Perched on a massive, rugged hill, a looming city dominated the world around it. The city crouched, like a beast in the night, ready to pounce on it's next prey. The predawn night wrapped it like a cloak, shrouding its body in a foreboding mist that chilled the bones. The land around the city recoiled from it, as if trying to escape the horrifying monster that lurked next to it. From within the city, the muffled sounds of the night life echoed as people went about their business, seeking night's shelter from the keen eye of the guard. The city was laid out in a circular pattern with three separate levels that rose in height as they approached the center. In the center stood a colossal tower, stretching towards the sky like a lonely sentinel watching over the sleepy streets.
As the sun's harsh light pierced the dark horizon, it shattered night's hold over the world. A glittering mist covered the land like a thick blanket of snow, sparkling like a thousand diamonds as the golden rays pushed through, seeking safe passage to the moist ground below. Birds of all colors and sizes chirped and began singing as they woke to make their rounds, searching for juicy worms in the soft morning dirt. The mouth-watering smells of fresh bread and hot metal wafted through the city streets, as the roaring furnaces came to life, replacing the foul odors of stale beer and sour vomit lingering in the air. People of all ages filled the streets, moving to and fro. Some were bleary-eyed and groggy, appearing barely alive from their poor nights sleep. Others seemed to have a fire alight under them, eager to start their day with bounding energy.
The City of Aneham had come to life once more.
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A sliver of sunlight pierced through a crack in the wall, casting a golden beam over Leo's sleeping face. As time passed, the light crept closer to his eyes, until they glowed like embers in the dark. He groaned and blinked, squinting at the blinding light. He rolled over and sat up, stretching his arms and yawning. Thursday..he thought, feeling a surge of energy in his veins, it'll be the griffins today. He shuffled over to his closet and grabbed a shirt and trousers. Pulling them on, he grimaced at the roughness he felt as the clothes slid across his skin. Leo peeked through the broken slat on his wall, eager to catch a glimpse of the morning.
"Oh no!" he spluttered, scrambling to get his shoes on and out the door, "I've done it again". Twice this week he had overslept due to staying up late reading. He knew Master Sere would be furious. He could still hear her shrill voice scolding him the last time this happened, “Leo Casssemir, you are the most irresponsible hand I’ve ever had! If you dare to be late again, I will slash your pay by a fourth, do you hear me? And don’t even get me started on your task list. If I see one more item unchecked on your lists…”. Master Sere was a bitter and cranky woman who never missed a chance to berate Leo for anything and everything.
Leo could never seem to find the time in the day like the other workers, always getting pulled this way or that. He'd always manage to leave an item or two unchecked, or not done well enough to the Master's liking, on his task list. It won't matter much in a few weeks, once I've gone through the Bonding and can get out of the Grounds, I'll never have to deal with the likes of Master Sere again, Leo thought to himself as he ran out the door, forgetting to grab anything for breakfast on his way. Once he was bonded, most likely to a pup like his mother and father, he'd start his training towards being a tracker like his parents. He'd never need to think of those task lists again, much less his cranky master.
In the Suni nation, children worked at their local Grounds, tending to mythical creatures of all shapes and sizes. The creatures varied, depending on the region of the nation and city you were in, but the rules were all the same. Kids ages ten to fifteen labored as hands until their Bonding ceremony had been completed. Once bonded, they would embark on their training for whatever career their bonded partner unlocked for them. For Leo’s parents, who had low rank and standing in society, they only had the chance to bond with the weakest of creatures. In their case, they both bonded with a laelaps, a dog that could sniff out anything, anywhere in the world.
The air was crisp and cool, as usual for a morning in the Suni nation. Leo savored the brisk breeze, knowing that by noon it would be scorching hot, and he would be soaked in sweat and buried in work. Any time spent not sweating was precious to Leo. He darted down the narrow street, elbowing his way through the crowd in his haste to reach the bus stop in time. He couldn’t afford to be late. Not today. He glanced at the sun and shadows, estimating he had, at most, five minutes left. If only I had a timekeeper, Leo thought wistfully, wishing for a better lot in life. Others with higher standing in society could afford more for enchanted trinkets, like a watch. Not my family, Leo thought bitterly. They were stuck with the lowest of the low.
Rounding the corner, chest heaving from his run, Leo could spare only seconds before pushing forward. The bus, which looked more like a floating metal whale with it's top cut off, had just pulled up to the stop and was boarding passengers. He had maybe a minute before everyone was on and the machine would take off, driverless, on it's enchanted route. Digging deep, he surged forward and barreled into the bus at top speed, making it just in time for the loading ramp to withdraw. Everyone was turned and looking at Leo as he drew himself to his feet, trying his best to brush off the dirt on his already well-worn clothes, and seeing but ignoring the new rip that had formed in his shirt sleeve.
A loud laugh cut through the silence and drew everyone’s eyes from Leo as a bigger boy his age walked up to him and slapped him on the back. “Little Leo, always running behind schedule, huh? You sure know how to put on a show for us in the morning, buddy,” the boy said, flashing a wide grin and nudging Leo playfully on the shoulder. Leo smiled back and shoved the boy lightly. “Hey Darren! Yeah, I overslept again,” Leo said, chuckling and rubbing the back of his neck. Darren led him to an empty bench and the two sat down, not needing to talk but enjoying the cool breeze that caressed their faces. They knew that as soon as they arrived at the Grounds, they would have to work hard, taking care of all the mythical creatures that lived there.
