Time passed and meals were the fuel. After the demanding lectures, meal time was Auren and Eiran's favorite time of the day. Eiran usually turned meal time inti a theater for Auren.
The fox was dramatic even when chewing fish and always without fail, after classes they sparred. Auren and Eiran did not want to be plagued by a sense of weakness. Dust, Sweat, Flames and illusions filled the courtyard with echoes of their clashes.
Through all this, Eiran's illusions grew sharper, tangible and his Spatial Primis grew more flexible and robust. Auren's flames burned with more control and his ice froze what he desired. His fists punched faster, his kicks harder and their partnership hardened them like tempered steel.
The days would end when the last bell rings. The moons would rise, pale and watchful, Auren would train again by himself deep in the night, stretching every hour to the edge of exhaustion before surrending to sleep.
In these days Gray had taken to calling him Boss permanently even though he was older at 19 years. The Mezasor Therion of a roommate proved to be a balance that Auren needed.
In this routine, Six months passed. Half a year had blurred into muscle and memory.
When Auren finally stood before a mirror again, he almost didn't recognize himself. His frame had filled out, lean muscle cut across his shoulders and arms, strength carved into him like a sculptor's knife. He had grown taller now standing at 5'9ft.
Auren's boyish proportions stretched into something sharper and much more dangerous. He was growing into the predator his bloodline embodies.
Auren observed himself more and he looked at his hair. The long silver curls that had trailed down his back were no longer there. He remembered how Eiran cried seeing him cut his hair.
Auren was comfortable with the length he had now. He cut them to his neck because he was unable to endure the endless tangles during combat. Now it framed his face like a cold halo, accentuating the intensity of his cerulean blue eyes.
As usual, Auren headed to class and met with Eiran there who's been his seatmate from the first day. The routine had already been ingrained in his system so he had forgotten that in the academic year there is a 2 week holiday break.
The lectures bid them farewell cutting classes short because it was time for the first years to enjoy their first holiday break of the academic year.
Eiran had been ecstatic, tails flicking wildly, his terminal buzzed with nonstop messages to his family and friends. Auren also messaged his parents and brothers of the break.
That night Eiran didn't sleep and was busy planning the things they would do and the games he would play. Auren watched through the video call as Eiran paced three trunks worth of clothes, accessories and snacks.
His excuse was 'just in case' the food at home wasn't to his taste. Auren quickly debunked that excuse because Eiran is royalty.
Auren also packed and when the sun rose he realized he hadn't slept a wink.
[Maybe I missed home more than I'll admit.]
He smiled and left his room with just a single trunk of his necessities. Auren thought Gray would have left but it turns out he wasn't even ready yet.
"Are you staying?" Auren asked curiously.
"Yeah. Go on, Boss. I'll hold your room down and maybe flirt with our neighbor while your gone." Gray joked with a toothy grin.
Auren rolled his eyes but didn't comment again. With a slight wave of his hand he bid his roommate farewell. On the lift many students had already gotten used to the intermixed life with nobles and royalty so Auren was at peace.
No one stared like they did in the first days and no one bullied the others to take the stairs. When Auren arrived at the lobby he saw the trunks first before Eiran.
"You're seriously going with all this?" Auren asked while knocking a trunk
"Of course what if I'm robbed in between. Or I get lost? Or kidnapped? I need to have essentials nearby." Eiran explained himself, tails flicking proudly.
"Essentials such as perfume? Body sprays and shower gels?" Auren asked further having already taken a peak inside one of the trunks.
"I have very specific scent choices." Eiran argued while glaring at Auren.
They walked to the main gate where they both saw their respective carriages. Auren looked to the left and saw the purple and gold carriage carrying the Myrra Dominion sigil and the white horses garbed in red ornaments and just sighed.
[How did I even become friends with him?]
Auren received a hug from Eiran and he just tapped his back twice in reciprocation. He watched the excited fox jump into his carriage and depart.
