Kirin was thoughtful before he answered. "I have little experience with magical machines, but I am willing to take a look and see what I might be able to do. As to the towns people I am more then willing to help them, with in reason of course."

"Of course." Kasandra said with a smile. "We wouldn't want you to over extend yourself." She would not admit this out loud yet but she found herself falling for the mage who had help save her life.

Larissa nodded, "Then it is agreed. I'm willing to go on patrol for bandits while he takes care of those tasks that he accepts." She looked down at the child. "And you little one, where are you supposed to be?" The child loved her sweets but had otherwise not moved away. Her little body almost hidden amongst the gryphon's feathers.

"I don't have anywhere to be." Kalia whispered. She had finished her cake and milk and just leans against the gryphon. She felt more safe with the her then she had since her parents had been killed.

Kasandra was talking with Kirin. "I can show you the fountain and other machines and I can take you to a few of the townspeople I know could use her help." She was saying.

"I'd like that." Kirin said with a smile.

Larissa frowned at that thought. Silly child. So she tried another approach, "Where do you live?" That would at least give her a basis for figuring out what to do with the child.

The mayor added to Kasandra's words, "And we are more than willing to pay handsomely. My personal assistant can help figure up the costs and you will have it by nightfall." He bowed to show his appreciation.

"I live on the streets." Kalia said softly. "My mommy and daddy last year." A few tears slid down her cheeks. She buried her face in the gryphon's side.

Kirin had no idea where to begin on the money front. This was all new to him. "I am not sure what the going price for mages is." He said a bit sheepishly. He hated that he was not knowledgeable about these things. He knew that it left him vulnerable.

The mayor waved it off, "No worries there. I won't jip you as it would hurt my reputation." He honestly didn't mind the idea of convincing the guy to stick around. His daughter seemed enamored by him as well. Paying him well might keep Kirin here.

Larissa was surprised. There was no orphanage system here or care house? This was pretty insane. Wrapping a wing around the girl, she kept her close. There was going to have to be a change in this town. Surely there was a nice home here that would take care.

Kirin wanted to stay too, even if he didn't make a whole lot. He was enamored with Kasandra, and had been since had first seen her. "I am sure we can come to a fair price. Though I don't need much. Enough for a modest house, with a big backyard and enough to by food and clothes." He said, as he didn't want to sound greedy.

Kalia snuggled against the gryphon. She felt safe with the gryphon's wing around her. Soon she had stopped crying and starts to drift off to sleep. She was soon snoring softly.

Larissa wondered what to do with the little one. There had to be a family that could take her in. Turning to Kassandra, she asked, "Kassandra, are there any families or older ladies who would be willing to take on this child as a part of their family? She is all alone." She would have to talk to them later, before leaving, about setting up a system or procedure for helping orphans.

The mayor thought over the boy's request. He could stay at the tavern on a goodly salary until he saved up enough to buy a house. That or he could rent a house and save up to buy a house. Or switch from a salary idea to being paid by the job. The town could grant him a house and a monthly stipend if he agreed to stay so many years. There were a variety of ways to take care of this. Obviously the end goal Kirin wanted was a house.

"I am not sure," Kasandra said looking to the gryphon. "I would have to look into it." She started thinking about people who might take the girl in.

Kirin goes over and strokes Larissa's side. "There's a bit of magic in the child, untapped but it's there." He was silent for a moment. "I would think of taking her in. Help her tap the small spark of magic I sense in her." He said with a smile. "Besides my friend, she seems very taken with you." He said this to Larissa.

Larissa turned and looked at the child. Having her go with Kirin was a good idea. What magic was in her could be then guided and put to good use. It must barely be anything though since she hadn't detected it when they entered town. However, that disturbance in the magical flow was still there. She wanted to investigate that and see what she could find out. There had to be another magical creature nearby to create it. Not one too dangerous though or the townspeople would have noticed by now.

The mayor nodded his head in approval, "Then it is settled then. Kalia will go with Kirin as his apprentice unless other arrangements are made." He looked approvingly at Kirin and Kassandra. With them two working together and helping care of Kalia, it was a matter of time before Kirin decided to settle here and marry into his family.

