Blazing Wings : Sunrise

CHAPTER SEVEN:TOURNAMENT P.1

Third POV

The group of students arriving were from the army. They just came back from their assignment. They all looked tired, months of tracking the bandits was hard. Draining and there was still no clue on their identities. The leader Clide Montreal Hennessy looked the worse, his usually kept hair in disarray and his clothes looked rather dull and worn. He looked as if defeated in a war. After telling his fellow classmates to rest, he walked towards the president's office. As much as he wanted to rest immediately it was his duty to report the happenings that had transpired during their journey.

As he walked, students all around that saw him suddenly felt pity as he was still a student yet he looked as if all the burden of the world rested in his shoulders. They adored the young leader and seeing him so down also saddens them. It felt as if the world suddenly became gray and ugly.

A sigh left his lips as he arrived at the building. Breathing in and out he opened the door and was shocked to see his younger cousin coming out of the president's office. Why was she here? And who were the people she was with? Was she forced?

A lot of questions popped out of his mind as his lips form a deep frown. The latter young Hennessy girl was stunned and rooted at the spot as she recognized the man before her. The world suddenly stopped and before they knew it the two were already hugging. It was quite a shock to the two young men behind her, their mouths slightly ajar.

" Clide!!?? You're really here? I thought you were still outside!"

He smiled and shook his head, did she really think that she's out of trouble? "Good to finally see you as well, I've missed you dearest cousin" Sky looked at her cousin closely and her mouth sunk to a deep frown. He looks so worn out and tired. She thought that he might've had a really bad time outside. She knew that he was out on missions more often, just because she left home doesn't mean she didn't check her family.

"Why are you here instead of resting, you look like you're about to faint any moment." Concern on her tone. She didn't like seeing any of her cousins down. "I'm a troop leader, I need to report. You should already head to your dormitory, you need a good night's rest for tomorrow." Sky frowned at her cousin's outstanding devotion to his position. In her opinion rest was much important, what if it could lead to him getting sick?

After a few more minutes of convincing for Sky to get going, Clide finally entered the office to report. "Good afternoon, president. Troop leader Hennessy, Clide; ready to report. We have come back from the 3 months mission. Forty-five went, forty-five returned"

"So I've heard.. Any information regarding the bandits?" "I'm sorry sir, although we had the time and resources, we could not find any trace of them", the president looked up from what he was reading and just smiled at him.

Clide was confused as it seemed that president Siccario predicted the outcome. "You did a great job leading the troop, that is enough for me. It was never your obligation to find those criminals, it's the councils'."

"But how would you know if I did do a good job, sir?" The old man just smiled wider, " You are excellent, child. I would have never given you the responsibility to lead if you could not do it." Clide was surprised, he was used to being called excellent but the feeling of how the president commended him was a different kind of accomplishment.

"Rest now child, you have completed your mission. You are ready, all of you are ready." Those were the last words president Siccario left with him as he was dismissed to his quarters. Ready to what?

SKY POV

I was pouting as we were led to buildings distanced from the school. They were exquisite as the school buildings, maroon colored walls with white pillars. The glass windows were held together with gold tinted metal. The buildings were sky high as well.

The other two, pretty boy Ezekiel and Killian the metal guy were also looking around both with amazement in their eyes. Honestly, I never expected that there were others that enrolled late. I thought I was the only one.

The dormitory staff called Ron led us to our rooms, apparently the three of us were settled on the fourth floor. There were 6 rooms, 3 on the right, 3 on the left. I opened my room as I was tired from going up the stairs. The walls were ivory white with blue hues on the pillars. The windows were high and accentuated with soft blue curtains. A four poster bed was in the middle of the room. Dressers and a walk in closet ready to use were also present. The study table was facing the windows, along with piles of paper and pens for use. Not that I would use much of them.

It was overall a nice bedroom. What caught my eye was the 3 sets of uniforms hanging on the dresser. The standard uniform was composed of 3 sets, one for lectures, for combat, and for tournaments. For lecture, a maroon skirt was required, along with a maroon vest, a white long sleeved shirt adorned with the school emblem, and a matching red tie. I guess it was fine although I would have preferred pants. The combat uniform was like typical combat clothes, fitted but was made with materials that made moving easier. Tournament clothes on the other hand was more of a fancier version of the combat uniform, there were more designs adorned on the cloth.

I'm impressed by the school's effort in making the students more confident, comfortable and formidable as slacking here apparently is not allowed. I was still admiring the material of the uniforms until I heard a small chirp coming from the window. It was a small blue jay, must be from my older cousin Clide. A note was tied to it's leg. I freed the little bird after I carefully removed the note. It read 'You better be ready for tomorrow, you must rest. Oh and I also sent a mass message to our other cousins of your arrival. Best of luck - your very loving cousin Clide.'

Oh great, I'm usually the hunter but after this note, I'm going to be the prey tomorrow as a dozen of blue haired people are going to hunt for me. Soo happy! I looked at the uniforms and I contemplated to whether wearing a skirt or not. Thinking made me sleepy so I slept.

EZEKIEL'S POV

I was surprised at the room I was assigned to. It suited my taste and made exactly as I would have wanted, which was peculiar. Then again maybe it was designed to be exactly as the owner's room. The walls were ivory white with leaf-like gold etchings in the pillars. There was a four poster bed, a dresser, a walk in closet along with shelves of books near a wooden study table. It was quite a very nice environment for learning. The uniform was even better, three pairs for different courses. Our king did good in establishing a formidable school.

Now my first step to achieving my goal is to find the library. I skimmed the pages of a book that contained maps of the school with many versions. I found the most recent and aha there it is. I smiled as I finally found it. Then the study table caught my eye, there was an envelope atop it. I closed the book and opened the envelope. It read:

Mr. Hermes,

I would like to inform you of your daily schedule for the rest of the semester. As a late enrollee, you would have to join the first years but the school council made an exception as you caught the attention of the board. We were impressed by your improvement during the two years after we have invited you to attend the academy. It is an honor that you have obliged. Tomorrow there will be a special tournament to test you and your fellow late enrollees as a welcoming gesture. We will be expecting your presence. Have a good's night rest, and may the Guardian be with you.

- President Sicarrio of the Academy of Fire

A welcoming gesture? A tradition perhaps? Or is this their response when I declined their invitation 2 years ago? I smirked and closed the envelope, they should really step up their game. They still must be feeling bitter. Huh. I guess I do need to rest. I wonder if the others received the same.

KILLIAN'S POV

WOW! That's the word that describes this room. I mean even the governor's house is not this grand. Yes I've been to the governor's house and for good reasons, of course. The walls were a shade of ivory white and the pillars were a hue of my favorite color, forest green. It reminds me of home. The bed was wide enough for at least two people, there was a human sized closet perhaps? And a very large dresser. Isn't it too large for clothes? I bet my clothes could be stored to only two drawers, even that is too much for me.

There was also a table and is that a dagger board? Wow the warden was right they did know me. There were also books about metal and other stuff I could not understand. The table was filled with different glass boxes with metal chunks inside them. I really underestimated the capability of the king. How much thought did he put to create a school like this.

Oh! Are those clothes? I dashed towards the wall where three sets of uniforms were hanging.

They even provide uniforms, I nodded as I praised the king for his thoughtfulness. There were three, and my are they fancy looking. I looked back at the table and a green envelope was suddenly there. That wasn't there before. I opened it and it said that there was tournament happening tomorrow.

Wow and here I thought they would never ask. I smiled knowingly and decided to sleep. I looked at my bag of clothes and decided to just put them away tomorrow.

Tomorrow is gonna be interesting.