Luel waited for Elara to leave her sight. Nagulat naman siya nang tawagin siya ng isang pamilyar na boses. The lights were dimmed but because of her red eyes, she can see through the night. An ability of a vampire.

Tiningnan niya ngayon si Avarice Thorne. Her silver hair matched their uniform, and her amethyst eyes looked more curious.

"Rofocale," bati ni Avarice.

Luel smiled a bit as a response. Avarice Thorne was watching them earlier, and she was confused on why Luel did not come with their Head, Elara.

"Why didn't you come with Elara?" Tanong ni Avarice at sinimulang i-summon ang serpentine-dragon niya.

"Akala ko kasi ay nakalimutan ko ang spatial ring ko," pagpapalusot ni Luel, at pinagmasdan si Avarice. She did not know if Avarice can be a foe or a friend, but one thing is for sure, she's a powerful ally.

Avarice scoffed in disbelief, "I'm sure hinding hindi mo 'yan makakalimutan. Maybe you have some other plans, or iniiwasan mo si Elara."

Luel raised an eyebrow at her. Matalino ka rin pala, isip niya at nagsimulang hangaan pa ang babaeng nasa harap niya. She remained silent until Avarice finally spoke again.

"Kung ano man 'yan, labas na ako. If you need a ride to the Aeria, you can join me. That's the least that I can do to help you as a new friend," she offered as her serpentine-dragon lit up the dark village.

Nilahad din ni Avarice ang kamay niya, at inabot naman ito ni Luel. The sphinx became a witness of a new friendship of two powerful women of Aerilon Academy. If fate allows, they might also build a powerful friendship.

Sumunod si Luel kay Avarice, at nagpatuloy naman sa pagsasalita si Avarice, "The scales will keep you safe in the ride. Kung hindi ka man komportable nang walang hawak, pwede mo akong hawakan."

Hinawakan ni Luel ang scales ng serpentine dragon, at nagulat siya nang maramdaman na smooth ito. She thought scales were supposed to be rough, or maybe there was a magic. Indeed, naramdaman niya ngang safe siya. Hindi siya nag-slide or anything, kaya't nang umangat na sa ere ang dragon, inenjoy niya nalang ang pagsalubong ng mga ulap sa kaniya.

"I am from Helevetik. I've been trained to become a dragon slayer of my town," kwento ni Avarice, at nakinig naman si Luel out of respect, and curiosity, of course.

She has heard of dragon slayers, and there were also only a few of them. They are Aerilonians who are able to tame dragons without protectors or masters. Ginagawa nila iyon para mabawasan ang destruction na maaaring i-cause ng mga galang dragons.

"To be fully equipped and trained, I enrolled here in Aerilon Academy. Ikaw ba, Rofocale? Ano ang dahilan para dito ka sa Aerilon Academy mag-aral? Is it because you are soon to be part of the Aerilon council? You will inherit your mother's position, right?" Ang akala ni Luel ay tahimik itong si Avarice, pero mukhang sa una lang pala.

"Please call me Luel," nauna niya munang sabi bago sumagot. "I enrolled here to escape my duties, Avarice, not to fulfill them."

Hindi naman nakita ni Luel ang reaksyon ni Avarice dahil nakatalikod ito mula sa kaniya, but since she straightened her back, she seemed surprised. Hindi na muling nagsalita si Avarice, kaya't pinansin nalang ni Luel ang langit.

They were nearing to Aeria, and she saw waterfalls coming from clouds. Mayroon ding mga snowflakes, at dito sa may Aeria, mukhang ma-araw pa at hindi nag-gagabi.

The enormous sphinx automatically vanished, that's why Luel and Avarice fell down but soon caught by moving clouds. The clouds brought them safe to the grounds of Aeria.

Binati naman ni Krystal ang kaniyang kaibigan, "Luel!"

Maliit na ngumiti si Luel, at sinalubong ang kaibigan. Napansin din niyang nahahati sa apat na long glass tables ang buong Aeria or dining hall. Each glass table had a beautiful reflection of the color they are representing. There were no walls in Aeria, kaya't kitang kita ang kagandahan ng kalangitan. May mga makukulay na sphinxs na lumilipad.

Nawala na agad si Avarice sa tabi niya at nagtungo na pala roon sa table para sa mga Air Elementals. Gusto sanang tanungin ni Krystal kung totoo nga ba na may dugo ng bampira si Luel. But then, natakot siya. Luel must have a reason to keep it a secret from me, isip niya.

"After dinner, sumama ka sa'kin at ipapakilala kita sa mga teammates ko. Kapag nagustuhan ka nila, pwede kang sumali rin para teammates na rin tayo! Pero depende pa rin 'yon sa'yo," masiglang wika ni Krystal.

Aerilon Academy has teams that help, protect, and encourage each other. Sila rin ang kalimitang magkakasama sa missions or battles. It is comprised of different elementals, ngunit may ilan din na nakikipag-team up sa sarili nilang ka-element.

