"You realize that you are wanted for more than ten charges of theft. Not to mention we found plenty of illegal substances in your house."
Riven just sat there and tried not to listen to the man. This investigator kept harping on him about how much trouble he was in but he already knew that.
He had tried to run but only made it 3 blocks before he was cornered by numerous cop cars. They had captured him in an energy lock and there was nothing he could do to get out of it.
"Of course you have the right to not say anything, but it's not helping your case. I've been waiting for this day for a long time. How you have managed to escape countless magic traps and stayed hidden this long blows my mind."
"Skill" Riven responded.
"Yes, I can see that you have that. But it does not excuse the fact that you've broken the law countless times. I can't have you endangering the city like this."
Riven kept silent. He didn't care what this guy thought about him, he just needed to avoid getting the maximum punishment. He had bills to pay and being in jail would put him on plenty of hit lists.
"I just need to know why you did it Riven. Believe it or not I'm here to help you, not harm you."
"And why would I tell you that?"
"Like I said, I want to help you Riven. I believe you have potential that could be used for better purposes."
"If you know so much about me, I'm sure you know why I did it."
"I have a few guesses, but I would like to hear it from you."
Riven sat back in his chair. He never liked sharing anything personal with anyone, but he didn't see much of a choice. Of course, he didn't have to reveal everything.
"How else was I supposed to eat or pay for a place to live? We all don't have magic powers that can just help create food out of nowhere."
"So you turned to illegal activities?"
"It was the only thing I could do."
"You could have got an actual job."
"When I was little? Yeah right, I had to learn from my dad."
"I knew your father, he was wanted to but I never could get him. Guess he didn't teach you that well."
This comment made Riven even more angry than he already was.
"If he was so wanted then why didn't you come and get him sooner! He was a fucking bum who laid on his ass most the time, relying on me to go and get his drugs for him while leaving me to myself. It took me years to get the courage to get away from him but by then this was all I knew." Riven shouted as he stood up and flipped over the table.
The investigator stepped back to avoid the table and the chairs.
"Riven, I understand I was too late to help you or your mother and I am deeply sorry for that. But I want to help now. I'm willing to help you."
"Why the hell would you do that?" Riven panted as he calmed down.
"Because believe it or not, I loved your mother too." The investigator put his hands on Riven's shoulders.
Riven shrugged them off though and said "Well where the fuck were you then when my dad was beating the shit out of her?"
"Riven, This is way too long of a story to get into now, but I tried and I failed. Now you broke the law and you should be punished but I've convinced the prosecution that you can be changed, because I really think you can be."
"So what's happening to me?"
"You're being sent to Red Fountain to learn to use your fighting and survival skills for other purposes."
"Are you kidding me? That might be even worse than going to prison!" Riven yelled. He was heading towards the door when the investigator stopped him.
"If you go to Red Fountain your debts will be taken care of."
"What? How would that happen?"
"Don't worry about it. But you have to go to Red Fountain, it is the only way I can protect you."
He didn't know why this guy was so willing to protect him, but he couldn't deny free money. Even though he spent most of his adolescent years so far making fun of the specialists at Red Fountain, when he was a young boy he always had dreamed of going there. But of course the tuition was always way too high for Riven to ever realistically consider it a possible future.
"I guess I'm going to Red Fountain then."
Riven was led into a small room where an orange haired boy was sitting on his computer. There was one empty bed above a bottom one that was filled with random pieces of hardware.
"What's all that?" Riven asked.
"Oh well hi there! That's just um, well that's the contents of my old computer you see-"
"I'm Riven by the way" Riven interrupted the small boy. He couldn't believe that he was rooming with this small squeamish boy who looked like he didn't spend any time outside.
"Oh yeah sorry, I'm Timothy, but everyone calls me Timmy." He said and went to shake Rivens Hand. Riven grabbed Timmy's hand and gave him a strong handshake.
"Ow! Oh sorry about that, I guess I don't have a good handshake." Timmy said.
