Icefall City
Arktis Skyland
Northern Space

Iris' paws created a dull thud as Gael landed the white Drae on the empty road. Alec was quick to slide off, and Gael swung down from Iris to catch him by the elbow.

"Kreis said to wait until he gets here with his men," he said. "For all we know, Krizton is safe. We can't just go knocking and disturbing the peace in this neighborhood."

"But Gael..." Alec said. He could see the fear and worry in the depths of his pale blue eyes.

Gael knew that if something happened or would happen to the little boy, Alec would keep blaming himself for putting Krizton's life in danger. Gael took a deep breath. He was worried of the child too.

"You have to remain calm, Alec," he said. "You need a clear head to make the proper decisions."

Alec's fists clenched at his sides as he closed his eyes. Soft whimpers came from below and they looked down to find Alec's triplets rubbing themselves on his shins. Gael saw Alec's face softening and his fists unfurling. The young man crouched on the ground before the Draelings and he took them in his arms, hugging them close his frame. Gael smiled at the sight.

Knowing that he had no reason for now to keep an eye on Alec, he surveyed the neighborhood. His brows furrowed. It was quiet. Too quiet. His eyes trailed from the white roofs of the smaller houses, to the grey house in front of them. It was the only two-storey building in the vicinity.

His attention snapped to the front door of the house next to Krizton's home. A middle-aged woman hurriedly walked to her small gate, carrying an empty weed basket in her arm.

"Excuse me!" Gael called out the moment she stepped out into the road.

The woman looked up. For a moment, she stood there, staring at him. Then her eyes trailed to the two-storey house belonging to her neighbor and then to him and Alec before it. Her mouth opened in a gasp before she spun on her heel, walking away with her steps brisk like someone was out to chase her. Gael's frown deepened.

He looked back at the large house. A feeling was tugging at him to get closer.

When he looked back at Alec, Gael knew that he wasn't the only one who had the same feeling. Leyan, Midnight, and Entiny, copied their Draeyer as the young man watched the structure with searching eyes.

A loud sound shattered the silence in the area. It resembled the sound of wood and glass breaking. Before Gael could make a move or speak, Alec swung himself over the low rock fence and sprinted to the front door. His Draelings crawling at his heels.

"Drae's shit," he muttered. He turned to Kreis' white Drae and spoke. "Iris. Guard." He heard a growl from the creature and he took it as a signal to go after Alec.

The door was already open when he reached it. Darkness filled the house, with a few streaks of light escaping through the gaps of the window curtains. The sun was still low in the sky, barely even at its peak, but Gael felt like time had forwarded to night.

"Alec," he called softly. There was a flurry of steps from the second floor before he heard the squeak of a door swinging open. With his adjusting sight, he saw the steps on his left. He dashed for it, only to freeze on his spot at the sight before him.

He couldn't speak. His mouth only opened to suck in a surprised breath.

An old woman in a wrinkly dress sat at the bottom of the wooden steps. Her back leaned against the post of the railing with her short legs spread before her. Her head had lolled to her right. Her eyes staring blankly at the empty air in front of her. She was dead. The knife on her chest and the blood covering her dress and the floor was enough proof of that.

It was Janz Gardius' mother. Krizton's grandmother. Whoever did such a thing to the poor old woman had no heart. And very dangerous, his subconscious said.

After saying a silent prayer for her, he passed the corpse and dashed up the stairs. There had been nothing but silence since he heard a door up stairs opening. Once at the landing, his eyes darted around. There was enough light in the second floor to allow him to see the upturned furniture, shattered vases and pictures. Most of the rooms were open, looking like a storm had passed it. Clothes scattered the floor, the wardrobes down on the wooden floor, and the bed covered in long cuts made from sharp blades.

He paused in the middle of the hallway. A whoosh of air came from behind him. He spun. A sword came down in an arc, missing him by a mere inch. For a split second, he saw the blade change momentum before the tip hit the floor. Gael ducked. The sword flew above his head and stuck itself on the wooden doorframe. On instinct, his foot reached out and struck. It connected with his target, earning him a grunt and a thump on the floor. He freed the sword and pointed it at its owner.

The man lay propped on one arm, the tip of the blade mere centimeters from his nose.

The intruder's eyes narrowed at him, but made no move after staring at the sword in his hand. Worried that there are other bastards in the house, Gael flipped the sword and struck the man's head with the hilt. The intruder crumpled to the floor in an unconscious heap. A few moments later, Gael had tied his hands and feet with a piece of cloth he cut from a nearby curtain.

A series of steps came up the steps. He raised the sword, only to lower it when Kreis came bounding up with three of his men.

