[sylvanSpider]

Percival paled, knowing that his job was now going to be exponentially more difficult. Here, he thought this quest would be relatively easy. He placed his journal in his pack and slung it over his shoulder, “That's all well and good. I am sure your apprentices will appreciate it as well.”

Kastivi grinned catching sight of Christoval, blushed, and looked down shifting her weight from one hip to the other. Arabella grinned as well, though for a different reason, as she dug around in her pack only to produce two flat, circular plates with holes drilled on either side, “That's alright. We'll train on the road.”

Her apprentice's smile faded to a grimace and her shoulders slouched in response. “Not the weights,” she grumbled, taking the weights. Ara handed over some ribbon, and Kastivi already being well-acquainted with the much dreaded objects began to fasten them to her ankles.

“Well, thankfully, I left behind enough that the cleaners should be more than satisfied,” Arabella said, then fishing for a second pair, then joined Kas in a kneeling position to fasten her own set. Strength, she made it a point to say often, would diminish over time if not consistently put the test. Lest the student surpass the master, Ara always took it upon herself to participate in the training imposed on the younger Daughter. “I'm feeling kind today, Kas; you can take them off on hourly intervals. I don't need you being too sore in times of combat,” she laughed, “And I don't know how long I'd last.”

Percival raised his eyebrows, obviously impressed. Christoval's lack of complaining also left a positive impression. He seemed to be the first of Wisp's pupils that didn't have a bad tongue in him, and it was to his master that he now spoke. Upon seeing Wisp's name on the list, he'd been fully prepared to hate every second of the mission, but when she spoke to him he found that he couldn't disagree, “Ah, would that I could. Not enough healers in these parts these days. I'm needed, unfortunately. Perhaps I should take on my own apprentice,” he mused. “But come, let's go so we can get this over with. I trust you all have checked your maps and properly prepared?”