Welcome to Gaia! ::

((Because I'm not creative enough for a name...))

Richard knelt down next to the square cut into the floor, extending his hand to help Corinne up into the room.

"Used to be, when I taught here." He said, pushing the trap door closed again. "That was a few years ago though." He added, his frost grey eyes looking over the place quickly, everything exactly how he'd left it. "I've been here once or twice since, but it was only a few minutes." He went to the aclove where the bed was, a heavy wooden door on the fall wall. "Well Corinne, welcome to the academy...." He said with a content smile. Richard had clearly spent some good years here. His hand rested on the door knob of the door, seeming to sense something beyond it. "No one's there, let's go."

Richard nodded, then opened the door. They would step out into a short hallway, clearly old heavy stone walls. The whole place seemed kind of ancient. Black cloth covered the windows and mirrors, and Richard seemed concerned at their prescence. Matter of fact, he had plaed slightly. He walked rather quickly to the winding stair case at the end of the hall, lifting a torch from it's bracket and going down the steps. At his door he touched the knob and waiting a second as before, checking that the room beyond was empty of magic users. Inside was a grand hall, which would have been quite lovely were it not for the black cloths draped over the tables, covering the windows, and the candles here and there.

Richard jumped at the sound, whirling to face whatever was at their backs, but...there was nothing. He looked down at Corinne, a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Then they passed through two gigantic double doors with just a touch of Richard's hand, and they were out in the sunlight, green pastures far ahead. A castle was in clear view. They didn't head to it though. Instead, Richard led Corinne to a side stable. "Can you ride?" He asked her, though it did not matter- she could ride with him if not. He still had not said anything about the black clothes, but he looked anxious.

((I'd be creeped out too! Heck, I'd be telling him to hurry up and get me out of there!!))

((Cool.)) Richard gave her a distracted smile, but he was clearly still worried about something. "Alright then..." The horses seemed happy to see Richard, and he waved to several of them. They weren't any kind of horses...they were Sylvian descendents. Richard led two of them out to the green grass again, merely walking as they followed. He lifted Corinne easily up onto the horse without another word, swinging onto his own. Reaching into his bag, he held out a silver dagger, which was sheathed in a white leather bag. "Just in case." Was all he said. On it's handle were the words 'Blade of mirrors'. Turning back to his horse, he patted it's side. "Are we set then?" He asked softly, pointing out the castle. "We're heading there, just follow behind me." He waiting though, attentive..

Richard gave a nod, then set off. It might be noticed he wasn't using the reins, nor did he seem to be gripping the horse's mane. Instead of heading directly for the castle, he swerved and headed towards a small creek running to it, the horse leaping it easily, slowing to stop. He slipped off the horses back, following the creek upstream to the castle. There was a two foot wide path in the low tunnel that led inside the castle, and that seemed to be the way he intended to go. ((We'll pretend that took several minutes of riding to get there.)) It might be noticed that several flags were flying over their heads on the castle walls, but Richard seemed to have made a point of ignoring them.

Richard stepped onto the stone walkway, bending slightly since the tunnel was only five feet high at it's lowest point. "Be careful Corinne...it's a tad slippery." He looked back to her over his shoulder. "You alright? You were awfully quiet back there..." He asked her, slightly concerned.