A small caravan can be seen coming up the gates of a city, ‘Hey I think we’ve got a group incoming.’ a guard with a pair of binoculars says while nudging another guard.

The other guard also spies the caravan and lets them finish approaching before calling out, ‘Halt! What brings you to the gates of CinderSands, the desert jewel of the forest.’ he finishes while his chest and voice are filled with pride for his home.

‘We’re a caravan from Alternate Havan making our return trip and we hope to board for the night, resupply and possibly recruit for the Academy.’ Braz replies for the group from below.

‘Oh, well if it’s you lot as long as you all don’t make as huge a scene as the last group of you did then you’re more than welcome but the city lord was mighty upset when he favorite bar got burned down last time I suggest you take my advice seriously.’ saying this the guard opens up the gate and let’s them enter.

After the group has entered the city the guard who first spotted them turns and asks, ‘Don’t most academies recruit, I don’t know more covertly than that?’ while looking at the other guard curiously.

‘You’re right, most do. The reason they do it differently is because despite being the lowest ranked major academy in the empire, they have the easiest time recruiting of all academies within the empire. It’s actually a bit pitiful, they come to cities and small towns to gather students and as soon as everyone knows who they are the locals start pushing people forward as if it’s their greatest joy to get rid of them.’ the guard answers while sighing and looking and looking out towards the trees.

‘I don’t understand, why is it so easy for them to get students. I know people don’t like alternate energy users much outside the city but surely it’s not that.’ the first guard cuts him off and and finishes for him, ‘bad? I assure it is. You’re young and you’re a local, you’ve never spent more than a few days outside the city so you haven’t seen it. Seen what it’s like to be different from everyone else and most importantly usually weaker than them too. All of sudden no matter the personality of the person, whether they deserve it or not, they suddenly become the dumping ground of everyone’s problems. They’re to blame for everything going wrong in their lives, suddenly it's your fault these people continue to make the same bad decisions and fall to the same old hates and ruin their own lives. No, it's your fault. All because you can’t do things the same way as them or you aren’t powerful in the same way as them.’ the guard finishes and folds his arms, leans forward onto the top of the wall and continues to stare out into the forest.

The first guard just stares stunned at his back and then turns back to also stare out into the forest.