Maenin City
Cetrulis Skyland
Central Space

Alec climbed down the wooden ramp connecting the Float's deck to the docking platform. He yawned and combed his hand through his disheveled hair. Looking up, he caught sight of the dawn's orange rays peeking from behind the tall structures before him.

Buildings made from grey stone and smooth marble towered high, seeming to compete for the title of tallest. Once his feet landed firmly on the cement dock, he shifted his attention to his right when he heard a familiar voice.

"When I said you should be here before dawn, I didn't expect it to be exactly a second before the actual time," Kreis said. He jogged up to him just as Gael stepped on the dock and joined them. Asher came out from the makeshift stables for Draes located on one side Float. Alec smiled when he saw his Draelings on the adult Drae's back. When they saw him, they fluttered off Asher and scampered next to him.

"And I'm once again ignored," Kreis said, while watching the Draelings with warmth in his eyes. Alec and Gael chuckled, before the Gael stepped forward and tried to embrace the Head Ryder. Kreis stepped away immediately, looking over his shoulder with a frown to where men in uniform stood. "On second thought, I'd prefer being acknowledged verbally than receiving one of your bone-crushing hugs."

"That or you don't want to lose your domineering face in front of your men," Gael said with a laugh. Kreis only rolled his eyes at him, before fixing his attention on Alec. Alec stared on blankly in to the man's chocolate eyes.

"So how is it kid? Being the Draeyer of these three little ones," he said, gesturing his hands to the creatures looking up at him with amber eyes.

"I'm doing fine," he said. "It's quite tiring sometimes but it's quite enjoyable having to look after the three of them."

"Looking after one Draeling is pleasing as it is, I can only imagine what it's like to care for two more," Kreis said. "Anyway, I wish to see your Flames later. Headmaster Donovan has spoken to me about its uniqueness and I wish to see it for myself."

"I haven't tried conjuring it since the first time."

Kreis frowned at his words before an amused smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. He crossed his arms over his chest as he chuckled lightly. "Don't tell me you're scared of it?" he said. Alec glared at him when he detected the mocking and challenge in his tone.

"I am not. I just can't recall how to make it," he said. "Besides, Professor Cynn said that it's too dangerous to practice it around my classmates, and he agreed to hone my Flames away from them."

Kreis sighed as a small smile replaced his smirk. "You're not as snide like usual. Does that mean I'm finally getting closer to having you call me uncle?"

"Burn in Blazen you old man." With that, Kreis let loose a round of raucous laughter which earned the attention of the other people present in the Maenin Flying Docks. But not soon after, he reached out and clobbered the back of Alec's head with a stern expression on his face. Entiny, Midnight and Leyan growled at him in the process.

"I take back what I said about you not being snide," he said. "And for the seventh time, don't call me old!" Alec pursed his lips as he rubbed the pain away from his head. He looked down at his Draelings' concerned eyes while muttering about Kreis and his moodiness. Meanwhile, Gael shook his head at them both as he climbed on top of Asher.

"Alec you'll be around with Kreis for the whole morning. I have to put our things in the inn and take care of a few errands the headmaster asked me to do," he said. "I am confident you're able to handle his pesky tendencies, so I'll be off." Without another word, he leaned in to Asher's ear. The Drae jumped into the air, and Alec's hair whipped back as he flapped his wings. Soon, they were no more than a dot from a distance.

"Pesky tendencies my foot!" Kreis said with snort. "I'll show him. Before this day ends you'll feel so comfortable around me and have you calling me uncle the same way my nephews do." Alec had no idea how to react to that one and ended up letting out a sigh. It's barely minutes after dawn and I'm already dealing with this, he thought.

Kreis turned on his heel and headed for the men from earlier. His back squared as he placed a hand on the sword dangling on his side by a belt. Giving him a once over, he saw him donned in a long-sleeved jacket the color of clouds before a heavy downpour. He noted the clothes were far too casual from what he expected Head Ryders should be wearing. Nevertheless he followed with Leyan and Midnight on his shoulders, and Entiny cradled in one arm.

As they neared, Alec noticed a black carriage attached to two black steeds. The shadows of the buildings hid it earlier from view. Kreis' men, clad in green and blue, stood before it, standing with their feet apart and hands clasped behind their backs. Alec didn't miss the stoic masks the four of them put on. He stopped his eyes from growing big when Kreis spoke, his playful demeanor switching to the complete opposite.

"Alec, meet few of my best men in the 1st Ryder Regime," he said. "Meet Von, Badran, Ford, and Yuen." He inclined from one man to the next, and they nodded at Alec in return. "I'm sure you four already know Alec, so there's no need for further introductions." He then turned to Alec and spoke. "They are the only people under me who know of the...thievery. As you know, the headmaster has requested it be kept a secret."

Alec could only nod at his drastic change of behavior. He couldn't fathom how Kreis could do so before one could even say "Holy Kosmos." Shaking his head from his thoughts, his eyes focused on the four other men. One man, who was almost a head shorter than him, caught his attention. He stepped forward trying to recall where he had seen him before it clicked.

"You were the one keeping an eye on me after Mr. Kreis and Mr. Gael mistook me for the crook," he said. "So your name is Badran." The man's brown eyes grew big like saucers before they fell on his superior behind him. Alec turned and found Kreis staring at him with both his brows rising to his hairline.

