Within the Apple Ch13D

*****

Xander looked over the pair, deciding that they were both convinced enough to move on a bit.

“Now, let’s get you kitted out with some learning materials,” He said.

Danny looked grim, but nodded, “I’ll get my wallet.”

“Ah, no,” Xander shook his head, “While some Apprenticeships certainly can be costly, that’s not how I do things. Money is useless to me anyway, trust me, and it will be to Taylor here in short order as well.”

“I… don’t follow…”

“Magic is incredibly versatile, and it makes earning a living a trifle,” Xander said. “As the Master, not that I’ve earned the title officially… ah well, have to make do, but as the Master I will provide for my Apprentice. Besides, you couldn’t afford it, trust me. The richest man on this world couldn’t afford it.”

Danny looked pained, “We’re not a charity case…”

“And I’m not a philanthropist,” Xander countered. “I saved Taylor, and you acknowledged the debt…”

“I know we owe, I don’t want to be deeper in that debt…”

Xander shook his head, “No, it’s not how it works. Remember I tried to tell you there was no debt, but you insisted? We registered a magical debt then, I felt it click. You have magic yourself, Danny. Now, you owe me… but debts work both ways. In some ways Taylor here owes me her life, it’s true, but it also means that I’ve accepted responsibility for what she does with her life. She is my Apprentice, Danny, I will see to her education.”

He put as much finality into those last words as he could manage, and it seemed that it penetrated the other man’s skull enough for him to close his mouth before he voiced another objection. Danny was clearly thinking about it, while Taylor looked nervously between them. Finally, Danny sighed and spoke again.

“What does she need?”

Xander relaxed, smiling to Taylor who seemed to also relax marginally.

“We’ll start with a wand,” He said, reaching into his jacket to pull out a small bag that he proceeded to reach into, shoving his whole arm into the space that seemed unfit to hold even his hand. “Hmm… let’s see, I know it’s in here somewhere…”

“What…?” Taylor stared in shock.

“Ah, here we go,” Xander withdrew a stick and checked it over for damage before tossing it casually to Taylor, who yelped as she clutched at it, fumbling a couple times before she managed to grab it firmly and glared back at him.

He just laughed at her.

“What am I supposed to do with this?” She tried glowering, but the excitement written on her face made it clear that her heart wasn’t in it.

“Wave it.”

“Just… wave… it?” She said slowly.

“Just wave it.”

Taylor hesitated, but then nodded and drew her hand back before flicking the wand out in front of her. The rush of magic that exploded out blow open all the windows, blowing out the glass, while turning the curtains into various wildflowers.

Danny threw himself to cover Taylor from the blast, while she looked on in horror, and Xander laughed wildly.

“Nope, not that one,” He said, countering her magic with his own to fix the windows and return the curtains to normal before he plucked the wand from her hand and looked it over again. “Hmmm…. You’re a little volatile to mix with a Storm Bird I think… let’s think about something a little more stable, balance you out some…”

He again reached into the bag, rummaging around for a moment, before drawing out another that looked almost identical.

“Try this one.”

Taylor hesitated, but slowly took the wand from him while Danny glared openly at him.

“Is this really necessary?” Danny asked.

“Strictly? Probably not, but it is amusing, and it will give her an idea of how dangerous she can be if she’s not careful,” Xander said. “Don’t worry, I’m keeping things from getting out of hand.”

“Seems out of hand to me, someone could have seen that blast from the street!”

“Nah, I have the house under temporary wards, anyone who even looks our way right now will suddenly remember something important elsewhere,” Xander told him. “I have it covered. I know that you guys are concerned with secret identities and the like. I may not care about them, but I come from a culture that made hiding secrets something of a cultural obsession.”

Danny didn’t convinced, but he didn’t have anything else to say, so Xander nodded to Taylor again.

“Wave it.”

“Are… are you sure?”

“Come on, you know you want to,” Xander goaded her, grinning. “I saw the gleam in your eyes just before you realized the damage you did. It’s magic, Taylor… you did magic. Do it again.”

She hesitated, but took a breath and once more waved the wand in her hand.

Xander felt the air turn inside out, and briefly tasted the word magic. He quickly made a point of memorizing the taste for later examination, I wonder if there’s an entirely taste based language our there somewhere?

When the air cleared, Danny looked odd, like he was trying to place something but couldn’t quite work out what it was, while Taylor just stared at the wand in her hand in shock.

“Very nice,” Xander said, examining the wand before reaching out as if to take it.

Taylor pulled back from him instinctively, clutching the wand to her chest defensively.

“It’s mine!”

Xander smiled, “So it is. Curious…”

“What is it?” Danny asked, eying his daughter with some concern.

“That one is one I put together from a gift I was given,” He said. “Blood and hair of a young goddess. Powerful, but not something to match with most.”

He smiled enigmatically, winking at her, “I think we can expect great things of you, young Taylor. Great things indeed.”

*****