The bus continued its journey, following a curving path that circled around the city, bringing them closer and closer to the Grounds. The towering spire stood in the middle of the city, looming over everything like a stern guardian. It was impossible to go anywhere in Aneham without seeing the colossal structure, which served as a landmark for navigating the city. The Grounds housed a variety of mythical creatures that the city’s patrols encountered during their expeditions. From the crafty Artisan Gnomes to the Majestic Dragons, all kinds of fantastical beings could be found at the Grounds.
Half an hour later, Leo stepped off the bus with Darren and a few other kids, feeling a surge of relief that he had made it on time. They were only a block away from the towering spire that dominated the city skyline. He took a deep breath and followed the rest of the kids towards the entrance of the building. There, they would receive their task list and find out where their Master was waiting for them. Leo walked into the lobby and saw a long queue of children in front of the Task Master’s counter, where a stern-looking woman was handing out sheets of paper with their daily duties. Leo joined the line and waited patiently until it was his turn. He took the paper from the woman and scanned it quickly.
* Collect and clean Griffin feathers
* Feed Griffins
* Muck out waste and sweep the nest
* Clean saddles
* Polish saddles
Leo felt his heart sink as he read the list. It was full of tedious and unpleasant chores that would take him hours to complete. He especially hated one task that made him shudder. Collect and dispose of unhatched eggs. It was a heartbreaking job, throwing away an egg that could have been a magnificent creature. Leo always felt sad when he had to do it, wondering what kind of life the creature inside could have had. He sighed and tucked the list into his waistband, then headed to the lifts, which were platforms that had been enchanted to carry people up and down the towering building. Arriving on the eighth level, he stepped off and made his way towards the Griffin nests.
After a short walk, Leo arrived at the griffin enclosure, where he saw a petite woman in a spotless white uniform, the standard attire for the Masters at the Grounds. Her black hair was curly and frizzy, giving her a puffy look that contrasted with her sharp features. She had a permanent scowl on her face and a furrowed brow that showed her displeasure at seeing Leo on time. She was holding a worn-out wand of about eleven inches in length, made of brown wood that looked like it had seen better days. She tapped the tip of the wand against her palm impatiently, glaring at Leo as he waited for her to speak before starting his chores.
She's upset when I'm late, and upset when I'm on time. What can I do to catch a break with this lady, Leo thought as he opened his mouth to speak.
“Shut your mouth, Leo! You have no right to talk unless spoken to. And what is this rag you’re wearing," she said, motioning to the tear in Leo's sleeve. "That’s not proper clothing for our work here at the Grounds. Didn't we just have a talk two days ago about your behavior? That's a quarter of your pay gone, and if I don't see some serious work out of you today, I'll take the full half that I promised. Now go, I'm tired of looking at you," she said, squinting her eyes at Leo as she walked off to wherever it was she disappeared to throughout the day. Leo's heart dropped from his chest as he stood there, disbelief coursing through him. A solid ten minutes passed as Leo absorbed what Master Sere said to him. That money would directly affect his ability to help his parents and grandmother out. They were already having issues and this would just be the icing on the cake. And for a small rip in his shirt, no less. Half the time I go home with a new rip in my outfit, how can she do this, Leo thought in complete disbelief as he slowly made his way towards the Griffin feed station. Going numb, Leo poured his entire focus into the tasks laid out in front of him.
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The sun was high in the sky, shining brightly and mercilessly. Leo felt like he was melting under its rays. He was soaked in sweat, his clothes sticking to his skin. He had worked hard all day, completing most of his chores faster than usual. He decided to reward himself with a short break in the cafeteria. He grabbed an apple and a bottle of water, the only free items available for the workers, and ate them quickly on his way to the restrooms. He was starving from skipping breakfast and exerting himself so much. He only had one task left on his list: collect and clean the griffin feathers. He had saved it for last, because it was the most enjoyable of all. It gave him a chance to see and interact with the majestic creatures.
The Masters had strict rules about who could bond with which creatures, and griffins were way out of Leo’s league. They were reserved for the elite and powerful, not for lowly workers like him. In some ways, working at the Grounds was a blessing, as hard as it was. It was one of the few places where all children were treated equally, at least to some extent. They all had to do the same chores and follow the same rules. And they all got to see and touch creatures that they would never encounter otherwise. It was also a curse, because Leo realized how unfair and unequal the society was. He knew he would never have a chance to bond with a griffin, he would be lucky if he could get a laelaps. But he wasn’t sure if he would be happy with that. He wondered what life could be like, if he had more opportunities and choices. He sighed and washed his face in the bathroom sink.
Leo spared a moment to look at himself in the small mirror in front of the sink. Covered in dirt, he had thick blonde hair that fell over his forehead and framed his blue eyes. He liked to keep his hair long, even though his mother always nagged him to cut it. He thought it made him look cool and rebellious, but most people just ignored him or teased him for it. Leo had always taken pride on his height, but looking at the mirror all he could see right now was a tall, scraggly boy that looked like he needed a four-course meal, and a full weeks worth of sleep. Sighing, Leo made his way out of the bathroom and back to the enclosure, jogging slightly on his way. He could feel a growing excitement replace the wariness in his limbs, knowing he would get to see the griffins soon.