Draeyer Academy
Drae Skyland
Northeastern Space

Knox stared open mouthed as he watched water spray into the air when Alec fell to the lake. He ran to the lake, only to stop and cover his ears, when all the Draelings' loud screeches filled the air and thrashed around in their Draeyers hold. Professor Gravis' hand also flew to one of his ears, when the Draes advanced toward him, causing groans to escape his lips.

All the little creatures' sharp teeth protruded out of their mouths as they bore their fangs at the teacher. In an instant, they stopped and turned away to the direction of the lake. Knox followed their gaze, and saw Alec stepping onto the lakeshore. Water dripped down his body while his wet hair hung low and covered his eyes from view. Silence, returned with the exception of Alec's boots making wet sounds as he crossed over the grass and the distance between him and Professor Gravis.

"Alec, are you alright?" Knox said as he met him. But to his surprise, he passed him without so much as a glance, and continued to advance at their professor. He whirled his head around and found the baby Draes parting away as they lowered their heads in Alec's presence.

"Came back for more, runt?" Professor Gravis said. Gasps filled the air, as Alec jumped. Gravis stumbled back as Alec, clung to his shoulder and twisted his body around his like a snake, knocking the air out his lungs. A grunt escaped Alec's lips as his feet landed firm on the ground, and threw Gravis over his shoulder. Before hitting the grass, Gravis used his only arm to stop his fall, and flipped over to standing position. Knox saw a familiar smile flew to his teacher's face and he knew well what that meant.

"Professor, this needs to stop," he yelled. Professor Gravis turned his attention to him, and smirked.

"This is my Combat class, Munstone," he said. "You know that very well, so stay out of it, and the rest of you runts should watch."

Alec's sudden appearance to his side with a raised fist caused Gravis' attention to snap away from them. He raised his arm and blocked, but winced at the impact. Alec pulled away and spun with a leg outstretched. Gravis ducked and brought his fist from under Alec. The young man dropped on the ground, when it connected with his cheek. He lay motionless, as Professor Gravis moved forward while wiping sweat away from his forehead.

Once there, Alec's legs shot out and snaked around Gravis' leg. He rolled over, twisting his body, bringing along the man's large limb. The large professor hit the hard ground face first, and yelled out as Alec's weight fell on his back. The latter's arm wrapped around his neck. Alec tugged on Gravis' neck and leg to meet on the middle of his spine, as the professor's body arched to the ground. Gravis' face turned from red, blue to purple, as he grasped Alec's hand around his neck, and tried to pry him off.

"Bloody...Blazen," he said in between his gasps for air in Alec's tight hold. Knox stared open mouthed as his powerful sight caught Alec's eyes turning two shades of blue darker than before. Alec leaned into Gravis' ear and whispered something which caused the older man to stop struggling. Their teacher's body slackened as his eyes dropped closed.

"He couldn't be..." Knox whispered, as he ran forward with urgency. Before he could reach Alec, two figures' shadows flew above them. Loud powerful roars filled the air soon after, as two familiar men landed on the soft green grass. Kreis ran forward and kicked Alec off Gravis, and pinned his writhing form on the ground.

"What happened to him?" Gael said as he stalked toward them.

"You can ask that later! Just knock him out," Kreis said as he struggled to keep Alec under his weight. The students and Knox fell quiet as their Professor Gael fell to his knees and held Alec's head in his hands. He pressed on his temples and Alec stopped moving before his head lolled to the grass, unconscious.

"Who in Blazen...is that kid? He tried to kill me," Gravis said as he clutched his neck and panted.

"What did you do Professor Gravis?" Gael bellowed, as his eyes narrowed. "His thoughts were murderous. Alec wouldn't just act this way."

Iris and Asher's form landed next to Alec, as they growled at Gravis through their sharp teeth. The Draelings around did the same as their wings rose and teeth jutted out.

"I was sizing up his capability, using my methods. You know I provoke my students first so they can go all out on me with their anger," Gravis said as he stood. "Looks like insulting his brother and a punch on the gut did the trick."

"You did what!" Gael yelled as he shot up, with his hands clenched on his sides. Kreis grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back, while whispering words next to his ear which seemed to calm him down.

