Hello everybody!

After a long break, I'm ready to start working on this story again. Don't worry about my other story "Pierce the Veil," which I recommend you check out. I'm going to be updating both of these stories simultaneously. I don't have a schedule for updates, but know that they are going to happen.

As always, leave a review or PM me with any thoughts. They're always appreciated.

Nova stared in awe as the locomotive pulled into the station, the metal behemoth's wheels hissing to a stop. He had heard about how amazing the giant mechanical titan was, but the details hadn't even come close to capturing its grandeur.

The locomotive was a relatively new invention, a testament of the Mole's technological prowess. The train system was still relatively incomplete, only connecting to major cities like Warfang and Kaibyr. Travelling on foot or by wagon provided access to more towns, but travelling by train was ten times faster.

As Seraph handed the conductor a slip of parchment that Nova could only guess was their ticket, she looked over her shoulder.

"I got us one of the private cabins, so the ride should be pretty quiet."

Nova hadn't heard much about what riding a train was like, but when he did, he often heard it was crowded and hot. He figured the same wasn't true when you were a Guardian.

The conductor, a Mole dressed in a sharp blue uniform, marked the parchment with a quill and handed it back to Seraph, who in turn passed it to Takemura. The Avian blew on the ink to dry it before placing the ticket in his breast pocket. The conductor waved them aboard, bowing his head as Seraph passed. Nova noticed his eyes linger on him as he followed the dragoness. Chances are the Mole had never seen a raptor so well-dressed.

Prior to heading to the train station, Seraph had taken Nova to one of the shops that he'd spent years staring into on his way to the arena. In there, she told him to pick out a few sets of clothing… and then paid for all of it. Nova didn't object. It wasn't every day he was offered free clothing.

Now, he wore a black tunic and pants, covered by the nicest coat he'd ever had the privilege of wearing. It was an ankle-length black coat. Its hem was lined with silver, and the parts of the sleeves that covered his forearms were covered by silver bracers.

His new leather boots, in a similar vein, were also black, and covered by silver greaves. The armor for the boots was not as thick and bulky as the armor covering his forearms, but Nova had a feeling it would be enough.

The three eventually found their cabin and sat down, but Takemura opened the door and stepped back out into the hall.

"I will go inquire about the meal service," he said, his voice flat as a board.

"Thanks Tak," Seraph said, giving him a thankful nod. The Avian slid the door shut and disappeared in the direction they had just come.

"So, Nova," Seraph said after a few moments of silence, "given that you're going to be enrolling in school in Warfang, I need to have an idea of what you already know." Nova gave the dragoness a quizzical look.

"I thought you already knew, since 'it's your job to know,' and all." Seraph chuckled.

"If it was up to me, you'd be taking the courses that best suit you, but you can't always get what you want." Nova shrugged, indifferent. That was nothing new to him, and given his current situation, it was only fair for him to compromise… just a bit.

"Fine," he said, waving a hand in surrender. Seraph flashed a grin before whipping out parchment and an inkwell.

"Great! Now, let's begin." She dipped a talon into the ink and raised it to the parchment. "First, when it comes to language comprehension, what's your skill level?" She looked at him expectantly.

"I'm fluent in Common, but my primary language is Axani. I can write in both of those as well as Draconic."

Seraph whistled and scratched down a few notes. "That's impressive, especially since you've never had a formal education."

"I learned out of necessity," Nova explained.

"Okay, moving on." Seraph looked back up at him, then back down at the parchment. She scribbled some more before turning it around and handing it to Nova. "Solve this." On the page was a math equation.

Nova looked up at the dragoness incredulously. "Seriously? Simple interest?"

"Yes," Seraph replied with a nod. "Can you solve it?"

Nova heaved a begrudging sigh and dipped his finger into the inkwell. With a look of boredom on his face, he scratched out his work.

"Here," he said, jamming the parchment into Seraph's waiting paw. The cabin was silent for several moments as the Lightning Guardian scanned his work.

"Wow, Nova," she whistled. "I have to ask, how do you know all this?"

"When you have protect your money every waking moment of the day, you have to know how it works."

