(Alex, 16)

"Good morning, Alex," Jason greets me when I enter the dining room.

He's already seated and dressed in his university robes, digging into the breakfast his housekeeper prepared. This is unusual, I've had to wake him in his workshop every morning this week. Did he avoid doing that today because of the trip his class is going on?

"Good morning, Jason," I return his greeting. "No sudden realization last night?"

"I carefully avoided falling back asleep," he shakes his head. "I wanted to talk to you about something?"

"I'm not going to-"

"Stop trying to pay me, I know," he nods. "I'm also not going to accept it, Alex. I've told you that. This has nothing to do with that. Actually, since I'll be gone and the group is supposed to meet today, I wanted to ask you to lead it."

"To do what?" I freeze and stare at him.

"Just run the same drill as Monday," he tells me. "Magic control training to start, then a series of physical exercises, followed by manipulating each basic element in a circle for as long as you can, finishing the session with that."

"Why me?" I ask.

"Because out of everyone in the group," he answers. "You're the only one not in an S-Class who I would actually trust to lead the training session."

I can't tell is he's screwing with me or not.

"Also," he adds as I take my seat, his housekeeper setting a plate of food and a goblet of water in front of me. I still marvel at the fact that I can drink water whenever I want here, rather than watered-down ale each morning. It's strange and makes me even more uncomfortable. "You made one hundred varru last weekend, yes?"

"Yes," I nod. "I want to give you at least-"

"Stop," he holds up a hand. "I told you that you can stay here for as long as you need to or want to. You agreed to that. That is our agreement. The mention of money was never involved. That said, if you want to pay for a place to live, I found a few locations that might suit you. If you consistently earn at least one hundred varru each weekend and are able to find two or three roommates to split the rent, you should be fine. There is a low-quality housing for eight hundred varru each month, and another, little bit better one, for one thousand each month. If you want a place with plumbing or magic lighting, they start at fifteen hundred a month. I only looked at places that would be within a suitable distance from the universities."

I guess all charities come to end. That's his way of kicking me out.

"That said," he continues without allowing me time to really think more on his mention of those. "You are free to stay as long as you like, Alex. That was our agreement. Jacob told me that refusing to accept payment from you was making you uncomfortable, though I don't understand his smirk when he said that."

He told you about that? And his smirk was probably because he was trying to insinuate I was offering a different kind of payment, but you're oblivious to all of his comments.

"That is the only reason," Jason tells me. "That I even looked into other places for you. If it really does bother you to stay here for free, or to stay here at all, as he suggested, then let me know once you find roommates and I can introduce you to those people looking for tenants. That said, take your time. I would recommend building up some savings, first, as well to find people you trust to split the rent with rather than just anyone. You are welcome to stay here, rent-free, as long as you wish."

I just nod in response. I'm not sure what to make of what he's saying, so it's best to just nod and move on. When it is time to leave, we finish getting ready, then Jason opens a gate to his classroom, as usual.

Once we're there, Prince Jacob walks with me to our university, then we go our separate ways for class. I have drills all day today, and by the time lessons end, am a sweaty, exhausted mess, just like last Sorday.

I debate on what to do, since Jason won't be around, then decide to go to the training group just to see how much of a jerk he is actually being. He probably told them to not listen to me. When I arrive the six members not in S-Class in either of the two universities are waiting.

"Jason told us you were leading the group today," Kylie, a second-year upper orange who joined us on Monday, says. "He asked me to let you know to let the valet know if you weren't going straight to the house after as well."

He told them to let me lead? I bet he also told them to ignore me or be stubborn.

"Alright," I walk over to the desk and stand in front of them, uncomfortable as I hold up my hands. "Let's start with the magic control. Same amount as Jason instructed yesterday."

Surprisingly, everyone listens. I can't read magics like Jason can, so I'm not able to help them adjust their amounts for optimal training, but this part of it runs like normal. The next part is pushups, situps, and runs up and down the stairs, and I run everyone through the same as we did on Monday. No complaints or resistance. The same thing happens with elemental control training.

By the time the session ends, I'm a bit confused about what's going on. Jason must be planning something big if he convinced them all to actually listen to me.

