When he finally reaches the place, there is already a crowd of people waiting for him, worried and anxious. It's already afternoon, the sun shining from above illuminating the remote part of the city, full of metal junk and scraps. For most people that place is a forgotten junkyard, but for him and the others, it's home.

"Kayrus! You're back!" Shout some children who see him first.

Kayrus grimaces. Even though Charleone has treated him with some magic he did not understand, his body and face are still in pain, with faint bruises all around.

“Yeah, I’m back. Sorry for making you all worry.” says Kayrus, “But…” he raises a sack full of items in his left hand. Charleone allows him to go with everything he got last night, including the loot from his place of stay in the city, and even adds plenty more.

“Consider it an advance payment,” said Charleone before he let Kayrus go.

Soon the young man is surrounded by dozens of people: fellow residents of the junkyard, the poor and fellow orphans like him, his friends, and also people he works with as a thief. All of whom are people he considers like family.

“Kayrus!” shouts a girl of his age who rushes towards him. A look of relief can be seen on her face.

“Kayrus, I thought they got you…” she hugs him tightly. Her eyes are on the verge of tears, some drops have already fallen down across her white face.

Kayrus returns her embrace, placing his right hand on the girl’s black long hair, gently caressing it as she continues to hug him. The girl is a “co-worker” of his, a fellow thief. And yet at the same time, she is someone very close to him. More than a best friend, and yet less than a lover, at least they claim to be so.

“Sorry, Kara, you must’ve been worried right? Don’t worry, I’m back now.”

“Kayrus….” she finally let go of him. “Where were you? What happened to you? We thought you were arrested by the City Guards.”

“Well, I managed to slip past them. But I thought it's still too hot for me to return here, so I decided to lay low for a night in the city.'' He lies to her and the others, though it's actually all true except for the last part.

“Then why didn’t you contact us or something?”

“Sorry, didn’t have the opportunity.” This time he tells them the full truth. “But the good news is….” Kayrus raises the sack on his left hand again.

“I have the loot!”

Everyone there, sans Kara, erupts in cheer and celebration as Kayrus shows the content of the sack. Though the other thieves that night also managed to bring some loots with theirs back home, Kayrus’ sack contained the most valuable items they “stole” from last night: an antique box full of very expensive jewelry, a big handful of gems and precious stones, some talents of gold coins, and a couple of small gold bars.

Combined with the loot the other thieves took, the sack he brings home should be enough to pay their living for one or two years if they have to.

"Let's celebrate!" Shouts Kayrus.

And so the residents of that patch of the city go into party mode. For a while, they’re rich. For now, they don’t need to worry about food or money. For this fleeting moment, they can be happy.

And partying hard they are, using up the food and money reserves they have to enjoy themselves. Meats are grilled, boozes flow freely, and sugary treats are shared with the children and those who want to. That day they are enjoying themselves, after all, they don’t know whether or not they will have another chance in the future, or even knowing if they could survive to see tomorrow and after.

That spirit carries them on through the entire day, and soon the sun above turns into the moon as the night falls. The party slowly but surely subsides, as people have now returned to their houses. Kayrus is no exception. At one corner in that place is a building that resembles a house, made of old metal and woods, his home and sanctuary.

Kayrus lays down his now half-naked body on a bed. He is not alone, however, besides him is a sleeping Kara, also half-naked. The blanket they share is one of the few things that cover their body on that cold night.

The young man takes a glancing look at her. Has she always looked that beautiful before? Or is it the realization that he might not see her for a long time if ever, led to that very thought? He has no desire to find that answer.

As per the deal he has with the Archmagus, he will leave this place in exchange for his and the others freedoms. No one must know of this arrangement besides him, Charleone, and the people Charleone would mention to him. No one else must know about the deal, or else.

Kayrus doesn't know how long he will be away, or whether or not he could return, but what is certain is that he has to meet with Archamagus as the dawn breaks, ready to go wherever he has to.

In silence, he gets up from bed, careful not to wake up Kara. He has made his decision, no, rather than that he has to do the decision forced upon him.

He gets up and prepares to pack his clothes and belongings. In a large travel bag, he packs up his best clothes and essentials. Not very much fine clothes he has, but it is what it is.

Opening up a hidden safe inside an old wardrobe, Kayrus picks up a purse full of silver and gold coins, safekeeping in case he needs it. The rest, however, his remaining savings of cash, coins, and precious items he left behind with the safe staying open.

