"Welcome back, Professor Gael."

Alec looked up and turned to the guard, as they passed through the gates of Draeyer Academy's main campus. He watched as Gael smiled and waved a hand in greeting. It was not the first time it happened since they left the house. Everybody they met on the road just had to greet Gael. Alec was beginning to wonder how well-known Gael really was. Because if he really was a well-renowned figure, he really might have jinxed himself when he agreed to the identity of "Gael's little half-brother." He already did not like the attention given to him just by walking next to the man.

"Come out from under that hood and try to enjoy your surroundings for a bit, please?" Gael suddenly asked.

Alec, still a little angry about what happened earlier at the lake, opened his mouth. He was about to snap at Gael to get off his case and leave him alone but stopped. His steps slowed as he took in the sight before him. Like other sections of the skyland, there were lush trees and flowers wherever he looked. What made the main campus different was how colorful it was. Most of the trees were still green, but he could spot patches of white, red, pink, orange, and yellow trees together among them. But what really caught his attention was the castle situated on the side of a small rocky mountain.

It stood above all the other buildings on the campus, looking big and majestic. Its white walls, at first glance, looked new, but Alec soon spotted signs of its age in the many stone towers that rose above the structure. Comparing it to what he remembered of Icefall Academy, he finally knew why the merchants and travelers he encountered would say that Draeyer Academy was just better in terms of appearance alone. Looking closely, he could also spot stone perches rising up from the castle that were not in Icefall Academy. Some of the perches had both adult draes and draelings, doing all sorts of things from sleeping, playing, or peeking curiously through windows.

"It's amazing, isn't it?" Gael said from next to him. Alec could only nod, too busy focusing his attention on the draes he could spot flitting over the castle. "Welcome to Draeyer Academy, Alec."

Alec felt Gael pat his back, before moving towards the castle, silently indicating for Alec to move on. As Alec followed him, he pulled his hood down to get a better look at his surroundings. Alec was too immersed in the sights he only read about. As a result, he was taken aback when he found that more people had appeared and they were looking at him. He regretted pulling down his hood, but he refused to put it back on in front of all the watching eyes. Years ago, he learned that hiding under his hood while others were watching gave them the impression that he was weak and easily scared.

Someone began to approach them. Judging from the school emblem on his chest, which held a sword like Gael's, Alec assumed that he was a teacher. Gael paused in his steps and Alec did the same.

"Good morning, Professor Gael," the man said with a smile.

Alec wanted to frown. He did not like the man's smile. It reminded him too much of the other hunters he met, who tried to ingratiate themselves to him, only to try and take credit for his hunts when he turned his back. Gael seemed to not like his fellow teacher either. He put on a cool and distant smile as he answered the man.

Alec found it interesting.

"Good morning to you, Professor Kenan," he said.

"We didn't get to talk much after yesterday's meetings. I was hoping to discuss an important matter with you," Kenan said.

"Well, it seems you have to wait a while longer. I do have a lot of responsibilities that take priority."

Alec, keeping his face neutral, raised a brow internally. Is Gael saying that whatever it is the other teacher has to say, it will not be prioritized?

Judging from the twitch in Professor Kenan's eye, he must be right. "The matter, I assure you, will be worth your time," he said. "But if that is the case, then I can only wait."

Translation: I'm not going to stop bothering you about this.

"Well, we best be on our way. Headmaster Donovan is waiting for us," Gael said, still keeping the distant smile.

"Does the matter happen to do with the fellow next to you?" Professor Kenan said. "I heard he was your brother. I do not see the resemblance to be honest."

Gael's smile twitched, but only Alec noticed. "He takes after his father's side."

"Oh, so...a half-brother then?" There was a hint of mockery in the tone when he said "half-brother" like he was supposed to say a different word. Alec thought about it for a moment before he realized it.

He just mocked me for being a "bastard child." Alec's lips twitched in amusement.

But from the silence that emanated from Gael, it seemed that his "brother" was not amused. Other people milling about seemed to have dropped the façade and were obviously eavesdropping on whatever drama was occurring in front of him. Alec looked back and forth between the two men, taking note of how Gael's smiling face seemed to have grown colder. He inched away from Gael just a bit, not wanting to be in the way if he did something. It was the first time for him to see him looking so scary. He was so jovial and puppy-like that Alec would forget that Gael was a man deadlier than him.

"Yes. This is Alec, my precious little brother," he said. "We are on our way to complete the arrangements I made for him. I want him to live here comfortably, without being bothered by anyone. It would be such a shame if I can't even take care of him properly now that he's finally here with me. I don't want to be called an incompetent man who can't take care of his own family." The way Gael put emphasis on the last sentence, caused Professor Kenan's face to contort and clench his fist at his side.

Alec made a realization. Gael just indirectly called Professor Kenan an incompetent man. Whatever the situation was, it looked like Gael dug his teeth in where it hurt most for the other teacher.

Gael really doesn't like this guy, and he's not afraid to show it, Alec thought.

"We'll be going now," Gael said. He resumed walking, and Alec followed after him. Gael turned his head to look back at the other teacher. "About the matter that you wanted to discuss with me. I do hope you can solve it yourself."

Translation: Fuck off and don't bother me again.

Alec did not turn to look back at Professor Kenan, but he could imagine the distorted look on his face. He really wanted to laugh. But Gael's mood had gone sour and he did not want to risk it. He opted to be silent instead and continued enjoying the scenery of the academy. When they were a distance away, with no one in sight, Gael began to talk.

"I'm sorry. That was not the kind of welcome I wanted for you," he said. "Kenan is a big sack of drae's shit. He tries all the time to get close to me, but I know it is for the purpose of digging up dirt that could ruin my reputation."

"It's fine. It's kind of amusing to watch him make assumptions about my relation to you," Alec said. Not as amusing watching you and Kreis, though.

Gael stopped and turned to him with a frustrated frown. "It's not fine," he said. "There is nothing wrong with being a bastard child. But there are people here who think badly of them, and I can't stop people from assuming you are one. I don't want any of them to think less of you. I have to put it in their heads that messing with you, is equivalent to messing with me. I made a promise that you would live comfortably here for the duration of your stay."

Alec looked at him, really looked at him. There was sincerity in every word he said. He really did not know what to say. He was only going to be here for a bit. There was no need to go that far. He looked down at the ground, pretending that his boots were the most interesting in the world. He began walking away towards the large wooden doors of the castle. From behind him, he heard Gael sigh.

In truth, Alec would not mind what people thought of him. They could make all the assumptions they want about him and he would not care. He had lived most of his life disregarding people's negative opinions and living the way he wanted. But he had to admit...

It was a bit nice to have someone caring on his behalf.

Just a bit.

------

Me: *hugs Alec*

Alec: Can you let go? You've been holding me for hours. I'm trying to read here.

Me: *hugs tighter* No.

Alec: I don't need comforting.

Me: *hugs tighter*

Alec: You're...suffocating...me

Me: *nuzzles and pats his hair with tears in my eyes* My precious child.

Alec: OH FOR KOSMIK'S SAKE! *holds still and allows me to hold on for a while longer*