lley formed by five hills. The village of Five Hills, with its old streets of old cracked co

en played in the farms on hot afternoons, the hill with the serene man-made lake reflecting the sky like a mirror, occasionally summoning storm

d homes and settlements harbouring the pop

every nook and cranny, flooded Alaric's m

d to it, he was also reminded that he would be leaving the Five Hills for the fir

xplore the great unknown, but unlike most boys

s far too cool to be seen crying during a goodbye, esp

!] Alia chuckl

sent. Finn was hugging the last of the younger orphans, while Darla stood amidst a heap of litt

is day came around each year. The orphans below the age o

that Alaric was on the receiving

te himself from the grabby hands of his lov

ouldn't leave. If it meant the fiery-haired boy would stay str

y, can I pet him?" a young boy with maroon hai

my guardian turns out to be a bunny... becau

ared," Jasper

this family? Fear

ver

Garin? It's not like him

ned to the horizon absentmindedly, "You're right, Fin

a sheet. Alaric felt her discomfort

n fell on the caretaker's face li

rantic frenzy. They'd bathed and dressed so hurriedly that they'd even tripped on each other ami

's miracle-working ointments. Despite their rush, Alaric had suspect

he sun was

ossible," M

an inscrutable expression. The large tree by the side of th

retaker's guardian wit

Marla?"

Marla snapped, not giving Alaric

ckets, holding them up for the caretaker to see. The pitiful trinke

, they were mishapen disks with carele

each of them carefully b

take them off until you're saf

est children did as they were told and gather

right, Sister Mar

ree of you to stay close to each other at all times. Don

've been doing to a test, Alaric. Keep

for whatever reason you might have," Marla in

Cody called out, pointing

through the air followed by the sound of heavy wingbeats. The mornin

Its body fanned out like a beautiful cloth kite, extending out

snow while the top of it sho

hat book had specified that these creatures only ever lived in wate

to the sky as though the wind itself carried it. The beast

ided through the air with the grace o

day, but it never ceased to amaze him. In a few moments, a la

unning along the narrow parts of its front and back,

and a white cape blowing in the wind. A prestigious symbol

ked to a stop at the road, floating a m

hair was a brilliant shade of red, and sat atop his head in a messy mop

ence, afraid to make the wrong move. Somehow, his presence itself was enou

t's been a whi

lied, a fire of urgency burning