The Pilot

"Magnificent as ever!"

A girl stared outside, her eyes taking in the charm of her surroundings. As far as the view stretched, thousands of rock islands could be seen floating, suspended mid air at different altitudes and bristling, ever so slightly with the breeze.

Some islands had mountains that disappeared into the clouds while some boasted of the farms with the most exotic vegetation.

Appraising, her eyes wandered to the far left of her sight, taking in the vast mountain, and the crescendo with a ring hanging over it like an antique chandelier- the symbol of the Aristocrats.

And she huffed.

Soon, her gaze flickered down towards the crystalline waters, dotted with encampments, where the celestial guards lingered, the only proof of their presence being the flickering flames of blue, here and there, their covert form.  And their sole purpose being, guarding the tower in the centre - The Presidium.

The Presidium is where the High Deity lives.  Deity does not live in the tower. No. She lives beyond the clouds, looking over the Sacred Wood, the tree which blesses, fall of whose flowers signifies birth, and rot of which will mark the disaster as had happened 500 years back.

"Greetings class!"

The girl snapped out of her stupor, whipping her head towards the voice, and away from the window on her side.

Shoes clattered in the background, as everyone stood up in unison, their right arm slipping behind their backs while the left hand rested palm front on their sternum as their eyes closed and they bowed, bending their backs at perfect right angle.

"Blessings for the Privileged,

  Curse to the Rebels,

  Hail, O' Sire Yamanov"

The greetings chorused in unison.

"Be seated", as the command echoed, everyone slipped back on their assigned seats.

The man at the front desk near the entrance adjusted his silver rimmed glasses, his shining aurum eyes taking in the appearance of every student.

His equally blonde hair sparkled, owing to reflection from the roof, made entirely of Vio-ice - the ice with a violet sheen that even the raging flames of  Asura clan could never melt.

The students waited patiently, well aware of the protocol, their textbooks lying open on their desks, also carved from the vio-ice.

The entire classroom shone with the sheen of purple and white, every other surface just as reflective, just as polished.

After a beat, the man nodded, finding not a hair out of place. His lips curled into a smile as the shoulders in front of him dropped and chattering stealthily pierced the the cold silence of protocol.

"Alright guys, I've checked your papers from the last test an-

He couldn't even properly, replace the book from under his arm pit, as groans reached his ears and he only chuckled. Students!

"Attention! I'm distributing the papers now".

With that he clicked his fingers, as a window opened out of nowhere in front of him, filled with names and numbers.

Sliding few fingers down, he finally paused and pressed his left palm against the desk, his eyes shutting close as his lips parted.

"Prakkatt!"

His eyes flew open, as a stash of papers now fluttered under his palm, and the window disappeared. Satisfied, Yamanov picked up the papers and started calling out students according to their Order.

"Nissar!"

"Yes sire", a white haired boy jumped to stand up, as a sheet of paper appeared in front of him.

"Nikole!"

"Yes sire", Another boy stood up, his shoulder length white hair moving ever so slightly.

And just like this Sire Yamanov continued with calling out names one after the another, in descending order of alphabets.

"Aurora"

Slowly blue eyes flew open as the said girl pushed against the desk with her palms and stood up. Her braided white locks fell over her left shoulder, and trailed upto her breasts, which were covered under a white vest and a blue grey overcoat, flowing slightly past her hips. Nervous, she pulled tighter the loosely wound blue tie across her neck and nibbled on her lower lip.

Yamanov sighed looking at the girl. "Aurora, I don't know what to say to you".

The girl visibly flinched under his words of resignation.

"I--

Yamanov looked for her sheet in the leftover papers but couldn't find it. Rolling his eyes, he clicked his fingers and shouted, "Prakkatt!"

But to no avail. His brows furrowed worried as he tried to recall the last place he had seen her sheet. And then it clicked. He must've forgotten it at the Presidium.

"I seem to have forgotten your sheet but-", letting out a sigh, he combed back his blond locks and stilled his gaze on her, "-yet again you've repeated that mistake. As always".

Her eyes widened as her lips puckered but before any words could escape, a heavy gong sounded in the background as Yamanov gathered his book, and clicked his fingers twice so that the remaining papers disappeared.

"Remaining students will get their sheets tomorrow. Class dismissed".

Students waited for Yamanov to step out and the instance he stepped out, mayhem broke out in the class as kids shuffled together into groups and started chattering and jostling each other.

"Seriously!!" A girl groaned, her face pressed on her upper arm sprawled across the desk, as her off white curls went all the way down to her lower waist.

While the girl on her left quietly flung her black tote on her shoulder and started leaving.

"Honestly, what did yo--

She lifted her head only to blink her brown eyes, confused. The seat was empty.