Seraph scribbled more notes. "Alright, what about basic geometry?"

"I know my shapes, if that's what you're asking."

Seraph chuckled and scratched out some more notes. "I'll just put 'advanced.'"

While Seraph filled her page with her thoughts, Nova rested his head on his hand. He gazed absentmindedly out the window, watching the bleak, white landscape whip past.

Why am I here? he asked himself. He remembered all the things that Seraph had told him, the praise she had sung last night in the arena. To her, that seemed reason enough, but he remained skeptical. A kind of insignificance he hadn't felt in years began to twist and writhe in his stomach. He could see a Cheetah, an Avian, a dragon, a mole, anyone sitting in the train cabin besides him. Someone different, someone better, someone, anyone, who wasn't him. Early on in his life, he found the greatest tool: confidence. Every day he told himself that he was unstoppable. His confidence gave him power, strength. It was why he had never lost a fight.

Seraph must have seen the deep frown on his face as she glanced up, setting down her notes.

"Something on your mind?"

"I'm fine," he mumbled with a shake of his head. Seraph frowned.

"You don't look fine. Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine! Nothing is wrong!"

"Well now I'm positive something's wrong." She scooted a little closer. "If there's a problem, I can help."

Nova's eyes snapped to the dragoness, but he didn't turn his head.

"My problem is that you keep asking me what my problem is!" he growled. Seraph gave him a wounded look.

"I was just trying to help."

Nova let out a sigh, ashamed of lashing out. He turned away from the window to face the Lightning Guardian. "Sorry," he mumbled.

"You're forgiven. Now please tell me what's bothering you. If something's wrong I can help." Nova was silent for a moment, gathering his thoughts.

"Are you sure about this?" Seraph cocked her head to the side.

"About what?"

Nova gestured about wildly. "All of this. You realize what you're doing right? You're letting a Sadrian, an enemy of the Dragon Realms, into not only the capital city, but the most prestigious institution in the realm."

Seraph's concerned expression dissolved, if for just a second. She smirked. "What happened to all that confidence from last night?"

"Well things have changed now that I'm set to attend school with the children of the dragons my people spent a year fighting. Confidence is one thing, needlessly throwing my life away is another."

Seraph shrugged. "To put it simply, you're the best. Of all the candidates I examined, you stood leagues above them." She craned her head down, her sapphire eyes, meeting Nova's. "You have too much talent to pass up, Nova, and I want to see you grow and improve."

She sounded sincere. The look in her eyes gave Nova a hunch that she wasn't just saying what he wanted to hear. But her praise wasn't enough.

"You've said all of this before." He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he laced his hands together in his lap. "No one's completely selfless. What do you have to gain from this?"

Seraph was silent as she chose her words, pursing her lips in a thoughtful frown. "I guess to put it in the simplest terms, I'm trying to prove a point."

Nova cocked a brow, confused. "Care to explain?"

"When the Sadrian War broke out, my uncle, the previous Guardian of Lightning, Volteer, was the only member of the Council that opposed fighting."

Nova had heard about the ex-Lightning Guardian. During the war, he'd apparently commanded from the back, and kept most of his forces pulled back. If anything, his forces only served as defenses. They never attacked an enemy position, not once. The Lightning Guardian hadn't set foot on the frontlines once.

"He stepped down the moment the war ended, right?"

Seraph nodded. Nova saw an inkling of sadness creep onto her face. "Yeah. He was ashamed, horrified of what happened. The only reason he stuck it out during the war was so I wouldn't be put in that position." She looked up at Nova. "He knows that your people can do good, that they aren't threats. I guess… in a way… I'm using you to prove that."

He didn't like being used, but he was used to it by now. And he appreciated Seraph's honesty.

"Your uncle's half-right about us," he replied. Seraph gave him a puzzled look. "My people are good people." He jammed his thumb into his chest. "But I assure you, I am very much a threat." The dragoness's normal demeanor returned as she chuckled.

"Believe me, I know."

Nova grinned. "That is your job, after all."