Lastly, after he puts on his clothes, he walks over to a desk in that room. From his jacket, he produces a letter he wrote and places it on that desk. It is a letter he wrote the night before, a letter that explains why he has to leave without saying even a word of goodbye, and why he is forced to do so because of a force greater than his. He doesn’t name the Archmagus, however, to keep the arrangement secret. But besides that, everything he wrote down is all true and honest. His grief, sorrow, and guilt.

That letter is written for one recipient and one recipient only, the girl that is currently sleeping on his bed, Kara. Kayrus takes one last look at her. He made her worried so much last night, and now he is going to do it again for a very long time. With a heavy sigh, he finally looks away from her, having burned her sleeping face in his memory. And so, with half-hearted steps, he slips away into the night to rendezvous with the Archmagus.

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In the east, the sky turns red as the sky is rising. Kayrus put both of his hands into the pocket of the coat he has, trying to warm himself in that cold dawn of early Spring. He is standing near the fences circling a complex of large and expansive buildings at the edge of the city, the Aerodrome, a place for the Aerofloats and Aeroships to land and take off.

“Ah, there you are. Sorry for the wait, it's harder for us to make a quiet getaway.” calls a voice approaching Kayrus. It is the Archamagus. He is now dressed in a thick coat that looks expensive, fitting for a man of his stature. A flat cap is hiding his blonde hair, while light brown sunglasses hide his hazel eyes.

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“Archmagus…” says Kayrus as he approaches.

“Please, call me Charleone.” the blonde man then points at Kayrus’ bag. “Is that your only luggage?”

“Yeah, I travel light. What about yours? You don’t seem to bring any?”

“I've sent mine ahead to our transportation. I’ll also prepare some clothes for you if the need arises. You can wear mine, I have plenty of clothes.” smiles Charleone.

As they talk, two men are walking toward them. Kayrus immediately recognizes them both as the two men that captured him the night before.

“Your Grace.” says the man with the slicked-back hair, both men saluting Charleone.

“Ah, right on time, as usual.” Charleone then turns to Kayrus. “They haven’t introduced themselves to you, haven’t they?”

“No, not yet.”

“Boys…” Charleone waves his left hand.

“Maximillian Nelsy,” the blonde man with the blue armband, is the first to speak, “Magus Princeps.”

“Chief-Gardes Stefan Tyren,” the other man continues with the introduction.

Gardes, think Kayrus, so one of them is not a Magus. He knows that Gardes is the name of armies of elite soldiers within the Magus Society, and they often work with Magus, but that’s the only extent of his knowledge.

“Do you have what I asked for?” asks Charleone to the two men.

“Yes, Archmagus.”

Stefan hands Charleone a bundle of files and dossiers, all of which looked like official documents.

“This is the only copy?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“What’s that?” asks Kayrus, to which the Archmagus grins.

“This, Shadow Rat, is the investigation files for your career of thievery in this city, along with the documents of your birth registration and residency in this city.”

Kayrus' eyes widen in shock. But before he can do anything, suddenly, the documents that are in Charleone’s hand burst into flame and in only a matter of seconds, turn into ashes that fall to the ground.

“From now on no one in the City Hall will know of the existence of a man named Kayrus, or a thief with the name Shadow Rat. From henceforth, you shall be a new man.”

The young man is staring silently at the ashes that are now scattered away because of the cold morning wind. Gone are now his identity and past, all that remains are gone with the winds, and inside the memories of his and his family.

“The deal, my friends and families, they will be safe right?” asks Kayrus to Charleone, with the young man’s head still hung down.

“...You have my words.”

Kayrus raises his head, glaring right at the Archmagus himself. “Then I have no problem with this arrangement.”

Seeing the fire in the eyes of the youth has returned, Charleone smiles.

“Right then, now that’s all sorted out, let’s get the hell out of this city.”

----------------------------------------

Kayrus has never stepped foot inside the Aerodrome. After all, why would he? He has no business in that place, and the city has no shortage of people he could steal from, so he has no need to leave that place. Still, he can only barely hide his excitement as he steps inside the complex full of machinery and furniture for hospitalities, comfort, and the conveniences of both passengers and visitors alike.

The hall, however, though grand and large, is empty. The sun, after all, has just risen in the east, and no one else besides the group had a business there besides the staff and janitors.

“Your Grace, your flight has been prepared.” says a receptionist who can’t hide her drowsiness on her face. “You can go through the third door to the right.”

