The Sorcerer's Apprentice: A Fantasy Romance Novella

By Morgan Moriarty

Morgan Moriarty's debut story begins with a witch and a sorcerer...

When Lily's magical studies take her to an apprenticeship with the mysterious and elusive transmogrification master, Jorah, she falls head over heels for him. He's handsome and intelligent, but he keeps her at arm's length. But as the walls break down between them, neither can hold back their deep longings.

But all the while, the looming threat of the academy hangs over them both.

Will Lily and Jorah give in to their feelings and temptations? And what will happen when the academy learns of their tryst?

This novella is 20k+ words long and is filled with lust, longing, sensual moments, hot and steamy bits, and a pair of lovers fighting against the powers that be. This novella is a standalone story with a HEA and NO cliffhanger!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Guerilla Knuckles Publishing
• Release date: Apr 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201095369

Book preview

1

LILY’S ARRIVAL

Lily didn’t know if she was going to make it to the master sorcerer’s house in one piece. She was weighed down by a bag of her worldly possessions on her back, and the journey had been long. The master she had been assigned to lived deep in the forest, far away from others, and she could only reach him on foot. No horse nor wagon could make the journey. And though she was well versed in the world of magic, she knew no spell or trick that would get her there quicker. 

Although the young woman was exhausted from the journey, her heart was light as she thought of meeting her new master! She had spent her youngest years at school, learning all the things that a young witch needed to know. And now, it was time for her to study under Master Jorah, one of the greatest sorcerers in the land. Just the thought of the knowledge hidden within the master’s mind made her giddy with excitement. 

Which master could it be? she whispered out loud to herself as she walked, Hannah went to Master Gerdie, who commands the creatures of the sky. And Jordie is in the care of Master Levonna, who says she can call the waters of the sea. 

Lily reached up, and she tucked a fiery red curl of hair behind her ear, and her bright green eyes blinked hard as the sunlight pierced through the trees above. Lily had always considered herself a fairly pretty girl, though she could name off a dozen other students at the academy who were better looking than her. Either way, she had enjoyed a few suitors in her 19 years, though no one seemed to stick to her side. She looked down at her clothes and adjusted them sightly. Her linen blouse hung off her curves perfectly, as though it was tailor made for her, and her long skirt just barely touched the earth’s floor. Tucked away in her bag were two cloaks: one wool for winter days and one silk for the heat of summer. Both were emerald in color, just to accentuate her eyes.

But she didn’t pack much more than that for this journey, for she was unsure of what all she would need. Some apprentices stayed with their masters for years, honing their craft until they, too, were practically perfect at it. Others were able to leave their apprenticeships within just a few months of study. Her journey would be just as unique as her, and no one knew how long it would take for her to pass her test and become a fully fledged sorceress.

Either way, Lily has packed the things that she knew she would need. Buried deep in her satchel was her grimoire, the tome that she had been keeping since her studies started at the age of 15. It kept her deepest secrets, her failed experiments, and her triumphs. Along with that was her favorite quill, a bottle of bright emerald ink, and a blanket from home that her mother had sent her with. A change of clothes and a brush for her long hair finished out all the goods that she brought with her. 

She passed by a flurry of trees and brush, taking a long and winding footpath through the forest. Her pack felt heavier with every step she took, and she wished that she could find a moment to rest. Right when she was wishing for a cool drink of water and a soft place to stop, she saw a little cottage appear in front of her in a clearing in the forest.

That’s gotta be it, she whispered under her breath, The house of my new master.

The cottage was quaint and small, big enough for a person or two, but that was it. The walls of the house were made of packed mud and stones, and heavy thatches of wheat made up the roof. A flume for the hearth stood tall on one side and was made of perfectly round river rocks. A garden plot on one side was perfectly positioned in a circle of sunshine that poured down from the sky. Corn and beans grew strong, reaching up as though they wanted to kiss the sky. Nearby, a little creek ran, and Lily could see a well close by the small house. The whole clearing was surrounded by a small fence that looked as though it needed a few repairs.

All of this was a shock to her, for she had spent most of her life at the magical academy nearby. That place was lavish and modern, with servants to serve every meal and comforts that made the little cottage look like a prison. For a moment, Lily stopped at the little gate at the end of the trail and she considered turning back.

Maybe the professors were wrong, she thought as she pulled her bag higher up on her back, Maybe I can convince them to place me with a different master sorcerer.

But just as she turned to head back toward the academy, the front door of the cottage opened with a loud creaking sound. Lily gasped and turned and laid eyes on the master sorcerer that she had been assigned to.

The man was tall and broad, and he had to bend down to come through the front door of the cottage. Lily could not see much of him besides his linen breeches, dark blue shirt, and long woolen cloak that he had draped over his shoulders. The hood of the cloak was pulled high over his head, keeping most of his face hidden in shadows. But Lily could still see his mouth and chin peeking out from the darkness, and she could have sworn that he wore a smirk. 

For a moment, neither one of them spoke. Sure the master sorcerer would have been told that she was coming, but he did nothing to welcome her in. Instead, he just stood silently, and it made Lily’s insides squirm uncomfortably. She lowered her pack to the ground next to her and stepped forward, her hands in front of her and fingers interlaced. Finally she could stand the awkward quiet no longer and she spoke. 

 Sir, she said softly as she stepped forward, opening the gate in front of her, I am Lily of the academy. I have been placed in your charge to finish out the last of my magical apprenticeship and study the art of transmogrification.

Still, the master did not speak. Lily made her way to him, stepping carefully along the mossy earth between them, and as she drew closer, she could make out more of his face. He had a cut jawline and high cheekbones that were just visible beneath a thick layer of stubble. His nose was a little wide and slightly crooked, and his brows were heavy. The skin of his face and hands looked as though it was weather-beaten and worn, but there was a youth about him that Lily could not describe.

But it was the master’s eyes that Lily found herself drawn to more than anything. In all her years, she had never seen eyes that looked like violets. 

So, the master said, his