Fantasy FtK: The Demon Chalice

[Jodyguru]

He smirked and leaned back in his chair. “I do insist.” He stood up. “Chicken or fish, decide while I get the oven fired up.” He walked across the room and opened a flapping door. He was going to start working in the kitchen if she stayed or joined him.

 

[A Play On Words]

She grinned and hopped out of her chair to join him in the kitchen. "Chicken- for me. Never been a fan of seafood." She shrugged

 

[Jodyguru]

He nodded and pulled some fillets out of the icebox. He fired up the oven and started making a bowl of flour and seasoning to coat it with.
“My mother did all the cooking, and I’m the baby in my family, so I helped her a lot. Do you like sprouts or peppers?”

He waved a hand to magically thaw the chicken instantly. He started covering them in the flour mixture and placed them on a cooking sheet.

 

[A Play On Words]

"Peppers" She smiled, leaning against a wall, "I've never been much of a baker. I prefer art" She smiled

 

[Jodyguru]

He stuck the trays in the oven. “Art huh, what mediums?”
He took some peppers from the pantry and started chopping them. He’d cook them in a skillet with a bit of oil for a little while.

 

[A Play On Words]

"Paint, paper and pencil, and metal" She answered, her mouth watering at the smell

 

[Jodyguru]

He hummed while he worked. His chopping skills were on point. The peppers danced in the oil that was sizzling with joyful crackles.
“Madam Black is a painter. Her works are quite macabre. Not my taste. I’m a fan of Elishwuld’s early work on oil canvas. His portraits made me in awe of his sheer principle and mastery over method. Grandfather always says a wizard who does not master the fundamentals is a fool clutching a wand. The same is true for artists, no?”

 

[A Play On Words]

"Indeed so. I've known plenty of idiots who held a paintbrush who called themselves artists." She chuckled softly "Your grandfather sounds like a very wise man."

 

[Jodyguru]

He nodded. “Well, you had the pleasure of meeting him already. The Canary Mage. Even though I separated myself from him as much as possible, people still jest that we’re birds of a feather. I didn’t choose to be the Phoenix Mage. Quite frankly I think the whole death and revival thing a cruel insinuation.”

It seemed like he was desperate to get out of the headmaster’s enormous shadow and stand on his own merits and success.

The chicken finished cooking, and it came out a beautiful golden brown. He set Althea up with a plate of baked chicken breast and sautéd peppers.

 

[A Play On Words]

Her stomach growled hungrily, a bright smile crossing her face. "I think I could get used to this." She laughed

 

[Jodyguru]

He laughed and followed her to the table. “This is about as good as it gets. I’ll find nary a stove or pantry in the wilds. Teleporting every day would cost far too much resources. Part of our training is to use our materials effectively and procure more on the journey.”

The chicken was delicious, and the peppers exploded with flavor. Allen also provided a nice wine from the rack to go with it. He could drink a bottle a day if he never left his chamber.

 

[A Play On Words]

She drank and ate happily. She was a little drunk, but it didn't mind her much. "Gotta say, that was some good shit. You've got the job." She laughed, a little slurred.

 

[Jodyguru]

Allen chuckled a little lightheaded after a few glasses of the porter. He thought it was funny that for all the magical know how and impressive works, it took a good meal to win her over.
“Excellent. I will start packing my bags. Do -do you like the wine? I’ll bring some for the trip. A bottle or two... three.” He rambled a little, talked about nothing while they sat together for lunch.

 

[A Play On Words]

"Bring the wine- It's hella good." She laughed with a smile

(Thea's got her priorities haha)

 

[Jodyguru]

He chuckled. “My family owns a vineyard near the eastern mountains. I practically was raised on the stuff.”

After awhile the wine wore off and it was time to excuse themselves. There was much to do in preparation for the trip.
“Ask the guide stone to show you the armory. Oh, fetch me a long sword while you’re there.” He handed her a small handful of strange white tokens. Currency of the armory exchange on the school grounds. You could only get them
from teachers or administrators. Allen was both.

 

[A Play On Words]

"Alright- I'll have it in my room. Come get it when you're ready." She smiled. "See you soon." She smiled before leaving out of the door. Althea proceeded to her bedroom in which she gathered a few items along with the guide stone. "Take me to the armory." She said to the stone, unsure how it was supposed to work

 

[Jodyguru]

Nothing seemed to happen. Her room appeared the same. When she’d open the bedroom door she’d find instead of the hallway a desk with someone working behind a fence window.
“Picking up or dropping off?” The pencil pusher asked in a droning voice.

 

[A Play On Words]

"Picking up... A long sword I believe." She answered the melancholy man.

 

[Jodyguru]

“Five tokens, then.” He said and reached for a proper looking sword, clean and ready for use.
She still had a few more. She could order herself something too.

 

[A Play On Words]

She put the tokens down before glancing at what the man had been offering. "Can I get a dagger and a mace?" She asked,
She had her sword, which was her primary weapon, but she had broken her last dagger, and maces were quite fun to use.

 

[Jodyguru]

“Dagger is two tokens and the mace is three.” It seemed she had enough for one, but not both.

 

[A Play On Words]

She bit her lip, trying to decide what would be better. "Actually- just the dagger." She really didn't need the mace, it would be better to get something she would use.

 

[Jodyguru]

The man nodded and slid her a shiny and pointy murder stick.
While she inspected it, a small yellow bird landed on her shoulder.
“So, you have chosen my grandson, then?” The headmaster’s voice spoke through the canary.

 

[A Play On Words]

She jumped at the voice before nodding as she took the blade. She paid the man and took the long sword too before returning to her room.

 

[Jodyguru]

The bird followed. “He’s eager, that’s for sure. Personally I would’ve gone with Welshie, just because he is a skilled demonologist.”