"Sign right there—yup, just like that. There, too. Don't forget the bottom... aaaand that's all done," Alwyn grinned, yanking the paper from Linnie's hands. "Though, you better not sign things this easily for anyone else... I wouldn't want my apprentice getting into a slave contract."
"Huh? I just signed a slave contract!?"
"What? No... I just meant... forget it. Just never sign another contract again. If you want something, you better have the power to take it despite whatever the law says, alright!?"
"Of course!" Linnie shook his head up and down.
Perhaps this great wizard, Alwyn, wasn't the most noble of teachers...
"But what'd I just sign that contract for?"
Alwyn put his hand on Linnie's back. "You're my apprentice now. In the eyes of the tower, at least."
"Why's the tower matter? I thought you weren't a teacher of the tower."
"...I know, right?" Alwyn grimaced. "HA! Total scam, too. You wouldn't believe how much I had to pay for that contract."
"It cost money!? You aren't making me... pay it, are you?"
"..."
"Really!?"
"Obviously not!" Alwyn laughed. "I'm filthy rich, I don't need your money."
Linnie's eyes went wide and starry, for he had never met a rich person before. Well, besides Ronnie, but a thug like that didn't count in his eyes.
"Rich? Like, really?"
"I'm richer than your entire hometown put together, probably~"
"I mean, I turned it all to ash, but still..." he guiltily thought.
"So then, do you have a mansion?"
"A mansion... well, I've never been the type to invest in real estate..."
"You're... homeless? Really...?"
"No, I live with someone."
"You're... married!?"
"Hell no! I live with a rich lord! He lets me stay at his estate."
"You're... a homosexual?"
"Shut the fuck up!" he shouted, punching Linnie on the top of his head. "I saved his life, so he became my... benefactor, of sorts. It's not uncommon for rich nobles to invest in young upstart wizards, since we get super rich and famous. Heh."
"You're... a sugar baby...?"
Alwyn roundhouse-kicked Linnie, causing him to fly forwards into the dirt.
"Oh, shit... I totally just... are you okay?" Alwyn asked, sweating. "I didn't mean to hit you that hard, ha..."
"Huh? I'm good," Linnie said, standing up and brushing off the dirt. "Doesn't hurt at all!"
"Good. Wait... really? It didn't hurt at all? Not at all? Really...?"
The wizard's pride was hurt.
"Don't think too much about it, okay? I can tell you're pretty strong." Linnie reached up to pat him on the back. "It's just, no one can really hurt me. It's not like you're especially weak or anything."
"You don't mean to say you can't feel pain?"
"But that's exactly what I mean?"
"You're kidding!" Alwyn gasped. "That's... I've never met anyone like that. It's incredible! Fantastic! Magical! And to think you're already talented... no wonder you're my apprentice, I really do have a good eye!"
"What's so great about it anyway? All it means is that I gotta check myself all over before I go to sleep and when I wake up. It's a total pain."
"Tch... you don't even know what you've got, you ungrateful bastard. What I'd do to kill all sense of feeling in my fleshy vessel... but not even magic can accomplish such a feat. It's just... over-powered! Don't you know what a wizard's biggest weakness in a fight is?"
"Uh, dying?"
"Close, but no. It's distraction! If you lose focus while casting a spell, you're toast! And you know what makes wizards lose focus more than anything else?"
"Is it... pain?"
"Correct! It's pain! Now, we'll start immediate testing!"
"What'd you just—"
Alwyn snapped his fingers, and thousands of tiny needles flew into Linnie.
"Well? How's it feel?"
"I think I'm gonna cry..."
"Seriously!?"
"Shit, I went too far! How do I deal with crying...? I hate kids, always crying about everything, damn!"
"No, I'm not gonna cry. I haven't cried since I was born."
"Seriously!?"
"That's seriously impressive... though, I kind of already assumed he was a psychopath or sociopath or whatever..."
"I don't know, I've never kept track of when I cry and don't cry, you idiot!" Linnie laughed, yanking handfuls of needles out of his skin.
Blood started streaming down his face, prompting Alwyn to blast a torrent of water at him.
"Cold! What's wrong with you!? And I'm still bleeding... I better not get infected and die, you jerk."
"So you still feel hot and cold... interesting..."
"Obviously! It's not pain, is it?"
"Isn't it?"
"Well, I don't know...? Now that I think about it..."
The two tested Linnie's pain tolerance for a while after that. It wasn't anything new for Linnie, though, since Lori and Andel and really anyone that learned of his 'ability' had all reacted similarly with: 'let me hit you!'
"Stop! Damn! I should kill you!" Linnie growled, finally having had enough. "Die!"
Linnie was being held by the ankle in front of Alwyn, like a rabid dog. He clawed and swiped at Alwyn, who was just out of reach.
"Oh, relax. What's the big deal anyway? It's not like you feel it. These are important tests... from teacher to apprentice..."
"Where's that contract! I'm ripping it up! I didn't realize becoming your apprentice meant you would beat the shit outta me! I thought you were gonna start teaching me magic or something!"
"Ha! Magic!? Yeah, give that up. You're not learning magic any time soon."
"What!? Why not? I'm ready!"
"I never said you weren't ready. I'm pretty sure you activated your core by yourself, too, which I guess is considered impressive nowadays. I'm the one who isn't ready."
"Then why'd you make me your damn apprentice if you weren't ready then?"
"Oh, don't misunderstand. I could make you into the greatest wizard right now if I wanted. I just don't wanna teach the same stuff twice."
"Twice? You don't mean..."
"You thought you were my only apprentice?"
"You have others!?"
"Well, not yet. But I will. I was only passing by your town, I actually have two more kids your age waiting for me in Corvailles. I never expected to find someone like you~"
"Why'd he say that all creepy-like...? Eugh...!" Linnie shivered.
"So, what? I've just gotta follow you around until we get there?"
"...Damn! What're you so impatient for!? It hasn't even been a day."
The sun was only just setting, marking the end of their first day spent as teacher and apprentice. It didn't feel quite real to either of them, having been such a spontaneous and unexpected encounter for the two.
"I just thought I'd know magic by now," Linnie sighed.
"Idiot..." Alwyn yawned. "It's getting dark, time to set up camp."