"My fault dude."
"Well I hope you don't mind me taking the bottom bunk, unless you really want it" Timmy nervously said.
"Top is fine with me. So, I hear that we are supposed to be on a team of some sort. Are the other guys on our team around?"
"I haven't seen them yet, but everyone is supposed to meet with their assigned team tonight at six for dinner"
"Timmy, it's already 5:30 you know that right?"
"Oh my goodness! When did that happen?"
"Probably when you were playing that game. Anyways we better get going now. Where are we supposed to go?"
"Just down to the dining hall."
The two boys headed down to the dining hall and found their names on one of the tables. There was already two boys sitting down, one with long blond hair and another with shorter brown hair.
"Are you Riven and Timmy?" the one with the long hair asked.
"I'm Riven and he's Timmy. I'm guessing you guys are on our team?" Riven responded.
"Yes we are! I'm Prince Sky and this is my squire Brandon." The brown haired one said. He stood up and shook Riven's hand and then Timmys.
"Prince of what?" Riven asked.
"He is the prince of Eraklion for your information." Brandon said.
"Well excuse me goldilocks." Riven responded sarcastically.
Timmy and Sky started laughing.
"He's got a point you know, your hair is pretty long." Sky said.
"Attention! Young men! By now you should have introduced yourselves to your teammates. These are the boys you will be depending on for the next three years while you are here. They will train with you and you will rely on them more than you think so we will now spend this time learning about each other." A short man with long white hair stated.
"He's got long hair and everyone respects him!" Brandon said.
They spent the rest of the night awkwardly talking to one another and trying to learn about each other but Riven just didn't care that much to know about the other boys.
"Well not that this hasn't been fun, but I think I'm going to go find something else that is more enjoyable to do now." Riven said sarcastically.
"What's his problem?" Brandon asked.
"Beats me, I just met him too!" Timmy shrugged.
Riven walked out into the hallway with his hands in his pockets. He couldn't believe that he had ever wanted to go here. It was just filled with ungrateful spoiled princes and their assistants.
"Psst, hey you" a voice said from behind Riven. He turned around, shocked to hear anyone since he thought that everyone was in the dining hall.
"Who's there?"
"That was boring wasn't it?" The voice said. A guy walked out who had a smaller stature than Riven but still looked decently built.
"Yeah I suppose so." Riven said. He then let his guard down and turned around to keep walking towards his room.
"Hey, you look like you could use some fun. Me and my room mate are having a small get together tonight to celebrate the beginning of another term, you wanna come?" the guy asked.
"I guess, I don't see how there is much to celebrate." Riven responded. He turned again to follow this guy.
"By the way, I'm Kellan. And you'll see what we are celebrating."
Kellan opened up the door to his room and immediately Riven was hit with the smoke. It was sweet smelling and it reminded him of home which he liked. Then it hit him, that they weren't like the other guys who went here.
"So you guys are celebrating what? Last time I checked it wasn't April twentieth." Riven joked.
"Haha, no we are just happy to be back here and away from home. It's a lot easier to get our, well you know, substances here at school. For a school that is about protection, they don't have many strict rules." Kellan said. "Let me introduce you to my roommate Jack and his friend Diego."
"You want a drag?" Jack asked Riven.
"Sure. So what else do you guys have?" Riven asked. He took a drag and then sat down on the couch.
"We have plenty, as long as you won't rat us out." Kellan said.
"Why would I do that?" Riven asked.
"I don't know who you are, but I know your team is a bunch of goody two-shoes from the looks of it." Kellan replied.
"They look like that to me too."
"Look, I can offer you the goods if you got the cash, and you can always trust us and hang with us if you want to get away from them" Diego said.
"So you in?" Kellan asked as he brought out a bag and paper and held it out to Riven.
"You know, this place is beginning to look better now." Riven said as he reached out and took the bag.
"Welcome to Red Fountain then Riven." Kellan said as he sat down onto the chair in the room.