"Really?" Xen walks sideways for a moment to show his genuine interest in getting a master to teach him about the swamps saying, "Please, if you're able to take me on as your student then do so. I wont let you down. I promise you I will learn."
"You will have several options. I warn you now, though, if you choose me as a mentor the road will be a long one. If you truly do not have the time to wait, there are other more robust masters that could train you."
Xen paused thinking for a moment before saying, "I have to get stronger as soon as possible. I doubt I have the luxury of time in this case. I know not when she will strike back at the people of Lorwyn..."
Xen looked apologetically at Anna saying, "Sorry, I am sure I could learn a great deal from you, but I don't have time for a slow path not when she could strike at any time."
Xen looked determined as he kept pace with Anna asking, "Who are my options then if I need to learn quickly?"
Anna can hear the slightest hesitation in his voice as Xen responds, "I... I came to learn. Be that under a ruthless master or not makes no difference. I will learn, there are too many people counting on me..."
Xen thought about that carefully before saying, "I can't be afraid of potential pain. I must face any trials presented to me. Either I will overcome them or I will fail. No matter the result I will still grow as a person."
Xen cracks a grin to lighten the mood in the face of going to this ruthless master saying, "Out of curiosity, who is this man?"
"Oh?" said Xen with a sidelong look. "You're already being a help so we can leave that subject alone and I will simply find out about him when you introduce us."
Xen looks at sprout carrying the cattle and then back to Anna saying, "You'll need to deliver your cattle first I suppose."
Xen couldn't help but smile at Sprout as he bowed his head in thanks. Then stepping down into the manhole, Xen followed Anna while taking in his surroundings.
"Highly energetic saproling with a love for green mana as a snack. Though the one I knew was only the size my forearm. Nowhere near as big as your fellow." replied Xen continuing down the spiral staircase. "Belonged to a Golgari named Deraxas."
Xen raised a confused eyebrow as he stopped short of bumping into Anna saying, "That can't be the same sprout. That one is monstrous compared to the little guy I saw less than a week ago."
"Things an be different than what they seem. That little guy came to us a while ago lone. Saprolings can grow very quickly and be reduced to normal size with just a few simple spells. You'd think someone with your knowledge of forest mana would know this."
"I'm aware of such spells, though the effects are usually temporary without sustained mana..." Xen frowned at that saying, "I suppose it's possible, I simply dismissed the idea of that saproling being the same Sprout I met before. Sprout was really excited around green mages, and the one with you seemed so well behave in comparison..."
"He's just a bit bloated right now. He is very good at getting a job done. I promise that once we deliver these cows he'll be back to his mischievous little self."
Xen looked apologetically at Anna saying, "Sorry, I am sure I could learn a great deal from you, but I don't have time for a slow path not when she could strike at any time."
Xen looked determined as he kept pace with Anna asking, "Who are my options then if I need to learn quickly?"
Xen cracks a grin to lighten the mood in the face of going to this ruthless master saying, "Out of curiosity, who is this man?"
The trio arrived a new meat vendor and Anna bought the cattle she needed, which Sprout effortlessly threw on his shoulders.
"I think it would be best for you just go to meet the man I speak of. I'd prefer not to discuss him too much, as he makes me sick to my stomach."
Xen looks at sprout carrying the cattle and then back to Anna saying, "You'll need to deliver your cattle first I suppose."
Drop all preconceptions. Approach as a new student. Listen and learn.
"Sprout?" Anna said.
The big creature bent over and lifted the massive cover up to expose a spiraling staircase down.
Anna started her descent down the staircase.
Just then, a mass of rotting foliage and cow carcasses went flying past the pair with a loud, guttural sound of glee.