<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0040FF"><span style="font-size: 200%; line-height: 116%;">Earl Seaward, the Archivist Assistant</span></span></div><br/><br/>The young lad could not help but grin widely at the mention of dinner at home with the man that he has come to accept as a father over the time he had known him, thinking of spending time together without work being perpetually in the way. Without hesitation Earl shook his head slightly before saying,<span style="color: #0040FF">"You mustn't apologize, Harold. I know all too well what it is like to have lost someone so dear to oneself. Truly, I just hope to not see your work swallow you up completely, as important as your work is indeed it still must be given a break every now and again." </span><br/><br/>Admittedly it felt strange for him to speak to Harold in such a way as it was usually the older man that was giving the advice but Earl felt that he knew the man long enough to be able to give him suggestions that he felt were sensible. While he thought about the words he had just spoken, the young assistant finished his meal and began cleaning up the area the two had been eating at. The food that was left would be stored for later and could be used for the dinner later that night, Earl was thinking. He was glad that Harold enjoyed the meal as the young man enjoyed being able to please his mentor whenever possible.<br/><br/>However, the thought of the current situation regarding a foul presence over the castle was something that was going to need their full attention. As much as Earl wanted to be more active in his role about this, he knew that Harold was right. Any help that could come from them, especially Earl, would have to be from following the orders of their king. Any sort of foolhardy action could end up making the situation worse as there are still many mysteries regarding this presence.<span style="color: #0040FF">"Now, about this...'thing' you sense,"</span>the young man spoke carefully and heard his own voice beginning to lower as he went on,<span style="color: #0040FF">"you are sure that whatever it is has made its way somehow into the castle? Wouldn't that mean that whatever it is would have to be dealing with some powerful magics to be able to evade both your's and the Archmage's detection? I dare not think of who or what could possess that kind of power, and to have made it far enough to be within the very walls that we all take refuge in."</span><br/><br/>Earl tried to hold back a shudder as he wondered at what sort of events the kingdom could be looking forward to. He knew fully that the Archmage Aurion and Harold were two of the most powerful magic users in the entire kingdom, as well as many of the neighboring lands. Their awareness for magical properties was beyond imagination, as Earl had come to discover during his time among them, having always enjoyed seeing them at work even though he bore no magical abilities himself which probably helped in his fascination for it. He would spend many hours a day in the libraries of both the castle and at home researching the various types of documented uses of magic in the world, allow himself to become familiar with what mages would be capable of. Aside from his readings he would watch in amazement at both the Archmage's and Harold's use of their magic abilities. This led to his eventual understanding on the proper workings of magic which also led to his knowing that he certainly possesses no talents whatsoever in the Arcane arts, which in the world he lived in it was a great handicap as the number of magic users were steadily growing. To combat this, the young assistant learned how to use magic in other ways; such as potions, elixirs, enchancted equipment, magical tomes, etc. This gave the broadsword user more uses in battle, whenever he would find himself in one.<br/><br/>Yet, despite all the power that the two magical users had, this presence was able to get not only into the kingdom but into the castle itself...this did not bode well for any of them.<span style="color: #0040FF">"How long have you been feeling this presence,"</span>Earl spoke with as he heard the worry building in his voice.