Nearly two weeks had passed since the incident at the refinery and nothing unusual had happened since then—nothing too unusual, at least.

Erica had become a bit less abrasive after he had saved her life, though Caspian often wondered if that truly was the case, or if he'd simply grown used to her horrible personality. Maybe he was becoming desensitized to her antics. It wouldn't have surprised him, especially since Erica's teasing didn't annoy him like it did before. Even now, as he walked down the street carrying several shopping bags, he couldn't find it in him to be annoyed or even mildly irritated. If anything, Caspian would say he felt resigned.

However, just because he wasn't irritated didn't mean he wouldn't complain.

"How much more shopping do we have left?" he grumbled while renewing his grip on the shopping bags in his left hand.

"Just a few more stores." Erica tossed him a smile that was both beautiful and condescending. Even then, Caspian still found it difficult to drudge up any true annoyance at her. Her smile soon morphed into a pout. "Don't tell me you're getting bored of shopping with me already. It's only been two weeks."

Caspian just sighed. "Oddly enough, I am not getting bored. I'm not even sure that's possible around you."

"Oh my, is that a compliment?" Erica asked, holding a hand to her face, hiding her lips and giving a delightful giggle.

"Take it however you want," Caspian said calmly. Erica looked at him more closely, studying him with an almost studious gaze. Considering Erica was the least studious person he knew, her having such a gaze disconcerted him a great deal.

"Hmm," she mumbled thoughtfully, her eyes narrowing, as if doing so would allow her a glimpse into his soul.

"W-what?" Caspian asked, trying not to let his face grow warm. This woman had a way of making him uncomfortable without even trying. Every time she looked at him, he felt like he was being placed under a microscope and observed. "What is it?"

"Something is bothering you," she declared, spinning about to face him more fully. She still continued moving, however, her heeled shoes clicking along the pavement as she walked backwards. "What's on your mind, Caspie?"

Caspian twitched, but didn't rise to the bait. He knew Erica well enough by now that he'd grown used to her antics. He also knew that if he rose to the bait, she'd run off with it and drag him along for the ride, and that wouldn't be pleasant—not for him, at least.

"I guess I'm just... confused," he admitted. Erica didn't say anything, choosing to merely raise an eyebrow. Caspian coughed into his hand and continued. "At the academy, Knights in training are taught a variety of different principles, theories and subjects. Math, science, geography, philosophy, mechanics, magical theory, combat—our curriculum is incredibly vast. They say it's to prepare us for when we become a Sorceress's Knights, however..."

"You don't see why they're having you learn so much?" Erica guessed.

"Don't get me wrong, I enjoy learning." Caspian shrugged. "However, now that I've been acting as Derek's replacement for two weeks, I'm beginning to question whether everything they taught us is truly necessary. So far, I've not had to use any of the knowledge I gained from the academy. I'm just wondering why they bothered teaching us nothing we learn is going to be needed."

Erica was silent, still walking backwards, observing the young man she was shopping with.

"Did it ever occur to you that different Sorceresses have different uses for their Knight?" Erica asked. Caspian blinked. "Just because I do not use you in that manner does not mean that another Sorceress won't. Different Sorceresses want different things from their Knights. I, for example, only require a protector and a lover. I'm not one for philosophy, and unlike the other Sorceresses who enjoy studying their craft, I only care about learning spells powerful enough to defend myself and take out my enemies."

Seeing something she liked in a store across the street, Erica grabbed Caspian's arm and pulled him along beside her. They entered the shop, which he realized sold jewelry. He allowed her to pull him further into the store, toward a section that sold necklaces. And while she looked over the variety of precious gems being sold, occasionally seeking Caspian's amateurish opinion, she continued lecturing him.

"Other Sorceresses who take their craft more seriously would need someone who understands the concepts and principles behind Elemental Composition and Spiritual Evocation. A Sorceress who enjoys tinkering with machines would need a Knight who knows mechanics. I know for a fact that Karen Hildegarde not only expects all of her Knights to be well-versed in MagiTech and Magical Theory, but demands it."

"Karen Hildegarde," Caspian mumbled. "Isn't she the one who created MagiTech?"

"That is correct." Erica held up a necklace studded in small diamonds and with a large ruby embedded in its center. "Though it would be more accurate to say that she created the first piece of magical technology. MagiTech is a company owned by the nobles who seek to put a monopoly on magical technology. I believe they are under the misguided assumption that, because magical technology does not require a Sorceress's power to use, gaining a strong monopoly over it will allow them to stand on even footing with us." She snorted, as if the concept amused her. "Honestly, nobles will believe anything these days. They have yet to realize that their time has long since passed, and the world no longer needs them."

"That's something we can both agree on," Caspian said.

"Ho?" Erica looked up from her perusal to eye Caspian with interest. "You seem to have something against the nobility. I'm not surprised, to be honest, given your lineage."

