Blake and Alex snuck in under the stands. The lessons were done for the day and they went on a break.

"Why are we standing here?"

Alex lit up a cig and inhaled it with a sigh.

"This is the best place to smoke without having a teacher nag. Though I suppose coach Kai must surely know of this place with his sense of smell."

Blake looked between the stand towards the field in the hope of seeing some of the players. Or to be specific. A player.

"Is he sensitive to smoke?"

"Not really. More like, a bloody good nose. Like a hound. Looking for something? Or someone?"

Blake shook his head furiously and avoided Alex's eyes. But did sneak a few glances at the player with the number 15. That was Jaxon's number after all.

"Well, though I wouldn't want to ruin your jolly good time but you need to go to the Art Guild. They did give you the scholarship so it would be proper to actually show yourself at least."

Alex started to walk towards a building behind the main one as Blake quickly followed.

"What if they don't fancy me?"

"Fancy? I'm fairly sure that has nothing to do with it. They gave you a scholarship for your artistic talent, not for your personality. From what I hear the Art Guild has plenty of unique personalities that no one fancies. But they are good at painting, photograph or creating music. Whatever you art nobs do."

"I paint, mind you. Then are you in the journalist club? Maybe the Literature Club. I cannot really imagine you as an athlete."

"Firstly, I would be an impeccable athlete if I wasn't so bloody sluggish. Secondly, I hardly write my essays so why would I join the nutters that write or read for amusement. Thirdly, I'm in my own club. I call it to slumber your day away club."

"You sleep all day?"

"Mate, I'm knackered. Naturally, I sleep."

They enter the giant building which belonged to the Art Guild. They went up the stairs and Alex stopped outside two giant wooden doors. He knocked before entering.

The room was enormous and light filled every corner of it. A young man around Blake's age stood at the center in front of a canvas and Blake had to rub his eyes as he could swear that he saw some orb of lights fly around the man. When he looked back the orbs were gone and the room seemed a bit darker than when he entered.

The man's brown eyes turned to them and he gave them a gentle smile. He was dressed in a white silken shirt and looked like a prince from a fairytale.

"Mr. Lloyd, It's a rare pleasure. Might I ask what you doing here?"

"Bloody hell, you sound old. You may be a senior but merely by one year. No need to sound like an old fart."

"Charming Lloyd. But you did not answer my question."

"Right! You might ask what I'm doing here."

"Hilarious. What do you want?"

Blake tried to speak up but the words were stuck in his throat. It didn't help when the man turned to him and Blake turned crimson under his gaze. Why must he be so timid?

"This is Blake Oakley. He-"

The man interrupted Alex and moved towards Blake.

"Ah, Welcome Mr. Oakley! We have waited for your arrival. Though we were a tad worried when you did not arrive last week. We feared you might not have found the Art Guild."

"It's an enormous house at the back of the school," Alex replied sarcastically.

"Indeed! Awfully hard to find if you do not go to the backyard which not many are in need of doing."

"Sorry for being late."

"Oh, your not late. We in the Art Department do not really have a set schedule like the Music Department. Merely come to paint at the studio when you desire. We have two exhibitions. One at Christmas and one at the start of summer. If you want to show your paintings then you need to show them to the head of the Art Department for inspection. I am the head of the Art Department," The man explained before he suddenly gave a bright smile to Blake.

"Oh, where are my manners? My name is Leon Graycrest. I would like to welcome you to the Art Guild."

"Thank you."

Blake was able to successfully stutter the reply to the head of the Art department. Leon just smiled gently and started to show him the art tools while giving instructions on how to handle them. Alex had retreated which Blake took as a sign of him not liking the place.

Leon showed the rest of the building before giving him a schedule of art classes the Art Department had to arrange. It was mandatory but it looked like fun. Leon then bought him food at the Art Guild's cafeteria.

"The food here is better than in the main building. It’s more healthy. Only members of the Art Guild can eat here but it's cheaper than the main building's cafeteria."

"Then I cannot eat here with Alex?"

"I'm afraid not. He does sneak in sometimes to order some food. I'm fairly sure that he has flirted with the chef and gets some leftovers when he comes."

"That sounds like Alex. Do you live on campus Mr. Graycrest?"

"Dear God! That sounds old. Call me Leon and to answer your question. No, though I shouldn't be surprised that you haven't heard of the Graycrest family as you are not from here. We are one of the major families in Elan Valley."

The valley over the dam. Blake has heard from Alex that they are rivals to the Price family. Not that Blake was sure how or why.

"I didn't want to assume."

"I understand and no harm was done, Blake. Can I call you Blake?"

Blake nodded eagerly. He was happy that he seemed to get along with Leon. He felt like a nice older brother. Not that Blake had met one of those. He had himself two giant blockheads to brothers and one sassy sister. Neither was especially close to Blake.