When Seraph had said that she was throwing a ball for him, Nova had a very specific idea of what she meant. He imagined a mansion packed floor-to-ceiling with aristocrats in politicians, all decked out in fancy clothes and jewelry. He imagined musicians playing songs he'd never heard before and could have died happily not hearing.

Instead, what he got was himself and Seraph sitting by themselves at the end of a very long dining table. To his right, Seraph looked at him with an eager smile on her face. Before him was a plate of the nicest food he'd ever seen, a perfectly pink slab of steak and a piping hot loaf of bread. He bit into the meat, and its juices dribbled down his chin. Despite the bursting flavor, it was nowhere as near as good as Dianha's.

"This food is amazing!" he grumbled through mouthfuls of bread and meat. Seraph chuckled and grinned.

"I'm sure the chef will be thrilled to hear that." As she and the raptor ate, she noticed something, a scar at the base of his neck.

Nova must had noticed her fascinated look. "Question?"

"Yeah, that scar, mind telling me about it?" Nova put down his steak, swallowing the chunk of bread he had just shoved into his maw.

"This one is from… about a year ago, I think." He pulled down his collar, showing that the mark ran well past the base of his neck, down his collarbone and disappearing underneath his clothes.

"What could've done that?" Seraph asked, regarding the old wound with intrigue. Nova replaced his collar.

"A really pissed-off Ice dragon. Froze my feet to the ground and tried to gut me with his tailblade." Seraph's eyes widened. Nova could see her curiosity pique. She scooted closer, almost leaning completely over the table.

"What happened?"

Nova smirked and leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands behind his head. "The dumbass got cocky. Instead of finishing me off like he should have, he cut me once and then started strutting around the arena, monologuing about how 'the Black Blade's winning streak had come to an end.'" Nova picked a piece of steak out from between his fangs. "The moron talked for so long, that the ice around my feet melted enough for me to break free. Needless to say, the Black Blade's winning streak did not end there."

Seraph frowned as she stared at the scar. "Even from here, that thing looks wicked." She looked up at Nova, concern returning to her face, just like on the train. "Do you want me to find someone who could help cover it up?" Nova shook his head.

"Hell no."

"You sure? You start tomorrow. I could get someone up here right now to—"

"There was a Sadrian creed that soldiers would recite whenever they looked at themselves in a mirror: Thoko ark xoirkk dhoav ulo mav dakhd, urk mav doldo." He was a bit satisfied by the Seraph's impressed gaze.

"What does that mean?"

"'These old wounds are my fight, and my force.' These scars stand for something, a struggle and strength. They made me who I am, why would I ever want to cover them up?"

Seraph sat back down, scratching her chin with a thoughtful talon, pondering the young raptor's words. "I've never thought about them like that before. You are wise beyond your years, Nova."

"Thanks," the young raptor grunted, wolfing down more food. As he ate, questions began to creep into his head.

Seraph clearly noticed his thoughtful grimace. "Seems like you've got some questions now."

"Yeah. So, are you going to be teaching there?"

"Oh yes, I teach the advanced mathematics classes. One of which I believe you are taking." Seraph looked at Nova, her childish, gleeful look fading. "Nova, you're going to be playing catch-up with the other students in your classes. Don't be afraid to use me as a resource. If you need anything… I'll help you."

Nova, who was scraping the last remnants of food off his plate, balked at that. "You're serious?"

Seraph nodded. "Of course. Anything you need, if something's wrong, if you have questions, come straight to me, and I promise I'll help you."

Nova looked at the dragoness with surprise. He wasn't sure he heard her correctly. For most of his life, his struggles were his and his alone. No one had been there for him when he needed help before, so hearing this dragoness, let alone a Guardian, saying that they would always help him, had taken him by surprise.

"I-I appreciate it," he stammered. He quickly wiped his mouth and set down his plate. "Thanks for the food."

Seraph smiled. "You're very welcome." She snapped her talons and three moles dressed in clothes nearly identical to Takemura's appeared out of thin air, scooping up the dirty silverware and dishes and whisking them off, presumably to the kitchen to wash them.

"I'm beat," Seraph groaned, standing up and sauntering over to the door. "You should get some rest too, Nova. You've got a big day tomorrow."