Orientation day.
Leo was chilling. He had six days. What had the young man been doing in those six days?
Crime. Yep, instead of studying, he was helping establish trade routes. He was acting as the muscle and garnering respect in Hao-Yu's name.
"What time does it start? At two? I have five hours. I should use that time to sleep and…"
Yawn. Six days of working led to them finding an apartment in Merchant's Row. He looked out the window.
"Still raining. Somehow…"
A second yawn. He found the rain comforting. He was curled up beside the window. For now, there was nothing here. No furniture save for the boxes of alcohol Geroux the Hand gifted him.
Leo didn't drink. He wasn't a habitual drinker in the first place. So he nodded off and headed to sleep. He had slept for less than ten hours total this past week. Time to catch up on some snoozes.
***
Did he oversleep? No. Nah. Of course not. He had a scheduled route past the Dark Sector. It was either going at that specific time or not going at all.
The issue was what happened after he arrived. Everybody and their mothers were on a cart. The road was clogged up and full and Leo, who had to first deliver the cart to Hao-Yu at the Baishi Mall, was agitated and impatient and freaking out just a little.
'God dammit…don't tell me these are all the rich parents of the students…'
They were. Dammit, dammit, dammit.
As much Leo wished he could dematerialize and go with the wind, he couldn't. Territories were fickle. People were fickle. If he ran at full speed, everybody would notice and someone would strike him down. Many of these carriages had VIPs with guards. Leo knew more than anyone that this world was filled with powerful, mighty men.
Most importantly…
'I left my uniform at Hao-Yu's!'
Duh. It wasn't like he could wear his uniform at the Dark Sector. No way, people would be able to link him with Arcadia Academy and from there, it would only be a matter of time.
"You."
"Huh?" From above, he saw a fire pegasus ridden by an arrogant face with golden eyes and red hair. Gloves black hands were curled and connected to the man with thick fiery strings. "Oh, it's you! Jack!"
"It's Jalaric Dawnfire, fool. Why are you carrying a carriage? Where is your uniform?"
"I…work. I work a lot and, uh, my uniform is with a friend right now. They're ironing it out and stuff."
"Hmph." Jalaric glanced at the rush of carriages and horses and people ahead of Leo. "You are one of those working class men, aren't you? I've read novels about you."
'N-novels? Okay…'
The pegasus he rode was of black muscle and possessed a fiery orange man. Truly, it was a beautiful thing, especially when coupled with the loose grey cloak that Jalaric sat on. It wasn't a saddle, it was merely for design and likely expensive judging by the quality and magical tension. Leo was envious. The pegasus looked ahead, proud and strong and levitating. Leo was but a feeble mortal.
"I shall carry you and your things," Jalaric said.
"Huh? R-really? You'd do that for me?"
"I hold pity and sympathy for fools who work themselves to the bones. Your potential is stifled by circumstances beyond your control." Jalaric gestured a hand to the carriage and his flying horse. "Come. Feuerflügel's mane will carry your carriage."
"Won't it get burned?"
"I am a son of the Dawnfires. We can control flames of all manners."
"So…you can…adjust its temperature?"
"It is child's play," Jalaric proclaimed with a smirk. "Now, will you trust in my abilities or not, carriage carrier?"
"My name is Leo—and sure! Thanks a lot, man!"
The mane of Feuerflügel the flaming pegasus whipped out and wrapped around the carriage. Leo was told to sit on the carriage. Feuerflügel did not like strangers getting on him, apparently. The inside of the carriage was full so Leo had to literally sit on top of it, arms and legs crossed.
Feuerflügel took flight. Leo loved the rush of wind.
"Wow, big guy moves fast!" Leo's hair whipped and he wore a big smile. "You can get around anywhere with him, Jalaric!"
Their voices weren't too clear over the wind and rush of speed. Leo, however, could hear him perfectly. "Hm. I see you are acquainted with flight."
"I run a lot. Wind is my thing."
Feuerflügel slowed down in order for his rider to speak more properly to their guest. "Are you a racer? Then perhaps you will do well in the annual Hermes Race."
Leo pretended to know what that was.
"By the way, won't we get stopped by someone for trespassing over their territory?"
Cue a smirk. "Do not underestimate the Dawnfires. Those who watch below know exactly who is crossing when they see these flames."
'So he really is a big deal…good for me!'
"I ask a question in turn: where are we going?" the son of Dawnfire asked.
"The Baishi Mall! Drop the carriage there and we should be fine—"
"The Baishi Mall requires clearance. I can only go so close."
Right. War time security was operational. Leo nodded. Better to be safe than sorry.
***
The carriage was dropped, Leo was in uniform, and they were blazing toward the walls of Arcadia Academy. They were running late. Almost. Probably. It was a close call. Leo was not allowed to ride Feuerflügel so he had to resort to fetching a basket and sitting on that. The magical fire mane of Feuerflügel did the rest and carried the basket and Leo along.
"H-hold on," Leo yelled over the bristling hot wind, "don't we have to go through the front gate—"
"Who cares? Once we go in there, we are not coming back out! And they do not have the gall to kick me, a Dawnfire, out!"
"S-seriously? S-so we're just ramming into the barrier of the Academy? Y-you do realize—"
"That it is a powerful Territory that only allows a select number of people? Well, guess what?" Jalaric cackled. "Feuerflügel has this rare ability to slip through ANY barrier without detection."
"A-are you kidding me? Any?"
"The barrier of Arcadia Academy will be the ultimate test! If it can enter through a pocket reality, then it can indeed go through anything!"
"The professors will notice. No way they won't."
"Which is why I donned an invisibility cloak! A one-time use magical item! Now, get ready! Up ahead! We are here!"
The grey cloak that Jalaric sat on! Leo knew it wasn't a saddle but an invisibility cloak!? The flaming pegasus charged right at the invisible barrier. Below them were a huge crowd of students and teachers. The moat was frozen into ice for additional space and discussions.
Ah. They were on time, Leo realized.
'So wait, let's just get off now—'
The pegasus sped up. Leo saw Professor Eury among the crowd below. She was smiling and happily pointing students to one of the iron gates.
That was the last thing he saw before he, Jalaric, and Feuerflügel unnecessarily forced themselves through the barrier.