years

ped outside, heralding the new day. Slowly, his green eyes fluttered open to the sight of the

ons. Cracks riddled the old brick walls while tough vines grew in

moment, listening to the soft snor

a motherly female whisp

a] he greeted back

ain. Flashes of the traumatic event four ye

the bed and stepped onto the cool crack-ridde

ing forward to for a long time... but never go

personality. An old, weathered book lay beside his flattened str

sun, casting a shadow over a small table h

] the guardian replied. Her voice carried warmth through the

ed him to be sad on a da

and soft green eyes. He gazed down at the scars on his chiselled torso, vaguely

took in a deep breath, '

for this day. It felt as though a froz

a special

dren from the Five Hills as well as those from al

sleeping not so far from him. A faint scar peeked out of the top

onscious boy he carried from the woods t

azy sack," Alaric whispere

umbled, rolling away. His bed, unfortuna

laric tried. The boy stirred for a moment, lifting his head

shoulders. It had been four years... and

aretaker, peeked in, her white hair framing a kind beautiful fac

that dark day, he was also forced to remember that her love s

," the woman called i

Marla," he repl

ng sandy-haired boy and be

response, failing

o Alaric, still whispering, "Breakfast i

'm on it, Sister Marla. We'll be

ody to blow off the roof again," Marla gi

h magic, a gargantuan mass of constricting vines folded in and out of each

at the resilient bundle of vines, Ala

wide, letting in a chilling draft. Naturally,

roached his friend. Suddenly, he whipped Finn's

s eyes popping out of their s

plosion shook

faces. Contrary to popular belief, an explo

of a single boy waking up...

t where an egg of vines once stood, was a solitary

red vines, leaves and branches still glowing with hot fl

his eyes, Cody mumbled,

rushed to Cody's side, checking him for injuries. Find

ack. "I'm fine, b

he sighed in reli

ut quickly shook it off. "Sor

d absentmindedly, "G

the room, helping the younger children wake up

filled the air. Today was the day Alaric and his age mates would journey to the

.......

the air as a lively table of children chowed down on br

igour than usual, chowed down on his meal. His he

ow is the Appraisal done? How many people sh

s shadow, didn't bother to answer, instead ro

an you'll be visiting," Marla chided f

caretaker. Unfortunately for him, his cheek

ky brown hair coolly commented. The younger ones

in his mouth only to take a large sc

brain," the girl scold

to notice a difference. For those who had lived with her for long enough,

d catch his breath, "Oh, is the famous Darla worried? Afraid

sword after sparring with me just once. He's barel

a dangerous glint in his eye, "Huh... Are you talking about me? I m

be a little bunny of the lowest class so naturally you won't be able to compe

high-pitched voice, "I'

the sudden proclamation, "No

head with pride, "And Alaric's been training me so I can hold

's right. Bow before C

s of the little boy's fiery hair as he stood on his

, "There will be plenty of playtime after Ala

Alaric didn't miss the concerned look on his face when Sister Marla mentioned the To

t your guardian is D-class. I'm sure having a bunny is just as cool as the po

on my guardian and he'll

r guardian. I know, you could fight demons with the ultimate cud

" the sandy-haired boy s

ed pushing Finn's buttons... and the hothead never fail