Tumango nalang si Luel. She has heard of teams before, and alam niyang required ito sa bawat estudyante.

A sphinx roared loudly, a sign that the dinner will officially start. Pumunta na si Luel sa kaniyang table, at umupo kung s'an malayo kay Elara. Although alam niyang hindi niya maiiwasan talaga si Elara, mas okay na rin sa kaniya ang pakiramdam na hindi siya masyadong binibigyang pansin ngayon sa dinner.

Isa namang maliit na lalaki ang naglakad mula sa dulo ng hall patungo sa pinaka-unahan. The students watched him, and others stood just to see the small man. No doubt, he is the headmaster of the academy. Luel also knew the man because of her mother.

Tumalon ang lalaki patungo sa isang elevated platform. Now, he's clearly seen by everyone. May kulay pink na buhok ang lalaki. He looked like a 10-year old child, but his azure blue eyes showed otherwise. The man's gaze was scary, but it vanished when he genuinely smiled.

"Good evening, students," bati ng lalaki at pinagmasdan ang apat na divisions. His voice was not child-like, kaya't medyo nagulat ang iba.

Nagsimula naman ang ilang fairies na mamigay ng pagkain habang nagsasalita ang kanilang Headmaster. Others drooled over the seafoods, chicken, steaks, and desserts that were served.

"I am Headmaster Blaizer Caspian, an iron elemental," pagpapakilala niya.

"It is nice to meet all of the new freshmen. I hope you will enjoy the night. Aerilon Academy is the most prestigious academy in Aerilon. Our duty is to fulfill Aerilon's vision: to protect our world from any harm or intruders.

This year would be the most different among all. We will receive missions from outside the Academy. These missions will be classified to Alpha, Beta, and Omega. One should choose according to his or her class.

Of course, there would still be regular classes. When one officially receives mission, he will be excused; however, when one fails to do the missions, he would have to make up for the missed classes, and double the efforts!

Your schedules will be delivered to your cabins. I will let you all enjoy the night for now. Make sure you'd have a team comprised of less than six members by the end of the week. Good evening. May the sphinx bless you, " pag-speech ni Headmaster.

Seryoso namang tiningnan ni Luel ang nasa tapat niya nang makarinig ng lame joke mula sa kaniya, "Wuw, nosebleed."

Awkward na tumawa ang lalaking nag-joke nang makita ang hindi natutuwang tingin ni Luel. Geez, she's too serious! Isip ng lalaki.

Nagsimula naman silang kumain, at ang mga student council naman ay nagsimula ring mag-usap. Some of their teams were more than six members meaning they need to change teams from now on.

Alcaeus and Zacharias were forbidden to be together in one team, sapagkat silang dalawa ang nagkakalaban sa first rank sa lahat ng estudyante. Parehas silang napatingin sa pinaka-malakas na freshman ngayon, Lucianna Sariel Rofocale.

Mabilis na inangkin ni Zach si Luel, he needed to protect her. "Akin na si Rofocale, Alcaeus," wika ni Zach kaya't nasurpresa si Alcaeus.

Hindi naman ganito si Zach, he would always let me choose and we would decide fairly. Malamang ay ginagawa lang ni Zach ang pabor sa kaniya ni Lady Sinclair, isip niya. Alam niya kasing si Lady Sinclair ang tumulong sa kaniya out of his cruel life.

Tumawa naman si Alcaeus, at tinapik ang balikat ni Zach. "Zach, you want her out of Lady Sinclair's favor, whilst I want her out of my own will. I believe it's better if she is with a man of determination than a man in debt of someone's gratitude."

Napatingin naman si Zach ngayon sa mata ni Alcaeus. He has never seen him this determined.

"Baka naman gusto mo lang siya sa team mo dahil malakas siya, Alcaeus," sagot ni Zach kaya't napailing nalang si Alcaeus.

"Brother, I have known her even before entering the academy. Since then, I've taken interest in her. Kung ang pabor na hininga sa'yo ni Lady Sinclair ay ang protektahan siya, then 'wag kang mag-alala. You know that I can protect my teammates well," wika ni Alcaeus at nilagpasan na si Zacharias.

Nagbuntong-hininga si Zach. Alam niyang hindi magpapatalo si Alcaeus, gayunpaman determinado pa rin siyang gampanan ang tungkulin niyang protektahan si Luel.

Would Alcaeus still want her even if she has vampire's blood? Isip niya. Ngayon, mukhang alam na ni Zach kung bakit kailangan niyang protektahan si Luel. She has secrets that could pose threats to Aerilon.

Tumingin siya isang beses pang muli kay Luel, at nagulat siya nang makitang nakatingin siya sa kaniya na tila napakinggan ang buong pag-uusap nila ni Alcaeus. Can vampires hear from afar?

Aerilon Academy
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Characters added:
Headmaster Blaizer Caspian by yours truly.

Thank you for reading!