"May I ask you something?"

"You may."

"Why did the Art Guild choose me for the scholarship?"

"Did you not want it?"

"Yes. Of course, I'm grateful! I just was surprised. I did send in my paintings but I did not expect anyone to take notice of them. Most schools seemed to focus on achievements such as involvement in exhibitions and recommendations. I had neither of those. Only a lot of paintings made from cheap materials."

"And still they looked marvelous. Vale's Art Guild does not look for achievements but talent and most of all potential. The way you painted landscapes and made them alive… The lighting was out of this world and if it wasn't for the cheap materials in which it was made. One would assume that you had used some kind of computer program to achieve this. It was astounding and deserved attention."

"Though what made me recommend you was not just your technique but your vision. You painted the landscapes with an atmosphere which was just… Otherworldly. Like you had seen a world beyond our own. It was rather intriguing. I wanted to see more of your paintings which is why I recommended you to our board."

Blake felt himself wince in embarrassment. He had not known that Leon himself had recommended him. It made him happy. A hand come from behind and snatched his sandwich. Blake looked up to see Alex.

"Are you flirting with my mate?"

"Don't be silly, Lloyd! Anyway, now when your mate is here I will take my leave. Seek me up again if you need further aid."

"Bloody hell, he sounds like a fossil."

Blake watched Alex eat his sandwich. That is the third time he has snatched his food this week. Blake wondered if his fate would be to starve to death.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Jaxon tried to hold his facial expression as neutral he could but it was hard. Aeron looked like he shit himself any second and Kai merely looked bored. They were at the nurse. One of the witch lads had been hurt. A broken arm from the looks of it and the nurse, a druid, mended it as they spoke. Well, as the annoying witch in front of him yelling.

A Graycrest always seemed to be at the center of all problems. Shamus Graycrest did not belong to the main family but always seemed to come when trouble called.

"Can you at least try to keep your bloody animals in line!?"

"It's not our fault that you witches are fragile."

Kai clearly didn't look bothered by the injured witch. Jaxon knew that Kai had no love for witches and he might have encouraged the other players to target the two witches on the team.

"We are no more fragile than the humans on your team and none of them has ever been hurt!"

True enough. Those with animal spirits on the team has been instructed to hold back against humans. Not witches though.

"Maybe humans are better at dodging."

"You dimwitted mutt!"

"Quiet, Shamus!"

Leon Graycrest entered the fray. Shamus went silent but glared at Kai who growled at Leon who didn't look bothered. Real mature Kai.

"Your pack has made itself known to be inclusive and welcoming to all races. But no witches have been able to enter the athlete clubs."

"They are allowed to enter," Kai snorted. Jaxon tried to not roll his eyes. It wasn't like the witches didn't have any interest in joining. They were just chased out. A fact Leon didn't miss to mention.

"And be targeted by bullying and injuries."

"Rugby is a tough sport. There will be injuries."

"And what is your excuse for basketball? One witch ended up with their ribs broken. Another had their leg broken in football. That is only in excess of such things as head injuries and bruises along with the injuries made by their own teammates outside of the games and training. One poor boy had been violated by his teammates. That can hardly be called playing rough."

Jaxon stared at Leon. Assault? Violation? What is he talking about? Jaxon turned his eyes to Aeron to see him avoiding his gaze. There was no question in his mind that Leon spoke the truth.

"That's hardly their fault! They are teenagers with animal spirits. They will always have a hard time controlling their basic impulses."

"I thought the existence of the athlete clubs was to learn control over those impulses. That was your words if I remember correctly. If the athlete clubs are only here to enhance these impulses then why do we need them."

Jaxon stepped forward when he noticed that his brother looked like he was about to do something dumb. Well, dumber.

"Look, I agree with you that those incidents are taking it too far and it needs to be handled. But at least let us try to get things under control. I will speak to Elliott about trying to mend this situation."

Elliott was the oldest of the Price brothers and the next in line to be Patriarch. He pretty much handles everything in Claerwen Valley and was set on an alliance with the Graycrests. Kai was not as thrilled about the prospect of an alliance as Elliott and often did dumb things to complicate the matter.

"Do so, I would rather this be handled by the Price as there will be animosities if the Graycrests enter to handle the matter."

"This is our territory!" Kai roared angrily.

"And you opened the door for everyone. That comes with responsibilities. If your young are allowed to roam free then there is just a matter of time before they start to target other weaker races. What will you do when there is a human who becomes the victim?"

Jaxon's mind flashes to a boyish face, fair skin, pink lips, blond hair, and big scared eyes. Shaking like the rabbits he used to catch in the forest. A little rabbit would never be able to protect itself from a wolf and the thought terrified him.