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Tides

Tides

Waves crashed into the rocks before retreating back into to the sea. Leonardo slowly opened his sleepy eyes. He lazed for a little longer soaking in the familiar scent of salt and chorus of waves. Leo's eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness before he sighed and forced himself out of the comfort of his warm bed. He quickly washed his face with the cold bowl of water on the stand next to his bunk bed. Refreshed and awake he crossed the room and opened a window. The window were just wooden shutters but Jack had also put a think cloth over the windows complaining about how cold it is. From his room he could see the docks where there were already sailors and merchants going about their day preparing their vessels. The sun would not rise for another hour or two but there was enough light the men could work without tripping. Besides most people woke around this time and were used to it, especially the sailors since the larger vessels would need to leave with the tide if they wished to sail past the reefs safely. He heard someone shift and grumble in the bunk bed beside him.

"Sunshine's up," the pile of blankets grunted out.

Leo smirked before body slamming the blankets and shaking the bed up and down, "What are you talking about Jack the sun won't rise for another hour at least." He heard someone throw something from the top of the third bunk bed in the room. A pillow plopped on the back of his heard as he heard a voice speak out.

"Only pleabians such as you imbeciles wake up at such an ungodly hour." A brief silence before the three of them couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing. From the top of Leo's bunk bed he heard someone quietly grumble, "Every fucking morning." This made the three begin to laugh even harder.

Leo got up and walked back to his bed to wipe himself clean and get ready to start his day. As he got ready he saw Long Han slowly get up as well.

"I heard there will be quite a few transfers this year as well as a new instructor."

"So what? It's our last year, what's it matter if there's a few more transfers than usual and the new instructor is probably to handle the surplus of students," Jack's muffled out of his pile of blankets seeming to make no moves to getting up.

"Tch, as expected despite being a genius know-it-all you remain ignorant of the world. That new instructor is for us fourth years and the number of transfers is double the average and will continue to rise bookworm."

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".... How do you know the number of transfers will continue to go up and not stop little snake?"

"Do not compare my mighty dragon to your little worm, your mother can bear witness to it's length." This caused a round of chuckles before Xiao Long continued, "Besides the clans, mine included, are making plans to send many of our youths here to study as for why I couldn't find out."

"...... Snake." "Tch, worm." As Leo finished getting dressed he grabbed his chamber pot so he could empty it before heading to breakfast. "Hey bud could you empty out mine too while your at it." "Sure Rajeesh."

"Awww that's sweet could you take out my shit too," Jack said as he poked his head out from under his blankets. "Sorry Jack you're too big for me to carry and throw out," Leo remarked before opening the door with his free hand and walking out. He could hear them chuckling before closing the door.

'Morning sunshine.' Leo greeted the few people also starting their day as he made his way out. The building he lived in was basically just a giant dorm, one of many, for the people of the Guardian Temple.

Leo continued leisurely on his normal route towards the nearby cliff to empty the chamber pots. It was illegal for someone to empty it out in the city or the river that ran through it but luckily his dorm was only a short walk to the cliffs. Leo's pale blonde hair ruffled in the sea breeze, no doubt the main reason for his nickname along with him being a morning person. Leo didn't like people calling him that, but couldn't bring himself to make people stop. The reason that it was what his mother used to call him by, Leo clenched his fist, it was also the reason he wanted them to stop so he would not be reminded of her death. He let out a sigh before fixing his tan robe and turned toward the city with the now empty pots. Although still dark the white stone walls of Pearl Port peeked out. As he took his first step he noticed two people making their way up the path from the direction of the docks.

"Hooooh if it ain't sunshine hahaha," bellowed the large man. A large, thick man clearly getting on his age with dark skin, walking slightly behind a youth with black hairs and black eyes. A youth from one of the clans like Xiao Long wondered Leo.

"Hey Captian Jones looks like this last voyage was a long one," Leo greeted shaking the hand Jones offered.

"Hahaha aye that it was which is why I was hoping you could do me a favor and take this lad and show em the ropes, a transfer like your mates. Need to go see the missus before she finds out I didn't go see her first hahaha."

"Sure as long as you bring me another one of your wife's famous seafood hotpot sometime."

"Hahaha aye no problem but I'll most likely finish it all myself before I get to you. You'll just have to come by for dinner if you want it hahaha," Jones said as he turned away back towards the port with a casual wave.

That left Leo and the youth who looked at one another. Leo extended out his hand, "I'm Leonardo Moretti, but you can just call me Leo."

"Akira Ito. Aki is fine."