A/N: Of course, this story starts in the past before Balthazar meets Dave. Also this story takes off when Drake is only fifteen and slightly after he is abandoned by his Master.

Balthazar walked down the lamp-lit streets of Downtown Victoria, British Columbia. He had been in Canada for about a week now tracking down another sorcerer who had been rumoured to be walking the same streets. Balthazar kept his key energy flowing through his body as he stalked down the cobbled street. A sudden shadow passing by caught his eye and he turned suddenly. The silence told him that nothing was there but Balthazar kept his guard up. A whooshing noise came from his left and he turned suddenly. He looked around quickly, his eyes darted from left to right. Suddenly he heard footsteps that seemed to creep closer to him. Balthazar felt another life presence no farther than two feet away from him and he held his right hand in front of his as a plasma bolt charged up.

The light sparked and bounced on Balthazar's face giving him a dark look as he turned suddenly to face his attacker. The attacker yelped and fell back, a pouch full of coins fell out of their hand and rolled onto the ground. Balthazar couldn't see the figure but he knew that they were still there. Balthazar looked up to see a burnt out lamp. He waved his hand and the street lamp flickered on, the beam shone on the figure who still laid crumpled on the ground. Balthazar moved in for a closer look, he pushed back the long red hair and then cursed.

In a heap in front of him was a girl no older than ten. She had long wild red hair, tattered clothes and a couple black smudges on her faces that seemed to tell Balthazar that she was a street child. Balthazar sighed and picked the girl up gently. Her head rolled back and Balthazar looked to see that her face was scrunched up in pain and her eyes were screwed shut. He looked around to see if anyone was there before walking off with the girl in his arms.

Balthazar found a small abandoned restaurant a couple blocks down. He cloaked the building and placed defensive spells upon the entrances and windows before turning his full attention to the girl. She was still unconscious from the attack, her face was still scrunched up in pain and her hands were balled in little fists. Balthazar walked over the stove and snapped his fingers, a small spark of fire immediately lit the stove top and he placed a pot full of water on the burner. He took some herbs out of the pocket inside his coat and threw them in.

He turned back to the girl who was laying still on a flat stainless steel table in the middle of the kitchen. Now that Balthazar could see her better, he noticed cuts and scrapes on her bone thin arms. She had a nasty gash on her forehead and a large scrap on her left ear. Her feet were probably the worst since she wore no shoes. Blisters on the soles of her feet and bruises from the large stones she would have stepped on in the street. Balthazar placed his hand on the girls forehead and felt the flesh intertwine as the cut repaired itself. He healed all the other damages on the girl especially the broken ribs that she received from the plasma bolt. Once finished Balthazar summoned a chair and sat down waiting for the girl to wake.

It was about three hours when the girl stirred, Balthazar was studying the historical section of the enormous Incantus before hearing the girl. Balthazar slowly closed the book and set it down on the ground. He turned back to the girl who's eyes snapped open to be greeted by a bright white light. The girl started to get up but winced and laid back down. Balthazar dashed to her side and placed his hand over her head.

"Careful," the older man said gently.

The girl looked at him with her black eyes. She didn't know what to make of the stranger who was now over by the stove and pouring hot liquid into a bowl.

"Here," the sorcerer said, "Drink it , it'll help with the pain."

The girl cautiously took the bowl in both hands. She knew that taking things especially food rom strangers was a definite not, but her stomach reminded her how hungry she was and she took sips. It tasted like a creamy soup to the girl. She licked her lips and then gulped down the rest until the last drop was gone.

"Like it?" the man asked.

The girl nodded and handed back the bowl.

"I'm Balthazar," the man said placing the bowl into the sink.

Balthazar, the girl thought, what an odd name.

"What's your?"

The girl opened her mouth but then closed it. She had many names, names that she wanted to forget. So the girl simply shrugged.

"Do you have parents?"

The girl shook her head.

"Do you have a place to stay?"

Again the girl shook her head.

"Are you alone?"

The girl hung her head and nodded, tears welled at the brim of her eyes. Balthazar saw this and immediately regretted asking.

"Are you from here?"

The girl wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded.

"I'm looking for someone, do you think you can help me?"

The girl looked up and then looked at Balthazar's pocket. Balthazar followed her gaze and took out the pouch of coins the girl tried to steal earlier.

"You want money?" Balthazar asked.

The girl nodded eagerly.

"Let's make a deal," the sorcerer said, "You help me find this man and you can have this whole bag of coins."

The girl's eyes lit up like fireworks as continued to nod eagerly.

"Here's a photograph."

Balthazar opened up a page in the Incantus and showed the girl. The girl took the photo and looked at it carefully. The boy was dressed in jeans and a black top with a trench coat over top. He had light coloured eyes, a young handsome face and wild black hair that stuck up in all directions. He looked about five years older than the girl herself. The girl looked at the words on the bottom of the page: Drake Stone.