‘So can anyone explain to me why I’m seeing a dozen or more different colored sand houses, glass and flame everywhere, why it’s suddenly tens of degrees hotter and basically why are we suddenly in a desert?’ Seren asks while looking around in awe.

‘I can answer that one for you. Like the guard said this is the desert jewel of the forest. The communities here originally come from the desert lands of the east but a few hundred years ago there were a series of major plagues in the area and these people’s ancestors choose to flee the area and eventually they settled here in the forest, but rather than adapt to the forest they adapted the forest to them in what is to this day considered one of the most impressive feats of magical terraforming ever seen. After choosing a base area to settle they had their gatherers spread out and collect all kinds of different dirts from wherever they could get out to while still being able to return. Once they had enough, due to the materials all being from different areas all the sands they created were multiple different colors and textures, this is the jewel part of the cities title well the sands as well as all the different colored glasswares of the city. As for the temperature, if you get a chance to look at the walls of not only the city but most of the buildings and homes here you’ll see enchantments on them. These enchantments take a certain amount of heat from each place they’re located and use it to passively increase the temperature within the entire city. It only works because for one the enchantments are all absolute works of art and two because of all the extra heat the city produces with their glass creation. All of that together plus some of the toughest yet closely knit people known in any location and you have CinderSands, the city of glass and fire, rolling dunes every color of the rainbow, mercenaries who don’t know the meaning of surrender or retreat and never break a deal, Outside of the academy this is one of the few major cities alternate energy users can go and expect to be reasonably safe and well treated. Here as long as you respect the people and their culture and have enough personal power then it’s no different for us than anyone else. In fact the folk here tend to like us more than Big 2 energy users.’

‘Damn Fairs, do all scouts at the academy need that level of background knowledge of where the team is going?’ Seren asks after Fairs finishes speaking.

‘It’s not just the scouts either, Seren, energy users like us are almost always at a disadvantage in terms of power or versatility. We typically don’t become truly powerful until we’re older and have come into contact with enough Daos to further our power and control plus give our bodies more compatibility with our energies.We have to use every scrap of knowledge, every dirty trick, and check every corner in order to compete and keep our standing as a major Imperial academy. The other academies are always looking for a chance to take us out of the rankings and trust me when I say that once we fall out, they won't be making it easy for us to get back in if not outright impossible.’ Braz answers while coming up from behind Serens and Fairs. ‘While I won’t call being raised in the pits lucky it did shelter you from certain things, after all when you’re fighting for your life everyday then no one really cares what kind of power you use do they. Users like us aren’t liked and if the academy falls out from the rankings then things will only get worse. You’re gonna have to start getting used to different sets of challenges now that you’re out of the pits.’

Looking sadder than a moment ago Seren responds, ‘I hadn’t thought things would be easier when I got out the pits but I was hoping the people would be nicer, that the worst of society was what I saw in the stands yellind down at us to fight and kill each other.

Picking him up and throwing him on her back like a much smaller child Cela comes up, ‘It does get easier, once you’re strong enough and can compete in the same power class people start to at least while you’re in the area be more circumspect with their prejudices.’

‘I suppose that means I just have to make sure that when issues come that I’m strong enough to handle them then huh.’ he says back while looking around from above Celas head.

‘Well said Seren, now let's go get resupplied, we can ask the local stores about where to stay for the night as well as ask around about who we can take with us.’ Braz claps Serens back and then without so much as pause, ‘ETHER ROCKS CARAVAN MOVE OUT!’

‘ETHER ROCKS.’ They all thunder and while the locals look around confused Seren just huddles into Celas shoulders blushing.