"Well, what do we have here?" 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kTrRQdfgc
I could recognize that burly voice a mile away. "If it isn't Sans the Great." Sans was my sparring partner growing up, as well as one of my closest friends. We did almost everything together. He was a cool guy and an even bigger - 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXwwjUwSwL
"You're looking a bit chilly ladies. Allow me to warm you up with my charm, especially you Tua. You're looking extra icy today," he said while draping both arms around Tua and I.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxa9PElXP3b
Player. All I could do was sigh and scoff. "You never change, you know that Sans?" I elbowed him is his ribs hard enough for him to let out a slight gasp with a tinge of laughter. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsMNzHx53M
"You insolent pest," murmured Tua while she twisted back his arm in a move I haven't seen before. She must've learned it recently at Coven. Sans winced as his arm was, with obvious discomfort, forced behind his back. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7Kq4qtmLw
"Nice one, T." Another familiar voice. I was too busy chuckling to myself that I didn't notice Blu come up behind us. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrt8TTCvmkY
Sans turned his head as much as he could to face our new guest. "Don't encourage unnecessary violence, Bl- ah! Okay, okay. I surrender Tua!" 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFP8QiISUB
"That's more like it." Tua smirked as she slowly released her hold on Sans. "Now that you've experienced a bit of my strength, think twice before you do anything like that again." Her eyes narrowed but her mouth revealed a different emotion. The hard line began to quiver and a second later, Tua broke her serious demeanor and soon, all us followed suit. My abdomen hurt by the time we were done. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqDy2cRU9w
"I see you've been paying attention in class." Sans gave Tua a soft smile and I could have sworn that a bit of color flooded her cheeks. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUMf3u558l
"Hello people! We can talk more on the train. If we don't pick up the pace, we're gonna be late and then we'll really get it from Drakonthor." Blu bolted off with her bright red tendrils trailing behind her. She was a small thing but man, could she run. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGMlNxV1Mk
"Shall we?" Sans asked while stretching his arm towards Blu, who was now a considerable distance away from us. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVSJJVC8WE
We all picked up our pace and headed in her direction. Tua struggled with her fabric until Sans grabbed her arm and practically dragged her along with him. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9QNm96L7P
"Wait!" She squeaked. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREvqb9Vq2G
I turned around to jog backwards long enough to say one phrase. "That's what you get for being a prissy princess." With that, I turned back and continued my efforts to arrive at the station in time to catch the train. To my surprise, it didn't take too long, but I was definitely out of breath by the time Tua, Sans, and I finally reached Blu.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FqAwQdJO7
By the time the four of us arrived, the aspiring graduates from Haqir were still flooding into the vast structure. The station in Haqir was a relatively large place. Banners representing each land, including the capital, were plastered across the carved stone walls, stretching from the ground to the top of the arched ceiling. Memos reminding us all of the mottos we Yanzenians live by are placed anywhere your eyes can see. I can't help but frown at their sight. Seeing those hypocritical lines always seems to dampen my mood every time I step foot in this place.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAbIY0BYp3
From a young age, all Yanzenians are taught the same way of life. It's not exactly a completely fair way of life. Each land that makes up Yanzen, excluding the capital, has a speciality that is meant to "help the kingdom" when in reality, our goods are taken for the sole purpose of providing for the capital with little to nothing in return. We are taught to never question this process and only do as we are directed by our higher-ups. It's not like any of the lands outside the capital are dirt-poor, but it is true that we are nothing compared to the capital. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtFSctBizT
Our riches vary from land to land. The lowest of the four is Trotir. Trotir is located on the south side of the capital. Their specialty is crops. They are in charge of advancements in agriculture. Third on the list goes to Gurir, located on the east, next to the sea. The Gurirans are in charge of trade. They travel the sea to other kingdoms in search of anything and everything that can possibly be of any help to Yanzen. The second most important land is my home, Haqir. Haqir is located in the north and our job is to make advancements in medicine. Our ancestors were those who were the most knowledgeable in terms of herbs and such so when Yanzen was founded, medical care was the job assigned to our land. At the top of the list, lies Renir, located on the western side of the capital. Renir has the most important specialty of all; weaponry. The land of Renir has an abundance of the most extraordinary metals and materials found only on the grounds of Yanzen. Being in such circumstances, it would only make sense for advancements in weaponry to be the job they're most known for. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKWRJiuU98
That leaves the capital, which doesn't have a specific name. At least not anymore. It's official name that was given to it in the beginning of Yanzen is Doren. No one calls it Doren anymore. There's a possibility that those who live in the capital still call it by it's true name but those of us in the outskirts have our own name for that place. We call it Altusiqua. It means high horse in a language that is a cross between the official language of Yanzen and a language the four outside lands created after sharing dislike for the capital. The capital's "specialty" is technology. It less of a specialty and more like a simple role. Those who choose that path in Coven reside in Altusiqua. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMa3yFlttx3
My train of thought was broken by the loud, screeching, sound of the Attendèrta on the podium in front of the station. All conversations occurring at that time ceased immediately and the room fell dead-silent. Yuna Drakonthor, Haqir's representative from Altusiqua, took the stage. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsMtMh3G6H
"Good morning to you all. It is the day of one of the most prestigious exams you'll take in your entire life; the Grads." Yuna paced across the stage. Her flowing crimson robes followed her gracefully. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrGEgw1a0x
Grads was the shortened form of graduation exams. None of us are really sure how it happened, but it stuck. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxRiLKt5PC
"You are the new generation of Haqir. Do not be a disappointment to your people. Show your strength. You are more than what you were born to be."697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNoUISwx5p
Yuna's piercing gold eyes locked on mine as she made that last statement. She stopped pacing and removed her hood, letting loose her mane of ebony curls that fell at her tailbone. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkN0acB0yzt
"As you all board the train to Coven, focus down. Think about what you are there to do. Don't let nerves get in your way. If they do, you don't deserve to be an example of Yanzen. We are strong people. We don't need any wimps in our workforce. Is that understood?" Her voice bellowed through the walls of the station. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB8UasOGtl
"Yes, Ma'am!" All of our voices rang out in unison. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmoL2SpJ4b
"Good. Open the gates!" Yuna turned toward the heavy metal doors. They rumbled as they rose and locked in place with a loud click. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ULxJ4aFsd
There in front of us was a sight I'll never get tired of seeing. The endless, silver carriage glistened in the morning sunlight. The train was beautiful. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkd2ABLlErS
"There's your future." Yuna called out pointing at the train. "I hope you all heed my words well." Her eyes locked on mine again. She gave me a smile. A smile? From Yuna Drakonthor? What was up with everyone today? 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bIQCOxQXb
We began to move toward the gates and before I could react, I realized that I lost sight of Tua, Sans, and Blu. I searched the crowd to no avail until I found the infamous giant with an ash blonde ponytail, silver hair about a foot below the giant, and a tiny red head right next to the two, several yards in front of me. I danced through the crowd, swiftly dodging bodies until I finally reached my friends. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBulUgB8GX
"Ready for the Grads?" I asked them.697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiWOXEkXdL
They all yelped in response and went on about how I shouldn't scare them like that. 697Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9lb75ZYKQ
Upon reaching the train, the doors hissed open and everyone filed in. It was pretty packed, but not as much as usual. Some people must have decided not to take the exams today. This wasn't an abnormal occurrence, but it wasn't one that was generally accepted either. Once we were all situated, the doors closed with a second hiss, and off we were to Coven.
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