It was around lunchtime and the students of Asárex Academy had scattered throughout the school grounds. Some still being inside and some outside. Some being surrounded by people and some alone. Aiven was one of those who were alone. Not that it bothered him, it was more of a relief.

He was sitting underneath one of the great old trees in the courtyard with one of the many books assigned to students in the 'Mythic and Magic' program in his hands. The tree had the black haired teen wrapped in its shadow, making it a lot harder for him to focus on the symbols written down on the paper.

In just a few days the opening tests would begin, Aiven knew he had to study for them but it was just a difficulty to turn those lines of ink into words.

"Stupid fucking test" He muttered and brought the book closer in an attempt to see better. He was in deep concentration and the last thing he wanted was to be disturbed. But of course, a hand came down on his head and tapped it gently.

Aiven looked up to see a girl standing next to him, Audra. Her teal hair, up as always in a messy bun, appeared to be darker now under the shadow and it was close to impossible to see the pale freckles on her nose, her eyes were still the soft blue they always were though. Aiven understood that she wanted to talk to him, even though he didn't, and moved his hand to brush some of his hair behind his ear. Gently sliding his finger over the device attached to his ear. The soft sounds of Asárex washed over him.

"What?" He asked. A small giggle escaped Audera and she shook her head slightly.

"Well that's a way to greet someone" she said "Anyways, have you, b-by any chance...seen Weide? Or, know where he is? I-It's completely fine if you haven't!" Audra stuttered, her cheeks turning rose red as she spoke.

Aiven rolled his eyes and spoke "No, I haven't seen him. Maybe Adriam has, they hang out a lot I've heard" Audra nodded, her hair bouncing along slightly.

"O-Okay, I think I saw him, before. Thanks for the help!" Audra waved 'goodbye' at the other teen and ran away back to the main building of the academy. Aiven sighed in relief and sunk down in the grass. He looked up at the hanging bundles of pale leaves the tree held, only allowing tiny beams of sunlight to pass through.

Not long after, the giant bell began to ring, signaling to the students that it was time to get back to work. Aiven grabbed his bag and made his way back to the same building Audra just entered. The corridors were quickly filled with first year students who hurried to get to their classes on time and last year students who could get to their class on time and in their sleep. Aiven pushed through the sea of teens with ease, knowing full well where he was going as history class wasn't far away from the main entrance.

The classroom was close to being empty when Aiven came in through the door. Not a lot of the first year students had gotten the hang of where the classrooms where. Aiven kept his gaze on the floor as he made his way to his assigned seat. As time went on the classroom began to fill up and the seats weren't empty anymore.

The bell then rang the second time, this time signaling to the students that classes would start now, and in through the door came two of the many professors, both carrying boxes in their hands. Shaula, their history teacher, instructed the other, who looked to be Alkaid, on where to put the boxes.

"There! Thanks, huntie" Shaula said and gently bopped the other's nose once the boxes were down on the table. The two smiled at each other with warmth before Alkaid walked out of the classroom to get to his class, though not without placing a small peck on the shorters forehead.

Shaula turned her baby blue eyes to the students, still having her bright smile. "Good afternoon students! Today I'm giving you your first assignment of the year" she said cheerfully and gained some loud groans from the class, to which she only giggled.

"Hey, this is a fun assignment! Each one of you is going to read about a legend or a myth. It can have originated from any planet, and it can be either folklore or religion based and you chose yourself what to read about! To start up I got these books that contain the really interesting legends and for today I just want you all to find the one you find to be the most interesting!" Shaula explained and patted the two boxes on her desk.

"Zam, Omedgia, can you help me with getting these out?" two of the students stood up without a word and walked up to the desk. They each got a stack of book and began handing them out to the class.

Aiven looked up at the tall teen as he placed the book down on his desk. Zams silver-like hair was swept to the side giving a full view of his neon pink eyes, eyes that literally stared right at you once you looked at him. It was rather uncomfortable making eye contact with him due to that reason. It was way different with Omedgia, her fluffy black hair accompanied by her dark eyes and a hazy gaze gave a more soft and relaxed feeling. Which made it a lot easier to make eye contact with her.

Aiven looked down at the book on his desk in front of him. The title of the book was written in cursive with gold ink and the whole thing was covered in black leather. Aiven picked up the book and placed it on its back. He silently counted down from three before letting go of the book. It fell open on the desk, showing one of the last chapters. It was a little quirk of him, he did this every time he had to chose something like this. Pick it up and letting go, allowing it to fall on the surface before him and whatever came up was what he had to read or do.

What was lying before him now was a chapter devoted to one of the few legends that didn't really have an origin on any specific planet, it was known all over Vanea. The legend of The Zodiacs. Powerful warriors who protected Vanea from the celestial unknowns, dangerous entities and well, anything. It is also more known as a fact and not a legend, as it has been proven that they exist. It's really just how they come to be that no one can understand, as they always change every once in awhile.

A thick silence embraced the class as they all began to read, the ever so quiet crinkle of the book's pages as they were turned along with the lonely tapping of one's foot were the only sounds that could be heard. Shaula sat at her desk and inspected the group sitting in front of her, specifically three of them. As her eyes focused on each of them, her eyes flashed a soft blue light.

