Icefall Academy
Icefall City
Arktis Skyland

Areisha watched Emera with fond eyes as the Draeling carried Lux's small body on her back through the streets of Icefall City. Dia was with her along with Uby and River's brown Draeling, Ebony. Rei's yellow baby Drae, Scara, was snoring in the redhead's arms.

Tall buildings with smoking chimneys towered over them and the throng of people walking about. She walked in a group with her fellow Sentires, who were quiet since they left their hotel. Headmaster Donovan and their professors were ahead of them, discussing the preparations for the Sky Games.

The sun was at its peak, but its rays failed to give her warmth at all. She exhaled and her breath formed a cloud of mist in front of her. Their team uniform hugged her frame and kept the cold away from her body. The set came with a knee-length coat buttoned from the neck to waist and black trousers tucked inside black boots. The coat was black like the trousers with a hood trimmed by white fur. The same lines from their school uniforms ran down the sleeves and front.

"What's wrong Lana?" she heard Knox's voice. Her eyes gravitated to the twins, only to find Ceiver, River and Rei looking at the two as well. "You've been a little quite since early this morning."

From under Solana's hood, Areisha could make out a sad expression on the blonde's face. Looking closely, she could see that her eye bags were a bit puffy―something that Solana would be fussing about to get rid of.

"It's...Alec," Solana said. She and her friends locked gazes with each other before giving the girl questioning glances. Solana took a deep breath, exhaled first, and then spoke. "He told me about his life in Gelun...how he was alone when his brother died. It made me sad while thinking about it."

Their group fell silent after that. The surprise was evident on Ceiver and Knox's faces. She saw a reaction from River and Rei but it was too brief for her to guess what it was.

"He told you last night, didn't he?" Areisha asked. Solana's wide surprised eyes flew up to meet her.

"You already knew?" Solana asked. "For how long?"

Areisha looked back to her front and clasped her hands behind her back while walking. "About two months ago," she said. "I wasn't allowed to tell. Sorry."

"I feel that you betrayed me for some reason," Solana said. Her lower lip jutted in to a pout and the brunette failed to stop the small smile from forming on her face. The expression vanished from Solana's face soon after though, and a smile similar to Areisha's replaced it. "I want us to make his birthday a memorable one! Knowing how he is, I'm sure he hasn't celebrated it in a long time."

"I think he doesn't even remember that his birthday is in two days," Knox chuckled. "Good thing he didn't catch us planning."

"We would've had much more time to plan if Gael told us about it a few weeks earlier," Solana said. "Anyway, after the opening let's get him presents!" Areisha shook her head with amusement when the twins bumped fists. What should I get for that bastard? she thought a few moments later. Their group was silent while the adults walking ahead were still busy talking.

A few minutes passed and the crowd of people seemed to have thickened as they neared the outskirts of the city. A few eyes darted towards them and people with light-crimas took images of their group as they passed. When the buildings grew shorter, she finally saw the mountain range on the western side of the city.

Tall towers from a large structure etched on the side one of the mountains drew her attention at once. The building was a grey castle amidst the snow-covered mountain and occupied a huge area.

Their pace quickened as they ran to catch up to their professors. Soon, they were greeted by tall black gates with equally high walls of white stretching out on either side. People walked in through the open gateway, heading for the same direction. As they emerged through the entrance, they were greeted by paved paths. It was surrounded by skillfully arranged ice sculptures and stone slabs.

Her attention returned to the main building of Icefall Academy, only for her gaze to trail to large stairs leading further down to a huge domed building at the foot of the mountain. The academy's visitors were all headed for the domed structure, which she assumed was the arena.

"Students," Donovan called. Areisha turned her attention to the old man and saw him and their professors standing on a different and empty path leading to the arena. There were two unfamiliar people with them, a man in his early 30s and an Icefall student.

The Sentires halted their steps and the headmaster spoke up. "Children, this handsome man is Icefall Academy's headmaster, Zedrius Rovina," he said. "Show him proper respect."

Areisha smiled at the brown-eyed man and bowed at the waist like the others. "Good afternoon, Headmaster Zedrius."

"Headmaster Donovan, no need to flatter me," Zedrius said. There was a short laugh from Icefall's headmaster before he turned to Areisha and the others and smiled at them. "Welcome dear students. Arktis may be cold but we hope you enjoy our warm hospitality."

Headmaster Zedrius gave his attention to the female student behind him. The girl bowed before approaching the group of Sentires. "Tessa will lead you to your balcony in the arena," Zedrius said. "I, your headmaster and your professors have a few things to discuss with the teachers of the other participants, so you'll be going ahead."

They nodded and greeted Tessa with a smile. The girl returned the gesture before bowing and motioning them to come with her. Leaving the adults behind, Tessa led them inside the arena, entering a smaller door than the main entrance. Wide grey hallways, lit with lamp-crimas, greeted them. Their guide was quiet as she turned corners with them following close behind her.

When they turned another corner, she saw a small flight of stairs. At the top was another short corridor with open double doors at the end. Light from outside flooded from it to the hallway along with the sound of the chattering crowd.

"This is where I leave you," Tessa mumbled. With a court bow of her head, she left. They watched in silence as the girl walked away before disappearing up on another set of step at the end of the hall.

"Was she scared of us?" Solana asked.

"I think so," Rei said. However, the blonde paid no attention to him whatsoever.

