Book 1 – Second Chance

Chapter 5 – Ura-Aja

While Bailey was still enjoying the feeling of control, on the horizon, a giant city’s walls started to spring up, and as they approached, they started to see a marvelous scene.

People flying on swords, people with illusory wings, and people riding magical wonderous beasts of all kinds, and shapes were all heading towards the city. Brilliant magical colorful lights sprang about from each person, and the whole scene had a very beautiful, and mystical air about it. Like something straight out of a fairy tale.

All of these people would land before reaching the city, and form an orderly line waiting to enter.

Seeing this Bailey couldn’t help but have her mouth agape from the shock of it all. Her reaction didn’t escape the guards.

“Hahaha, first time seeing people flying? You must’ve come from a very barren planet on one of the convoys passing by”

The guards still had maintained a certain connection to Albi, and Bailey in order to interpret their words, as they were talking on the journey.

“Why aren’t we flying like them?”

“Soldiers, and guards never fly unless it’s an emergency. If you see a guard, or a soldier flying out of the city, it means that there’s a very urgent serious matter to take care of, and if you see them flying in, usually that’s an ill omen, as it means very bad news are about to be delivered. If people see that, they might get a bit jittery, thus unless there’s an emergency, we always ride out when we’re in full gear”

As they approached the city gates, the various people started to give way in order to allow them to pass. While they were walking, many people started to eye Albi, and Bailey as they were sat on the carriage. It was a weird situation they were in. They were on a carriage meant to carry prisoners, but they weren’t bound by anything, and they had no magical fluctuations about them.

Getting nervous from all the looks, Bailey asked if she could trade places with Albi again.

‘Are you sure? You don’t have to care about them, you do what you want. Let them look.’ said Albi.

‘Yea, it’s fine, I wouldn’t feel comfortable if I stayed in control any way.’

As Bailey shut her eyes, their body suddenly fell down, and she woke up in the pond.

‘So, I guess if no one’s in control we could both be awake in here?’ asked Albi

‘I guess so. Well, we can always hang out in here better if we’re bored out there’

‘We should do that sometimes, yea. Maybe if that academy’s classes are boring, we can always plop in here, and chill.’

Albi then sat down, and closed his eyes, as he started to take over again. Once his eyes opened, he started to give everyone that was staring at him a nasty look.

These assholes ruined Bailey first ride… She’s a tough girl, but I guess first time taking the wheel had her a bit nervous, and these assholes had to show up, and start staring at her.

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The guards noticed the nasty looks being exchanged between Albi, and some of the people in the crowd, and decided to intervene.

“Hey, Albi, behave yourself, we don’t want any trouble.”

“And you! Eyes forward! Don’t look at a guard’s convoy like you’re asking for trouble! Are you trying to provoke the guards of Ura-Aja?” said the guard reprimanding the onlookers.

After the guard’s outburst, the onlookers started to avert their eyes one by one. Here on this planet, cities like Ura-Aja were the only safe havens on this alien planet, if they were to get in trouble with the city guards over something this silly, and be barred entry, they’d have to live their lives either in the shadows with shady organizations, and bandits, or alone in the wilderness. Neither of which was an appealing scenario.

The guards quickly made their way to the city gates, and walked in through a special entrance.

“Albi, come with me, we need to sort out your identifications, and see what solution we take about your situation” said the guard captain.

Albi made his way to the guard captain’s office, and sat down as a clerk walked in, and started to ask him some questions about himself. Name, age, race, planet of origin, purpose of visit, identification papers, and the such.

‘Huh, this is just like going through customs’

‘Albi, when it comes to the name, only give them yours. No need to overly complicate things’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yea, we’re weak, and estranged in a planet full of magicians, and stuff. No need to invite trouble by giving out weird answers. That will only draw unwanted attention to us’

Albi gave out the answers that were fine to give, such as his name, and planet of origin, as for the purpose of their visit he decided to say he was here for the Tri-Path Academy. As for the parts he didn’t know, or would expose their identity, he decided to say that he had no recollection, or that his memories were a bit muddled. Some of Albi’s memories were indeed muddled from his past life. Either due to suppressing those memories, the shock of death, or the pain he experienced in that ball of light. Thus, seeing that Albi was saying the truth, the clerk decided to write everything down without digging in deeper.

After a series of boring routine questions, Albi was given a piece of paper identification, and given a lodging by the city until the academy’s ceremony commences in two days’ time.

Albi walked out of the office with the guard captain.

“Since you’re still a mortal, we can’t receive a soul imprint from you to identify you properly, thus hold on to that piece of paper until the entrance ceremony is finished. After that, the academy will handle everything regarding you, and they will contact us in order set up your identification with the city.”

As the guard was saying this, he handed Albi a pouch, and a set of keys. As Albi opened the pouch, he found a few coins in it.

“Isn’t it a bit excessive for the city to do all of this for me?” asked Albi, confused by all of this. Needless to say, he wasn’t used to such treatment.

Seeing him the captain smiled, and answered him.

“You’re right, the city usually wouldn’t do something like this, but I stepped in, and pulled some strings”

“Why are you giving me all this? Aren’t I an alien? A stranger to all of you?” asked Albi, even more confused than before.

“Precisely so…You see, my daughter is of a similar age to you, and she’s coming to Ura later today in order to officially join the Tri-Path Academy. Seeing you at the start reminded me of her, and since you are as you said, an alien, that means you, just like her, have no personal connections in Ura, and you hold no prejudice to anyone. I hope you can get along with her.”

Albi nodded, understanding where the captain was coming from, but still confused as to what he meant by holding no prejudice, and that she like him has no personal connections…Isn’t her father a guard captain in a city?

“I can see your confusion. Don’t worry, unfortunately, in time you will learn what I mean. Besides, I can see something peculiar in your soul, if you turn out to have a great future, wouldn’t I benefit from that myself?” said the guard, laughing uproariously.

‘Oh, so he basically wants to build connections while we’re weak, so he can use us when we’re stronger’

‘Hmm, I don’t think that’s the case. I think he genuinely feels for us, and wants to help us. He probably added that last bit in order to ease our minds’

‘…’

‘You’re too gullible, Bailey’.