As the Float gradually descended toward Cetrulis Skyland, the unease that had been festering inside Alec the last two days grew more intense. His fingers idly traced the edge of Crimson's earring, the weight of it on his ear somehow grounding him.

The priests, Sister Grandina and Brother Sanso continued to hover nearby, their ever-present smiles and reassurances a constant reminder of the strange discomfort Alec felt. He trusted the Temple, otherwise Gael would not have sent him there on his own. However, with his Bond with the triplets and the "Holy Guardian" title they had thrust into him, he started to suspect that there were hidden intentions buried beneath the surface.

He looked at the two priests from the corner of his eye. The last two days, he noticed that even with their calm and serene face, they exuded an intense sort of reverence throughout their being as they observed them. At first, Alec thought that reverence was directed only at the triplets, but he realized it was directed at him too. He had expected something like that after hearing about the birth of triplet draes being a symbol of the Drae Trinity's continued presence to protect the skylands. But not to that extent.

Alec had been too nonchalant about the triplets being worshipped as divine symbols. The others in Draeyer Academy were just happy about it, but not as much as these priests.

Or are these people just fanatics?

It had been 200 years since the last triplets hatched, and 50 years since the last of them passed away. There was no such fervor or fanfare about there not being symbols of Drae Trinity the last five decades. Alec didn't even know there was such as thing about triplet draes being divine symbols.

He nodded to himself. Definitely fanatics.

Alec pulled himself out of his thoughts when Sister Grandina's footsteps came from behind him. The triplets picked up his tense mood again and their little claws clung to the chest of his jacket.

She's not going to ask if I need something again, is she? She's been doing it every few hours for the last two days.

"Honored Guardian, we have received word that Lord and Lady Munstone have arrived and will be waiting for you when we disembark."

He resisted the big sigh of relief that tried to escape his mouth. For the last two days, he really thought that they were going to insist that he stay at the temple directly. It would have been impossible normally, but with the Holy Guardian title that came out of nowhere, he could feasibly live in the Temple of Kosmiks.

"Thank you for informing me, Sister," he said.

Sister Grandina looked at him a bit with hesitation before she nodded and stepped back next to Brother Sanso. They looked a bit sullen.

Alec tried to turn his back on them but quickly turned back. "About the last two days...thank you for taking care of me and the triplets."

At that, their faces lit up in delight and innocence. "It was our great pleasure, Honored Guardian."

It was only then that Alec realized that the two were around his age—younger than him even. He was really out of it the last two days to not notice. In his head, they were nothing more than priests. Just the possibility of the temple trying to make him a permanent member of the main temple occupied his mind to notice anything else.

He sighed. Alen had always pointed out that being too intelligent would cause him to overthink things and turn into a worrywart.

It's not his fault that he was born with such a brain.

--------

Alec disembarked from the Temple's Float and stepped into the quiet part of the docks that was specifically reserved for the Temple. Cerulean and Midnight sat on his shoulders while Glacia sat on his head, all three taking in the new environment.

In the far distance, he could see the tall buildings belonging to the city of Kentra, the capital of Cetrulis Skyland. At the far side of the city, on the side of the mountain, he could see the tall gleaming white spires of the Temple of Kosmiks. That was his destination for tomorrow.

There he and the triplets will be meeting with the High Priest and Temple Council. He was thankful that they did not turn it into a grand event or something. Alec would have never stepped foot into the city if that was the case.

"Alec!" a familiar voice called out to him.

His brows furrowed as he turned to the person who called him. The owner of said voice was supposed to be back at Draeyer Academy.

Solana's thick blonde hair flew behind her as she ran towards him. Before she could reach him, however, the draelings Dia and Uby beat her. The two immediately clung to his arms and nuzzled into his shoulders. The triplets gave chirps of greeting towards the two, to which they chirped back. Finally, before Solana could tackle him into a hug, Iris's large white form came from the side and blocked her. The tip of the adult drae's tongue came up and licked his chin.

"It's...good to see you too," he said as he shook off the surprise.

"No fair, I was going to hug him first!" Solana said from behind Iris.

"When is she going to give up about the hug thing with Alec?" he heard Knox say. He looked behind Iris to find the dark-haired twin was accompanied by Kreis, with Edrik and Zandria not far behind. The Munstone couple had amused smiles on their faces.

"Until Alec gives in. Seeing Gael's success, I think she believes it will happen someday," Kreis said, running a hand through his messy blonde hair.

Alec fell silent as he took in the sight of five people. He had only been expecting Edrik and Zandria, but suddenly three chaotic people got added into the mix.

Is Gael here too?

"Gael's not here," Kreis said, an amused smile on his lips as he caught Alec's surprised reaction.

"We all left a few hours before you did two days ago," Knox said. "And since Gael has been practically living in his office and Ms. Amara has been blocking the news of us following you, he still does not know."

"So you're saying that you all left Gael behind?"

"Yup!" Solana said with a cheer. "Even Grandpa's coming later today."

Even the headmaster?

"Gael's going to have a fit."

"Understatement," the twins and Kreis said.

Laughter came from Zandria at the three's response. "Understatement indeed," the elegant older woman with black hair and brown eyes said. "But he had this coming. Consider this punishment for monopolizing you all this time."

Alec felt just a hint of pity for Gael being left behind.

"Don't worry about Gael, Alec," Edrik said as the man went behind him. Large hands grasped his shoulders and gently pushed him towards two carriages not too far away. "All you should be worrying about right now is how to fend off people from the Temple."

"My love, please don't speak as if the Temple has bad intentions."

"Trying to take Alec away from us is as bad as it gets, love!"

"I agree!" Solana shouted.

Alec was dumbfounded at the stuff happening in front of him. It was loud and chaotic, and his brain was trying to keep up with the words being spoken and the affection behind them. He was getting even more tired by the minute.

However, for some reason, the anxiousness and discomfort he had been feeling the last two days had mysteriously vanished.

---------

Update again so soon? Yep. 🤣🤣

Enjoy the chaos the next few chapters.

Brief explanation: By giving somone a religious title, the Temple is basically staking their claim and extending their protection to said person. It has its benefits, but the downside is the more you enjoy the benefits the more tied up you'll be with the temple (P.S. the temple does not force anyone. its the sense of gratitude and trying to pay the temple back that ties people down). Which is not a bad thing for most, but for Alec who hates being tied down, its basically a big no.