Author's note: Luckily I had completed this chapter within a matter of days after the precious installment, though I was unable to post further chapters due to few opportunities of computer use. As promised, future chapters will be added most likely week-to-week, instead of long awaiting as before. Anyways, I hope you enjoy the new version of the story as I am attempting in making it more pleasable to readers.

Chapter Three
Band of Helpful Heroes

The motors of both levi-bikes slowly hummed until after several moments in which they grew silent, the single headlight slowly fading to the darkness of the dank garage of Red Fountain. Dismounting their vehicles, both had positioned their bikes along the line of cycles which belonged to many other students of the school.

Taking off their helmets and placing their gloves within them, beads of sweat dripped from their hair, moisture colected upon their foreheads and the nape of their necks, in which they could blame their jouney from Eraklion to Magix for the reasoning. After days of traveling through the difficult system of teleportations to other worlds, both Brandon and Sky found few moments in which they could rest, resulting in immense exhaustion. However, no matter how consumed they may have felt, they were glad their luggage had been taken to Red Foutain days previous to their arrival, making it easier in heading towards Magix.

Walking through the twin doors into one of the lower-leveled hallways, Brandon and Sky were accompanied by many other students, some farther down the narrow corridor and some behind. All of the heels of their boots clicked upon the linoleum floor, giving off an almost echoing effect combined with the many voices of the young men.

The architecterual landscape of the Red Fountain was created in a similar fashion to the many forts or castles that could be recognized in Earth's history, its structure surrounded in a massive wall, complete with a draw bridge and moat around it. With a sort of school as this one, it was incredibly befitting for students that would learn the ways of a hero.

"Have you spoke to Riven or Timmy today?" Sky asked, reaching the last step of the climbing stairs they were currently climbing as he wondered of their friends.

"No," Brandon answered, resting his keys and cellphone within his helmet as well, the sound of the metal colliding against one another echoing throughout the heightened walls, with every step the bewilderment began a rythmatic tune in the silent hallway of the school. "But I don't think both of them could've arrived before us since we're a couple of hours early."

Sky nodded in agreement, knowing that it was a better opportunity of seeing them in several hours. Reaching the dorm in which they shared for several years, they began hearing a pair of receeding footsteps farther within the hallway, but ignored the bewilderment as they entered their dorm.

The interior of their room seemed to remain the same from the last time they laid eyes on it. Beds were positioned on either sides of the room, shelves cowering over them as a stack of sheets and blankets rested upon the foot of both beds. When stepping farther into the room did they see their suitcases resting upon their side-tables, each one with a lamp and an alarm clock resting upon the wood surface.

As both were too tired to even speak to one another, they both dropped their helmets onto the ground beside their beds, and without caring to place sheets and blankets on the mattresses, they climbed onto their beds, resting their heads upon the soft, fluffy pillows. Glancing at one another, their eyes slowly closed, their minds nestled into the darkness of wonder and thought.

Several hours later, a knock on the door woke them both, the loud bewilderment ceasing to stop as they both groaned from exhaustion. Realizing that the door had been unlocked since their arrival, Sky yelled at the person to enter, seeing that Riven had now arrived to Red Fountain.

"What do you want, Riven?" Brandon asked grouchily, "As you can see we're trying to sleep here."

Riven closed the door behind him as he walked across the room and sat upon Sky's bed, his fingers fumbling on his keys to his levi-bike and dormitory. Gazing at the two, an expression of slight concern was drawn upon his face. "Geez, you both look like shit." The two both had dark circles under their eyes, their hair in a messily order. "Did you guys just get like ten minutes of sleep or what?"

Sky rubbed his eyes, sitting up in his bed as he gazed at the clock, glancing at it twice to be sure that his eyes weren't cheated by exhaustion. "We've been here for a couple of hours," He yawned and raised his arms above his head, stretching. "Have you seen Timmy yet?"

"Yeah," Riven replied, "He wanted to go put his things away before coming over here."

Brandon stood from his bed and went into the bathroom, taking his uniform in with him in order to change, as orientation was to begin soon, not that either or them needed to have another tour of the school for the forth time. Closing the door behind him he gazed at himself in the mirror, examining his features closely, noticing how much he had changed over the years. His chestnut hair had obviously grown over the past few months, the tresses falling into his face and eyes, making it somewhat difficult to see from time-to-time. He had also grown taller from what he had been in his freshmen year, though it didn't make any difference as to see that Riven remained the surpassing out of the group even after his growth spurt. Undressing, he remained in his boxers for only several moments while attempting in hearing the conversation of Sky and Riven, their voices only as loud as a faint whisper through the heavy wooden door.