We part ways for the weekend, and I make my way outside, walking to the carriage. I'm exhausted and just want to rest, my body is sore from all the training at the university. Prince Jacob told me that most are for the first few weeks, but my body will adjust to it.

I've fought before, but I've never been put through training like this, which is causing my muscles to work in ways they never have before.

"Alex!" A familiar voice calls as I reach the carriage, and I turn to find a quartet of boys and a girl standing there. The one who called my name is twelve, with dark blond hair and a bright smile, his green eyes hinting to his northern ancestry. "Hiiii!"

"Guys," I take a moment to process their presence here. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

These are some of the members from my old street gang. They're all dressed in the ratty clothes common for street rats, no pouches of money to be seen and at least one knife visible on each. The one who called me is Jed, though we all call him Jeddy. There is Mikey, who is fourteen, Colin, who is fifteen, and then Barry and Sarah, who are sixteen.

"Things were boring without you around," Barry says, and I feel my face heat up, quickly turning my gaze back to Jeddy, who's run over and is holding out his fist for a bump, which I give him. "So we thought we'd come visit you. Nice clothes."

"They're the uniform for the Royal Knight University," I inform him as the other approach.

"You made it in?" He asks, and I nod. "Sweet! We've got some coin, want to come celebrate with us?"

I'm a bit suspicious as to why they're here. It takes a couple of weeks to reach us from Varilar, more so when avoiding patrols and such. They had to have left around the time I arrived here in Varil City, and the gang don't abandon. The only reason I left on good terms with it was because everyone in the gang dreamed of serving the kingdom.

"Sure," I say, then look at the valet. "I'll be out with them, thanks."

The valet dips his head, then closes the door and climbs into his seat and gets the horses moving.

"The university provide that for ya, too, Alex?" Sara asks.

"No," I shake my head. "I'm staying with one of the students at the Royal Magic University, that's his carriage. It's a temporary arrangement until I can find my own place."

"You're staying with some fancy noble?" Mikey asks as he inspects the carriage.

"No," I shake my head. "But he is wealthy. I think he's seeing me as a pity case. Come on, there's a tavern not far from here that's got good grub and cheap ale. It's meant for university students, and plenty of them are commoners. How did you find me so quickly?"

"We've actually been in town a few days," Barry answers as I lead them down the street. "We only managed to find out that you'd been seen hanging out around here from some of the rats earlier."

"Which gang are you staying with?" I ask. "How long are you in town for?"

"Probably awhile," he answers. "The group we're hanging with right now's on the other side of the city. Varil City is so much larger than Varilar, we were surprised when we found out it takes a couple of hours to walk from one end to the other straight-on."

"Same," I nodded. "How's the gang back home?"

"Doing good," he answers, though something in his voice tells me all might not be well.

"Something happen after I leave?" I ask.

"It's just," he scratches the back of his head. "Without you there, there was some conflict after about a week. It's all sorted out now, though."

"Who's in charge?" I ask.

"I am," he answers. "Though Jeffy's running things until I return."

Hm. Something's not right, and he should know better than to lie to me or hide stuff from me. The gang knows I always find out the truth.

We reach the tavern and take a seat, and as we eat the cheap food and ale, catch up on things. I notice that they only talk about the first few days of my absence, yet try to make it seem like they're talking about up until they left.

Something happened, and none of them want me to know about it. When we finish eating, Barry even covers everyone's meal, which is suspicious. Gang rules are that you cover your own food unless there's a prior agreement with the others present. In addition, he paid in minimal pieces, not whatever variety of coins he had.

Whatever it was, they had to travel light and condense their money. Barry is acting as lead for all of them, with the most money on-hand and pays for larger expenditures. The others have their money as well, but are avoiding spending it unless necessary to reduce the amount of small coin on-hand. In addition to that, they each have a minor scan spell cast at all times. The rule is usually only the lead or the two leads, due to interference. The buzzing isn't easy to manage, and with the interference I'm receiving, I know they each have it active.

Only one thing can be interpreted from all of those put together.

