"It may be boring, but at least it might get us somewhere," Breeze mimicked his rider as he trudged back towards the Red Dragon. "I still can't believe you dragged me along only to sit walk and watch or sit and watch the academy and then in the end find out that it got us NOWHERE! What an utter waste of time!" he snorted. 

"Hey, how was I supposed to know that we wouldn't see much from the city roads?" Dominique protested as he slouched on his dragons back. 

"See much?" Breeze snorted in disbelief. "Other than the entrance we didn't see a thing! There's not even a road going close to that place!" 

"I'm sorry," Dominique sighed. 

"You should be," Breeze replied grumpily thinking of a million other ways they could have spent the day. 

"We'll try a different method tomorrow," Dominique murmured as Breeze turned into the busy streets that were now lit up by the night lights, the sun having set only moments before. 

"A different method?" Breeze groaned. 

"Don't worry," Dominique told him, "I'll go back to the good old fashioned way." 

"Asking around?" Breeze asked catching on, "And how will you do that without raising suspicion?" 

"Anibal owes me a favor," was Dominique's reply. 

"Anibal is a fool who knows nothing," Breeze snorted. 

"He can direct me to someone who does, someone who will talk with a little persuasion." 

"And if that doesn't work? Will you finally give up this crazy plan and go back home?" Breeze asked, wondering why his rider had agreed to help Akira in the first place, although deep down inside he knew why. 

Dominique didn't respond to his dragon. He didn't want to think about what would happen if he didn't find a way in to the academy, of what he would have to tell Akira, of how he would have to make her give her plan up and persuade her to go back home with him. As they headed back to the Red Dragon Dominique couldn't help but wonder if her day had gone any better than his.

Akira sat by a table with Anita to her right, Savannah to her left, and a bunch of guys she didn't know across from her, with whom Savannah was flirting shamelessly. The guy across Akira, a brown haired brown eyed dude, had tried to strike up conversation with her a few times, yet the loud music and the flashing lights made Akira unable to hear him half of the time. 

Throughout the entire day Akira had found herself being dragged throughout the city, from one shopping area to another. It had been as though as soon as they started doing one thing Savannah would change her mind and rush off to the next. In the end they had gone shopping half of the day and then hung out a small booth selling food and drinks for the rest. When Akira had refused to buy anything Savannah had pressed her, telling that she should pick something out and she would pay. When Akira politely turned down the offer Savannah became only more determined and in the end Akira had given in, letting her buy her a simple white dress and slippers to go along with it, both of which she was currently wearing. 

At the end of the day, when the sun began to slip down behind the horizon, the girls had headed back to the Red Dragon. When Akira had found that Dominique was not back yet Savannah had persuaded her to sit with them until he came. Yet now as she sat staring at the people dancing and listening to the loud music, Akira felt tired and uncomfortable once again, not appreciating the noise any more than the night before. 

"I'm going to go dancing, want to come!" Akira jumped as Savannah leaned over and yelled into her ear. 

She shook her head in reply to Savannah's question and Savannah only shrugged before she got up and grabbed the hand of the guy she had been talking to, joining the mass that were dancing some distance away. Akira watched her go, no real interest in her face. She glanced at the guy across from her only to see that he had disappeared. It was now only her and Anita at the table. Anita, who had not said anything after reprimanding Savannah on their trip, sat looking bored as always. 

"Is Savannah always like this, so hyper and full of energy I mean?" Akira knew that she might not get a reply, but she wanted to talk to Anita anyway. She was curious about this girl that kept so silent. Anita shrugged, not bothering to open her mouth to reply. Sighing Savannah turned her head back to watch the dancing youth, hoping that Dominique would come back soon. 

"You don't like the way the dragons are treated, do you?" had Akira not heard her speak before during the day she would have never guessed that this strong, clear voice belonged to the girl who barley ever opened her mouth. She turned to find Anita's eyes on her. 

"I see it, the way you watch them, the way you wince when they beat their dragons," Anita continued. 

"No," Akira replied softly, "I don't like the way they treat the dragons." 

"Figures," Anita nodded, "That's why you're in the Resistance with Dominique." 

Akira's jaw dropped. Was Anita part of the Resistance to? Yet if it were so Dominique would surely have told her, but he didn't, which could only mean that Anita wasn't in the Resistance. But then how did she know about them? 

"How...?" Akira began, stuttering. 

"Just because I'm quiet doesn't mean I'm stupid," Anita replied, her eyes wondering to where Savannah was dancing. 

