A/N I DON'T OWN SKYLAND!
Loud music pounded on the dance floor where students rejoiced and partied. This nightclub had been reserved to celebrate the graduation, which had taken place earlier this morning, and the young graduates now enjoying the end of their studies at the Guardian Academy. It was not permitted really, for the graduates to have a party. It was actually supposed to be a secret affair, but everyone knew about it. Teachers just chose to disregard it. They were young after all, and they deserved to celebrate, even if that meant that they looked somewhat improper for one night. At the moment, the young seijins were all dancing and laughing under the shifting multicolored lights that split the air. Mila wasn't dancing however; she sat glumly at the bar, sipping her drink half heartedly.
"This is my song!" She heard Ryan yell and he started dancing ridiculously, flapping his arms about and making the others laugh. She heard Priscilla's unmistakable giggling laughter and, from the corner of her eye, she could glimpse her friend, her long dark hair silky and flowing as she danced. At any other moment, she would have laughed with the others too. But she felt different. It was as if… As if she didn't even know them anymore.
Not really.
She seemed to be the only one who even had a shred of sympathy for the boy who was killed earlier. The pirate's appearance had shocked her; the rebels, she had imagined as mindless brutes, murderous looking thugs who would kill you as soon as they looked at you. However, that pirate; he had been young; he had looked helpless and lost. The Sphere had been merciless. Somehow, his death had seemed unfair, disrespectful; of course criminals were to be prosecuted but she had envisioned a more humane treatment. His death had been almost... barbaric. She couldn't keep the images from replaying in her mind over and over again. It was sickening.
Feeling a little queasy, she pushed her drink away and rubbed her temples. What was going to happen to Katie? She didn't want to think about it because she had a few guesses; being a guardian herself now.
A guardian in squadron one.
She wouldn't last a day at her new job if one rebel's death affected her so much. She sighed. A few hours ago, she felt like she was on top of the world. Now, everything seemed to be crumbling in her hands. All these years of effort at the Academy; a waste of time.
The thumping music and dancing neon lights gave her a headache. Irritated by her noisy surroundings, Mila got up and headed for the door. She stepped outside and was a few feet away when she heard the door open behind her as the music once again blasted for a few seconds.
"Mila, where are you going?"
Mila turned around to see her friend, Ryan, staring at her curiously, his dark eyes gleaming in the night.
"I'm just a little tired." She answered jadedly. "Think I'll head home…"
"What? Mila, it's our graduation. And the fun's just started…" He grabbed her hand. "Come on, you're not going home. Come back inside, have some fun, live a little…"
Mila tore his hand off as he started pulling her back towards the entrance of the nightclub. "I said no." She grumbled angrily before stomping away.
"Oh, don't tell me it's because of Katie!" He yelled after her exasperatingly.
She stopped abruptly and turned around. "Well, maybe it is. And why shouldn't it? They killed her brother!" She snapped her fingers. "Just like that!"
"So what? He was just another rebel, it doesn't matter." He paused, shook his head and gave a small chuckle. "Here's a little reminder for you; we're all going to kill pirates one day."
"I know." She snapped gloomily.
"Then what are you upset about?" He demanded, his voice laden with annoyance.
"I-I don't know..."
He frowned and approached, stopping just a few inches from her. "Watch it. You're a guardian now, you can't second guess anything." A sudden spark of anxiety crossed his dark face. "You know what happens to those who don't follow through-"
Mila crossed her arms angrily. "That's just a myth!" She scolded. There had always been a rumor detailing different guardians who hadn't been strong enough to complete the Sphere's plans. According to legend, the Sphere had brainwashed these guardians to act differently; turned them into new people, with new personalities. Mila didn't believe this for one second. The Sphere would never use seijins to torment other seijins. "And I'm not second-guessing. I'm just-"
"Overreacting?" He said. "As usual…"
A wisp of searing anger flared inside her; she had been hoping for some words of reassurance from her friend. Obviously, she was mistaken.
"Shut up-"
"Look, I'm going back inside to have a little fun. If you want to go mope around about some-"
"Fine! Go on then!" She strode away, ignoring the insults he yelled after her before going back inside and slamming the door behind him. Mila walked home to clear her thoughts.
The deserted streets were brightened by ornate light posts projecting blue lighting on the building windows. The place was so neat, so perfect and yet… it wasn't. It was as if the block compensated for its real personality with mounds of flawless structures and stylish street lights.
The girl arrived at a bridge and leaned over the railing to see the artificial canal flowing underneath it. It was silent now, except for the rushing sound of water; a distorted reflection of the moon wavered on the stream. The lights rooted in the rocky riverbed illuminated the schools of multicolored fish swimming about. Mila had stood here many times during the years and watched the vibrant creatures go about their business; she found it soothing.
She groaned angrily, releasing her frustration by picking up a few pebbles and throwing them into the water. The fish grouped up where the rocks had splashed on the water's surface. A yellow one nibbled on the rock, expecting food no doubt before deciding it was no good and swimming under the bridge, followed by the rest of the fish. Mila sighed wearily and moved on, suddenly exhausted from the long, nerve-racking day.
She continued walking across the city area and finally traversed a sturdy bridge that connected to the Academy block. The violet, green and blue haze of Academy buildings erased the stars from the night sky. The Academy shone in the darkness, its many towers and training centers glistening like pristine pearls. No one else was out, seeing as only the senior students were allowed to go out after sunset.
Mila arrived home after about half an hour and took a hot shower before slipping into pajamas and heading to her personal loft. Mila paused only at the window to glance at the tall, spire-shaped building on a nearby block which was half obscured by a hazy, white cloud. That block was where the faculty, teachers and Sphere officials in charge of the Academy resided. The top of the needle-like towering building flashed white-blue for a moment as the large beacon warning approaching ships on its summit swiveled in a slow, circular motion.
Mila shared this dorm with Priscilla who got the lower loft. Both stories gave view out the large two story window looking over the Academy. They also had personal bathrooms and a large kitchen below.
The young guardian dropped onto her soft bed and took a last look at her room. She had always considered this her home; she could barely remember the time when she hadn't lived here since she must have arrived when she was around nine years old. Her past always seemed faded, forgotten; a blur. Mila had learned to love it here at the Academy, even if it was often strict and cold.
She had made great friends; they had created such memories together... She remembered the time when they had sneaked into the cafeteria and stolen two gallons of ice cream. Mila smiled briefly.
Now, everything had changed. Somehow the Academy seemed different now, almost unfamiliar.
Tomorrow, she would leave forever and set course toward the unknown; the future. She'd probably never see this room again, or most of her colleagues for that matter. This thought should have saddened her but it was strangely comforting. It would be a new beginning.
She was the one with the problem obviously. Everyone else had accepted the boy's murder.
Great, she'd just called it murder.
She had to keep it together.
He was nothing, she reminded herself. He wasn't even a seijin. He was a criminal.
Content with this fake reassurance, she fell asleep.
A/N This chapter is just to get closure from the Academy. I also meant to illustrate how unaware of water the academy students are; having spent so much time in the comfort of the Sphere where water never runs low which, of course, is contrary for the rest of Skyland.
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