They're in escape protocol, a backup plan in case of emergency. They likely aren't actually staying with a gang, but keeping their heads down, having found a quiet place to rest at night. No doubt they've come to a temporary agreement with a gang that has little influence and enemies, no doubt in one of the poorer sections of Varil City, where making a living on the street is less likely. With how big Varil City is, it's possible they even found a section that has no gang running it.

What happened that forced them to leave Varilar? Were they banished from the gang? Barry and Sara were my most trusted members. Barry even walked out with me for a few months before I decided to try for university. We ended that relationship because of my trip, so it would make sense if someone mutinied against him that he would be banished, and Sara as well.

Jeddy probably left if they said they were going to seek me out, since he's like a little brother to us all and probably missed me, the 'biggest brother'. Mikey and Colin were close friends of mine, and if there was a severe change in leadership, I can see them protesting against it and finding themselves exiled. They were loyal to the leaders, not to the gang.

To be banished from a street gang is the same as a death sentence. Every other gang is your enemy, so it would be unlikely for any to take you in and quite likely they'd stab you soon as you asked. Living on the streets without a gang is tough, and the guards'd nick you fast. You'd find yourself beaten and in gaol, and after starving day after day, finally die or catch the ill. Might even catch ill in goal, since you get beaten and dumped in there for a few days or weeks.

So the five of them were banished, grabbed what money they had, and made their way here, to find me one last time. Odds are, some of what they have was nicked or scammed on the way here. They'll probably look for a new city to set up camp in rather than stay here, since I'm now in a different social status than them and being near me would be tough. It would be bad for me to associate with street rats, even if I was one, as a knight-in-training, and they wouldn't want to trouble me.

They don't want to make me worry or upset, though, so they aren't telling me. They'll probably tell me that they're returning to Varilar after staying a few days, then leave. They know that as long as I stick to university, I won't be able to return until at least next summer, which would give them almost a year's start on making a new life for themselves in another city. To disappear.

It bothers me, that they don't trust me with that information, but I can understand them. They don't want me to abandon my studies and return to Varilar to deal with the situation. I'll respect that wish of theirs.

After we leave the tavern, the six of us walk around for awhile, not talking much. I can tell something's on their minds, it's probably bothering them to not tell me what's going on. Just as I open my mouth to mention something as we walk down yet another alley, I sigh.

"Everything alright?" Barry asks.

"Yeah," I answer. "We've been followed for the last half-hour. They're out of your ranges."

Barry, who can stretch his scan the furthest of them, can only scan around twenty-three feet around him. Sara can manage twenty, and the rest are under fifteen. Whoever these people are, they seem to know the gang's ranges, as they're hovering around five feet out of Barry's.

"If you sighed-" everyone's hands go to their knives as Sara looks around.

"I'll handle them, back it up on my move," I interrupt her, gripping the knife in it only loosely. "They moved and cut off our path out of this alley. There are two just around each corner up there," I indicate an intersection in the alley. "For four up there. There are also four down the alley we just passed up. Before, they were on the roofs above us or far enough back we wouldn't notice, hiding behind objects so that we wouldn't see them when we glance back. Rats, just like us. Rats who know your ranges."

Rats from Varilar.

I flip my knife around, then spin and charge back the way we came, jumping and pushing off the wall to throw myself into the alley. Tackling the first rat to the ground, I quickly slice through his belt and wrist while creating a thin barrier over my hand to deflect the knife of another before plunging mine into the chest of the first. Kicking out, I sweep the second rat's feet out from under him, and as he goes down, I slice with my knife, cutting through the back of an ankle. I plunge my knife into his chest as he recoils.

The other two try to attack me while I'm still down, but I spring to my feet, enhancing my strength to propel me up into the air. I kick off the wall and spin, cutting into the back of the neck of one of them before plunging my knife into the back of the fourth, twisting before I pull it out.

As I finish off those four, my gang crosses the entrance to this alley, and a moment later, the other four rats enter my view. I launch myself at them, my knife cutting into the neck of one, then I bend back to avoid the knife of another, my knife cutting across his chest, digging into it. With my free hand, I grab his arm and use it to pull myself straight as I flip him over, plunging my knife into his eye as I toss him into one of the other two.