Auren walked a bit further and found his personal carriage waiting for him. His butler Han was also there. The old man's eyes widened faintly when he saw Auren's taller frame, stronger gait and shortened hair.
"Young master," he said warmly, "You've grown."
Auren smiled and nodded his head,
"I see you're still the same Han."
The Butler laughed happily, "I am only 50,000 years. I still have more to love for"
Auren watched the old man jump to the driver seat,
[Therions are really built different. I wonder how long I'll get to live.]
Auren entered the carriage and the journey home began.
[We'll probably go through the town center. The first time using that teleportation waypoint was so weird I wonder if that feeling is still there.]
The Butler noticed Auren's silence and engaged him. "Young master, how was school?"
"School was fun. I got into a fight on my first day with an upperclassman. Made a friend and learned to control my bloodline. I've attained knowledge of how to merge my bloodline but it's not concrete. Then I..."
Auren continued to speak, telling his butler Han of his school life. Han was more than surprised, his silent young master is now so talkertive about the things he loves.
"Oh and my friend Eiran he's royalty from Myrra Dominion. He's a price like me but he behaves in a manner that is casual and flamboyant. He is actually...."
Auren spoke about Eiran that he didn't even notice he crossed the teleportation waypoint and his spatial sickness didn't activate. By the time they arrived home, Auren had exhausted telling of all his experience.
Han was happy watching his young mater's eyes shine with life and excitement and even irritation. These were emotions he did not have before his awakening and even after they were muted.
[School is truly the place where children grow. I'm happy for you Auren]
Auren looked out the window, he was home in Blest Dominion. The palace glistened like a fortress carved from silver stone. Auren stepped off the carriage and walked towards the palace doors.
Walking through the familiar halls, Auren felt a strange pull of nostalgia, one that belonged to this life and not the fragments that lurked in his soul.
[I really do have a home. My own home.]
Auren was still admiring his home when he felt an attack from behind. His training kicked in and he held the punch then delivered a round kick but Auren felt his ankle being caught in an iron like grip.
"Oi!" The red haired dragon complained. "Is this how you greet me?!"
Auren looked at his brother Rai'en in amazement, "You're not short anymore."
Rai'en glared at Auren at the blunt comment, "How can I let our last born defeat me?" He released Auren's leg and observed his brother,
"Damn baby bro. You're really packing aren't you." Auren rolled his eyes at the comment,
"When did you get your growth spurt?" Rai'en smirked at Auren's question.
"When I stimulated my Bloodline. Genesis Academy does some really harsh teaching but it's great."
"Genesis?" Auren echoed.
Rai'en didn't answer and just walked towards the back garden. When they arrived, Seraphina saw her last born and a bright smile filled her face.
"Auren! Welcome back"
"Hi mother." Auren smiled back and hugged her even tighter.
Seraphina looked at her sons. Her youngest sons with Rai'en being 17 and Auren being 15. [They will be turning an extra year while still in their academies]. This thought brought tears to Seraphina's eyes.
Auren and Rai'en were puzzled and did ter best to comfort her. After spending a day together, the older brothers weren't coming home they each had missions to do but Auren's father Fenvaros came home.
Later in the night, Auren remembered that Rai'en went to Genesis Academy instead of Nexus Academy so he asked his father.
Fenvaros sat back in his chair, his gaze calm but a bit heavy,
"Genesis Academy is a harsh training ground. They take students who are 16 and above and train them for 2 harsh years then their last year is experiencing the real world. I doubted you would endure it... And I would not risk it."
Auren clenched his jaw, the faintest heat of irritation rose in him. [He just decided for me?!] Auren looked to his father and saw deep within his eyes that he really wished the best for him. But,
"Why did you decide for me?"
Fenvaros sighed, his eyes lingered on Auren. Not as a king to a citizen but as a parent to a child.
Auren looked into his father's eyes and just exhaled slowly, "I see."
It was easier to accept it as love than as doubt.