<em>"I am certain your skills will be found necessary for the success of the tasks ahead." The mentor's voice spoke out calm and serious. Gazing at the elf the old man had a faint smile on his face for a moment, yet a look in his eyes that spoke of having seen even more than the long-lived elves. Finally nodding his head somewhat, he gestured to the door back to the stairs down to the castle courtyard. "Please get yourselves ready then, there is an hour's time left for you to prepare, and then you must head off."<br/><br/>His gaze shifted at the healer when he chose to speak, nodding his head slightly at the man's words. Looking at the cleric, the old mentor nod his head approvingly at the fellow's willingness to aid his companions from the start. He said nothing of it, instead slowly standing up. Taking a few steps from before the fireplace to a nearby table he lifted up a small map, rolling it up to a scroll and holding it out towards the group with one hand, he finally nod his head.<br/><br/>Tapping the large hourglass on his table with his other hand he turned it around letting the sand start to run, nodding his head briefly. "Good luck. We shall speak again once this baptismal of fire has been carried through."</em><br/><br/><hr/><hr/><br/>The large covered wagons were resting outside the castle's wall, a pair of brown horses secured before them. The wind howled lightly among the streets and alleys ahead, the cobblestone path leading from the castle's gate towards the outer wall, the citizens moving along at a hurried pace, and the cloudy skies above rumbling slightly with a promise of thunder and rain to come later.<br/><br/>There was a lone guard waiting near the wagons, looking at the arriving folks with a serious expression. "Your the people from the Academy right? I've been waiting for you. These are the wagons that were reserved for your use, make use of them as you see fit. There's some rations set there, but beyond that you are on your own, though if I heard right if things are as serious as it seems the Academy and thus you will get a lot more support. Lets hope it wont be necessary, but I'd rather know if something bad is lurking out there than to be caught, you know, off guard." He frowned somewhat, but finally sighed.<br/><br/>"Well, guess that's it." He waved a hand, heading off. The nearby stables besides a fair sized inn held a number of horses waiting as well, and the clinging sound of steel being hammered reminded there was a smith living in the area. The last chance for any of them to grasp any extra supplies before heading onto the road.<br/><br/>Beyond the outer wall lay the old road that would lead past the hills and the small woods to the Fortress.