Charging forward, I kick out with a foot and catch the one still free in the stomach, before cutting into the one I threw another at with my knife, my blade slicing the front of his throat. The one I kicked lunges at me, and I recognize the signs of a water barrier around his skin. It's thin and fast-moving, and not an easy trick to perform.

Not unexpected, though. Rats with a water affinity often learn how to create such a thing, as it helps with protecting against attacks. He has a moderate level of control, as he's created it around his neck and hands. Anyone touched by that with their bare skin will find it ripped off by the speed.

I flick my wrist, and spikes shoot out of his shield of water, cutting into his throat in six places. One of the many reasons they called me the Leviathan back in Varilar was because of my affinity for water and ability to manipulate another rat's. It probably wouldn't work on an actual magician with talent, but for rats, it's quite effective.

"That was fun," I say as Jeddy rushes over to me, hands out.

Jeddy uses first water magic to clean me of the blood, then air magic to dry me.

"There ya go!" He says.

"Thanks," I say, then look at the rats. The reason they knew about the gang's ranges became obvious the moment I saw their colors and marks. "Those are Varilar market rats. Why did the markies follow you to Varil City?"

Everyone gives me hesitant looks, and I stare down Barry.

"A few days after ya left," he caves under the intensity of my stare. "The city guard cracked down on rats in gangs. They started roundin' us up and tossing us in gaol, but most, they just up and killed. The ones who were caught and put in gaol were executed, a lot on made-up charges. They just wanted to get rid of the rats, and with Leviathan Alex gone, got a lot braver."

My presence alone was enough to scare guards? Are they joking?

"Part of it," Colin says. "Probably has to do with the fact that lots of gangs started fighting over our turf as soon as it was confirmed ya were gone. There was already a lot of issue and gang fighting. It wasn't really affecting the regulars, but the guards didn't care, they decided that the streets needing cleaning and rats needed killing."

"We don't even know who's still alive," Barry looks down, his voice quiet. He's ashamed. "The five of us were able to make it out, but half the gang was killed, and we didn't know what to do. We couldn't fight the guards, and they'd never done something like that before. We grabbed what we could and fled. I ran into Mikey and Colin on the way here, they both were looking to get as far from Varilar as possible, while Sara Jeddy, and I were coming here to see ya before heading down to maybe Venmar or something. We were going to tell ya before we left Varil City, I promise."

"And the markies?"

"Probably fled as well," Barry shrugged. "We've run into a few others, though this was the first time any tried something like this."

"Loot them," I order. "Get their knives, money, and anything valuable. Then let's get out of here."

"Right," they said and got to work, looting everything worth it in only two minutes.

Five minutes later, we're clear of those alleys, and no one should link it back to us. They're just rats, who die all the time, so it's unlikely the guards would even care. Gangs are always fighting over turf, and since they were wearing colors and badges, but not any from around here, it's likely it'll be assumed they were either a wannabe new gang or a group from out of town who attacked too big a fish.

"I'm not going to bother asking where you're staying," I tell them as we walk through the main streets, even though we'd all be more comfortable in the alleys. "But people can try to apply for the academy once they're sixteen at the end of every term. If you decide to stay in Varil City… you can try for university. It'd require studying like mad so you can meet the tougher requirements, since you need to be able to pass both the entrance exam and the minimum passing score for the first term's collective tests, but it can help you. Before that, joining the hunter's guild or finding a job could help you earn honest money. It would be safer, and you could stay in town. The guy I'm staying with knows a few places that can take several tenants who split the rent, we could even stay together."

"I doubt they'd let rats do that kind of stuff," Barry says.

"I don't know about how you'd find an honest job," I shrug. "It took me a week of looking and a little luck, and I ended up losing it 'cause of some nobles who didn't want a rat going to university. The hunter's guild doesn't care, though. They didn't ask, just required ID, then checked to make sure I wasn't on some list before they made an ID for me to show that I'm a D-Rank hunter of theirs. Didn't even cost me, though replacing the guild ID will cost a hundred varru. The pay isn't great as a weekend job, but I'm sure you and Sara could manage on your own. Most of it for a D-Rank's just hunting weak beasts outside of town. Have to be sixteen, so the rest of you would need something else."

