Icefall Academy
Arktis Skyland
Northern Space

The darkness of the tunnel engulfed them as they exited the sanctuary. After two hours, Linan had finished helping Dr. Warsen treat the injured Drae. Warsen had stayed behind and insisted that they return to their inn. Gael watched with an amused smile as Linan stretched his long thin arms overhead. A groan escaped his friend's face as he pushed his glasses up his nose.

"Of all the qualified people in this academy, why was I chosen to respond to that emergency," Linan said. "I was really hoping that I would've only done some work on the day for Sky Racer."

"Oh come on Linan," Gael said, "I know you don't know mean that. When you heard there was an injured Drae you were the first to exit the meeting."

A sharp pain on the back of his head caused a hiss to escape his lips. He turned around to find that Linan had stopped and was glaring at him with his arms crossed in front of his chest. For a thin man, he could pack a punch.

"No I wasn't," Linan said.

"Deny, deny all you want Lin."

"Grow up Gael."

He ended up laughing as they emerged from the tunnel. Silence lingered in the air between the two of them as they followed the snowy path, eventually exiting the Icefall Academy grounds. Icefall City was busiest in the afternoon, with more people walking about the streets than earlier that morning. As they passed stores selling a variety of goods, Gael turned to Linan.

"What's a good gift to give to a young man who is turning nineteen?" he asked.

Linan glanced at him from the corner of his before he spoke. "If it's for Alec just give him a book to read. I'm sure he'll love that."

"That's too common already. I think the other kids have thought about that," Gael said. "I want something different."

"You know him best so quit bothering me and don't ask for suggestions that you won't even consider," Linan snapped at him.

"Calm down would you?" Gael said.

"If you quit talking, I will."

"All right, I'll shut up," he said. As they walked, the only sound surrounding them was the chatter and yells of the Arktins going about their business. His brows rose when Linan was the one to shatter the silence between them.

"Gael," he said, "have you noticed something about Alec's Sentiral Power?"

His head turned to the man, and raised he tilted his head in confusion. "Like what?"

"Like how the Sentiral Stone doesn't seem enough to seal it."

Gael looked back to his front and his shoulders squared from its slouched position. He had thought about Alec's power more than once. During those times, he debated whether his ability was just too powerful for a stone or...taming Draes wasn't his power at all.

"During my classes, I always have him completely seal his ability. However, the Draes still act the same toward him," Linan snapped him out of his thoughts. "Sometimes I think his ability is just too powerful for a Sentiral Stone or...we made a mistake."

"Are you saying that his power isn't what we think it is? Because if that's what you're saying then I've had the same thoughts," Gael said.

He and Linan looked ahead as they let their thoughts wander in their minds. Alec was quite a puzzle, and if Linan knew about the young man's situation he'll be just as eager to solve the mysteries shrouding him like those who already knew.

"Vastoro!" a female voice cut through the air. "Give me back my satchel!"

Gael and Linan paused before looking back to where they came from. Most of the people stopped walking and a few parted for a masked man with a woman running at his heels. The curses and sadistic threats leaving the woman's mouth would make even Kreis cringe.

"If you're planning on doing anything and come looking for me after, I'm somewhere on the sidelines watching," Linan said. The lanky man disappeared from his side and Gael saw him with the parting crowd a few seconds after. Gael sighed and focused on the thief.

With small slow steps, he met the approaching crook. He stopped 10 meters away from the man on the snow-covered cobblestone.

"Out of my way," the robber yelled. He took something from his belt and Gael quickly saw the small rusty knife. Noting the weak hold the man had on the knife's hilt, he knew his first move.

7 meters...5...4...3, he thought, now.

His right foot shot out and kicked the blade out of the man's hold. Knowing he succeeded, he spun and his other leg struck the thief on the abdomen. It sent him flying and then skidding on the pavement. Gael was on him at once and his foot pressed on the wrist holding the stolen item. The man yelled out as Gael bent and picked up the blue satchel. However, the thief fainted probably from the pain he felt on his stomach.

