7 The Entrance Ceremony

Kyrie stepped from the tree-lined, cobblestone path, leading to the Headmaster's quarters and into the stream of students making their way to the arena in the center of the campus grounds.

The arena was a mix of a glistening red ironwood cross beams and seats, so dark they look black at night. There are 12 layers of dark, polished xenotime columns and archways. Various runes and legends were carved into the outside of the arena. Lighting was provided by petalite stones carved into various shapes with the rune lux carved into each stone fixture. The amphitheater could seat a max of 320,000 people which was half of Laserath's population. This arena was built well before the earliest historical records of the humans who live on the world of Mity. These records go back to the end of Charlemagne's tyrannical reign nearly 1,000 years ago.

The arena Kyrie was heading to was where the welcome back ceremony would be held. Kyrie glanced curiously at the students around him, he wondered which, if any of them, would be in his classes. And what taking classes would be like.

Kyrie adjusted the strap on his shoulder. It'd be fun going to school.

There was a group of five students, laughing and messing around in front of him. A tall guy with headphones on playfully shoved his eerily familiar and slightly shorter friend. The shorter guy lost his balance and started to fall.

Kyrie caught him and easily supported the larger boy.

"Tha – What the hell are you doing here?!" James said as he stared in shock at his much shorter cousin.

"Going to school?" Kyrie said with a sheepish smile.

"Why? You're already certified! Did you just come here to torment me?" said James with a voice full of hurt and disgust towards the person who let his – their family die.

"James cool it," DJ said as he pulled James further from his cousin. He was worried about his friend. His friend, who was suddenly attracting a lot of attention and not in his usual manner.

Kyrie fidgeted with the end of the teal ribbon wrapped around his left wrist. "Sorry," he hadn't thought he would be causing trouble for James when he enrolled.

James clenched his jaw, then grimaced when he noticed Kyrie's fidgeting. It was a heart-wrenchingly familiar scene from their childhood. James, still pissed at losing so much of his family, but he felt guilty for how he treated his once best friend. James sighed and said, "Ugh, fine. I just… need some space from you okay?"

Kyrie nodded and said, "Okay… I'll be going then." He nodded a second time before he walked around the group and left without looking back. His right hand holding the strap of his weapon's case and his left clenched in his hoodie's pocket.

♢ ♢ ♢

"So that's Kyrie," Andray said as he watched Kyrie walk away. Andray had thought Kyrie's dad was nice and that Kyrie wasn't as bad as rumors made him out to be. Maybe they could be friends? Ah, but first James and Kyrie would have to get along…

"Yeah, that's him," James said as he carefully watched Kyrie leave. If he still knew his cousin, then Kyrie would be trying to hide how hurt he was feeling. James sighed, he preferred how Kyrie acted before they were seven. Kyrie was so much more open about his feelings then.

"I thought you hated his guts?" Syra said. She was Andray's older twin sister. Syra had never seen James happy when Kyrie was mentioned. But lately, James was always angry when Kyrie's name was brought up. Syra agreed with James, Kyrie should have – could have done something – anything to save all those people in Avalon.

"I don't hate him it's just…"

"Wait! Why should he hate you and your family?" Centra asked with a perplexed look. Shouldn't Kyrie be the hated one? He let his family and clan die.

"Damn! Why did I have to forget my watch today!" James shouted as he carefully kept his thoughts from things that only Kyrie had the right to share, if and when he wanted. The scenery James, just focus on the scenery. Was that tree there before the break?

"Ah sorry. I didn't realize that was a thought," Centra apologized as she berated herself for not paying enough attention. She would often learn things that others hadn't meant for her to know. As long as she could tell what was a thought and what was speech, she was able to keep other people's innocuous secrets as they were meant to be, secret.

"If you want, I can turn my psych guard off and you can practice telling thoughts from speech with me," DJ said with a smile, as he reached for his holo-watch.

Centra grabbed his arm while smiled and shook her head. "I think I already know what's on your mind Deej."

Syra and Andray laughed and dragged the couple towards the arena. And James trailed after them trying to think about everything but his cousin, and former best friend.

♢ ♢ ♢

"Welcome to the start of a new year here at Kondaira Academy! Some changes have been made to the curriculum. All fields of study will have increased work experiences and now have cross grade classes. Please be patient with your underclassmen and set a good example.

"These changes have been made because the frequency of attacks on a similar scale to the one against the now lost city of Avalon have been increasing. As such we, the teachers and students, must strive to do our best so that you the next generation are prepared to stand strong in the perilous times ahead.

"But please do not forget you are still young and should enjoy yourselves as such. As always, the first festival of the year will take place on June 21, next Sunday, and I expect the campus buildings to be empty," Headmaster Raven Clof announced with a smile.

Vice Headmistress Alicia continued with instructions for the students, "Please gather at the designated stations so we can update your IDs and inspect your weapons. LegendSlayers and pre-major students are to remain here. The Magicians are to meet in the magic labs. The Smiths will be meeting…"