You, there!  You must help me, please!$B$BA fellow apprentice and I were attacked by the Wretched!  In their mad hunger for magic, they took everything they could get their hands on: mana crystals, wands, spellbooks... everything!$B$BMeledor gave chase after them; I had to stay behind and look after what they didn't take.  Continue down the road and see if you can lend him a hand.