Last Paladin

The next morning Joy, John, Old Ben, Rebekah and Marcus sat around the old diner table eating the meal that Joy had prepared for them before the long day of preparations ad planning that was more than likely ahead of them. It was a simple meal but one that she had learned from Lilly, Marcus' mother. She hoped it would help everyone settle in a bit.

For the most part no one spoke as most of them seemed to be too tired really to want to do anything but sleep or lay around. Well except for Old Ben who strolled in and sat down at the table as if last night's attack had never happened. As for Marcus and Rebekah they both were rubbing their eyes as they approached the table and found themselves seats. This only left John who staggered into the dinning area fully dressed for the day with bag and all.

"Leaving already child?" asked Old Ben from his seat as he looked over his grandson.

"Well unlike everyone else at this table I do work for a living and thus don't have time to prance around all day." huffed John as he started for the door only to feel small arm wrap around his waist. Looking down he found Marcus giving him a hug and when Marcus separated from the embrace John asked with a raised eyebrow, "What was that for?"

"It was a thank you for helping to protect Joy, Rebekah and Mr. Ben last night." replied Marcus with a little smile.

"Well, their my family I'm supposed to look out for them." huffed John frustrated that this kid thought he needed to be thanked for looking after his family.

"I know but I wanted to thank you anyways because they're my only friend and I know I couldn't have kept them safe myself." humbly replied Marcus with a smile before returning to his spot at the table and this just completely baffled and partially winded John to the point he needed to shake his head clear before exiting the little apartment above the old book shop.

Now back at the dinning table Joy was just now dishing out the wonderful looking meal and finding herself a plate before eating out a sigh, "You know I don't see how he thinks he can be so productive if he doesn't take the time to eat."

"Oh give you brother a break child. He will one day realize like your father did that somethings are more important then work I just hope its not too late as your father sadly has." sighed Old Ben.

"Mr. Squirrel how exactly does one get admitted to the mage academy?" asked Markus in attempt to both change the subject as well as figure out how he was going to get into the academy.

"Well there are three ways one is able to enter the academy. The first is the most common form and that is to be personally invited to b the apprentice of a Master Mage by said Master. This usually requires them first seeing your training in one of the smaller mage schools throughout the kingdom. As for the second way, you'd have to again be approached by a Mage Master but not at a school. No this would be either at birth or a very young age and it would require them observing you do some great feat of magical ability." explained Old Ben before taking a small sip of his tea.

"But Grandpa Ben, the little village where he comes from disposes magic thus would never allow a mage to enter it and is the reason Marcus was exiled. This also would stand true to there being a smaller mage school near him for they would've forced them out." sighed Joy, "The academy was our hope to give Marcus a place to belong."

"He belongs here does he not? With you and little Rebekah or are you saying you want me to throw the lad to the streets?" asked Old Ben in a way that was both wise and full of frustration.

"No grandfather that is not what I meant at all." replied Joy trying to undo what she'd said and hope it didn't also make Marcus and Rebekah mad at her.

"What is the third way?" asked Marcus in between bites of food.

"Oh, well that's the trickiest way for you'd first have to find an Master Alumni of the academy and impress them enough to write a letter or apprenticeship to the headmaster requesting your admittance. Now not all Mage Academy Graduates are considered Master Alumni thus the difficultly in it." explained Old Ben with a smile, "The Master Alumni are those who have mastered more then one art of magic and have either served as a Mage Master at the school or done something that's caught the attention of the High Counsel of Mages."

"Someone like you?" asked Marcus to which both Rebekah and Joy almost choked on their food at the boldness of Marcus to assume and ask such a thing about Old Ben.

"Yes and No. You see I never served as a Mage Master nor did I graduate from the Mage Academy. In fact A letter from me would only mean something if it was addressed to the High Council of Mages because they are the only ones who know that Ben-A-Gard The Great Still lives and that he's even in this town. The the rest of the Mage Masters he's just a history figure they teach about for he was one of three founders of the academy." explained Old Ben with a smile.

"So how will I get in then?" asked a sad Marcus as he poked at what little remained of his food.

"Well for starters I'm going to train you in the basic things and after I know you're ready to face the trials of the Master Mages I will send you to the High Council of Mages with. Letter from me seeking your admittance into the academy. They will then test you and see if you are as good as my letter says and when you pass you will be in the academy." explained Old Ben, "But for now you will share a room with Rebekah while Joy takes her old room back."

"Umm grandpa you don't think that Marcus and Rebekah are a little too old to be sharing a room? You separated me and John when we were about their age." asked Joy as she finished off her plate of food.

"Nonsense child that's different you were siblings and needed your space these to young flowers need each other to grow and blossom into the majestic forms they are meant to be." replied Old Ben with a smile as Marcus really didn't put much stock in what was being said as long as he was going to be able to learn how to better protect those he cared about. Now Rebekah on the other paw almost wet herself and not with pee at the though of sharing a room with Marcus.