Chapter 1: Nightmare
Sentera, Independent City-State | September, 2587 E.L. - Era of Loss
They were late. Scowling Kei’ra reined his horse in from a canter as he crested the hill top. Below him the city of Sentera spread out in the shadow of the rich, fertile foothills of the Ci'zenth mountain range, the city was cut down the middle by the Rhidal River. Its pale grey walls glittered in the light of the setting sun.
To the southeast, spread out across the hill tops, Kei could make out the ruins of the Old Palace crowning the hill tops, shining like white gold in the sunlight. A shout made him twist around to see his guards and the rest of the party, still only halfway up the hill. He shifted in the saddle as the horse tossed his head and pranced impatiently, the pinto gelding echoing his rider's restlessness. Crane wasn't much in the looks department, but he could run like the wind.
Kei glanced back to the scene in front of him, the forests around the city were only beginning to change color. Faint hints of orange, yellow, and red dotted the emerald sea. The fields to the west were golden with the harvest. Smiling wistfully, Kei dismounted and looped Crane's reins on a nearby post.
His first sight of Sentera, as summer was fading to autumn, was always breathtaking. The view of the city nestled in the Ci'zenth foothills was arresting. Buildings formed of grey stone with vibrant blue tiled roofs. As the sun set lamps were lit. This time especially Kei wanted to savor it. It was his final year at the Academy, and when summer next came around, he would be returning to Phyria to take his place at court. He might never get the chance to see it again.
Below him Kei could see various noble parties entering the city gates. They were other students returning to school, no doubt. His mouth twisted slightly as he saw the green and white banner flying ahead of one over large group. It seemed Adrika was making a show of his return to school as usual, the annoying little prat.
As he scanned the groups, guessing who was who by the flag colors, he noticed that Seryn's colors were missing. Come to think of it, there were no Solasian ships in the harbor near the river either. "Strange." Kei murmured his brow furrowed in confusion. Just then the rustle of baggage and tack broke through his brooding and Kei turned to see that his own escort had caught up with him.
The soldiers wore the familiar black and red uniforms of the royal guard; the flag flying from the pole was the crimson phoenix of Firan's royal house. Someone cleared his throat, and Kei glanced at Marys. The man couldn't have looked more out of place in their group; he was small and slight compared to the much larger guards. His dark brown hair was worn loose, his upturned nose and thin angular face briefly reminding Kei of a rat. Marys wore fancy silk and velvet, perfect for court but completely unsuited for travel.
"What is it now, Marys?" Kei asked, sighing inwardly. The man was the reason it had taken so long to reach Sentera. In fact, they should have been there four days ago. But the man had insisted they stop at an inn or village every night rather than sleep outside, and complained from sun up to sun down. By now the entire group was sick of his nattering.
"My prince would perhaps wish to change into something more suitable before going into the city?" Marys suggested pompously, glancing askance at Kei's attire.
Kei glanced down at his dusty, travel stained clothes. Unlike Marys' useless frippery they were sturdy cloth and leather, though of the finest quality. His shirt was white, his breeches, and riding boots black leather. His hair was raven black, with that blue-black sheen that often tinged the feathers of those cunning birds; save for a single snow white lock at his temple. The only indications of rank or wealth were the gemstone earrings he wore in his left ear. A trio of diamonds, two white and one black, near the earlobe, and a ruby piercing on the top.
Scowling, Kei glared at the older man, his slanted, blue-green eyes seeming to spit fire. "Is there something wrong with these clothes Marys?" He knew full well that Marys believed he should arrive at the academy with all the pomp and ceremony that his rank deserved.
The man gulped at the prince's ire, but held his ground. "It would not be proper for the Crown Prince of Firan to arrive at such a prestigious place as Sentera's Academia, looking like little more than a farmer's son." The King had ostensibly sent Marys with the young prince to help with his schooling, but in reality he was there to give the young man a more sophisticated polish, and attempt to ride herd on his behavior. Since the staff at the Academy had clearly been less than successful.
"Now he knows." Kei thought wryly. "Why my father said 'attempt'.” Marys turned slightly green as the prince gave him a smile filled with cunning. "If that is your only complaint then you have nothing to worry about Marys." Kei told him as he gathered up Crane's reins and mounted. "I’ve spent the last five years coming to the Academy dressed exactly like this and the world has yet to end." He glanced back at the rest of the group and flashed him a mischievous grin, "Besides, since we already stopped to let you change, if we don't hurry it'll be dark by the time we reach the city and the gates will be closed." He saw Marys turn red and grinned at having so neatly outmaneuvered the overbearing toady. Kei nudged his horse and the group set out at a trot, following the road down from the mountains and towards the city.
As they rode down towards the city Kei looked around, familiarizing himself with the scenery once again. The city lit up in the deepening dusk, just as the stars began to appear overhead, faint tendrils of fog hovered over the river. The road wound past the forest, following the river to the city gates, where it forked, one path leading deeper into the city, the other to the private grounds of the academy. Most of the shops near the academy grounds catered to the students, young nobles out from under the watchful eyes of their families with money to burn.