They climbed the steps and emerged into a roofed balcony on the lowest tier surrounding the arena. Their Draelings flew to the two rows of blue-cushioned chairs. The ones in the last row were elevated to allow whoever sat there to look with ease over the head of the one seated in front. After counting them, she knew that it was enough for all seven of them and their professors to occupy.

Her eyes were drawn to the stairs on one end of the balcony leading 10 feet down to the wide oval center of the arena. The snow-covered space was surrounded by more than 20 tiers of seats where a large crowd sat waiting for the Opening Ceremony. She looked up and was met with the shinning sun obscured slightly by a few grey clouds.

It was then that she noticed the other two balconies on either side of theirs. One to their left were students from Parythian Academy, sporting their trademark colors of red and black on their uniforms, which were similar in style as theirs. To their right were the representatives of the host school, donned in white and blue knee-length coats. All eyes from the two other teams were on them. However, they chose to ignore their curious and challenging eyes.

"They're looking at us like they're going to eat us," Rei commented. The redhead stood by the banister of their box, while the rest of them chose their seats.

"Just sit down and ignore them," River said. Although reluctant, their fellow Sentire obeyed and sat on the chair on the end of the first row.

Emera crawled to Areisha's lap with Lux still sleeping on her back. She stroked the heads of the adorable creatures. Her attention turned to the open doors when she heard a familiar voice.

"Sorry I'm late," Alec said. He was already donned in their team attire. However, confusion filled her when the Draelings, especially Emera and Dia, paid no attention to him. She was more puzzled when she failed to spot his triplet Draelings with him.

It would seems she wasn't the only one busy asking those questions in her mind. None of them moved and only stared at Alec who had a bright beam plastered on his face. They knew very well that Alec would never smile that much when he greeted them.

From the young man, her dark blue gaze gravitated to the Icefall Academy students. She saw only five of them and she dropped her jaw in disbelief when a thought hit her like lightning. I can't believe he's trying to fool us, she thought with amusement.

Before she could speak, the twins stood with narrowed grey eyes at Alec―or supposed Alec.

"Who are you?" Solana asked. "You're not Alec, that's for sure. The Draes would've known your presence even before you entered those doors."

"Our friend has a faint scar on the right brow and another on his chin," Knox said, "but you don't seem to know that." Areisha concluded that he used his Sentiral Power to look over the imposter.

"What are you―" Areisha cut the imitator off.

"One Arden is already an eyesore to me, and I certainly don't need another to add to that," she said. "I know you're Lord Cyanz, so stop it."

The imposter she called Cyanz froze where he stood before a chuckle escaped his lips. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

"Did I really fail to copy Alec?" he asked.

"Yes, you did," Areisha said. "Arden doesn't smile so big and in such a very disturbing manner. So please change back now. It's making my skin crawl."

Cyanz rolled his eyes at them before he lowered his head and closed his eyes. White streaks appeared on his black hair as it lengthened till it reached his lower back. He opened his eyes and a dark brown hue replaced the cerulean depths of his irises. His jaw narrowed a bit and his nose grew taller. A few moments passed and they were staring at a handsome young man who almost had feminine features.

"A pleasure to meet you again Lady Areisha," Cyanz said. The brunette watched as his dark eyes flew to Solana. His smile brightened once the blonde met his gaze. "I've been waiting to meet you again Lady Solana."

The eyebrows of the other males rose to their hairlines when the young lord ignored them. Solana was quiet as she approached Cyanz with her left forefinger on her chin.

"Who are you again? I don't recall meeting you," she said once she stood in front of the young lord's towering frame.

Cyanz smile dropped before his jaw followed. With the exception of chatters from the crowd, there was nothing but silence in the balcony. It shattered when Areisha released a laugh, only to suppress it with a hand on her mouth. They turned their attention to her, but Cyanz remained focused on Solana.

"You...really don't remember...me?" he asked.

"I'm sure I would remember a name like Science, since it's so unique," Solana said.

Areisha fell back to her seat, laughing hard but with muffled sounds leaving her mouth. Poor guy, she thought, another one of those mercilessly snared by Solana's beauty.

"It's...Cyanz. C-Y-A-N-Z," the young man said. "We met each other last summer when I attended a ball held by Skylord Sheriun."

Solana's face filled with thought as she looked up at the ceiling with her forefinger tapping her lower lip. A few minutes passed before she snapped her fingers and her face lit up in realization.

"Oh yeah, I remember you," she said. Cyanz smile returned after Areisha saw him visibly sigh. However, his eyes widened and his mouth fell open once again when she continued. "You're the guy Areisha kicked on the groin for being perverted."

Another silence followed before all members of Draeyer Academy's team, minus Solana, burst into fits of laughter. Knox and Rei were heaving in between laughs while Areisha was busy clutching her aching stomach. Ceiver was on his seat with his glasses tipping off his nose as he cackled. River was the calmest of them while he laughed.

A deep crimson hue covered the entirety of Cyanz face. With his pale complexion it was more evident. He straightened and sent a glare to Areisha who had sat on her knees on the seat to look back at them.

"You told her that I was a pervert?" he yelled at Areisha.

"You were," Areisha said as she calmed.

"I was not! You were being hot tempered and you took your anger out on me!"

"Was not," she said.

They continued like that a few more times before a new voice caused them to break their argument.

"Why are you all yelling? I can hear you from all the way down the hall."

Their attention fell on the young man with pale blue eyes walking through the hall towards them.

"Alec!" Solana shouted with glee.

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From here, let it be known that if I update multiple times in a day I'll be busy tending to my tasks for a while...lol