Caspian almost flinched. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Now, now. There is no need for you to deny what I already know." Erica's smirk somehow managed to both arouse and frighten him. "Did you honestly think that Sylvia de Floresca had the power to just put you in Arcadia's Knight Academy without so much as a 'by your leave?' Please. Sylvia may very well be the most powerful Sorceress of all time, but she still has to abide by the laws set down by the Sorceress Council. And when she wants to bend or break those laws, she needs a majority vote in her favor."

The Sorceress Council was exactly what the name entailed; a council of Terraria's most powerful Sorceresses who convened regularly to discuss world affairs. There were always thirteen members on the council, one for each major power on Terraria. The Dystian province, being a major export of refined spirit crystals, held a good deal of power and therefore had a seat—though Erica was not the Sorceress who sat on it. The Temarian province, where Sylvia de Floresca resided, also had its own seat. The Ruudon and Atlantia provinces, which focused on agriculture and art respectively, were not powerful enough to have claimed a seat on the council.

Caspian knew from his studies that the other eleven seats each belonged to a country in Terraria. These seats were constantly changing, shifting from one country to another based on which countries held the most power at the time. Because no country had a true military anymore, the power of the country was based on two factors: that country's economy and the power of their Sorceress. A country with a strong economy and a powerful Sorceress was more likely to gain a seat on the council, than a country with a weak economy and a powerful Sorceress or vice versa.

Caspian wasn't really sure he approved of a governmental body like this. The Sorceresses seemed to have horded most if not all of the power for themselves, leaving little for the people. On the other hand, before the Sorceresses came to bring order, the nobles had been the ones ruling over everyone, and they had been far worse. At least with the Sorceress Council governing everyone, they'd not had to deal with problems like war for the last two-hundred years, with the last war actually being the one that broke the noble's power and allowed the Sorceress Council to ascend in their place.

"So tell me, Caspie—"

"Caspian."

"—What is it that you are seeking in a Sorceress?" Erica continued as if he'd not interrupted her. "What kind of Sorceress partner do you want?"

Caspian's thoughts halted, the question startling him. He'd never really considered what he wanted in a Sorceress. Then again, it wasn't like he'd ever been given time to think about that. Most of his academy life had been spent fending off bullies, dealing with hatred, and trying to become the strongest person there, both physically and mentally. The thought of what kind of Sorceress he would like to have as a partner just hadn't been on his mind—more like it had been the last thing on his mind.

"I... I guess I'd like someone who is wise and powerful and kind, like Sylvia," Caspian admitted.

"Of course," Erica sighed, "why am I not surprised that's the kind of Sorceress you want."

Caspian frowned at her irritated tone, but didn't let the woman's response bother him. "I would also like to be with a Sorceress who isn't afraid to stand up for her beliefs, even if it means going up against the Sorceress Council."

Erica perked up. Her eyes narrowing thoughtfully, she gazed at the young man with a contemplative mien. "You mean like how Sylvia went against the council to allow you entrance into Arcadia's Knight Academy?"

"Not just like that," Caspian said, though his cheeks did flush a bit. Erica scowled, just a little. "Being the only peasant in a school for nobles, I've learned the value of sticking up for yourself and your beliefs, even when others try to knock you down. I also dislike people who are too cowardly to stand up for themselves." Caspian's hands, already holding several bags, clenched tightly into fists. "People who aren't willing to stand up for their own beliefs, who bow down to others even when it means betraying their ideals... I can't stand people like that."

"Ho?" Erica smiled slyly at Caspian before wrapping her arms around his left arm. "Such strong beliefs," she muttered, her single visible eye half-lidded and containing a hint of... something that Caspian would rather not think about. "You don't know how attractive it is to see a young man with such strong convictions." Caspian shuddered when Erica's hot breath hit his ear. "You're becoming more and more interesting by the day, Caspie."

"It's Caspian," the young man muttered, his face red. Erica just smiled.

They left the store several minutes later to continue shopping. Caspian thought about what he'd learned from Erica, about how different Sorceresses wanted different things from their Knight. With that knowledge in mind, the academy curriculum made a lot more sense. There were many different Sorceresses who focused on different subjects, different fields of study. One might focus on magical technology and therefore require a Knight who knew a lot about mechanics. Another might focus on Spiritual Evocation, so they would want a Knight who understood the theory behind creating chants to summon spirits. By having a varied curriculum, Arcadia's Knight Academy ensured that a Sorceress would have a Knight who could meet their needs—regardless of what those needs were.

Of course, some obviously didn't need much from their Knight. Erica, for example, apparently only needed someone to sleep with her and battle by her side, but hopefully she was in the minority. The last thing he wanted was to be with a Sorceress who only desired sex—he didn't need to be known as the Knight-whore who acted solely as his Sorceress's plaything.

He really felt sorry for Derek.

"Thief!" a shout suddenly rang out from somewhere behind them, startling Caspian from his thoughts. "Someone stop that man! He just stole my purse!"