The skies were a white wash blanket. Neither was there a bright sun warming the air, or a dark grey gloom. Just simply white clouds on a cloudy noon when the fog was suppose to go away. Despite the neutrality of the weather, the sigs of a light sprinkle was suppose to happen in the countryside's rolling meadows. Nearby, there was a plain road where a school bus was driving the many chattering students who were going on a fieldtrip.

"Gen, it looks really cold outside." A young redhead looked openly at the scenery that was passing by them. The boy that sat next to him was at the same age of 10, but had more a growth spurt.

"Does that mean you're going to be cold? Because I'm okay with letting you have my gloves." The dark brunette replied. But a shake came from the younger-looking boy.

"No, it's just really cloudy outside. I'd be more worry if you were colder." He leaned away from the mirror as the chatter among the fourth graders was growing. "You're suppose to be part of my family too."

"Right." Gen sat properly as the boy was starting to lean on him to simply nap with warmth. "Guren, you're suppose sleep after the fieldtrip."

"Hey! You sleep more than I!" Guren laughed lightly and just started sitting next to his friend. His violet eyes adverted to the rolling scenery outside. For the rest of the time, the drive was rather long and staying seated wasn't any help. Although, both boys were content and enjoying the naïve atmosphere. Rather than getting bored, the two were simply sitting there and their legs swung with th motion of the high seats.

After another hour, the bus was passing by a village that had been the nearest to them. Most of the kids in their class were still happily chatting while the rain was pouring down. The sounds of rain droplets pitter pattered against the thick windows of the run down vehicle.

Indeed, very run down. In the middle of driving pass the village, the engine sputtered ut loud and the moving houses stopped in motion. Even a few kids noticed the stopping bus and began asking muliple question al at once. While the teacher was trying to talk with the other adults on the bus, the redhead and his friend were still sitting.

"Gen, do you know what's going on?" Guren asked, looking out into the raining place.

"Looks like the bus needs to be fixed and there's no signal in the village. But the teacher is trying to call the parents to pick up their kids." He answered, getting off his seat. "Anyways, most of us will be having an overnight fieldtrip."

"That's really cool!" He hopped off to follow his friend out of the bus where all the students were still talking over the teacher who was giving instructions. Most of them had been the usual safety rules and to wait calmly. From what was explained, it would take a few hours for the parents to show up, so some kids will be at the community center until late night.

Few by few, parents were already rushing to get the students who were carpooling with their friends and all of them were going back to the local town where most of them were from. Only a few students wandered around by the late evening times, when the rain stopped. Most of them were rather bored because there were't any kids to talk with or play with.

Meanwhile, both Gen and Guren were waiting patiently on the benches.

"Dad's taking a long time to get here..." He slightly frowned when another parent showed up to pick up another student. Noticing this, Gen stood up to look around the area.

"It's okay. We'll have something to do." He said. "You should feel happy right now. So, you can name whatever you want to do."

"I want to go to the woods! The rain stopped right now and it's not too dark!" His eyes lit up and he bounced off the bench.

"We're not suppose to—" The taller boy began, but paused. He carefully looked around, then he finally nodded. "Okay, but just as long as we don't get caught."

In response, Guren tried to give his friend a quiet high-five and they began to sneak out of the building. The action wasn't too difficult because they didn't really get attention like the chatty kids in their class. Eventually, they went outside to where the sun was setting ad the skies were cleared after the rain.

The air was fresh in the scent of water drops and the plants were closing into buds fro the time of day. Both boys were strolling on the sidewalk and took a turn to the grassy fields. Far from the sidewalk, stood a line of dense forestry that bordered the wilderness.

Within a few minutes, they were already walking on the forest's trails to avoid getting lost. Mostly they enjoyed their time by how abundant the nature was and the size of the plant life there.

Suddenly, a faint cry was heard. It didn't take long for both of to react, but they were hesitant at first. However, curiosity got the better of them and they went off trail and carefully walked to where they heard the cry. Obviously, they didn't really know any better and soon heard the screams that mixed with howling.

"What the h-heck?" Guren abruptly said, but gen quickly covered his mouth and pulled hide behind the tree. In front of the tree they had hid behind, was a man far more older and looked as a brutal hunter by the gear he wore that bulked up his size. Across the man had been rather a small-looking dog that was defenseless.

Both of them weren't paying attention to what he as saying, but Gen motioned quiet signs at the redhead. They eventually started talking through hand signals and were looking at the small animal that didn't mean any harm. Finally, a solution was set out.

First, Gen picked up a rock and made a break for it. His arm slugged the stone at the man who immediately took notice of the rock hitting his ear and perhaps skull. The older man gave chase to Gen, who was running as fast as he could. However, he had made a sharp turn and was at the edge of a rushing river. There was much options left and the boy with red eyes was satrting to back away step by step.

