On this day, the palace was filled with voices. Fenvaros sat by his throne with Seraphina beside him. His family was seated a step lower each at their seats. Caelith was not present having gone on a mission with Vorren.
Raelith, Rai'en and Auren were sitted on their chairs. A symbol of their status as children of the king. All the nobles of the Blest Dominion had been summoned to the palace. Everyone including Auren was curious of the reason for being summoned.
Fenvaros stood up and walked to the center of the great hall. His silver hair was tied neatly and the golden crown inlaid with minimal designs and jewels, rested upon his head.
His vast aura cover the hall as he controlled Primis to aid his voice.
"The Sovereign Council had reached a consensus." He announced, his tone weighty but calm.
"Caethiria will expand its influence to the ShardBound Universe. This is a mortal universe rich in resources and has many unclaimed territories."
Many nobles murmured wondering why this announcement had to be made to the whole kingdom. Fenvaros used Primis so his voice could be heard throughout the kingdom.
" This expedition shall not be done by kings or solders."
Fenvaros paused, letting the silence and curiosity weigh.
"It shall be carried out by the finest youths of our dominions. Aeris Remule stated that conquest is not always through bloodshed. All Therions 20 years to 45 years will be able to participate in the expedition."
When Fenvaros feel silent some nobles burning with questions couldn't help but to ask,
"Sire does that mean even commoners have the same privilege?" A Viscount asked.
"Yes. Every youth between 20 and 45 years "
"Sire, isn't 20 years too young? They have barely entered an age to be called youths"
A Duke asked, his question striking a critical point.
"Duke Blake. Thank you for asking that. We were also puzzled but Aeris Remule told us a funny fact. Our species ages differently from the Mortals."
Fenvaros switched off his kingdom wide broadcast and just focused on answering the nobles within his castle.
"A mortal is any species that can't reach 50,000 years without external help. It may sound absurd but out children are considered adults to mortals."
Auren found himself agreeing with his father's statement. In all his endless lives, he never once saw a person who lived beyond 10,000 but he could be wrong considering every life he lived ended prematurely.
"Sire, why expanding now?" An earl noble asked.
"Because our world will stagnate. That is enough for questions. The best youths will be decided by the two main academies."
Fenvaros ended the Q&A session dismissing all the nobles. Their family mansion was not within the same grounds as the castle.
Seraphina had from the moment she married Fenvaros insisted on having work and family separate.
When they arrived home, Fenvaros shed the King and became a husband his target of affection was Seraphina we he ignored the kids.
Auren looked at Raelith, his eldest brother who just took of his princely cape,
"Brother.... I finished school right?"
Raelith's brow arched in amusement, "Of course you haven't finished school. You're too young. Advanced school starts when your 15 years old. It runs till your 20 years old."
Auren blinked twice in disbelief, "15? But.."
"Auren, as father said, Therions live long." Raelith interrupted smoothly, "Our bodies are strong at birth and we mature slowly. If you are measured against the mortal span, you will outlive everyone."
His eyes gazed upon Auren's smooth skin and small musculine body and laughed, " If you think you're mature now because of that little muscle, I must inform you all Therions are like this."
"You are 14 cycles old now but to a mortal you'd pass as 17 at best." Raelith's lips twitched with faint humor, "When you join the academy don't base strength off of looks but base it off their Body cultivation. After all some Therions grow faster or slower depending on bloodline."
Auren frowned. His gaze slid toward Rai'en who lounged nearby with a half smile at his father's antics, his red hair tumbling into his eyes.
"Then what about Rai'en? He's 17 cycles old but he looks like a 12 year old child."
"That is natural." Raelith simply said, "Rai'en has more dragon bloodline than Fenrir. They age slower but burn the brightest when they reach their prime. That's how Vorren was."
Auren wasn't born when Vorren was young but if compared to now? Then it is true that he is one of the brightest when it comes to both studies and war.
Hearing their conversation, Rai'en snorted, flicking a claw against the armrest.
"Don't compare yourself to me, little brother. By the time your my age, I'll have left you in the dust."
