“This, is what's gonna let me teach these ladies how to use magic." The imp replied as he opened the book and began Leafing through the pages.

“It's magika for beginners."

Malika looked at the cover of the tome and saw it was actually called

Undying Secrets of the White Priestess. The imp was reading some of the things in the book and chortling to himself.

“Magika can be learned without demons?" Shanti asked, obviously very interested in the book herself.

“Oh sure, latching onto one of us is a cheap an' easy way to get a lotta power all at once. If ya build it yerself though then it's way better in da long haul. Boss, if yer up for it I reckon I could teach all these guys basic spellwork in ‘bout six months." Pugward offered.

Everyone in the room had suddenly stopped. Clearly they didn't know what Pugward had planned until now. It seemed his idea was happily endorsed however as everyone's hopeful eyes turned to Malika.

“I thought that perhaps we might go out and see some of the world first..." Malika started a little nervously. Of course she wanted the apprentices to be happy but she also yearned to go outside and start exploring.

“Whoa there toots, you gotta crawl before ya can walk. You start sendin’ these guys out there with no experience an‘ no way of knowin’ how to get by an‘ ya might as well just hurl ‘em in a meat grinder.”

Pugwards words drew gasps of fear from the crowd.

"Oh gosh, then of course we will stay Pugward." She looked apologetically around the faces and heard the hoots and cheers that followed.

“Great! Help me down would ya?" The imp reached out his hands and

Malika Lifted him to stand on the floor. Around them the girls busied themselves once more with renewed excitement “Look boss I'm sorry about callin' ya out Like that in front of everyone but I'm serious as shit about these guys not bein’ ready to go out there. I mean they're all smart an capable but the sisterhood gives you a real crappy education."

Malika thought about that for a moment, other than the ways of demon worship and how Lagria was good and everything else was bad she had to admit she herself knew little of the world outside. So she nodded to

Pugward though he could see she was somewhat disappointed.

“Hey cheer up! Just cuz we can't go globetrekkin' don't mean we can't head out the door. I'm just sayin’ we gotta stick close to the temple for now. There's a few villages nearby. They're in da sisterhood's records. After livin’ so close to this place for so long I'm sure as hell they'll need help if that's what ya got yer heart set on." Pugward took his cigar out of his mouth and exhaled a long snake-Like stream of black smoke into the air.

His words cheered Malika up considerably, plus it wasn't like she was going to be short of things to do for those six months.

“So what can we do then?" Shanti asked, Looking about to see where she could lend a hand.

“Well babe I got two gals in the kitchen taking stock of what we've gotta eat. More are comin' up from yer old rooms under this place so they'll need help." He suggested.

"I'm on it. Oh and imp?" She turned and looked back over her shoulder.