“But why do we have to go?!” Hati complained indignantly. As curious as he was, even he knew that this was too much to just up and voluntell someone. “Garmr, come on! You know this isn’t fair!”

“Life isn’t fair, pup, and this decree is final. I can’t do anything about it.” Garmr answered.

“I’m not a pup! I’m 20!” Hati snapped, stomping his foot. 

Garmr merely raised a brow , clearly not amused. “You aren’t? Then stop acting like one.”

Hati reluctantly shut his mouth with a low growl, crossing his arms. 

“You will all be going and the participants will not be changed.” High Spirit Eunha explained. The High Spirit was who Atlas worked and studied under, as well as his parent. Unlike Atlas, who wore clothes to blend in whenever he wasn’t in demon villages, the High Spirit did not, favoring his long robes the billowed and rolled in a non-existent wind. A bit over the top, but since the High Spirit was over 3,000 years old, everyone believed the high spirit had earned the right to be a little more eccentric than average.

“Why not?!” Atlas griped.

Head Council Charles looked like he was more exhausted than he had been in a long time. Teophania’s coven member actually didn’t look like he would be of higher rank than her. Head Council Charles was, and had been for centuries, in the body of an 8 year old, a vampire from long before the coven made the you can no longer turn children rule. Despite his form though, Head Council Charles had eyes that were tired and old, and, currently, glaring as he had to muddle through this fiasco Arca had sprung on them. “We were not involved in the selection process, and upon talking with the King’s Liaison, we are unable to change the participants in order to avoid us tampering with their results.”

“I see…” Teophania murmured in thought.

Hati, meanwhile, was still growling. “Argh!” he snapped finally, still upset about something this big being thrown onto them without warning. “This is so stupid! Why do they even want us to study there?! We don’t even have the same education system as them!”

“Yeah, don’t they think the people here on the islands are evil or whatever?” Carmen asked, representing Banshees and the Reaper Guild on her own. 

“They’re of the belief that our species have a predisposition for violence and harm.” Teophania explained.

“They basically think we’re gonna hurt humans on sight, or whatever. Depends on the species but that’s the gist of it.”

“That’s… way worse than I remember. They realize we have humans on the archipelago, right?”

“I doubt it.” Atlas muttered. “They even think werewolves are rabid beasts too.”

Carmen raised a brow. “You’re kidding me, right? Have they met werewolves?” she asked with a snort. “Werewolves aren’t violent unless someone directly threatens their pack.”

“We know, but apparently they forgot.” Teophania responded. 

“No matter their misconceptions, you four are to study abroad and represent the citizens of our islands.”

“We understand, Elder, and we’ll do our best.”

“You had better,” Head Council Charles said in a low voice. “Or else there will be consequences for all of you.”

The four were quick to agree.

“The Arcan liaison says you’re ordered to use your concealment shifting for the majority of your stay.” High Spirit Eunha explained. “You are to blend in with Arcan customs and traditions, and to live as though you are Humans, as per their requirements. Any violations of these rules will result in the termination of the program. If we fail, it’s unlikely we’ll get a second chance at mending our foreign policy with the Arcans on the mainland. We trust you will succeed, so do not let the circumstances worry you. We only believe you have a right to know the stakes of what you will be participating in. It is time for you to say goodbye and retrieve your packed belongings. Good luck, younglings.”

…

“So, um…” Hati said in his native tongue, prying away from the 18th one last hug he’d received. “I really have to go, everyone, or I’m going to be late.” He frowned when he saw his pack tear up though, speaking before any of them could. “Please don’t cry again, guys. You’ll make me cry too…”

After another round of goodbyes, Hati finally slipped away from his village and got to the carriage to take him and his friends to the mainland. After asking Teophania how traveling via carriage worked, Hati tied his luggage onto the top of the carriage with everyone else’s and clambered into the carriage itself, closing the door behind him. Despite the two curtained windows, it still felt fairly stifling as the carriage started moving. 

“Goodbye! We care for you!”

“Good luck.”

“Represent us well!”

Hati turned to his friends to start a conversation to pass the time, freezing when he finally noticed two of his friends frozen with bewildered expressions on their faces. “Uh… are you guys okay?”

“I’ve never been coddled like that by the High Spirits in my life.” Atlas said blankly.

“I felt the same with my coven…” Teophania responded.

Carmen shrugged. “I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about, guys. After all, it sounds like the Arcans are trying to initiate change.”

Atlas snorted at that. “Yeah,” he drawled sarcastically. “And I’m the poster kid for good behavior.”

“I have to agree with Atlas on this one.” Hati chimed in. “It doesn’t feel like the Arcans are actually expecting diplomacy here and they seem to be more focused on making us assimilate instead of actually accepting the cultures and traditions of our people. I mean, besides! It seems a little too convenient, doesn’t it? It’s all too sudden and one-sided for something so important. It’s not the way any of our species would work with any different communities in the slightest.”

“Fair point, Hati.” Teophania responded. “I think we should remain wary for the time being. There’s a chance this program could have an ulterior motive.”

The group shared a soulful look. “Agreed?” Atlas questioned.

“Agreed.”