Just then, Seraphina had returned and took over the conversion like she wasn't flushed or stumbling,
"Auren we've talked with your father. You will start school the moment you turn 15 which is in 3 months."
Fenvaros cleared his throat hand still on Seraphina's waist,
"On the eve of the 7th Lunar month, you will attend the Nexus Academy. The academy is no playground."
Auren's lips thinned. The thought of being bound by rules, schedules and halls stuffed with arrogant youths again did not appeal to him. He preferred the training he did with his mother and the silent training of his Father.
Raelith saw the look on his face and laughed, a low guttural sound,
"Hah! Look at that face. He hates the thought already" His red eyes glimmed,
"Worry not. Nexus is safer than where Rai'en is at. Either way it'll be entertaining."
Rai'en crossed his arms, eyes steady, "Don't simply survive school. Take it by it's reins and make it yours. When these students see you, let them see not a student but a sovereign in waiting."
Seraphina rolled her eyes, "Ignore Rai'en's dramatics. Focus on your training, control of power first. Position comes later."
Their voices clashed like different blades striking the same anvil. Then Fenvaros who was silent this whole time cut through it with a quiet rumble of laughter,
"Have fun."
The room fell silent. Raelith's eyes twitched. Rai'en's mouth parted in disbelief. Of Caeltith and Vorren were here they would have similar reactions.
Raelith was especially peeved. This man, their father, had trained them mercilessly. He forged them through fire and blood until their bones had sung with exhaustion.
And now....
He just said, 'Have fun.' Raelith wanted to retort when Auren's puzzled query come through,
"Fun?" Auren tilted his head confused.
"As compensation," Fenvaros added casually, "I will increase your monthly stipends by twelve percent. This is for all of you."
The brother's groaned as one.
Raelith's laughter was sharp regardless of the so called compensation, " Unbelievable. You break us with blood and him, you spoil with coin"
Rai'en pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something about unfair destinies despite being the previous last born.
Auren said nothing.
His lips twitched upward in the faintest of smiles. Perhaps"fun" would be the last thing the academy offered, but the thought of his brother's frustration warmed his heart more than any coin would.
Time is truly different for a Therion and 3 months passed by so quickly it would seem like only 3 weeks.
In this time, Auren had maintained the same rhythm. Training, bruises, fire, frost, blood. Each dawn began with Seraphina's merciless drills and each night ended with Fenvaros quiet corrections.
His brothers when around joined where they could, Caelith helped him by sparing with him. Vorren helped him understand the mechanics of control hammering the discipline of restraint into his very posture. Raelith corrected his combat stance with ruthless precision and Rai'en motivated him through bouts of fighting.
The eve of the seventh lunar month arrived and with it the first day of school. Auren celebrated his day of birth a week ago, now he was of age to attend the Nexus Academy.
The academy sat not in any single Dominion but in a neutral zone forged at the heart of the eight great Dominions. It's spires rose like obsidian spears against the sky.
The walls shimmered faintly with the foundation of Primis. It was here that the children of Therions, heirs, commoners, nobles and prodigies of every Dominion gathered. They came to clash, to grow and to sharpen themselves against one another like blades in endless collision.
Auren rode with his family's escort to the gates of the academy. His eyes widened as the courtyard came into view. The air itself was thick with bloolines, scents and identity. Hundreds of youths gathered each wearing their heritage like armor.
Here Auren witnessed how Therions wore their bloodlines traits as openly as banners. Some bore wings feathered with starlight, others had horns dripping shadows.
Some students he saw shone with crystalline chitin or luminous scales. Tempest being from Seydra Dominion crackled with faint lightning. Their hair alive with storm arcs.
Nightmare beings from Myrra Dominion walked half shrouded in smoke, their eyes hungry voids or piercing stares.
Auren saw the Therions of Verion Dominion, their bodies walked with fluid grace, traits shown with flamboyant arrogance. The children of Umbra Dominion were swathed in darkness itself, eyes like hollow moons.
The Bloom Dominion bore their jewel carapaces, iridescent wings humming softly. The Seer Dominion's mystical prodigies glowed faintly, their features shifting subtly as if woven in illusions.
This was Nexus Academy.
This was a new ground that will either make him or tear him apart.