"Does.....did Dominique tell you?" Akira asked suspiciously. 

Anita shook her head. 

"How long have you known?" Akira probed. She needed to know, know if she needed to warn Dominique. 

Anita turned her gray eyes on her. "Almost three years," her reply made Akira sigh with relief. If she had known for three years then she must not have said anything to anyone as Dominique was still walking around and if Anita had known that long and didn't say anything then she probably wouldn't. 

"You're not worried anymore," Anita informed her, looking somewhat curious. 

"No," Akira smiled, "I just feel like I can trust you." 

And that was when Anita smiled a small smile, yet it was enough to reveal the dimples on both her cheeks and to change her entire face, making her look more than stunning for just a brief moment. Akira stared at her, wondering why this girl didn't smile more and why she didn't have guys clinging to her? 

"You're very quiet," Akira told her. 

Anita shrugged. "If you talk too much you miss important things. Besides, silence helps in many ways. It keeps you unnoticed, people say things they wouldn't normally if someone who talked a lot was around. It also gives you the time to observe and listen, making it easier to read people." 

Akira's eyes widened in surprise at the knowledge the girl beside her displayed. 

"Besides," Anita added, "If I talked nonstop like her," she nodded over to where Savannah was dancing, "Then who would there be to listen to her?" 

Akira smiled as she realized why Savannah saw Anita as such a good friend. She liked this girl and Akira was sure that if Gina had the chance to meet her she would love her to. She just had a personality that Akira liked, and what she said made sense. 

"Hey!" Akira turned to find Savannah back beside her. 

"Hi," Akira smiled warmly. Just then the music stopped and as though given some signal the young adults dancing all cleared the floor together, sitting down at different tables and chatting with the others that already sat there or just joined them. Without the music it was a bit quieter, yet all the voices were still so loud that one still had to shout to be heard. 

Akira stared at the stage to see that the last singer had left it empty, only those playing the instruments where there as though waiting for something, or someone. That was when Akira noticed the group of laughing teens pushing a protesting guy towards the stage. And yet although he was protesting there was a grin on his face. Turning Akira shot Savannah a helpless look, wondering what was going on. 

"It's open mike night!" Savannah yelled above the noise, jerking her thumb towards the stage that was behind them. 

"Open what?" Akira asked, wondering what Savannah was going on about. 

"Open mic!" Savannah yelled again. Seeing that Akira still looked blank she rolled her eyes, "You know! It's the night anyone who wants to can sing!" 

Akira turned her head to look at the stage to see the guy who had been pushed up, by what she could only guess were his friends, talking briefly to the guys who had the instruments. They nodded, showing that they understood whatever he had said, before a booming loud tune began. The guy grabbed the object the girl before him had been holding and lifted it to his mouth and began to sing. He wasn't half bad, and Akira would have enjoyed it, had the music not been so loud that it was prone to cause ear damage. 

No one else, other than the guys friends, seemed interested in the fact that he was singing, yet when the song ended a few people throughout the room applauded, though most of them stayed seated and talked to their comrades, showing no interest. Akira watched as the guy did a sweeping bow before he walked from stage and tapped a girl, who was in the middle of a conversation, on the shoulder. The girl turned around, looking somewhat annoyed, yet when the guy jerked towards the stage she shook her head firmly. Her friends laughed, seeming to be urging her to go and sing and the guy jerked his thumb to the stage once again. Reluctantly the girl got up and headed to the stage as her group of friends cheered. 

"Its tradition that whoever sang chooses the next person to sing!" Savannah yelled above the noise as she kept an eye on the girl going towards the stage. 

"Even if they don't want to sing?" Akira asked. 

"That only makes it all the more fun," Savannah grinned wickedly. 

Shaking her head Akira turned to look at Anita who just rolled her eyes before shaking her own head. As singers came and went to the stage, some booed off after they started singing, some in tears when they left, Akira wondered if the young adults found it fun to torment others and see them squirm. She turned her attention away from the stage, listening to Savannah talk about anything and everything, ranging from what type of hairstyle she preferred to what color dragon she wanted if she ever got one. 

Akira listened, wondering at the way Savannah talked about dragons as though they were just some object or dumb animal. At first she was shocked that even Savannah thought like this, but then she began to realize that this was the way Savannah had been raised, she didn't seem to notice any better. Akira was contemplating this when she felt a tap on her shoulder. 

She turned her head to see a guy with reddish, brown hair and dark brown eyes, standing there with a grin on his face. Akira gave him a questioning look. 