Her head quickly whipped to her east, to see the other one disappearing out of doorway. This girl!

"Auroraaa! Wait up, you little bi---Angel!" Shouting behind the retreating form of Aurora, the other girl jumped on her feat and quickly rushed after her.

Running out the doorway, she barely survived slipping against the ice floor and almost yelped when a stray icicle shattered right beside her feat.

Letting out a big breath, she craned her neck to take a look at the roof, only to see sharp icicles dangling in merriment.

This fu-- disgustingly old hallway!

Snapping out, she started running once again, and barely managed to catch hold of Aurora, as she was turning right at the end of hallway.

"You--seriousl--ly---gawdd!"

Aurora stared quizzically at the now panting woman, murmuring incoherently.

Finally full of air, the other girl straightened up, as her head slightly towered over Aurora's.

"What did you do in the exam?" She asked, throwing an arm over her shoulders.

No reply came.

"Aurora!"

"What, Chris?!" The girl finally snapped, throwing the stray arm off her shoulders and increasing her pace.

"What do you mean by what? You perfected the damn questions. I was there, teaching you. So how exactly did you mess up?" Chris quickly jogged upto Aurora.

She only grumbled in response.

"Did you write what we practised?"

"Yes". A small whisper. Barely grazed her ears.

Squinting her eyes, Chris pinned Aurora with a glare, " What did you write?!"

Aurora let out a long sigh as she snuck a glance at now full-on-suspecting Christ.

Rubbing her forehead, under the fringes, shadowing her eyes, Aurora replied, "I may have changed an answer or two"

Another long groan. Aurora turned her head to see Chris giving her a fed up look.

"It was your last chance, I'm sure you're aware" , Chris asked, joining Aurora.

"Very", she stated dryly, her gaze focussed ahead at the sparkling blue of the lake waiting right ahead at the exit of the hallway.

This emotional lack irked Chris as she quickly whirled the short woman around.

"Are you even registering that your dream is now dust?!" Chris whisper shouted, her browns boring into Aurora's blues.

"I know". Another dry response.

"What?!"

"I said, I FUCKIN know!!" Aurora shouted, her blue eyes almost glowing, before simmering down.

For a second Chris stared baffled, before her eyes widened and she quickly checked her surrounding for any presence.

Finding none, her fingers wrapped around Aurora's and dragged her all across the hallway, before they stepped into a clearing, few feet away from the lake.

"Are you nuts?! What are you trying to accomplish by swearing on the Paradise grounds?!"

Aurora only scoffed, "Fuck it! It doesn't matter anymore. I don't care".

"Don't give me attitude!" Chris hissed under her teeth, "It's happening because you just couldn't write what was needed!".

"As if one paper could've made a difference!". And another snort.

"If only you would've just allowed that pride of yours to simmer down!" Chris retorted, her voice edgy with impatience.

" It wasn't about pride", Aurora glowered, clenching her fists.

"Then why did you-

"It was about my beliefs-" Aurora cut Chris off ,"How can I write in favour of something, my beliefs..my heart doesn't agree to!"

Aurora looked away, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes. Not now. Not now!

As the first tear escaped, she found herself enveloped in a familiar pair of arms.

"You wuss!" Chris murmured, her fingers softly caressing Aurora's hair.

"You big softie!" Aurora accused between a sniffle as Chris chuckled.

"I'm not big. You are a Shorti...oomph!

Chris mock glared as a small fist met her right side.

After a few minutes, Aurora pulled away as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

"I'm so sorry Chris. I was venting on you, for a fault that rests with me--

Aurora paused whilst Chris waited, listening. Intently.

"--I-I always knew what I needed to write in order to get the transfer, but the textbook response to some questions just doesn't sit right with me".

"You just had to write-

"I know, I know. I've tried, you know to write off the beasts as savages and the generals as vicious animals, b-but my heart...I don't know it doesn't cooperate...it almost hurts as if I'm hurting someone... very important".

Chris listened, the words now quietly bouncing off her head.

Aurora looked at Chris's blank expressions and let out a chuckle. "Nonetheless, let's just say I can not lie to myself. If this is the result of my pride, so be it!".

At this Chris smiled, shaking her head. "Ofcourse, you can always join me and Daniel for the double date and get yourself a--

"Hell, Noo!" Aurora shouted pretending to be offended as she broke into a sprint, jumping over the bridge, to walk over to the next island.

Chris soon followed after, her complaints lost with the wind.

Aurora lightly smiled and continued her run. This is not the end. Her eyes prickled. No. This is the start. Just the start.

To whoever's reading this, I hope l'll be able to make it a worthwhile experience.

Happy reading!