Kalia watched Kirin for a moment. It was almost as if she was reading him. Kirin smiled at her waiting for he to make a move. Kalia stood and goes to Kirin and hugs him tight. Kirin broke out into a huge smile as he bent down and picked her up. Kasandra watched all this smiling. She cared for Kirin, and watching him with this girl filled her heart with joy. She went over to stand next to him. Kalia smiled at her, her head resting on Kirin's shoulder.

The mayor felt his heart about to burst with pride. Yep, Kirin was going to be a part of his family yet. He swaggered over to them and nodded, "Well it looks like you are all set. While you three check out the list of jobs I mentioned earlier, the gryphon and I are going over to the jail for judgment."

Larissa felt a bit of annoyance at his assumption. However it was normal protecol for her kind to help in getting to the bottom of things. She stood and folded her wings in at her side patiently.

Kirin touched Larissa's side. "I will see you soon my friend." He said with a smile. Things were coming together for him, and he had never felt so much joy.

Kalia touched her side as well. "See you." She said with a smile giggling.

Kasandra chuckled a bit. "Come we will also look at available houses while we are out. Father when should we meet to talk about Kirin's payment." She asked him. She knew her father wouldn't jip Kirin out of any money but she thought she would ask anyways.

The mayor warmly suggested, "how about at dinner tonight. At our place of course." He was looking forward to encouraging the warm atmosphere he saw. Watching the three leave, he turned with satisfaction back to Larissa. "If you are ready, then let's make our way downtown." He led them from his gardens down the street.

Larissa walked slowly. Very slowly. Matching the pace of humans was a lazy skill in and of itself. She felt a sense of disgruntlement at having no action or challenge to try her skills at. Forcing her frustration aside, she focused on the mayor's small talk.

Kirin studied the machines trying his best to make sense of them. He had never seen anything like this before. After a bit of time he got the first machine working again. Kasandra smiled when he got it working, she knew he could it and had never doubted him for a minute. Soon he had the other machine going as well. Kasandra then took them to the fountain.

"I miss the fountain." Kalia said soflty.

"Well let me see what I can do to get it working again." Kirin said with a smile. After about twenty minutes Kirin had the fountain working again. Concentrating he formed a good sized ball of water between his hands.

Kalia gasped. "Wow."

Kasandra gasped a bit as well.

"You know what?" He said to Kalia.

"What?" She asked eyes wide.

"I could teach you to do this. If you wanted."

"I do I do." She said grinning.

Going through trial after trial with each person, Larissa kept an eye on how the magical flows around each person reacted to her questions. It didn't take long to learn who was guilty and who wasn't. Leaving the judgments to be given by the local law, she stretched out her wings.

The Mayor approached her, "Gryphon, thank you for your assistance. We had not wanted to chance condemning an innocent."

Nodding in agreement, Larissa replied, "I can understand that sentiment. Now if you will excuse me, there is something I need to take care of." That nagging ripple in the magical currents had her curious. She took to the sky and looked at the surface, watching the barely visible magic for more ripples and following them back towards their source. It was outside the city on the plain somewhere.

Kirin, Kalia and Kasandra were still at the fountain. Kirin had started teaching Kalia how to manipulate the water. Kali was soaking wet as her first several attempts had failed. But she was now getting the hang of it. Kasandra watched with a smile and a small crowd had formed. Kirin spotted Larissa flying away, and he wondered why she hadn't come to let him know she was going. A part of him also wondered if she would be returning.

The settlement soon went out of view, replaced with clear blue skies full of refreshing breezes. She kept an eye on the magic currents below her. Messing up her search was a power node. It was like a well of magic and the currents were connected to them. It distorted the ripples causing her to have to observe and figure out which direction the ripples were coming from past there. Finally figuring it out, she stopped circling and headed on. Towards a grove. It wasn't so far that it couldn't below to someone in the settlement. More likely, they never came but had workers tend it several times a week. Her 6th sense picked up a magical energy that comes from inside all those with magical capabilities. It was strong enough to be detected which meant it wasn't human. She landed and calmly walked in among the trees, their green leaves casting her into shadow.