Fighting Over Arix

"You can't just treat people like this. What's wrong with me?" Bryndel felt wronged as he spoke.

Seldner sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I remember your first apprentice, Lorin, is now the No. 2 of the Libertines, right? Bryndel, Bryndel, you turned a good military student into a space pirate. How can you have the nerve to take on new apprentices?"

Bryndel looked down, mumbling softly, "He's just a young man pursuing his dreams. How can I stop him?"

"Don't just bring up the first apprentice," Thrynn cut in, clearly unhappy. "What about the second one, Xinghe? A talented Psychic Ware genius who ran off with the Empire's merman right after finishing his training."

Bryndel's head drooped lower, but he kept muttering, "He left behind fame and money for live. Isn't that romantic?"