb came and brushed the colour back into her cheek. [color=pink]"We won't be parted for long,"[/color] he assured her. 

	[color=#9B30FF]"I have no idea what the Urd are,"[/color] Arya admitted, but she understood the gist of his message and caught his meaning. [color=#9B30FF]"Or what our threads symbolize...So I hope you are prepared for at least a million questions come our shared meal. I'll bring a fresh notebook - and perhaps a bottle of wine that Rowland brought with him from his time in the Lagoon. They've mastered winemaking over the last few centuries and..."[/color] she trailed off, kissing him again lightly. [color=#9B30FF]"I am sorry, I'm rambling..."[/color]

	Cuyler smiled while she talked, well rambled. His fingers continued to play with her hair while she spoke. He looked back at her, smile still present even as she leaned up and kissed him again. She pressed against him as she did so, Cuyler became aware of the [url=https://img00.deviantart.net/09ed/i/2015/117/5/7/loki___norse_mythology_inspired_fantasy_necklace_by_kafkavey-d8rars8.jpg]necklace[/url]  still wrapped in his clothing. He chuckled in her response to her apology. 
[color=pink]"I like your rambling. I always have,"[/color] Cuyler informed her. He dropped his hand and shifted his furs, making it look like that was all he was doing. [color=pink]"Yes, there is much we should talk about in regards to the Land of Lost Nights. I could teach you some New Norse terms as well. They often describe a situation better,"[/color] Cuyler explained. 
With the necklace now in his hand, he slipped his hand back and looped the arm around her. His hands hung loosely, undoing the packaging and he leaned in for another kiss as a distraction. He kissed her softly, a promise of more to come in two short days. Gripping the newly freed necklace in his left hand, he ran his right hand up her back, slipping it under her hair so as to lift it from the back of her neck to create space for him. Here he had to let her go in order to bring the necklace up to her neck and take both ends in each hand. He tied the necklace and pulled away from her lips to see. 
[color=pink]"I wanted to give this to you earlier but with everything that has happened, there didn't seem the time for it,"[/color] Cuyler explained. It was a necklace from his home land, a rare find and although it would have given him a more than a fair amount of money, he only ever saw Ayra in it. The emerald gem had made him think of her eyes as clearly as if he was looking into them himself. 

	Arya smiled at his sleight-of-hand, taking one hand off of him just so she could lift up the necklace and look at it properly. It was absolutely gorgeous, with a brilliant green stone that truly did match her eyes. And she had a penchant for jewelry, which didn't hurt at all. [color=#9B30FF]"I love you,"[/color] she said, before she blinked. [color=#9B30FF]"I mean, it. I love it. Oh my goodness, I do not know why I said that, slip of the tongue...I mean, I do quite like you Cuyler - a lot, as is surely evident by now and maybe someday but..."[/color] she had to cut herself off, feeling like she was going to dig a deeper hole for herself. 

	He wrapped an arm back around her while she examined the necklace, smiling all the while. It truly was a work of art, one of a kind. Cuyler's eyes widened and for the second time that day he blushed. He rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand, listening to her truly ramble now. 
[color=pink]"I understand,"[/color] Cuyler said, filling the space after she trailed off before there was any awkward pause. Before she could doubt for a moment what was between them. Cuyler removed his hand from his neck and hooked his fingers under her chin, making her look back at him. He looked into her shinning green eyes and smiled ever, so slightly. [color=pink]"Maybe someday,"[/color] he agreed and sealed their statement with a kiss. 

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	Arya was quite looking forward to her date with Cuyler, having picked out her favorite [url=https://i.postimg.cc/P5RbJ6y1/fb26e99352e43ea8ad94771bb4aae1e9.jpg]green dress[/url] for just the occasion. Her purple cloak that she donned over it signified her status as ExtraOrdinary Wizard, as did the amulet strategically placed to rest below the necklace Cuyler had given her. Her hands were bare, allowing the scar from a training accident to be plainly visible. She had gotten burned badly during her study of potions. Her shoes were sturdy, as she had never quite been on a boat before - she and Rowland, whenever needed to travel, had just decided to use a simple [b]Transport[/b] during her years of study. 

	She appeared in a shimmer of purple at the Traders' Docks, peering at the line of boats. She wasn't quite sure which one was Cuyler's, yet she imagined it would become self evident shortly. 