"Thank you for your help," he heard the woman's voice.

"It's all right," he said. He turned and held out the bag. However, his breath caught in his throat as his emerald eyes met with beautiful grey ones. He had been living with the Munstones and grey eyes were quite common in their family, but looking in to the woman's eyes felt different. She had the fair complexion common in all Arktins, tall nose, high cheekbones and full pink lips. Her hair was the most eye-catching for it was black with streaks of dark blue on it.

Gael looked away when he felt his heart race. The weight of the satchel left his hand at the same time he heard her speak. "May I know your name?"

"Gael Fenrin," he answered. He still kept his gaze away from her and focused on the thief. Trying to distract himself from looking at her, he took out his commu-crima out and contacted Kreis.

"Kreis, there's been a robbery here in the main street to Icefall Academy, near the market," he said. "The city's guards are under your command, right? Can you send someone to pick this man up and post men around the area?"

"Oh Blazen, Gael," Kreis grumbled from the other line. "All right I'll send someone. But I already had people posted in that area. Thanks for letting me know that I will be giving punishments later. See you."

"See you later," Gael said.

When he felt eyes one him, all he had to do was meet the gaze of the curious crowd who heard his conversation with the Head Ryder and they quickly scattered. It didn't take a few moments until men in thick coat uniforms appeared and took the crook away.

Gael stiffened when he felt a soft hand land on his shoulder. This time, he looked and met those entrancing grey eyes once more.

"Thank you again for your help Professor Gael," she said to him.

It snapped him temporarily out of his state and regarded the woman with a curious glance.

"How did you know my profession?" he asked.

The woman smiled and stepped back. She slung the strap of her satchel over her shoulder before bowing at him. "I'm Professor Vaneesa Skyvern. I teach literature subjects in Icefall Academy," she said. "The reason I know your name is that you're one of the most renowned professors in Kosmiks. Not to mention, you were the Most Indispensable Player on the Sky Games from eight years ago that was held in Draeyer Academy. I apologize if I couldn't recognize you."

"It's...fine...I didn't expect people to know me anyway," Gael said.

"Thank you again for stopping that vastoro," Vaneesa said. An angered frown formed on her face. "He's lucky that I didn't catch him. I would've used what I learned from my friend and did something much worse."

Gael felt a slight rush of fear from her tone, and he decided to change the subject. "You can fight?"

"Just a few moves," she said. Her mood returned to the pleasant one he saw moments ago. "I had a friend who always taught me things he learned from being a Special Officer in the Regiments."

"This friend must've been talented to become a Ryder without going through normal procedures," he said.

"He was," she said. "If I see him again I'll crush his balls for not contacting me and our friends."

A nervous laugh escaped Gael after hearing the last sentence. Despite the slight fear he was feeling, it didn't make Vaneesa look less beautiful at all. However, he didn't like the erratic pumping of his heart and the way his eyes dared to wander over her form clad in her heavy white clothes.

"I should get going. My students are probably waiting for me," Gael said after a cough.

"All right, then," Vaneesa said. "But I'd like you to repay you for your help."

"There's no need―"

"I insist. Let's have lunch. You can bring someone with you if you like," she cut him off. "I'll see you tomorrow."

With a bow, she turned on her heel and left. Gael stood there gazing at her back until a slap on his shoulder caused him to stop.

"If I had only seen that with my failing eyesight I would've had doubts but I heard everything too," Linan said. "After all these years, this is the first time you didn't a turn a woman down."

"Hey! What are you doing?" Gael yelled. Linan had grasped his shoulders and was pushing him toward the direction of their hotel. The force he was using was enough to tip him over on his face and stomach if he ever used his feet to brace himself.

"Meolie, Kreis and Headmaster Donovan need to know about this," Linan said.

Gael knew that Linan rarely acted like an excited child. But whenever he did, it never meant good for the subjects of his interests. Unfortunately, he was the subject as of that moment.

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Double updates mean I'll be dead for a while so enjoy! HAPPY VALENTINES DAY AS WELL!