Before clothing himself, Brandon examined his uniform, the cleary blue sky pigment once again the base color of the uniform, followed by a darkened cobalt pigment of the flowing cape. Sighing, he dressed himself, muttering underneath his breath. "Don't they ever change the colors of these things?" Ever since he had been a freshmen attending Red Fountain, the students of the school had to wear the uniforms of the same fashion, never changing in the four years that he had been there. Knowing that the school had been run by Saladin and Codatorta however, Brandon could slightly understand.

When finishing, he opened the bathroom door to reveal that Timmy had come over, adjusting his glasses as he laughed for some reason with Riven and Sky. Brandon strolled over to his dresser, grabbing his gloves and returned to his bed as he polaced his boots on his feet. Finding his sword in the drawer of his night-stand, he placed the hilt on his belt and shook his gloves in the air, dust particles falling towards the ground.

Timmy stood, checking his watched for the time as his free hand adjusted his think glasses once more, "It's almost time for ortientation, " he declared, "We should head down to the main hall."

Riven stood as well, dusting off his legs and adjusting his cape, "Yeah," he answered sulkily, "Or else we'll be lectured by Codatorta."

All of them agreed, Brandon, Riven, and Timmy waiting as Sky dressed in his uniform as well, then exited the dorm to surprisingly find the corridor completely bare.

"Wouldn't there be people going to their dorms?" Sky asked, "The doors have been opened to students all day."
Turning the corner, they strolled along yet another hallways of dormitories, leading them towards a flight of stairs that gave the passage of the commons. Wherever they had gone, the school seemed completely empty, only the sounds of their footsteps and breathing within the large building.

"Codatorta had all freshmen wait in the hall, while the other underclassmen were released," Riven explained, "He wanted Timmy and I to wake you guys up because he needed us to do something."

They went down the stiars and entered the commons through the large twin doors, the entrance to the main hall open. From the doorway the figures of many students could be seen, Saladin's voice clearly heard thoughtout the room and into the commons.

"This doesn't look too good," Brandon muttered to his friends, not wanting it to be heard by anyone else's ears. The four entered the room, only to feel the several hundred pairs of eyes watching them as they came to stand beside Saladin and Codatorta, who were still announcing their speech.

"Now these four men will all split you up," Codatorta continued, "And then, they'll give you a tour of the school."

Riven looked at the others as if to say something in protest, but was quickly interupted as Sky elbowed him in the stomach, his groan unoticingly heard. "If we don't do this we'll probably have to clean out the dungeons," Sky explained, "So just be quiet and cooperate."

At that moment Saladin and Codatorta exited the room, as Helia entered with two others, people that the four had never seen again.
"Hey guys, "Helia smiled, waving his arm as he came towards them, "Saladin just asked me to help you guys out." Looking at the group before them, his grin slowly faded as he turned to his companions and then glanced at the four. "Guys, this is Dylan and Bankuru, they're going to be having classes with us this year."

The four acknowledged them both in a way or another, then turned their attention to the main impatient you man standing before them. When asking if they had any questions, a single student stepped forward slightly, raising his hand as if asking a question in class, his face carrying a sign of uneasiness. When Brandon nodded towards him, he began: "Is there any girl teachers here in this school?"

"Well.." Sky began to answer as he was cut off by Riven.

"Not any good ones," Riven muttered.

All of the students sighed in disappointment, complaining at the bad news. When realizing the situation he was in Riven added, "But there's girls at Alfea!"

The five looked at him with an eyebrow raised, the other students suddenly happy at the answer and talking amongst one another.

"What the hell are you saying to them?" Sky asked, "The girls aren't pieces of meat!"

"Besides," Brandon continued, "Isn't your girlfriend going to Alfea? You wouldn't want her to be hit on by any of these guys would you?"

At that instant Riven knew exactly what they were trying to explain to him, and loudly cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Yes, there's girls over at Alfea, " He started, "But if you get near my girlfriend, I'll kill you!"

Riven smiled at his success as if he had solved his problem, but he had forgot the face there were many other girls attending Alfea other than Musa.

"Come on," Helia nudged Riven, "We better get these guys on their tours or else we'll never get rid of them."

"Yeah," Brandon added, "I really want to get out of this place."
They all agreed, splitting up the extremely large group of men in fifths, and set off in different directions of Red Fountain.

Author's note: This chapter was much longer than the two previous installments, and I hope you've enjoyed them all to this point. The next update should be within the following week, but I can't gaurantee it!

Next Chapter: The Quartet's reunion.