	Cuyler had never been happier than he was in this moment. He used his clean charm and watched as his small ship, on deck and below deck was cleaned and shined up. Each item found it’s home among various shelving and although it wasn’t the most organized, it was at least clean now. This, along with his heat charm were the couple of [b]Magykal[/b] items Cuyler couldn’t do without. 
Thia watched all of this, perched on the gunwale while she watched Cuyler in mild amusement. Of course she wasn’t entirely sure what was going on but she felt the nervousness and excitement in the air. Her tail swung from side to side, occasionally hitting the side of the boat in a way to express her own excitement. The sun began to set and there was a prickling Thia felt along her skin. She hopped onto the deck and trotted below so she could go through the change in private. 
Up above, Cuyler worked on lighting candles and moving the table and chairs back into position. Slowly the tiny ship transformed into a different thing. On the docks, people passed and called out to Cuyler. Laughing and harassing him about his whole hearted attempt in transforming the boat into a romantic getaway. Cuyler ignored them all, completely focused on his task, even though he was continuously looking back at the gate, waiting for Ayra to show. He wanted this night to be special for her, needed it. Even if nothing romantic had transpired between them two days ago, he wanted to give her a break. To set her mind at ease and show her a different side to what destruction had been brought forth. 
Several minutes later Thia reemerged in her wolf form and walked elegantly to the bow of the ship where she sat and waited, knowing there was someone important coming. There was a simmer of something in the distance and a woman appeared. Thia looked back and watched at Cuyler continued to fuss over nothing. Huffing, Thia took the gangway down to the docks. She lightly jogged down to where the ExtraOrdinary Wizard stood. Thia stopped for a moment and watched the woman curiously. In Thia's wolf form she would come to stand well past Ayra's hip. After the moment's pause, Thia walked out of the little shadow and nuzzled into Arya's bare hand. Thia never let anyone touch her in this form, save for Cuyler, Lyra and Arya. There was a deeper trust the wolf had for these people, everyone else, including the other Norther Traders, weren't allowed within two feet of Thia without her growling a warning at them. 
Thia escorted Ayra down to the Hefring, where the soft glow of candlelight came into view. She nudged Ayra to walk up the ramp before her. 

	[color=#9B30FF]"Oh, hello Thia,"[/color] Arya greeted, once she felt the wolf nuzzling her hand. She couldn't help but smile, feeling as if Thia saw her as some stray and lost pup in need of guidance and direction, as the wolf nudged her up the ramp. She knelt slightly for a moment, giving Thia a pet. [color=#9B30FF]"Thank you very much,"[/color] she said earnestly, before she stood again to her full height and walked up the ramp, amazed at the product of Cuyler's work. She always imagined vessels like these would be so messy as to make Atkin's room seem neat and orderly. [color=#9B30FF]"Cuyler?"[/color]

	Thia gave a wolfish smile before she trotted off. Cuyler was secure for now and safety for her master was important to Thia. But now that Arya was present, Thia could go off and hunt for a decent meal. 
Cuyler came hurrying up from down below when he heard his name. His whole face seemed to light up when he saw Ayra and he stood tall as he walked out onto the deck. 
[color=pink]"Welcome aboard the Hefring!"[/color] Cuyler greeted. Arya was standing just beside the carved center piece of Cuyler's deck. He walked over and nodded at it. [color=pink]"The tree of life and the symbol of Valhalla,"[/color] Cuyler explained. He walked closer to Ayra, slipping both of his hands into her. He glanced down, feeling bare skin rather then the fabric of her gloves. In the glow he saw a faded scar on one of her hands. He stared at in a moment, wishing to inquire what it was from but they would have all night to discuss their past. 
[color=pink]"How was your day?"[/color] Cuyler asked her, being more polite with the start of their evening. 