"I don't know," Barry says, the rest of them looking uncomfortable. "There are so many nobles in this town. The city's too big. We'll be here a few more days."

"Well," I say. "That's a few days to change your mind."

"Yeah," he smiles. "Maybe we will. We'll think about it. Seriously, Alex. We will."

"Alright," I smile back. "It's only been a month or so, but I've missed all of you."

"We missed you, too," he smiles. "Got yourself a proper romance, here?"

"No," I answer as my mind momentarily draws up an image of Jason before I push it down. "I'm a street rat, street romances are all I can get."

"You're a university student," Sara smiles. "Get yourself a proper student romance."

"What's even the difference?" I ask.

"A street romance ain't proper," Barry smirks. "They're just quick and dirty, there for the fun and not the love. Ain't no point getting in love on the streets, but you ain't on the streets anymore, Mr. Student. A student romance's where you get with one of your seniors at university."

"Maybe I'd rather have a street romance," I smirk back. "It seemed pretty fun last time, though my memory might be a bit fuzzy on that. I might've been drunk for most of it."

"Let me remind you of it," Barry says, and before I register what's happening, he's stepped forward and pressed his lips to mine. We kiss for a few moments, ignoring the looks of those around us, then stops. "So, did that jog your memories at all?"

"Nah," I say. "I feel like having a drink, though. Hey, I think I just found out why I was drinking so much during my last street romance!"

(Jason, 16)

I feel my breathing increasing heavily as anger wells up in me. Why am I getting angry over Alex joking around with someone like that? This isn't like me, I don't get angry and have control over my body. So why is it reacting like this?

Forcing myself to take several deep breaths, I look at Niko, who is giving me an uneasy look.

"What?" I ask.

"I was just confused," he says in Marran, since it's easier for him to talk in it than Varilan and I can speak it well enough to hold conversation. "Is it normal for two boys to kiss in Varil? In my homeland, it is considered taboo."

"It's not," I tell him. "We don't forbid it or anything, but most people dislike it for some stupid reason. Alex and his friend were just joking around, though."

It was just them messing around. The kiss didn't mean anything, they were just fooling around. That's all it was.

"Come on," I say. "I think the restaurant was right around this corner."

"Okay," he nods, then looks at the package in his hand. "Do you think she will like it?"

"I'm not sure," I answer. "Maybe?"

The joint training trip ended up getting canceled due to some emergency that required several of the guides, or Royal Knights and Royal Mages assigned to assess our skills and give us feedback during the trip, using their years of experience to help us grow. Because of the short notice, they were unable to find suitable replacements for the trip.

So we're going next weekend instead, and Niko and I decided to take a walk around town and familiarize ourselves with it a little more. As we were talking, he saw something in a shop window he wanted to purchase for Lina, even though as royals, they would normally be purchasing and receiving custom gifts, and only on special occasions.

I suppose Niko feels the need to try to win her love in addition to simply being betrothed. That, or he just saw it and genuinely wanted to get it for her out of love, no ulterior motive. Knowing what I know about Niko, it was probably the latter case.

As we were looking for a restaurant someone had recommended to us, we came across Alex. I guess I shouldn't be surprised he's familiarized himself with some of the street rats, since he's a former one. Being around them probably makes him more comfortable, but I would have thought traveling through alleys would as well.

They happened to be going the same direction we were, and ended up stopping and messing around. Now, I'm feeling all sorts of things I'm not familiar with and my body tensed up and everything. I'm so confused.

Deciding to push all of this back, I start walking again, and Niko follows. No use looking at confusing things, the answer eventually reveals itself on its own.

"Mind if I stay at your apartment until Sunday afternoon?" I ask Niko. "Alex may have had made plans to have guests over while we're gone, and I'd rather not ruin those."

As much as something in me doesn't want him to have someone else over. What is going on with me?

"That is okay," he tells me. "The house that was arranged for me feels far too big and empty. There is me and a handful of staff members. I am used to the royal castle and its dozens of servants and dozens of residents. I have never had a friend stay the night, though."

"Well," I smile. "You have several friends now, so don't worry about that. Ah! There's the restaurant!"