Happy New Year! Longer note at the bottom.

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Alec stood leaning over the high metal fence and looked over the little light brown creature lying on the small lawn. It had barely moved for the past 15 minutes and he felt a pang of sympathy for the obvious sadness in its curled up position. Glacia made a quiet whimper on his shoulder, while Midnight and Cerulean watched it from the top of the fence. From the bond, he got a feeling of sympathy from all three for the little wolf cub too.

"He'll be alright, little ones," he comforted them. "The people in this shelter will take good care of him."

With one last look at the wolf cub, he turned and made his way out of the animal shelter. Just to the side of the entrance, Gael stood waiting in front of a carriage.

A Float sent by the Temple of Kosmiks was waiting for him at the docks. Gael was not very happy about it. Alec asked why, then Gael said something about the Temple's impatience and determination that Alec could not understand. He was further confused when his older brother's face darkened a little while before brightening up again because of Glacia's cuddles.

"How's the cub?" Gael asked as they climbed into the carriage.

Alec sighed. "It's fine, but not moving much," he said. "It seems that the triplets could feel its sadness."

Gael nodded, a sad smile on his face. "Well, that little one will be well taken care of so there's no need to worry," he said. "Areisha will make sure of that."

"Roselintine?" Alec asked, brow rising at the unexpected name. The triplets perked up at the name of the auburn-haired girl.

"From a young age, Areisha has helped a lot of rescued animals and sponsored animal shelters. It started with cats and dogs. But she eventually moved on to care for wild animals and received the proper training for such things. She even sponsors care for defanged snakes, which is as far as I know, the only animal she does not like to a point of hating."

"Huh..."

Gael chuckled at the sound he made. "Is that surprising?"

"A bit. I know she's tough on the outside and soft on the inside, but I never expected her to care that much about rescues."

The conversation paused as Gael talked to the guards, smoothly allowing their passage out of Serene City into the Edge district of the skyland.

"Speaking of Areisha," Gael started again. He reached into his coat and pulled out a small blue box. "It took weeks to find this and Areisha spent the last week imbuing her sentiral power into it to make it permanent."

Alec titled his head as he took the box. "What's this for?"

"Remember the two gifts we talked about when you came here?" Gael said. "The first was a thank you for joining our hunt for the thief; the clothes and new battle gear. The second one was supposed to be a welcome gift from me, but it got delayed a bit."

Alec flipped the box open. At first, all he saw was a single silver earring with a small gem the same color as his eyes. Then, as recognition dawned on him, his chest went tight with emotion.

Crimson's earring.

"I thought Crimson lost this during...that night," he said, voice choking on the last two words. The triplets immediately climbed on his lap and shoulder, purring in comfort and sending confused inquiries about his emotional state. He calmed down and told them everything was all right.

"You said it was lost while looking so miserable, so I couldn't let it go," Gael said. "Fortunately, your older brother has enough money to send people to go looking through the snow."

Alec briefly chuckled at his response, eyes not leaving Crimson's earring that had shrunk enough for him to wear.

"I asked Areisha to shrink it down permanently—leaving me feeling like I was just exploited for the price I paid. Worth it though, as I figured you'd like to wear it and keep it with you at all times."

Alec would like to wear it indeed, so he took it from the soft cloth where it was nestled and clipped it into his right earlobe. The moment he felt the weight of Crimson's earring, an inexplicable warmth caressed his heart and entire being. The first and only gift he had given his friend had come back to him as a precious keepsake.

He had thought it was lost forever.

Alec reached up and fiddled with the accessory. "Thank you, Gael." He had so much to say, but that was the only thing that left his mouth.

Gael reached out and patted his shoulder. "It's late, but welcome to my family, Alec," he said. "Know that you'll always have me to return to."

Alec could not help himself. He smiled. He smiled so wide like he used to often do when he was a young child.

"Am I not getting a hug?" Gael asked.

He laughed.

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"Glacia, it's dangerous there. Come here," Alec called out to the little ice blue draeling. The little one obeyed and flew down from her perch on the edge of the Float. Glacia had been fascinated by the sight of the clouds parting as the Float cut a path through the Infinite Sky. Alec would like to watch it with her too, but he just could not relax ever since he got on the Float.

The distance from Draeyer Academy Skyland to Cetrulis Skyland would take two days to cross. It had been not been more than a few hours into the trip but his anxious feelings were beggining to sprout.

When he came aboard, he and the draelings were welcomed warmly by the entire crew. But what set off Alec's anxious feeling were the two people wearing pristine sky blue robes accented with gold. Two priests of the Temple of Kosmiks stood not too far from him and the triplets.

Or rather, they were too close.

For the entire flight, they had stuck close to Alec like glue, asking him if there was anything that he and the triplets needed or that they were comfortable. He really wanted to say that he would be more comfortable if they left him alone.

But Alec can not in good conscience say something like that to the two priests. They were looking at him and the triplets with the kindest and warmest gaze he had ever received from anyone, save from his two older brothers. The Temple had even prepared his and the triplets' favorite snacks, having asked Gael ahead of time for their preferences. They even gave him a small three-star trinket that he could attach to the pommel of the dagger hanging on his waist.

Alec was good at reading people, and he could tell that they just genuinely wanted him to feel all right during the flight. He was used to strangers' scorn or indifference, so their kindness kind of made him squirm.

But their kindness was not the only thing amplifying Alec's anxiety.

"Honored Guardian, we will be arriving shortly," one of the priests said. "Do you have any special requests for your arrival?"

Honored Guardian or Holy Guardian. That was the grandiose title given to believers who protect the faith of the Temple of Kosmiks. Since he was the protector of the triplets who were the symbol of the Drae Trinity from the scriptures, he was technically protecting an aspect of said faith.

"Thank you, Sister Grandina, but I don't have any particular requests at the moment."

"Very well, Honored Guardian. If you need anything at any point, please don't hesitate to let me and Brother Sanso know. We will be your attendants at the main temple."

Alec nodded. He turned back around to look out at the Infinite Sky.

He was being referred to as a Holy Guardian. It was an honorable title and he was flattered with it. However, there was one problem with being given such a title. Alec could only hope that the temple was not planning, what he thought they were planning.

He suddenly thought of Gael and fiddled with Crimson's earring.

"Know that you'll always have me to return to."

He hoped they wouldn't give his brother any reason to turn over the temple.

Please Lord Kosmos, protect your priests.

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I AM BACK! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

So first off, sorry for not informing you guys of the cover change. Some of you must have thought I deleted it or something. So, book one is officially named Draeyer Academy: Hunter. And yes, not blue anymore. It's green now. 🤣

Next, sorry for not updating much. I was so busy with licensure exams then other life bits. But it all paid off, because I just had my oath taking ceremony and I am now officially a licensed teacher (got my license before Alec did HAHAHA.)

I might be late to update, and setting schedules would still be hard but I know that this story is in my mind and I am determined to finish Book 1 by March or April.

Happy New Year again, everyone. May you be blessed with growth, success and happiness this year.

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Additional note:

I had an argument with myself regarding Areisha's Size Manipulation powers being able to change an object's mass and weight. This is how it went. Be prepared because I sound like a caveman.

Science nerd me: Physics...atoms...laws...conversions...mass *convulsing in a corner*

Writer me: FANTASY FICTION *throws the unfinished book at sci nerd me*

Pop Culture geek me: Like Pym particles? *reading ant man comic*

Science teacher nerd me: ...

Writer me: ...

Pop Culture geek me: Like Pym particles it is.