"You noticed him?" he said. Alec nodded in reply.

"In a closed environment my senses are dulled, which is why sometimes people can sneak up on me," he said. "But when I'm close to nature...it's a different matter." Although when he thought back to his second encounter with Crimson, the Drae had still managed to scare the daylights out of him. "Besides, he was stepping on the snow much too loudly. It alarmed the game and they ran away."

Kreis looked back to his men, and to Alec's utter surprise, he broke out of his serious mask and smiled. When he turned to Badran and the others, he found they have done the same.

"Well?" Kreis said. The four burst out into chuckles before they each patted Alec on the shoulder.

"You're right sir," Badran said. "This young man will make a great addition to our Regime. With his current level, and the training he'll be receiving the next four years, he'll be more than formidable when time comes."

Alec frowned. He narrowed his eyes as he fixed his attention on Kreis. He knew where the exchange was heading, and he wanted it to stop.

"Mr. Kreis I―"

"I only entered the academy to catch the bastard. I have no intentions of continuing my studies and become a Ryder...blah...blah," Kreis said. Alec dropped his jaw at the exasperating man.

"Look, Alec. What I hate is seeing people wasting their opportunities and potential because of them wallowing in their own pool of self-pity and self-degradation!" Kreis added, his face turning to stone once more. "Whether we catch the bastard or not, you will continue your studies and build brilliant future for yourself!"

"You can't force me to do anything I don't like! You're such a tyrant!" Alec yelled. The world seemed to fade as he focused his rising anger at the man. "You're worse than Mr. Gael!"

"I am worse than Gael," Kreis smirked. "And he's a tyrant in his own level. Since the both of us are together in this, along with Old Man Donovan, you can expect something much worse than worse.

"We are doing what's best for you."

There was a deep silence which fell over their group after that. Alec clenched and unclenched his fists in attempt to calm down. His vision almost dimmed, a sign he was going to have one of his blackouts again. But he drew comfort from his Draelings and managed to gain control of his mind and body.

"Stop acting, like you know what's best for me!" Alec said. "You have no right or say in what I do! You're not my brother nor are you my father―whoever in Blazen he was!"

With an angry huff, he marched to the black carriage's open door. Once inside, he slammed it shut rather harshly, causing the horses to rear and neigh.

Damned old men, he thought. From outside, he heard one of the men speak to Kreis while he busied himself with taking in a lungful of air to calm his nerves.

"Sir, I think that was a harsh way of putting it."

―――

For the next half-hour ride to who-knows-what, Alec kept his eyes trained out the window. He paid no attention whatsoever to Kreis and the other four men inside the coach. They passed the tall buildings in the city center, before the space between each structure grew wider. Soon he spotted trees with bright green leaves, and not later after that, they entered through a forest.

Alec closed his eyes and allowed the environment to douse the fire of anger raging inside him. When he was young bullies used to pick on him, and knowing he could, he wanted to fight back. But Alen had taught him to use his abilities responsibly, and he often ran to the forest and waited for the anger to stop consuming him. It always worked, but that was until his brother died, eventually leading to his blackouts.

He straightened in his seat when they passed through 15-foot tall gates. It was found on a stone wall stretching for at least a couple of yards, and raised even higher than the black gates. The moment they entered, he saw men and women dressed the same way as Badran and the others. Most either carried weapons, papers, wood or food as they ran or walked about the area.

The carriage stopped, and Kreis scrambled out first. The frown on his face and the way his fingers twitched earlier allowed Alec to conclude that cramped spaces were not his of cup tea. His Draelings went ahead of him while he moved to get off the ride as well.

Once out, he squinted against the sun rising from behind the verdant mountains. When his vision adjusted, he looked around and watched with fascination as Ryders emerged and entered buildings. He faced his front and he realized they stood in front of a wide three-storey structure. He noticed the layers of metal on its walls. His eyes found many small rectangular windows covered with metal bars and glass―at least he could tell it was glass.

"Do you still remember his face? We don't want you pointing a finger at an innocent man," Kreis said. Alec snorted. He knew he was trying to lighten the air around them but his words only annoyed him more than usual.

"My memory is as sharp as it always is," he said. "How many were there who matched the description?"

"Only five," Kreis said. "People with green eyes are already a rarity, how much more those of them having a scar on their face?"

Alec nodded before they all headed inside. They entered through heavy metal doors flanked by at least three guards on each side. The solemn―yet ominous―air in the building hit Alec full force. He stopped a shudder from going through him.

They entered a hall to their right, and he was greeted by the sight of rugged and dirty men behind thick metal bars. Alec noticed the thick wall of glass added before the black shafts. Through the small holes on the glass, he could hear their yells and mocking laughter. Clothed in brown tattered attires, the men moved in their cells to watch them pass. Alec successfully ignored the hundreds of eyes which bore into the back of his head.

Growls escaped Midnight and Leyan while perched on his shoulder. On the other hand, Entiny whimpered and curled into a ball under his arm. He rubbed their heads to appease them.

"It's one of my least favorite places already," he muttered.

####

Hello!

This story is actually longer than I intended it to be...hmm...

Looks like there will be a bit of changes soon, which I hope you guys wouldn't mind :)

Author is signing out!