The world holds tales some centuries old. These stories are often forgotten, and sometimes erased in order to keep the past buried.
Caer Oldwyrm; the Keep of the Old Wyverns, has a story.
In older times it was said that this old mountain keep was where the People first laid eyes upon the fabled Elder Crossing. Others say it was the final battleground between the People and an Elder whose name may better be left forgotten. Some say it was the first and some say it was the last fortress built during the Great Dragon War. Perhaps one of the latter tales is true, as old Dragonators rest buried in the walls and ballistae rest atop the battlements. These weapons are old; routinely maintained but old nonetheless, and haven't seen action in many centuries.
Know this; the mountain keep is a near inaccessible stronghold, one that rests some 3000 meters above a prehistoric sea that has long given way to great woods and timeless stone, and reachable only by the Serpent Wyrm trail that traces itself up the mountain valley road.
The keep houses a mausoleum for their dead; great hunters and teachers who had offered their lives long ago. A workshop, where both weapons and armor and equipment rests here as well; as well as a dining hall and stables. There even rests an old treasury, though its contents have long since withered with the passing of time.
From within the Keep's great walls, a place lit by great torches and candles, Ordermaster Gilham found himself taking a breath as he looked outward, staring at the new blood. Those who would be starting a new chapter in their lives here.
He looked to the tables they scarcely filled, and he remembered the old days, the old stories of how it used to be during the height of the Old Hunter's power.
Once there used to be thousands of men and women that gathered in this old hall, they would call it home, the stables were thriving with not just wingdrake but powerful wyverns as well. Though the great wyverns still exist in this day and age, they have long left this place, and now stand replaced by horses and Fanged Beast like the Palamutes.
Once, so very long ago Gilham told himself that he would revive this old place, bring it back from obscurity and near permanent silence. But look at him now; old and seemingly accepting of the fate that has befallen these old grounds. Like this old place, life still coursed through his bones, but for how long was an unspoken question.
The new blood, 75 children barely older than six had been brought to these ancient near hollowed out grounds. Many of them were orphaned children who'd lost everything to either beast or plague. Though there are few who were given away, handed off by their parents to find what may be a better or more fulfilling life.
Regardless of their origins they were nearly always children.
A child was easier to influence, easier to mold.
They were easier to train.
And they were more accepting of the Trials.
These children, who would grow within this place, carry its teachings and ways in their memories; maybe one would succeed where he had failed, maybe not.
"Good evening." He began, addressing them as the rest of the Old Hunters looked on. "I am First Hunter Gilham, Ordermaster of this ancient keep." He told them. "My story, like all others, that is one you may learn at another time." He told them to gesture with his hand. "Now; look around you. See Caer Oldwyrm and know it will be your new home. These grounds have been such to many that walked before you, both to your teachers and their own. They entered these grounds just as you have, and left as Hunters… so will you children." He told them. "But you will not do so alone. See the children that stand at your side. You know nothing about them, not their names, not their past, nor where they come from." He paused. "Know that none of it matters in the slightest." He continued. "One day the person across from you may save your life, walk through the flames of hell itself, flesh blistered and burned to the bone just to bring you home so you may see another sunrise." He pauses looking at his figurative staff, remembering that such a thing wasn't just all bluster and empty words. "They have no obligation to do so, but they will anyway; because they are your new family. So look at them, learn their names, remember their faces, they are your brothers and sisters now and we are your new parents."
He sighed as he felt his age catching up to him.
"Welcome to Caer Oldwyrm." He told them before looking at another teacher. "Hunter Johnson, please escort them to the mess hall. Feed them, and put em to bed, tomorrow their training begins."
"On it." Johnson called out, telling everyone to follow him as they filed out. Gilham sighed to himself as they left, still feeling those old aches starting to act up.
"I hate getting old."
"We all do." Vincent muttered as Gilham looked to the retreating students, watching a familiar one look back and wave at him.
Little Gales, the brat Ashe brought in so long ago. That mess of white hair and cocoa colored skin stood out against the others.
Gilham lazily waved back at the beast eyed child before he scurried off to stay with the others.
"Hard to believe it's been six years already." Vincent admitted as Gilham made a noise.
"Has it been six years already?" It's hard to believe it's been that long. In six years the sun and moon have traded places countless times, the seasons have come and gone as well. "My, how time flies." Gilham muttered, watching the last glimpse of snow white hair drift away.
"Indeed." Vincent admitted. "And I haven't seen the child this excited in a long time." Of course he was excited. There were children here now, people his own age he could talk to aside from shadows on the wall.
Also they'd finally allow the six year old to start training. He wouldn't shut up about asking if he could learn the ways yet.
"This will be good for his growth."
"Indeed." Gilham muttered. "I need to retire, summon me if anything happens."
"As you wish, First Hunter."
"Hi!" Little Gales leaned forward as he looked at one of the many other children and smiled.. "My name's Gales!" He introduced himself. "What's your name!" The red head next to him didn't say anything, just looking at him in silence and seeming to freeze as her one good eye stared into his beast-like orbs before turning away.
Words couldn't describe how creepy they seemed to look on a human's face.
It was almost like a weird pseudo-wyvern thing had forgotten a detail while wearing human skin.
"What?" Gales asked in confusion as he tilted his head. "You ok?"
"I'm fine." They muttered as they glanced at the child around their age. "Could you not stand so close to me?"
"Oh sorry." Gales responded before stepping back and scratched his head. "This better? They didn't say anything. "So~ what's your name?" Getting back on track Gales repeated his question, much to his counterparts' slight annoyance and annoyance.