Suddenly, a rustled was heard nearby. Without warning, the redhead jumped onto the man's back and start to hold and press a certain part of the man's neck, until he fell flat to the ground. Gen ran over to Gure who was looking down at the man.

"I did what you taught me to do. He's suppose to wake up, right?" Guren looked at Gen.

"That's as long as you did it correctly." He replied and began to drag Guren away. As they were about to leave, the skies were already getting dark and tiny stars were soon dotting the night sky. However, they seemed rather lost because they had previously went off the trail and were trying to find the way back.

"Um... Are we lost?" The redhead whimpered when the scenery turned against them. Rather than looking like the backwoods, all the trees were twisted at different angles with leafless branches and the rots seemed as if they were rising from the earth floors.

"Don't worry. We aren't." Gen reassured him, looking around. With each minute passing, the lighting of the early moon glowed onto the grasses and trunks of the trees. The colour was a fleeting blue that paled with the moon's gentle glow.

Night had fallen by now and they were standing in a clearing surrounded by a coppice. There, the grass was a pale colour caused by the light of the moon. But that didn't help because they were still standing somewhere far from where they started at the line of trees.

Out of nowhere, a pup skippered up the boys and was happily wagging their tail. In reaction they cautiously backed away and stayed quiet. At that moment, a gentle brush came from the trees in front of them. A larger-looking wolf had appeared and they immediately froze at the sight of the animal.

However, the wolf wasn't looking interested for a hunt. Instead, the wolf stalked over to their direction and the small pup ran to the larger wolf. Neither Guren or Gen talked or move in fear of getting attacked. Before returning to the larger wolf, the pup when up to them and tried to jumped on their legs.

Even then, none of them reacted. After a few moments, the wolf went to picked up their pup and gave a look to them, as if to say a small "thank you."

"Quite a sight to see a family reunion here." A voice popped out of nowhere and the two boys stood in silent panic. While the wolf was standing in front of them, an elderly man was walking from the direction the larger wolf came from. "The mother wolf is very thankful for your actions to save her son. I believe she'd liked to trust you boys with something special."

"Sorry, but we need to go." Guren finally spoke up. However, he left ut the part where he would say that they weren't suppose to be talking to strangers.

"Where are you going if you can't find your way, though?" The man pointed out. A look glanced between the younger boys because they knew that were lost. "My name is Mr. White. Do you believe in magic?"

At this, the fourth graders backed away slowly. However, Mr. White simply didn't give a care. After a few moments of silence, he flicked his wrist a small glow of light came from the palm of his single hand. Guren and Gen immediately were surprised and curious at such an action.

"In exchange for saving this small family, I'll lead you two out of the woods." He nodded. At first, they were hesitant, but slowly followed in a certain distance from the leading man. Along the way, he was talking about much nonsense, that actually caught the attention of the boys. Once, Mr. White had stopped to show the borderline of trees. "I believe this is where you two are suppose to take a stop at."

"Thank you," They said in small voices, as they were about to make a run to the place of people.

"Before the two of you leave, here's a book. I know it's rather large, but you can be able to hide it." Out of his coat, Mr. White pulled out a leather bound book thick in old pages and loose papers. He allowed Guren to take the book. "Another note, be careful you young sorcerers. Black magic can tend to take affect in the furtherest of your interval."

Guren and Gen nodded to start walking out of the woods. By they time they ran off the grassy area, there was no small glow of light from the forest borderline. Although, that didn't matter at the time, because a woman pulled up by the community center and they made a break for the building. Inside the woman was looking all around the place.

"Mom! We're right here!" Guren gave her a small hug towards the concerned-looking adult. Like him, she had red hair. Her attire consisted of an early winter coat and ear muffs covering her tapered bob hair cut. The woman noticed Gen standing a few feet away from them and pulled him into the small group hug. Before leaving, he had a small conversation with the teacher.

After that, they all went into the car and left. Neither one mentioned of going into the wolves, but the were asking many questions and retelling about what magic was like.

Six years later...

"Gen! Wake up!" Guren tackled the blankets of the bed where the sleeping boy was laying in. The struggle was real by how Gen tried to kept the blankets to himself, but the two teenagers were soon tumbling on the floor and laughing. Gen shoved a pillow into the redhead's face, while returning to his bed. However, Guren sat up laughing and threw the pillow back.

"Fine," Gen rolled his yes at him and threw a hoodie over himself. Meanwhile, Guren tossed him a pair of skinny jeans and went checking around the house. After washing his face, the taller teenager tossed a breath mint into his mouth and threw a small duffel bag over has shoulder as Guren was running out the door of the living room. From there, they caught the elevator in a nick of time and were waiting to get to the first floor lobby.

