Standing in front of Storm was the Lich he encountered weeks ago at the Fallen One ruin.
He was wearing his disguise and resembled a normal human.
He held out a hand for Storm to shake, which he reluctantly did after getting over his initial shock.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mister Hawthorne.
I must beg your pardon, but there is one more person who I'd like to be present for this meeting.
I'd like us to wait for him, before we continue. "
The Lich got up from his desk and walked over to a shelf that contained an assortment of different beverages.
"Would you like something to drink? Whiskey perhaps?" Asked the Lich.
Storm nodded his head and the Lich retrieved two glasses and began to pour their drinks.
While his back was turned, Storm quickly contacted Mimereus mentally.
"Mimereus!! We've got a problem!!"
"What's wrong, Storm?!"
"The Lich is here!!"
Storm could feel Mimereus's concern when he heard the news.
"Is he aware of your identity?!!"
"I...I don't think so?" Replied Storm
"Don't do anything suspicious!! And don't drop your guard!!" Warned Mimereus.
Storm took the offered drink and took a sip before settling down and pretending to be calm.
Not long after Storm accepted the drink, the office door opened and a young mage walked through the doors.
He closely resembled the Lich's human form but he was much younger than the two men and seemed to be in his early thirties.
A long shaggy black beard grew from his chin before ending at his belly. His hair was wild and unkempt and went down to his shoulders.
He had olive green eyes and a sharp nose. Three long scars extended from his left eye and his right cheek had an old burn scar.
He seemed to be exhausted as he had bags underneath both eyes and were bloodshot from lack of sleep.
His red robes had golden flames embroidered over the garment and was wrinkled and unwashed with soot covering certain areas with the strong stench of sulfur clinging to him.
A sign that he had quite recently been on the receiving end of a dragon's flaming breath.
The Lich looked at the man with a hint of disappointment.
"I called you 15 minutes ago, Kaiden? Where have you been?!"
"Forgive me, Grandfather. I was in the middle of an experiment and was unable to respond immediately. "
The Lich grunted, but gave no further reaction to his Grandson's curt reply.
"I'd like you to meet my granson,Kaiden Calderon. You two may have heard of each other.
You two both work in the fields of Draconology.
"Forgive me, sir. But I can't say that I have." Said Storm.
Storm got up and offered his hand to Kaiden.
He just looked down at Storm's offered hand, before ignoring him and taking a seat at the table.
Admittedly, Storm was unfamiliar with many of humanity's customs, but he was aware that refusing to shake a man's offered hand was an grave insult among humans.
It was the same as two dragons glaring at each other while growling at one another.
Storm suppressed his irritation and returned to his seat.
"It's unsurprising that you haven't heard of me, Sebastian.
Since you've been toiling in obscurity for so long." Kaiden added in a biting tone.
"My name is known far and wide across the kingdoms, with kings and lords begging me for a fraction of the knowledge I posess.
So remind me, which one of us is toiling in obscurity again?" Retorted Storm.
He suppressed a grin as the young man's nostrils flared and his face turned red with anger, a single vein bulged in the middle of his forehead.
He opened his mouth to no doubt offer an insult of his own, but the Lich cut them off.
"That's enough!!
You two will be working closely together and I will not have my staff fighting with one another !! Is that clear!?" Exclaimed the Magister Calderon.
"Yes, Grandfather. " replied Kaiden.
"You must forgive my Grandson, Mister Hawthorne. He wasn't in favor of us bringing in an additional expert in the topic."
"It's quite all right, Magister Calderon. Although I am curious why you called me here if you already have a dragon expert in your employ."
"I must apologize for all the secrecy, but we're busy with some very delicate work and couldn't risk having people intercepting our messages.
My grandson is on the verge of having a breakthrough in his dragon controlling research and we need to construct a facility for a dragon breeding program.
My grandson is good with magic and discovering draconic weaknesses, but he doesn't know their habits or preferences.
You're the leading expert on this and have already consulted in several such programs.
I can't think of anyone better for the job than you." Explained Magister Calderon.
"You should be aware, sir. I indeed have the knowledge required to construct such a facility.
But there's never been a truly successful program.
The dragons held in captivity gradually lose their minds and even the offspring generated suffer through this metamorphosis.
Dragons are just not built for captivity and any attempt has resulted in failure. " said Storm.
"You don't have to worry about that!! Leave that problem for me!! Can you build this facility or not!!" Retorted Kaiden.
"I can do it."
Magister Calderon clapped his hands.
"Very good! Very good! I knew we could count on you!"
He opened a drawer in his desk and took out a simple silver ring with an amethyst set inside.
"This ring marks you as a trial member of the Arcanium.
And will allow you access to our facilities here.
Should you successfully manage to complete the project, you may consider the position permanent.
I'll have someone show you to your office . You can take the remainder of the day off to settle in and set your affairs in order.
Tomorrow, the real work begins. Said Magister Calderon.
Another you mage opened the door for Storm and he got up to leave.
Just when he was about to cross the threshold, Magister Calderon called.
"Ohh and Hawthorne. "
Storm looked back.
"I'm not the kind of person you want to disappoint. So don't fail me!!"