"You know it's rude to ignore people, right?" A child with black hair nudged the red head as they smiled. "You're name's Gales right?" They asked as they looked at the beast eyed child. "I'm Zack, nice to meet you." Gales just stared at the blue eyed boy.
"Your eyes are glowing." Zack just scratched his head as he chuckled weakly. Gales couldn't help breaking into a grin. "That's kinda cool!"
"Thanks." They stated. "Your eyes are cool too." Gales just grinned happily as they walked on, following the others on their small tour throughout the grounds. "So where are you from?"
"Here." Was Gales' immediate response.
"Here?" Zack asked in confusion. "Like… here - here?" He pointed down.
"Yep." Gales chirped "I've been here since I could remember." Gales stated proudly. "Ashe found me when I was a baby, and she brought me here."
"Wow~" Zack muttered before scratching his head. "So you must already know how things work." Gales gave this gesture with his head.
"Kinda." He stated. "They wouldn't let me start training until I turned six a few days ago."
"Well happy birthday."
"Thank you~" Gales broke into a fanged grin. "So when we're done getting shown around, you want me to show you the animals?" He asked eagerly. "Aun has puppies."
"I like puppies." Zack responded as they looked to the red head trying to ignore them. "You wanna come, Red?"
"I have a name you know."
"You never told us your name." Was Zack's simple response.
"Erza." The red head grumbled. "Erza Vermillion."
The stables rest just beyond the eastern corridor. It's warm here, usually noisy as the domesticated creatures like to occupy themselves with their own form of chatter and other activities.
Aun was here, thinking and listening to the sounds made by her pups and horses and wingdrakes.
Aun knew she was getting old; she didn't need to look at her growing pups to see that. Although the years had been kind to her, her old bones were starting to ache. Her strength was slowly leaving her. Her coat was beginning to lose its luster. She could tell it would be a few good years - maybe decades before she left this world, but before that, she knew that one of these days her travels across the Old Lands with Ashe would have to end.
She knew that, and though she felt ready for it, she knew she wasn't looking forward to those days.
Oum, her mate, nuzzled her; seemingly knowing what was on her mind, and attempted to lift her spirits a bit. The gesture wasn't wasted, as she licked his muzzle before relaxing, staring at the young pups that were busy occupying themselves. Rolling on their backs, play-fighting, some even napping despite the noise the others were making.
They were getting so big.
Alus
Eatos
Gram
Hapius
Morlen
Noa
Roas
It feels like just yesterday that they were so small, climbing over each other to get milk.
It feels like only yesterday they could hardly walk, without tripping over their own paws..
They were growing up. Nothing could stop that.
Still they'd always be her little pups.
Little Gram woke with a start, seeming to hear something as he turned his head towards the entrance of the stables. Little Gales had wandered in it seems, taking one of the breaks that were required of the students.
"Hi guys!" Immediately the stables grewer noisier than ever, horse's stomped their hooves, the windrake started to call out, and the pups began to compete for attention.
None of it was in fear or anger though. The wyvern eyed child seemed well loved by the others. Maybe it was because he had been here the longest of the young ones. He came here often back then, if not to more or less play, then to simply feel he wasn't alone.
."Hey, quit it." The Wingdrake started crowding around him, trying to land on that tiny body of his. "I know, I know! It's good to see you guys too." He did what he could to pat their heads, only for them to fight over it and make him forget who he had rested his hand on. "Guess what, I brought friends this time." He gestured to the door as two other children wandered in.
The scarlet haired Erza.
The blue eyed Zack.
"Wow, so this is where they keep all the animals." Zack muttered, wandering into the corridor.
"There's so many." A wingdrake chose to land on Erza, almost flattening her in the process. "Hey!"
"I think he likes you." Zack said with a grin.
"Well she is the better looking person in this room." Zack looked at Gales for a moment as if he had said something heretical. "What?"
"Nothing."
Little Gram started to bark, pawing at the wooden gate that he couldn't get over. "I'm coming, I'm coming." Gales undid the locks, and the pup rushed him, running around him in a circle before trying to climb on top of him. "Hey buddy, how you been?" Gram barked at him, as he was lifted up, taking the time to lick the boy's face. "It's good to see you too." He turned to Aun and Oum just resting in their little space "Hey Aun, hey Oum, you two good?"
Aun seemed to nod in agreement as the rest of her pups ran out their enclosed space to meet the other guests.
"Puppies!" Zack was attacked in seconds as Erza just smiled slightly.
"Huh, you can smile." Gales muttered, taking a second to stare at the redhead.
"I gotta say, I wasn't expecting there to be so many animals here." Erza told Gales as he let go of Gram and started rubbing his fur. "I was expecting windrake, but not horses and Palamute." She continued.
"Why are there so many here?" Zack asked. "Don't get me wrong, but this is a Hunting school right? Not an animal shelter."
"Yeah well." Gales looked to Gram for a moment. "Ashe says that we'll be working with them later." Gales stated as he looked at the other children. "She says that when we go out into the world, we'll be bringing them with us." He shrugged. "Something about travel companions, and assisting us in the field. I stopped listening after I found out I could bring Gram with me." He grinned.
"Really?" Zack muttered as he leaned down to put a Palamute next to him. "What's this one's name."
"Morlen." Gales stated as he settled down on the floor. "He's usually not that friendly."
"Sounds like someone I know back home." Zack's thought back affectionately.
"When was the last time they got out?"
"I think about an hour ago." Gales muttered in thought. "They're usually let out to start their day."
"How do you know that?" Zack asked.
"I grew up here." Gales admitted. "I learned how the schedule works a long time ago."
"There's a schedule?" Gales seemed to roll his eyes.
"There's always a schedule."