After some time, she stood up and began to walk between the desk. Her hands were crossed behind her back and in one she held three black envelopes, each sealed with silver wax and the receiver's name written in silver ink. Once Shaula passed the desks of the three students she smoothly dropped an envelope in their bags, without anyone noticing as they were all focused on the text written on the rather fragile paper of the books.

The class ended within an hour or so and Aiven was off to his final class of the day, the class for the 'Mythic and Magic' program that always took place outside in a huge glade not far away from the academy. Reasons being that their professor, Etamin, prefers to keep the many creatures free outside on the school grounds than inside the academy or any of the separate buildings. It also added to a more life-like atmosphere around Asárex and it was fun having several animals and creatures wander among the students.

On the wide dirt road that led through the forest and to the glade, student were laughing and racing to the glade. The short bani trees blocked out the sky and sun over the road as they latched on to other branches for dear life. Jagged leaves hung down and gently brushed the heads of the students as they walked under them.

After some time of walking on the road, Aiven was in the glade. Trees, rocks and bushes surrounded the glade, making it appear to be a room. Just without a roof. Aiven walked over the grass and sat down on one of the many logs that functioned as seating for the students, not taking notice of the tall girl sitting on the log beside him.

She was sitting with a small butterfly-like creature with transparent, torn-up looking wings in her hand, humming softly to it as it wandered around the palm of her hand. Her pastel green eyes followed its small movements, locks of pale blonde hair hanging in front of her eyes. Parts of her hair was resting on her, almost, as pale shoulders.

The humming was what caught Aivens attention once he was seated on the log. He turned his head to see the strange act of the teenager.

"Liviné, what the fuck are you doing?" he asked, startling the girl and causing the creature fly away. Liviné frowned slightly before turning her gaze to Aiven.

"I was communicating..." she said, a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Sorry" Aiven said.

"No no, it is fine! I will just find it after class, nothing to worry about" Liviné assured, sadness gone and a smile took its place.

Whatever happened during class was pretty boring. Just a final run through of what was coming on the opening test. Etamin went on and on about the importance of knowing what treatment was safe and or unsafe for certain creatures.

But once the class was over the school day was over and the students were free for the rest of the day to do as they pleased. Aiven gathered his stuff and made his way back to the academy, more so one of the separate buildings where most of the student's dorms were. He walked through the corridors of the building 'till he was at the door that led to the common room of his, and three other dorm rooms.

The first thing he saw when he walked into the common room was his roommate Feíx and his best friend Derin. They were both sitting on the couch with a couple of blueprints on the coffee table in front of them along with several sticky notes with messy scribbles placed down all around, as well as both of their uniforms blazers hanging over the armrests of the couch.

Feíx was sitting with his legs crossed, resting his head in his hands and balancing a pencil on his nose."I don't know man, it's close to impossible to change something like that now" he said and glanced at the other.

"Perhaps, but it'll make the whole function run a lot smoother and if you do it like this, and it will only take few hours" Derin replied and began drawing some lines on one of the blueprints. Aiven walked past and tapped the pencil on the short teen, making it fall to the floor and Feíx jump slightly, quickly reaching out to get the pencil.

"For fuck's sake, Ven!" the dark castanie-brown haired teen turned around and gave the taller a playful smile. His crimson eyes shined with happiness and Aiven couldn't help but smile back at him.

"Feíx, look" Derin said and snapped her fingers in front of Feíx' face to get his attention, and unintentionally caught Aivens aswell.

"What are you doing?" he asked and glanced down at the white graphite lines drawn on the blue papers.

"Seeing if there's any room for improvement with our projects" Derin said and brushed the long, feather-like parts of her short, blonde hair, leaving the identical part on the other side hanging in front of her face. "You don't want to present something only to realize that you could've done it way better later on" she added and turned to give Aiven a small smile, her amethyst eyes looking at his muted green ones. Aiven nodded and walked to his and Feíx' dorm.

"Hey, Ven! You know you can study out here with us" Feíx offered, still smiling.

"Yeah I know but, I don't feel like it" he said, gave a quick smirk and disappeared into the dorm room.

Once the door was closed behind him, Aiven threw of his blazer and let it fall to the floor. He walked over to his beaten-up-looking white desk and dropped his backpack next to the equally beaten-up-looking chair. He opened his bag and began unpacking, placing book after book up on his desk. As he was in the midst of getting his stuff out of the bag, his eyes locked with a black paper on the bottom.

Aiven reached in and picked it up to have a closer look. It was an envelope sealed closed with silver wax and an unrecognizable stamp marking it. The wax shined under the light coming from the ceiling. Aiven turned it around to see his full name written in an equally shining silver ink.

Aiven stood up and glanced over at the door quickly before sitting down on his chair. He ripped the envelope open, small pieces of wax and paper falling to the floor. Inside was an old folded piece paper, similar to the ones seen in the centuries-old books of the expert's parts of the academy's library. Aiven had only seen those books ones during the tour first-year students got on their first week. Aiven pulled the paper out and put the envelope down on his desk.

With steady hands, he unfolded the paper and revealed the short and simple text written in old ink that still smelled like wet wood. Aiven cursed silently and focused with everything he had on the letters.

Dear Aiven.

Meet us in the headmaster's office at exactly midnight this night with this letter in hand.

Do not show this letter to anyone! It is made especially for you and only you.

Aiven stared wide-eyed down at the paper, several questions began to pop-up in his head. Who and Why being the most important ones.