"Your turn," the guy nodded towards the stage. 

Akira looked past him to see that it was now empty, with the musicians sitting and waiting. Her eyes darted back to the guy that had tapped her and she wondered if her was serious. He raised an eyebrow and nodded towards the stage again but Akira shook her head, feeling somewhat like a trapped bird in a cage. She had never done well with crowds and singing in front of one such as this, it was the last thing she wanted to do. 

"Oh come on. I'm sure a pretty girl like you doesn't have such a bad voice," the guy teased. 

Akira opened her mouth to protest. 

"Come on Akira!" Savannah cut her off, her eyes sparkling, "You'll do fine, besides, its tradition, you can't turn down the offer if you're asked." 

"Leave her alone Savannah, can't you see she doesn't want to?"Anita jumped to Akira's defense. 

Before Savannah could reply the guy grabbed Akira by her hand and pulled her to her feet, pulling her firmly towards the stage. Akira turned her head, shooting a helpless look at Savannah and Anita. Savannah only grinned and held her two thumbs up while Anita looked sympathetic and mouthed 'sorry'. 

When they reached the stage the guy let go of Akira and shoved the object he had been holding into Akira's hands, "Good luck," he told her before he gave her a shove that sent her stumbling right into the middle of the stage. 

Akira felt trapped. She stared at the crowd, none of them seeming interested in her, and yet just standing here for all to see was way out of Akira's comfort zone. The flashing lights were making her feel dizzy. 

"Hey, what you going to sing?" 

Confused Akira turned to find the guys that were holding instruments looking at her questioningly. 

"We need to know the song if we're going to play along," one guy told her when she didn't reply. 

Akira licked her dry lips and her gaze darted to the object in her hands. It looked very much like the flat card that was used to open pens when stabling dragons, except that this one had what looked like very small holes on one side that had been very delicately punched in. For a moment she felt fascinated by it, almost forgetting her surroundings, when one of the guys holding an instrument cleared his throat. 

Snapping her head up Akira's eyes widened as she realized that the guys were waiting for her to choose a song. She felt at complete an utter loss as helplessness began to engulf her. She didn't want to do this 

"Just start off, we'll follow your lead," one of the guys at the instruments encouraged. 

Akira nodded, not believing that she had agreed. Her feet turned her to face the crowd although she didn't want to. It was as though she were suddenly glued to the stage. She took a deep breath, her eyes roaming over the room. Most people were still talking and not paying attention to her which suited her just fine. It was best to just sing something and get this over as soon as possible, yet Akira didn't know anything that people in this time sang, she didn't know any loud songs, not that she wanted to sing one anyway. 

Slowly Akira closed her eyes as the song came to her, the song her mother had sung to her over and over again. The song her mother had sung to her almost every night before she went to sleep. The song she had sung the very night before the village was attacked, the song that was burned into her memory forever. And then Akira began to hum, ever so softly, the words coming to memory. 

Closing her eyes Akira began to sing, not bothering to raise the object in her hands up to her mouth, even though she knew that that was what would amplify her voice. Besides, it was not like she wanted the entire room to listen and then start booing. 

"The sun is setting," Akira began to sing, her voice shaking somewhat, so were her hands. Ignoring them she closed her eyes, forgetting the scene before her as she sung, forgetting all those below her. "The light we are forgetting," she sung as she remembered her mother's voice, imagining her singing along with her. 

"When the darkness falls 

And the shadows call 

When all hope is gone 

And you feel like you're the only one 

And when there are mountains before you 

And the Lands are against you 

Just hold on and stay true 

Because one day those mountains will crumble 

And then the Lands will stumble 

And you will find 

That although you left everything behind 

One thing remains 

And that is your faith that these dark days 

Will come to an end 

And the sun will rise once again 

Tomorrow will come." 

As Akira sang she remembered all that she had been through. Everything that now seemed years ago, that seemed more and more unreal with every passing day. Images flashed before her eyes. The battle at the academy, the dragons falling, wounded beyond help. Haiden grinning as he threw a fireball at her, Fury roaring, his mouth right in front of her face - showing her his razor sharp teeth. 

