They reached the dark iron gate surrounding the garden, there was a lock and chain tinged with rust barring the gate from accessable entry. The old man reached into his black robe and pulled a worn key of silver from a deep pocket. The key was placed inside the keyhole and an audible click sounded, the chains fell with a sharp clatter to the sparkling green grass. There was really no nessecity for a lock for there was nothing of extreme value within, and any magician could pick the lock through a simple spell if he wished to, but if found that the lock had been picked the culprit would be punished with severity. Magic left signatures of energy in there wake and like a finger print each signature was different, it then would only be a matter of time before the one responsible was discerned through an identification of signatures. The gate was opened with a whine of prolixity. Demitri then locked the gate behind them as to not be disturbed.

The garden was an amazing sight to behold. Walkways of slate winded and weaved together throughout the garden, rushing artificial waterfalls and fountains glistened an aqua blue in perfect plethoric sources of light, ivy plants washed over the landscape along with an aurora of flowers accenting the gorgeous environment. Versilias and white lilacs tinged pink, scarlet carnations in full bloom, delicate christobal daffodils of canary colored the landscape, as well as a plethora of other lavish blossoms. The morning dew strewn along the rainbow of flowers were coruscate jewels of shimmering perfection. Yellow Jessamines scented the air sweet jasmine.

The two men set a slow pace along the paths of slate, they moved silently, there sandled feet barely clapping against the path drowned out by the soothing sound of flowing fountains and waterfalls. Demitri spoke first, " I have good news my boy, on the morning of the morrow you will be tested for the coveted black robe." Donato opened his mouth to speak incapable of containing his joy to a quiescent composure, but a forthcoming raise of the black robes hand imparted silence. " Understand this was not a desecion made lightly, I'm sure your aware that you will be the youngest magician to ever adorn the black robe and become a full fledged sorceror. Perhaps you may have even been able to endure the testing a few years ago but at such a callow age it seemed unfitting to bestow such a decree." Demitri sighed to himself deeply, " I think I have taught you as much as I possibly can" he paused a moment as a smirk embellished his lined face " even if you are so prone to question my teachings you surely accept there viable possibilities in contrast to your cohorts. Not that I expect them to follow my teachings adherently but gods if they would but for a moment take into consideration I am not some charlaton spinning fantasies to amuse. Perhaps then I could impart some sense of valuable knowledge to them" his eyes gazed at the sky as he spoke lost in one of his ramblings. Donato grinned, he half listened to the sorceror who was inclined to deviate from one subject of importance to another affair of little or no bearing to the current subject.

" Ah but I stray from the topic at hand. I am sure you are also aware of the apprehension inculcated in the minds of the other black robes. It is not only that you have abilities beyond there dreaming, but it is that you are an Arquesian " Demitri nodded as he spoke as if by the gesture whatever he spoke was then proclaimed fact. " I know master, they think Arquesians already rule the empire, we thus have a stranglehold on anything we wish. Be it riches, land, or whatever else we desire is ours for the taking should we choose it to be so. They are afraid of eventually relinquishing the one thing that has been withheld from the arquesians. True enough the empire rules this academy but they rule from outside rather than within" he sulked his shoulders spitting the distasteful words across the garden.