	[color=#9B30FF]"It was fine, thank you,"[/color] Arya answered, looking curiously at the carved centerpiece. The tree of life and Valhalla - both terms that she was not familiar with, though the first one at least held a [b]Myde English[/b] clue as to its purpose. She gave his hands a squeeze, taking her gaze away from the carving and instead, looking into his eyes. The candlelight caused their color to change beautifully. [color=#9B30FF]"Mostly discussion of diplomacy options with the Eastern SnowPlains...After the death of Snaera and Peter..."[/color]

	Cuyler shifted and lifted her hand, the one that was scared and pressed his lips to the scar tenderly. There was much unrest between the Land of Lost Nights and the SnowPlains. Cuyler's home was wherever his ship sailed but he was still from that dark land, still felt a relative degree of loyalty to it and after finding out the lost princess was here in the Castle? There was a new patriotism inside Cuyler. 
[color=pink]"Are you working with Asha the Magykal?"[/color] Cuyler asked. He knew Ayra wouldn't be able to disclose everything to him but he wanted to at least know if things were going well or not. 

	[color=#9B30FF]"Yes - but with Emperor Taj for a larger extent,"[/color] Arya answered, blushing lightly as he kissed her scar. It had been a painful lesson, yet a lesson learned nonetheless. She stepped closer to Cuyler, a bit cold in the night air but truthfully she just hated the distance between them. Her mind was filled with memories of what had transpired two days ago. [color=#9B30FF]"Apparently in their land, the emperor is an elected position,"[/color] Arya mused, smiling slightly. [color=#9B30FF]"It boggles the mind, I must admit...For there to be a new ruler of that land every eight years...And it was just by chance that his sibling was the most talented in the land with [b]Magyk[/b] - hence her own title."[/color]

	Just by chance? Cuyler wasn't so sure, nothing was by chance but every land held their own beliefs. Arya stepped closer and Cuyler wrapped an arm around her. He was more than warm here as this land didn't fall quite as cold as his homeland. 
[color=pink]"Perhaps with the new leadership every few years, it helps to keep their country moving forward. Giving them new opportunities to grow. Would you like to eat above or below deck?"[/color] Cuyler asked her. He had a table set up here as well as downstairs, depending on what she preferred. Below deck was of course warmer but but he wouldn't put her somewhere she wasn't comfortable with. 

	[color=#9B30FF]"I s'pose so,"[/color] Arya agreed, yet the concept still felt a bit strange. Of course, any consideration of it was banished from her mind as Cuyler wrapped an arm around her, feeling safe and warm within his grip. [color=#9B30FF]"Above deck?"[/color] Arya requested. It would be chillier but she adored watching the Castle light up as night fell. It was a longstanding tradition that every window of the Palace would have a candle or some other source of flame, with the lights dancing upon the river. Wizard Tower's white stones gave off a shimmering purple sheen - and on nights before examinations, it was particularly strong as young apprentices frantically crammed and memorized [b]Charms[/b] that would be forgotten by the next morning. 

	Cuyler smiled and led Arya over to the little table he set up with two chairs. He didn't have anything fancy like a table cloth but he had clean silverware along with napkins he managed to retrieve from a local pub. 
[color=pink]"I'll go grab the food,"[/color] Cuyler stated after he had helped Ayra into her seat. He kissed her cheek before disappearing below decks for a moment. Cuyler had developed some cooking skills over the years of travel. His father taught him some things, along with his mother but he learned most of his skill once he was on his own, developing quite the skill for hunting game in the forests as well as sea creatures. Tonights meal was simply gathered from around the Castle and other traders. Each item came from a different land and he thought Ayra would appreciate that. 
He came back up the stairs and placed the still warm plates in front of Ayra's place as well as his before he sat down. He looked from his steaming plate over to Ayra and smiled. 
[color=pink]"I'm no chef,"[/color] he warned her. [color=pink]"But it is edible."[/color] He chuckled as he spoke and picked up fork to start eating. 

	Before Cuyler reemerged from below deck, Arya had taken a moment to press her fingertips gently to where he had kissed her cheek. She could still feel a tingling warmth that lingered. She turned her head and smiled as he came back up, seeing the exquisite assortment of food he carried. It reminded her of the feasts they would have at Wizard Tower, yet with [i]much[/i] improved variety. It seemed to be simply divine and the assortment of aromas and the exceptional appearance made her almost regret that they were about to eat it. [color=#9B30FF]"I'm certain your cooking is wonderful,"[/color] Arya said with a smile. [color=#9B30FF]"At any rate, it is likely much better than any sandwich Atkin could prepare,"[/color] she joked with a small laugh. Her apprentice refused to use the [b]Magykal[/b] appliances oftentimes and Arya would watch, with amusement, as he prepared his own food by hand. 