At some point the instruments joined in, Akira couldn't remember when, so engrossed she was in the song and the memories that flashed by, yet suddenly she could hear them, ever so softly, playing a gentle, soothing rhythm, as though the musicians knew exactly what to play. They only enhanced her memories and she saw Seth getting stabbed before falling off his dragon and plummeting towards the ground, she felt the pain she had felt then. She saw Haiden's face as it had been over their crossed blades, the sparks lighting up their faces in that dark cave where they had fought their last battle, and then she saw Redemption's big white head, lowered, blowing into her face as his big yellow eyes meet hers. She saw him catching her after he had purposely pushed her from the academy, promising her that he would always be there to catch her. And yet here she was, without her dragon. Redemption was not here, and that was what broke her heart more than anything at the moment. 

And then the song ended. Slowly Akira opened her eyes, tears glistening in her eyes. Her eyes met a pair of green ones, Dominique. He was standing at the door and staring at her. It was only when she looked at the rest of room that she realized that all the talking had stopped, that all heads were turned towards her, faces full of emotion and wonder.

When Dominique walked towards The Red Dragon he noticed that something was missing, yet it took him all the way until he had reached the door before he realized what it was, the noise. At first he had suspected that something was up, maybe there were Watchers about, but then as when had opened the door he had been hit by the sweet voice that was currently singing a soft tune, a voice full of emotion, a voice that was somehow familiar. 

And then he had caught sight of Akira, standing on the stage where Loleta, the usual singer, always stood. And as Akira sang the entire room went silent and watched, enthralled by not only her voice and the emotion in it, but also the power behind it, the power that seemed to take every person in the room back to their youth. That brought memories back and a feeling that there was more to life. 

Dominique's eyes stayed glued on Akira, taking in the way she stood in the simple white dress, which he presumed Savannah had gotten her. It flowed softly, similar to the blue one she had tried on in the market with him last time, yet somehow this one seemed to give Akira a look of innocence. Her black hair fell down her back, down to her waist, and a simple white flower was tucked behind one ear. And then as the sweet, innocent voice, a voice that was in its simplest form, not manipulated in any way, a voice that was simply her own, sounded through the room Dominique could have sworn that at this very moment he was looking at an angel, yet he knew better. 

With her eyes closed Akira seemed unaware of the captivated crowd, in fact, she seemed in a totally different world, oblivious of this one, and in that moment Dominique wanted nothing more than to know where her mind was at the moment. As Akira opened her blue eyes and met his Dominique realized that the song was suddenly over. There was dead silence in the room and Dominique watched Akira for a moment, wondering if he saw tears glistening in her eyes. 

"What's it called?" one of the guys on an instrument asked from behind her on stage. He spoke in a whisper, as though afraid to break the feeling Akira's song had left in the room, and yet everyone heard him. 

Akira turned slightly towards the guy, looking surprised that he had asked her. "It's called 'Song of Ages'," she said softly. Dominique watched as she turned back around and her eyes scanned the crowd for a moment before she hand the microphone that had been in her hands, to a guy behind her and left the stage. 

The watching youth turned away, back to their conversations, yet their voices got no louder than above a soft murmur, no one seeming quite ready to break the mood Akira had sat. Akira did not pick anyone to sing but approached Dominique, hope in her eyes. 

"You made quite an impression," Dominique told her softly as she reached him. 

"I only sung what was in my heart," Akira replied modestly before she moved on to the matter she currently had her mind on, "Did you get anywhere?" she asked softly. 

The hope in her eyes made Dominique delay his reply. He didn't want to disappointed her, but he couldn't lie, "No," he sighed as he ran a hand through his hair, "I didn't get anywhere." 

Akira's face fell. 

"But I have an idea," Dominique quickly told her as he tried to make up for the bad news. "I'll find what I need to. Tomorrow," he promised, "I'll find a way in." 

Akira nodded. 

"So...." Dominique began, shooting a glance over at where Savannah sat, chatting with a guy while Anita sat, her eyes currently watching Dominique and Akira, her face blank as usual. "How was your day?" he asked as he looked away from Anita's eyes and turned his attention back to Akira. 

Akira smiled a small smile at his question. "It was Okay," she said it like she meant it. "I like hanging out with them," she added with a smile 

"Who, Savannah?" Dominique asked. 

"No, both," Akira replied. 

"Huh, so I'm guessing Anita honored you with the sound of her voice?" Dominique asked somewhat sarcastically, doubting that the girl could speak if her life depended on it. Maybe she was a mute, he hadn't thought of that before. 

Akira just smiled at him, as though she knew something he didn't, and it irked Dominique. He looked away, pretending to be scanning the room. He felt determination fill him as he thought of what he had planned for the next day. Anibal was bound to know someone who knew things about the academy that he shouldn't. Tomorrow he would work on finding a way in.