“Splendid, thank you very much.”

The group walks over from the building and right into a long corridor that leads into an open field. On afar, the fields are dotted with hangars and large machines made from steel and metals. Those machines, shaped like angular boxes with four flat round circles on their sides, are Aerofloats and Aeroships. Powered by Wind Magic, those machines can carry their passengers by flying and gliding through the air, and have become one of the main methods of transport in the world. However, only those with enough wealth can secure a seat in one of those machines, and for people like Kayrus, flying is nothing but a luxury.

“There’s our Aerofloat, Your Grace,” says Maximillian.

They’re walking through the fields towards one of the nearest Aerofloats. Compared to some of the larger Aeroships, the Aerofloats they’re walking into look prettier, with an almost shining body of metallic white-grey color. The four Aeroring, the devices that facilitate the machine's flying capabilities, are silvery in color, with their center circular engine colored in bright silver and white.

“Are there going to be any other passengers?” asks Kayrus.

“What? No, no, this is our private flight. It’s only going to be four of us on that plane.” says Charleone, reminding Kayrus just how wealthy and powerful an Archmagus like Charleone is. He begins to regret ever choosing to steal from him.

A part of the Aerofloat’s body opened, revealing a stair and door for the group to enter. The Gardes Stefan is the first to enter, a security precaution.

It is when Kayrus steps into the Aerofloat does he realize just how luxurious their transportation is. Furnished with expensive furniture, spotless clean interior, expensive carpets, and even bottles of expensive liquors standing by. It is going to be Kayrus's first experience flying, and it is going to be a luxurious one.

“Archmagus, the course has been set and we’re ready to go,” says Maximillian coming out from a door on the front section of the Aerofloat. Kayrus can see someone in a white jacket, the pilot is tinkering with the buttons and levers.

“Splendid, then let's just sit down and rest, shall we?” says Charleone sitting down on one of the comfortable leather couches mounted to the wall. “Sit down kid, the Float’s about to take off.”

“So, we're going to the Magus School now?” asks Kayrus sitting down when he notices the door of the Aerofloats is being closed.

“Where else kid?”

Soon, Kayrus can feel the rumbling and humming of the four machines of the Aerorings starting. The blades inside of the rings slowly but surely begin to spin, generating lifts that pull up the heavy machine off the ground. Kayrus holds tightly the armchair of the seat he is on, the sensation is the first for him and a shocking one.

As the Aerofloat begins to rise into the sky, it changes direction towards the southwest. Kayrus looks out from one of the many windows on the walls, the field, and the Aerodrome are now looking smaller, like a toy version of them. And then, the Float moves forward, faster and faster than Kayrus ever felt before.

"You look tense, never fly before?" Asks Charleone.

Kayrus only nods his head as an answer.

"Well, you'll get used to it, sooner or later. You have to."

Kayrus throws his back to the seat he's on, feeling relieved from the admittedly scary experience he just had. He looks around and notices the Magus and Gardes that accompany the Archmagus have already relax themselves on their own seats.

"Charleone," says Kayrus leaning over to the blonde man on the next seat. "I've been wondering actually, are those two, are they part of the…"

"Oh, Stefan and Max? Don't worry, they're my personal bodyguards. Well, assigned personal bodyguards. But they know our arrangement and are very loyal to me. You can trust them, just ask them if you need something once you're at the School. They're going with us."

The Archmagus then suddenly looks over at the two.

"Now that you remind me, Max, can you get me his new files?”

The subordinate Magus then hands him a dossier and a few books without saying a word. Those piles of books are then handed over to Kayrus, who is surprised that besides the dossier, the books he receives are textbooks for Magic, Magus, and Magus Society. Introduction to Magus Society, Guide to Magic and Magus, books with titles such as those.

“What are these?”

“Those are the books you need to read before you start school.”

“But why?”

“Because you need to know the basics first, or else you’ll look like an idiot there.”

“But these books have lots of pages!”

“You’re a smart kid, right? I know you can handle it. We have about eight hours before we reach our destination, I suggest you start reading now.” The Archmagus begins to make himself more relaxed on his seat, preparing to sleep through the flight. “Oh, and the dossier is your new identity. Memorize it well.” and so he goes to sleep.

The former thief is left alone to deal with this exhaustive task. Knowing he has no other choice but to surrender himself to the inks, he lets out a very heavy sigh and starts reading through the pile of papers.