is called Lia; she is my housekeeper, cook, and lifelong friend. By the way--Octavia. Is it pronounced that way?'

'Yes, that's right.'

'It's a wonderful name. Full of magical potential. Had you an ordinary name I would have had to change it. Now I recommend you change--there is a uniform for Black Magic Apprentices.'

Octavia nodded her head obediently. She was generally a quite rebellious, loud girl, but there was just something about Melkior that subdued the fieriest heart. She also didn't want to get into his bad books so early on.

Upon arriving in her bedroom upstairs--a spacious yet simple room with two beds, one for the other Apprentice--Octavia was immediately assailed with a bundle of black cloth.

'That's your robe, dear,' Lia's distinctive voice was explaining. 'It looks a bit like a nightgown, but it can be very stylish on the right person. There's also a red sash, a white undershirt, and... oh, where's it gone?'

There was a pause in the onslaught of information while Lia glanced around, eventually pouncing on the bedside table.

'Got it! This is your amulet, love,' she dangled a velvet black choker in front of Octavia. A raindrop of glass hung from it. 'It has some magical significance, I'm sure, but none that I understand! I'll leave you to get changed, if that's alright with you?'

'Right,' Octavia said, dazed. She quickly snapped out of it, however, when she realised how stupid she must look. It was just an outfit, for heavens' sake. How would she handle complex magical theories?

She had already donned the black robe, and tied the sash, when she remembered the undershirt. With minor swearing, she declothed again, and was about to put on the white undershirt when there was a commotion outside. Peering out of the open window, she leaned on the windowsill to