Six Years Later...
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It was quiet, the sleeping city hadn't awoken yet, it was only him and his thoughts. A soft glow bathed Thorne's face in orange light as dawn broke over the horizon, heralding a new day.

The air was cool, a light breeze tickled his face. The quiet sounds of early risers greeted his ears, their voices drifting through the morning air.

Thorne smiled, enjoying the beauty of the city around him. This was his sunrise, his city, his nation. His and Soren's since the very beginning.

Thorne's eyes slid to the sky where a glint could be seen. He knew immediately that it was Savant. The Guardian liked to fly high above the city, acting as its protector.

Thorne had known Savant for 15 years, he was his best friend and mentor. He had helped make many of the buildings surrounding him with his metal bending abilities.

He had been there from the start.

Thorne watched lights flicker on in shops and businesses like fireflies in the night. Renkaya was slowly waking up, each and every citizen getting ready for the day ahead.

There was a certain tension in the air however, one that wasn't normally there. Thorne knew it was because the first election was being held a mere two days from now.

An election that would decide who led Renkaya for the next four years. Thorne was running as one candidate, his older brother Soren would be his right hand man.

Vain whom he had known since they were born, was running against them. The third and final candidate was Galen Callahan, a man who wasn't even supposed to be here.

He had come from Eleria, a nation to their North, where they had all originally come from. He was only supposed to stay for three weeks, but weeks lengthened into months which lengthened into years, he and now he was running against him and his brother.

Something about the man didn't sit right with him. Galen stayed quiet, observed with unreadable eyes. From the few cold words they had exchanged he hadn't learned much about him.

Thorne didn't trust him and neither did Soren. Vain was more comfortable with him, had talked to him more than either of them had.

Nikki, short for Nikkita, another childhood friend of his, didn't trust him either. Galen was able to get people to follow him, and, if Thorne was to be honest, it scared him far more than he would like to admit.

He would like to see his nation safe in his and Soren's hands, but even Vain, a friend he trusted, would be better than Galen.

Thorne pushed all of his worry down, choosing to focus on the good instead of the bad. He stopped at the crosswalk, listening to the low hum of cybercars and the ships far above them.

Thorne would give anything to be able to fly like Savant. To have wings like he did, to be able to escape the chaos of leading a nation every now and then. To not be bound to the ground.

But if had that ability he wasn't sure he would come back. That he wouldn't just... disappear.

But I couldn't. He thought as he crossed the street.

There are people who need me here.

He sighed, nodding to one of the shopkeepers when he greeted him. He was glad he had people he could talk to. If he didn't he didn't know what he would do.

Thorne knew that no matter what happened he could rely on his friends, and most of all Soren. This city needed a strong leader, and he needed to fill that role, needed to be strong mentally as well as physically.

With these thoughts still in his head Thorne eventually wandered back to the Capitol Building. The elegant building had been resurrected by Savant. It was made from a shining black metal unique to Erago, his planet.

Veins of it were found in caves deep underground. Savant had been able to manipulate it, bending it into elegant curves and towering pillars.

This was his home, where every decision was made and every issue discussed. This was where he, Savant and Soren lived.

He greeted the guard at the door and entered, his heels echoing off the hardwood floor of the Entrance Hall. Renkaya's national flag was hanging at the entrance to the hallways beyond the entrance. Their quarters, the offices and the Council Room were all beyond the entrance.

The flag was an intricate crimson red sun on an orange field that faded to white at the bottom. The seal for the nation was the crimson sun.

Thorne remembered when he stood in this very room five years ago with Soren and Savant, trying to decide on what their flag and seal would be.

They debated for a good hour on what it would look like, bouncing ideas off of one another. They had chosen the sun to signify a new dawn, a new beginning. He stopped, gazing at the flag, remembering what it stood for.

Peace and freedom, a place where people could go and live without the threat of war. Every other nation was always at war with another but here it was different.

The walls that surrounded the nation kept it safe from the Raiders Outlands and enemy cities. Savant kept them safe and the citizens were content with the way things were.

Renkaya was everything Thorne wanted it to be and more. It was a peaceful nation, one where people could grow instead of fear. They still had an army, they needed to be able to protect themselves if the need arose. Thorne hoped it never would.

Compared to the other nations their army was small, only about 32,000 men in all. Thorne sighed and walked through the doors, following the hallways until he found his quarters.

"Soren!" He called, waiting for an answer.

A few moments later he heard a door open and his brother poked his head out, looking at him.

"Yes?" He asked, walking towards him.

"Do you want to visit Nikki before we engage in the daily discussions?" He asked.

"Of course." He said, his light blue eyes lighting up.

"Savant is doing his normal aerial survey so we won't see him for another half an hour or so," he said, walking with him.

"What are the discussions for today?" Asked Soren.

"An update on defenses, imports, exports and relationships with the Northern nations." Answered Thorne.

"Important, but incredibly boring."

Soren chuckled, opening the door for Soren.

"The work must be done, but first it is time to pay a friend a visit."