Few days later a group of students mostly consisting of birds gathered in the main square looking at the sky over the wall waiting for a diplomat from their country who shall be arriving today. At the center a few city guards set up a line and space for them to land, Miss Hellen and sister Fay stand in the sun waiting while a few reporters stand ready just outside the line with reflex cameras.
“There must be a better way to spent time rather than waiting to watch a few birds land?” Josh complained and acted unusually irritated today.
“An important diplomat from Avion, flew directly from Corvidia is arriving today, of course this is important to see, especially for us who is studying to become a diplomat” said Amy while everyone else is looking at the sky.
Josh tries to duck his head low behind his friend “Calamity, you must be bored to death right? Why don’t we go to train some more?”
“Not really. I want to see this.”
“You what? Nevermind. Bill, how about you?”
“I thought you want to see this since they are from your country.” said a man who responsible for dragging Josh here before he got a chance to protest.
“Not really, it's not like we would get to hear them talk with Headmaster anyway.”
Josh wanted to leave but Eirian and everyone else wanted to stay so Josh hesitated to go alone.
“Josh there you are!” a raven walked toward their group.
“Arrg” Josh made an unpleasant sound and hide behind Calamity who is the biggest in their group but he’s not fooling anyone.
Eirian think he saw this raven somewhere before and remember he’s the one who is argued with Josh above the roof so Eirian walk in front of him to block him from getting to Josh.
“What do you want with our friend?” Eirian asked.
“Hello Eirian it’s a pleasure to meet you. We haven’t got a chance to formally meet yet. I’m Blake Rangford, Josh brother.” Blake spread his right wing and nod to Eirian, as a raven he’s bigger than Josh
“Brother?” everyone turns to Blake and then Josh whom contemplates flying away.
“But you are...”
“A raven yes. Well you see we are not blood related. Quite a story really but I see that Josh didn’t tell you all about me at all.” Blake acts sad at Josh who chooses to ignore him.
Eirian then remembers the name Blake. He’s one of the team leaders in his class he heard from Rusul, his roommate.
“Are you really not going to introduce me to your friends?” Blake glance and tilts his head at Eirian specifically for Josh to see.
Josh give a long sigh before step out “everyone this is my brother...”
“Big brother”
“...My arrogant big brother who hatch five minutes before me and soothe me into swore a blood pact with Lady Estellia as witness.”
“Soothe? As I remember you wanted this as much as I do.”
Josh rolls his eyes “we were stupid kid got excited by an epic tale of old and thought we could be like those hero in legend.”
“We still are! I intent to always have you by my side Josh no one could replace my little brother.” Blake walks in to hug but Josh lifts his talon and push at Blake chest so he can’t close in.
“Is that why you choose father side over me?”
“Are you really not going to let that go? I even follow you all the way here but all you do is ignore me.” Blake turn to everyone else “When teacher made us form a group he doesn’t even look at me. Back in Corvidia we always do everything together now he want to fly off alone and leave me behind.”
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“Don’t fall for his act” Josh speaks with no care in his voice “he’s just pretending to get a pity point from you guy. Sometimes I wonder if I have rat as a brother.”
“That no way to speak to your brother” Calamity taps Josh shoulder before push him into Blake embrace.
“What the? Calamity?” Josh and everyone surprised at Calamity action.
“Thank you so much I feel reconnected with my brother already” Blake try to hold his brother who is still struggling.
“It’s big brother duty to teach little brother manner.” said Calamity.
‘Right, Calamity did mention his brother. Is that why he takes Blake side over Josh?’ This interaction made Eirian hope to meet Calamity’s brother one day but since his family live in Eardwulf it isn’t possible.
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you Blake” when Eirian spoke Blake immediately let Josh go take shake his wing with Eirian.
“A pleasure all mine. I always wanted to meet an Amiel one day your people are as elegant as everyone said.”
“T—Thank.”
“And this is Bill, Amy, Biscuit and Calamity” Josh scowl at Calamity but didn’t say anything.
Calamity doesn't seem to notice.
“Strange, I feel like I heard your name from somewhere before.” said Amy.
“It’s properly my father surname. You done your research well Miss Amy. Barthram Rangford is his name.”
“Ah! The current Chancellor of Avion.” Amy mad at herself for not remembering sooner.
“Yes and Josh’s father is George Crawford. Current Grand Marshal, commander of all Avion Air Force”
“What?” everyone turn to Josh who predict this reaction and now trying to down play this news information which come to light.
“Yes my father is a general, no big deal.”
“A five star general” Amy put emphasis on five star.
“Well I’m not going to BE one so whatever my father job is has nothing to do with me.”
“Well you could be a chancellor instead and I’ll be Grand Marshal” Blake tease his brother but he sounded quite confident that both of them can get those position any time he wants.
‘If I’m not mistaken Avion only select people for position they qualify for not family tie. To said such thing Blake must be quite confident in his ability. But does Josh has the same qualification?’
“No no no no no. I’ll live a simple life far away from war and politic.” Josh step back and turn to his side thinking of flying away, his eyes look up to the library of Alana on the third floor.
Blake express disappointment at Josh answer but didn’t speak further. He knew he needed more time before Josh can be convinced to return to his side. Instead he turns to Eirian.
“So...Eirian, I’m always curious about the life of Amiel in Elswyth. Could you tell me about your people? We have some book about Amiel but what could be better than an Amiel himself.”
Eirian look up at an empty sky and think that it’s would be good for other races to understand Amiel more. And since he’s one of a few Amiel who left the forest he should tell other about his home “I guess we still have time, hope I won’t bore you.”
“I promise I won’t” Blake smiled and used his wing to catch Josh so they both got to listen to Eirian together.
Josh pretend to struggle until Blake let him go but he stay to listen with everyone.
“You should already know about the story of Astra and Lucena, how they transform human and then move to settle deep within Medina forest. There under Elswyth tree we built a small town which also called Elswyth by most. Our people live a simple life guided by magic and The Eternal One. Each Amiel live in harmony with the forest, we hunt and take from the forest what we need and in turn we protect Elswyth and the forest from other who seek to exploit Elswyth of her power. Magic is indeed an important part of our life but it’s not like we used it all the time. Now that we trade more stuff with New Terra our home shouldn’t be too different from human. Some even have radio and washing machine.”
“That is the same from what I read but I actually want to know about your elder since I’m don’t understand how your country are govern. Do you get to be elder by voting?” asked Blake.
“Govern might be too big of a word. A number of our people is barely match the smallest city of New Terra. After Astra and Lucena pass away our 3 elder act more like a guardian who over look the big picture, you get to be elder when one or two elder see that you are qualify and reverence by most people in town then they will ask you to take the position. We don’t have age range where you can be elder or retire since elder don’t do much unless there are important matter and we trust the elder to retired themself from position when the right time come. Each Amiel is free to choose his own path. We don’t even have conscript like other nation but all Amiel are taught by their parent and everyone will come together if the forest is in danger or if the elder call. But they must have a good reason like to honor an alliance or no one would show up. Any necessity job like patrol are done in shift if we don’t have applicant.”
“Interesting” Blake seem happy with Eirian answered.
“Now that I told a story of my home could you tell us your story with Josh?”
“That right how could you two become brother” Biscuit look at the crow and raven and thought of her own family.
“I’m more than happy to.” Blake look at Josh to signal that he will tell their story soon. If he doesn’t want them to hear it he should object now.
With Josh silent Blake begin “When we were young...”