	He chuckled and took a bite of his food and chewed it carefully. He had tasted while he cooked, including giving Thia samples and both seemed to find the food acceptable but you could never be to sure when you were feeding someone else. Underneath the table, Cuyler's leg extended and pressed against Arya's. He was rather tall so it was hard to keep body parts to one's self comfortably, besides that, he didn't think Arya would mind.
[color=pink]"Atkin's a good kid. A bit rough around the edges but I think that's good for who he's going to become."[/color] Arya was a little more delicate and proper, a perfect envoy for the Royal family but Atkin would tell it like it is with no sugar coating. 

	[color=#9B30FF]"If I am honest, I do not know if he wants to be the next ExtraOrdinary Wizard - but he has a kind heart and will go far in life wherever he chooses,"[/color] Arya replied, taking her first taste of Cuyler's food. The food tasted delicious, with so many flavors that she hadn't gotten the chance to encounter yet, and Arya smiled at Cuyler. However, feeling his leg pressed against her sent a shiver down her spine and her heart began to speed up. [color=#9B30FF]"So...The Myth of Four,"[/color] Arya then requested, trying to avoid thinking about other things, as intoxicating as physical contact with Cuyler proved to be. 

	[color=pink]"So what happens if he doesn't want to be the next in line? Do you start all over again with someone new?"[/color] Cuyler asked. He watched her eat, pleased to see that she didn't seem to hate his food. After Cuyler's leg brushed up and rested against Ayra's, she seemed to move right on to the Myth of Four. Cuyler chuckled and poured himself a cup of wine before he turned and did the same for Ayra. As he did so, he retold the tale of the Myth of Four, who they were and who they came from. 
[color=pink]"I know what some of you may think with the Мит о четири but they are real, as you or I."[/color] Cuyler set his fork down, after having picked it up while he spoke. He looked at Ayra, a serious note in his face and body. [color=pink]"Two days ago, as I was on my way to you, I detoured to a tavern where one of my friends had died in the fire. I went to retrieve his body but was stopped at seeing a woman there. She knew me, called me by name though I had never seen her before and then her hands glowed red. She brought ashes from the ground and Halvor stood before me again, alive and whole. It was Halley. I was blaming her for the chaos that had befallen the Castle the night before but she informed me that this was not her doing before she disappeared."[/color] She had to believe him. The things she had seen, things he himself could probably never imagine, she had to believe him. 

	[color=#9B30FF]"A traditional ExtraOrdinary apprenticeship will last for seven years. Most ExtraOrdinary Wizards will take on several apprentices throughout their lifetime - Rowland, for example, had four. I was his last - the first was Jarvis Yule, an Ordinary Wizard currently and whom I regard as the most senior among them. Then Athelyna Wyvern - she moved to the Lagoon with her wife after finishing her apprenticeship. There's no [b]Magyk[/b] system in place there, yet I hear she is attempting to convince King Nicholas to establish one...And then...Peter Wylie - he didn't complete his apprenticeship, since he had fallen in love with a girl from the Eastern SnowPlains and moved there, becoming their Grand Magician - what we would call an ExtraOrdinary Wizard."[/color]

	Arya then took a sip of her wine, her cheeks with the slightest red tint. Perhaps it was the wine or Cuyler or the fact that she had likely given him more information than he needed - and she hadn't yet gotten around to answering his question. [color=#9B30FF]"Once an ExtraOrdinary Wizard dies or retires - more often the latter - they will choose the apprentice that they feel to be the most qualified. Of course, in the case of a dispute there will be a challenge...what you would think of as a [b]Magykal[/b] duel...I imagine I will end up having four to six apprentices before I retire."[/color]

	She then furrowed her eyebrows slightly. Although she didn't doubt Cuyler, to bring an individual back from the dead was serious [b]Darke Magyk[/b]. It was the sort of thing that would qualify as forbidden knowledge, locked in books hidden from even the Pyramid Library's collection. Not even the Manuscriptorium would carry all of those novels on the [b]Darke[/b] Arts. [color=#9B30FF]"...You saw a woman raise someone from the dead?"[/color]