Hitting the first floor, they made a break for the spinning doors of the building and unlocked their bikes from the racks. Right away, they started pedaling past the slanted streets of the city and passed by the many various shops and closed bars. Most of the time, they had to pass the many streetlights and take quick shortcuts where people would yell at the teenagers.

Finally, they hit the breaks and took a turn towards a certain park and locked their bikes against the racks there. Here, there was rather a large building for the public and not many were entering the building.

The teenagers rushed through the grand double doors and were welcome to the many shelves of books and scent of the coffee shop nearby. There, they started going to the coffee shop and took one of the bar stools there.

"Five cake pops, a swiss chard croissant, and a hot chocolate with extra whipped cream." Gen said to the worker there.

"Good morning Chooki, I'd like a ham and cheese bagel with a decaf mocha." Guren asked the dirty blonde teenager who was behind the counter.

"You guys always skip breakfast. Dude, get a maid already." Chooki smirked, as he was serving prepared dishes to them.

"I sleep in and Guren can potentially set the kitchen on fire." Gen took the fork and knife to eat his breakfast.

"Same excuses as always." Chooki smiled, rolling his light green eyes at them. "That's going to be $22.09 for all of that."

At this few bills of dollars were handed to the teenager, who took the money and was starting small talk with the two boys. However, it didn't last too long when the two teenagers were already getting up to leave and take their drinks. It wasn't much of a hassle to get to wrk when they were already working at the bookstore.

A few hours passed by and they casually went to their regular shifts and saw the familiar faces of the people there. Or the lost newcomers who decided to finally step into the large place. Either way, when break got around, they met up in the storage area of the place.

"Alright we have to try this again." Gen slid a book out of his duffel bag and opened it up. He pointed to the foreign text on the page that was bookmarked. "You lit the candle andI have to blow it out."

"Right, but that's because there isn't a water sorcerer around." Guren nodded. "I remember that last time we had to dump coffee on the candle."

"Guren, focus." The teenager with auburn hair reminded the redhead, who started clutching the carnelian necklace he took out of the bag. Meanwhile, Gen did the same with an unknown stone he grabbed.

"Accensus." Guren said, as a light started to slowly flicker on the candle. For the entire time, he stood completely still white his eyes focusing on the flame tat hadn't lit up yet. Closing his eyes, he quietly counted to himself, before opening his eyes again. However, the lavender irises he once had changed into a clear, silvery colour. Finally the flame was growing into a small emer that waved from the candle's wicker.

"Spiratus." Gen spoke gently and a gust of air blew easily to blow out the candle. The smoke wafted up in the air, but it wasn't enough to turn on any alarms. Or the sprinklers.

"Yeah! That was really great!" Guren cheered for they teamwork they accomplished. Gen accepted the high-five from the shorter teenager and put the book back into the duffel bag with the stones they had. Although, the candle was cooled down by a nearby water bottle and placed away from the wood and papers.

"Obfirmavi." Gen stated to the bag and tossed it over his shoulder. They both went back downstairs and to their regular shifts. For most of the time they were casually working in the bookstore without much trouble.

When Guren was putting away the books, he stumble over his feet and was about to fall with the mny boos he was carrying around. However, that was avoided when a customer immediately took the tack of books away from the employee.

"You alright there?" The teenager asked, his crystal eyes widening at seeing the redhead who was carrying books.

"Thank you, and I'm just fine!" Guren quickly replied back. Putting down his stack of books, he took away he books that the customer was carrying the rest of them. "I'm so sorry for the trouble. I'll make it up for you—"

"You don't have to. I'm already a regular here." He smiled, running a hand through his sapphire locks f hair. "I'm guessing you aren't from the city like this one."

"Yeah, it's my second week here." Guren nervously laughed, going to pick up the books and carry them to the nearby shelves. "If you're a regular here, then what do you enjoy reading?"

"Well, um... I—" He began, with his voice getting slightly falter.

"Ceylan! Get your ass over here!" A feminine voice was heard across the opposite shelves where they stood.

"It was nice meeting you, Ceylan." Guren ignored what he had just heard and started to put down the stack of books to replace the shelved ones.

"Right, I guess I'll see you around..." He peered at the name tag on the redhead's shirt. "Guren— Yeah, you'll see me around."

At that point, a book was thrown over the shelf and bonked Ceylan on the head. In reaction, he marched away before Guren could even ask if he was okay. Although, it was too late before he could even give a wave. While putting away the books, Chooki ran up to the redhead with glancing eyes.

"What's going on?" He asked the coffee shop employee, thinking that his friend probably burn his wrist with hot coffee.

"I need Kiro to skip school tomorrow. Can she stay at you guys' place?" Chooki asked with a concerned look plastered on his face.

"Why?"

"Another student just went missing on Friday."