Knox's gaze strayed away from the scene when he caught a silver glint inside the forest. With his powerful eyesight, he saw what caused that glimmer of light. He trailed his gaze to where the three objects aimed and he yelled out.

"Professor! Arrows!"

At the same time, three arrows whooshed through the trees and flew towards Alec. Asher and Iris roared as they surrounded Alec with outstretched wings. The sharp metal tips bounced off their armors harmlessly.

"Where did that come from?" Kreis yelled as he picked up one of the arrows. Knox ran forward and pointed out to where he could perfectly make out a cloaked figure running a few yards away from them, while ignoring the students panicking and running around.

"Over there!" he yelled through their yells.

"Iris!" Kreis yelled as he jumped onto the creature's saddle. The Drae wasted no time, hopped into the air, and flew to the direction of the intruder. "Get Alec inside!" he yelled from the air.

"None of you will speak a word about this to anyone," Gael said, causing everyone to stop in their tracks. "Swear it, or all of you will get a month-long detention and something much worse."

He crouched low, and threw one of Alec's arms over his shoulder. Asher came up on the boy's other side, and lowered his body so his Draeyer could settle Alec on his back.

"Class is dismissed for the mean time," Gravis said, as he slumped beneath a tree still panting. "I wouldn't mind still having him in my classes though."

Gael sent him a glare, as he led Asher toward the path back to the main building. Knox ran after him, and tried to speak but his professor beat him to it.

"Like I said, Knox," he said, "no one is to talk or ask about what transpired, unless your grandfather says so." He fell quiet, and followed close behind the Drae while watching his friend's unconscious state.

―――

He leaned on the wall as he watched Alec's form on the infirmary's cot. Trailing his eyes to the door, Gael and Kreis entered. His eyes widened when he saw his grandfather enter as well.

"Hello, Knox," Donovan said "I hear that you're already in good terms with Alec." He stepped toward the old man, and reached out for his wrinkled hand. He bent low and gave it a light kiss.

"Good day to you, grandfather," he said. He stepped back, and watched the three surround Alec.

"Did you find him?" Donovan said with seriousness in his tone. Knox gulped down the lump in his throat as he stepped back to the wall, knowing well that he wasn't supposed to listen into their conversation. That proved to be hard when only little space in the room separated him from them.

"He vanished before Iris could grab onto him," Kreis said. "He's slippery as a snake, no doubt. But he couldn't possibly escape without a Drae."

"But he killed his own Drae," Gael said. "There's no way another one would still chose him."

"Unless, he has abilities similar to Alec's," Donovan said. The other two men's including Knox's head snapped to him.

"So, we're finally considering him as a Sentire?" Gael asked. Knox's ears perked up at the mention of the word, and he moved his gaze to Alec, who still lay unconscious on the bed.

"Yes," his grandfather said, "and, all we need to do now is see how a Sentiral Stone will react to him." Knox took in a breath as his hand reached out for the pink gem hanging around his neck.

"It will turn green, for sure," Kreis said. "He's a special kind among the special kind. I wouldn't have guessed from our first encounter."

"Grandfather, what exactly is going on?" he chose the time to speak up. He pushed himself off the wall and stalked toward the three men. "Who exactly is Alec?"

Silence filled the infirmary, as they stared at him, with blank faces. They glanced at each other, before Donovan moved toward him. Once standing on his front, he placed his hands on either side of his shoulders.

"We don't know for certain yet," he said. "That's why I'm asking you to get to know him Knox, you and your sister. Also, keep an eye on him please?"

Knox moved toward one side of Alec's cot, and stared at him. The latter stirred on the bed, and he rolled over to his side. All their eyes widened at the sight on his bare back. Multiple different sized scars ran across his skin like claws from a creature. But the scars were straight, and clean, almost made from bladed weapons. He reached out and traced one particular scar that ran from his right shoulder to his left hip.

"What the Blazen happened to him?" Knox said, as he lifted his gaze to the three men. Their lips formed a thin line as frowns flew to the spot between their brows.

"Even I wouldn't survive something like this," Kreis whispered. He moved closer to Alec, and reached out a hand to thread through the boy's dark locks as if an attempt to give comfort.

###

One word...

EXAMS

So yeah, I'll be gone for a couple of weeks...laters, and I hope you enjoyed