	Cuyler listened with rapt attention while Ayra spoke in a little more detail to the inner workings of the Wizard's and how the next in line was chosen. It was perhaps a bit too much information and she seemed to drift from his question but he enjoyed every minute of it. He ate while she spoke, taking the time to get some food down before he would have to speak again. Cuyler thought on her words of Halley raising someone from the dead. She didn't seemed to thrilled to hear the notion and Cuyler had to admit it was a bit terrifying to witness but he was frozen in place as he watched her. And it was Halley. The four were of legend, told at every fire, every gathering. He was enthralled to meet one, one who knew him. 
[color=pink]"Not, exactly. I know this will sound like I'm defending or, off to you but. Halvor was no more she... re-created him. He had no memory of what had happened, not even the fire. But, he remembers everything else and there is nothing off about him. I've been watching him closely, along with his best friend,"[/color] Cuyler said. He didn't want Ayra to worry too much. Halley had seemed genuinely concerned about the destruction and he believed her when she said she had no part of what transpired two days ago. 

	[color=#9B30FF]"This woman - whom you call Halley - recreated someone out of ash,"[/color] Arya mused, her fingers tapping on the table as she thought. She used to pick books from the Pyramid Library at random to read from, learning about the world and its rich history beyond what was taught at the Purple School at the Ramblings or within Rowland's lessons. Cuyler's words struck her, perhaps he was right and he had seen a deity of the Land of Long Nights - yet they reminded her of another tale. [color=#9B30FF]"I wonder if you might have seen the Supreme...It is said that there will one day be an individual so powerful as to best the ExtraOrdinary Wizard and the so called Witch Messiah...That they will unite all crafts of [b]Magyk[/b] into one being and they will reign Supreme."[/color]

	Cuyler watched Ayra as she thought this all over. He watched her eyes, as ideas and thoughts turned just behind them. She really was just fascinating to watch. You could learn so many things just by watching someone, how they ate, how they walked or responded to outside events. Cuyler finished another mouthful and sat back, beginning to feel full. He thought on her tale but gleaned nothing from the Supreme. 
[color=pink]"I can't say that I have come across hearing of such a thing in my travels. Do you believe they, that Halley could be this Supreme? Or any of her siblings"[/color] If Halley was on earth, walking hidden among them, he wouldn't be surprised if the rest of her siblings were here as well. Cuyler glanced up at the sky, out of habit, and wondered if he would get to meet any of them as well. The stars were shinning exceptionally bright tonight. 

	Arya mulled over that, before she nodded slightly. [color=#9B30FF]"If a being such as the Supreme has existed, it would not be out of the question for them to essentially be regarded as divinity - perhaps the Myth of Four that you detail is real...and Halley - or one of the others - is the Supreme. It would not be out of the question for the Supreme to manage to extend their lifespan - Hotep Ra managed that feat according to legend, living in suspended time somewhere in the world."[/color]

	Cuyler stared at the stars a moment longer before he looked at Ayra. Both things could be very real and therefor possible. The only thing was, only one of the Four could create immortality and was the one to extend all of the siblings lifespans. 
[color=pink]"Nova, the youngest of the siblings had the ability to lengthen each of their lifespans on her own. With them being half human as well, they were limited just like the rest of us,"[/color] Cuyler explained. So, in all reality, Ayra's theory as well as Cuyler's could be possible and if that was the case, they had a lot more to worry about than dragons, witches burning down the Castle and people coming after Valda. 
[color=pink]"This is improper date talk."[/color] Cuyler shifted and rose to his feet. [color=pink]"Tomorrow. Tomorrow we will start determining what to do and where to go from, but tonight, I want to show you something."[/color] Cuyler leaned down and kissed Ayra on the lips. It sent a pleasant shock through his system, as there was a mixture of cold and warmth on their lips. He pulled back for a moment, his fingers brushing through her hair while that tingling sensation remained inside him. He grinned at Arya, shook his head with a chuckle and stood up. He extended his hand to Ayra. He would have loved to take her sailing, to get them away from the Castle and be shrouded in darkness. With the only light that of the stars above them but the recent storms had brought ice with them. The sea was clear of debris, however, they would have to fight through the ice build up around the docks in order to enter the open water. So Cuyler would have to settle for taking her up to the helm, where the candle light didn't reach so they could see more clearly. 
[color=pink]"Come with me,"[/color] Cuyler whispered. [color=pink]"Let me show you where our stories come from."[/color]