Twilight in Sentera had always struck Kei as ethereal, as if the world were not quite real. There were all sorts of legends surrounding the place from the Era of Magic, more then two thousand years ago. They rode up the path to the school courtyard. Past the immaculate gardens that surrounded the school. Even at this late hour the courtyard outside the dormitories was a mess, as all the students hurried to get their luggage in before midnight. Torches lit the yard, flames flickering in the late summer wind.
Kei stifled a snort when he saw that one new student from Durad had brought two entire wagons filled of baggage. The young noble was in for a rude awakening when the teachers had him get rid of most of it. Kei slid down from Crane's back and stretched stiff muscles as a groom came to take the horse away. He gave Crane a good natured pat as the pinto glared malevolently at his new handler. With a tired smile Kei headed towards the dorms, back for his last year at the academy.
***
Groaning, Kei tossed his packs and saddlebags in the corner of the room, and collapsed face down on the bed, sinking into the feathery softness. Mentally he conceded that Marys may have had a point about sleeping at an inn, not that Kei would ever admit that out loud. He didn’t even bother to take his boots off. Kei turned his face to the window and looked out at the city. It was blanketed in scattered lights, a miniature reflection of the star spangled, moonless sky.
Marys and the squad of soldiers that always accompanied Kei outside of Firan were getting settled in the barracks and attendants’ quarters attached to the academy. Kei was free to get comfortable in his own rooms without Marys' continued nagging.
When someone laughed, Kei sat up and faced the open doorway. His rival leaned against the frame, arms crossed while he smirked. His waist length white-gold hair was tied back in a long braid. Eagle feathers were worked into the hair and framed the left side of his face. Despite the fact that Adrika was a boy, his features had an ever so slighty feminine cast. The Aerian Prince was a few inches shorter than Kei, with the warm golden tan of the sunlit plains of Aerie, far removed from Kei's own snowy pale Firanese coloring. His eyes were the orange-gold color of amber.
Kei snorted, matching the other prince smirk for smirk. "I thought I smelled something rotten in here Adri. What rock did you crawl out from under?”
"Oh that's you Kei I assure you, knowing you I'm sure you haven't bathed in weeks." Adri's eyes narrowed as he glared at Kei.
“Why do you say that, because I actually ride to school instead of travelling in a carriage? Here I thought Aerie was renowned for its horsemanship. At least I don't smell like a boudoir, unlike your perfumed ass.” He retorted, his lip curled slightly in contempt. The two young men glared at each other, sizing their rival up and noting any changes the summer had brought with them.
Before they could start insulting each other in earnest, one of their dorm mates walked up to them, giving a theatrical sigh, drawing their attention. "You guys have been in the same building for less than an hour and you're already at each other’s throats." Jas shook his head in mock disappointment. The dark skinned young man crossed his arms and stared at them, long bangs of dark brown hair, shot through with auburn, covered solemn brown eyes.
"Just so you two know the other guys in our dorm house aren't going to tolerate it this year." He continued in the same long suffering tone of voice.
Adri cocked his head to the side, his watchful expression brought to mind a hunting bird of prey. "Not going to tolerate what Jasper?" He used Jas' full name, knowing full well Kei's friend hated it. His voice held all the superiority of a prince speaking to a lesser noble. But his composure was ruined as Kei elbowed him sharply in the ribs.
Jas smiled and it was ever so slightly malicious. "The two of you brawling day and night. Unlike you wonderful royal princes, we lesser beings actually need to study. We can't take one look at the class work and understand more than the teachers. The verbal sparring was entertaining when we were first years but that was five years ago, it's childish now. Grow up already. If you want to insult each other constantly, do it in private or not at all." He said sarcastically as he grinned at Kei, smirked at Adri, and spun on his heel to march back down the hall.
Bewildered Kei glanced over at his rival, only to see Adri looking at him in equal confusion. "As if I'd want to spend time with your ugly mug." He declared ascerbically. "We aren't that bad, are we?" Kei asked him.
Adri shrugged in bafflement. "Apparently we are, since we've just basically been told by the entire dorm to shut up."
Rolling his eyes in exasperation, Kei glanced at his feet before turning back to his room. He muttered sourly under his breath. "This school year's gonna be no fun at all then."
"You’re telling me." Adri agreed sullenly. Sticking his nose in the air he strode down the hall towards his own room.
Both boys slammed their doors, almost in unison with the other. Kei leaned against the sturdy wood, eyes closed. He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to block out the oncoming migraine. The old wound on his right shoulder throbbed in sympathy.
Kei kicked his boots off and shrugged out of the dusty cloak. Too tired to change, he collapsed onto the bed once again. Exhaustion pulled at him, and the young prince closed his eyes, drifting into deep sleep.