"Where's Alec?" the Head Ryder asked.

A crash answered his question. Eyes looked down the hall to spot a figure break through one of the doors. It was another unfamiliar man. Alec came through the broken door, face dark and cold. He swung his fist at the staggering intruder and knocked him out to the floor. There he lay, unconscious like his companion.

"Take them," Kreis ordered his men. The three were quick to follow. One proceeded to drag the guy Gael fought with down the stairs, while the others took the second one.

Kreis and Gael locked eyes, before following Alec through the door he exited from a few moments ago.

The room was just as messy as the rest. The only difference was, Janz Gardius lay on a pool of his own red blood. Alec stood there with his back to him, just looking at the faint rise and fall of Janz's chest.

Gael rushed to the dying man's side and knelt, placing his hand on the large gash on his stomach. He had lost so much blood. He found a clean shirt, and pressed it down on the open wound. He knew it was futile thing to do. But he couldn't sit still and do nothing.

"Let's take him to the hospital," Kreis said. His best friend stepped closer and bent to reach for the man.

Kreis paused at the same time Gael felt a hand grasp his.

He looked down and found Janz's dark brown eyes looking at him with calmness in their depths. Calmness. The kind of look men who have accepted their end wore on their faces. His pale lips moved to speak.

"Alec," he whispered. "Get me...Alec."

Apparently, the young man had heard him. Alec dropped to his knees next to the man, and Janz quickly grasped his jacket collar with a weak and bloodied hand.

"Find...Krizton. He escaped...with the Shcielle. Find him...protect him please. You're...his only hope," he said in between hisses and pants. Gael saw how a flash of regret fell on his eyes, before vanishing. "I should've listened to...Alen. I was too scared...I'm a coward." He laughed, a mirthless laugh, rolling his head till he looked up at the white ceiling.

"What..." Alec seemed to be too stunned to formulate a sentence.

"I'll never get to see my boy...grow up to be the young man his mother and I wanted him to be. I can't believe...I'm forced to put my son's life in your hands," Janz said. He took Alec's hand and brought it to his chest. "Krizton is your bridge," he said, contributing much to the frown on Alec's face. "If you let Beuen touch even a strand of his hair, I swear to rise from my ashes and kill you myself!"

"You'll live to see your boy grow up, you old man," Kreis said. "Stay with us."

A loud pained groan filled the room, coming from no other than Krizton's father. Small quick pants escaped his lips. Looking closely, Gael could see that his pupils had dilated. Poisoned, he thought. He could see the life escaping his eyes. The light in them dimming and dimming until...

He clutched the bloodied cloth he used in his vain attempt to stop the bleeding. He felt Janz's breathing stop. It was too late. Gael looked away, and shut his eyes tight. He died without his child by his side, he thought. It was one of the painful things to in the world, same as it was for children to watch their parents die. He knew what the latter felt like. And somehow, he was thankful that the little boy had not witnessed such a thing.

Alec fell back to the floor. At first his expression was unreadable as he closed those pale eyes of his. However, when they opened, dread swept through Gael. They were dark. Cold fire swirling in their depths.

"We need to find Krizton," he said. His tone matching the iciness of his eyes.

"If the Shcielle is with him, then he's..." Gael trailed off.

He watched as Alec stood to his full height. His darkened gaze fell down on the three Draelings at his feet. They sat tall on their hinds and head raised high up at their master. They were waiting for a command.

"Find Krizton," Alec said, his tone quiet but firm. "Find him."

Small high-pitched growls came from the triplets before they bounded for the open window, spreading their wings and flying into the bright outside. Their cries, although small, seemed louder to Gael than any sound in that moment.

######

FIRST LETTER REPLY

Dearest Mini, AmbertheSpy

First of all, this is kind of awkward for me. I've never written a reply to a letter before. Hope you don't mind.

Most people fear or dislike that things that they can't grasp. It really is hard to find a place for yourself wherever you are.

But I'm glad to hear that you didn't give in and stayed true to yourself. Most people in our group give in to pressure and lose theirselves in the process, and eventually have a hard time finding themselves again.

I felt like that Gelun, a lot. I had to hide my smiles and my thoughts to avoid getting hurt. However, I'm glad I met Gael and Kreis. If it weren't for my two crazy pair of guardians I probably won't be where I am now.

With the way things are, sometimes I can't help but wish that I'm back at my old life. It was a lot less complicated. But whenever I look at my Draelings, my professors, and my friends, that thought vanishes. I kind of like where I am now.

Admittedly, I'm still scared of putting them all in danger.

Bye for now, Mini.

Sincerely,

Alec Arden