Raldon City

Walking through the city, the brothers looked around in awe.

"This place is vastly different from the villages. Who knew the world was this big." Kiyan said.

"I assure you, it gets bigger." Demas said with a smile.

Kiyan and his brother seemed fascinated by everything. From the structures of buildings to how rich the nature blooming parts of it were.

Raten then caught sight of something that was really hard to miss.

"It's huge!" He exclaimed, looking at a large building ahead.

"So cool." Kiyan said, almost pulling his hair off his skull. "I wonder how it is on the inside. It must be lavishly designed."

"What is that place?" Raten asked, pointing at a large building off to the distance. "I assume we can't go in there, it doesn't look like a building just anyone can enter."

"You are correct, Raten." Agnar spoke. Demas was surprised he knew which son spoke. Well, he is their father. Demas couldn't tell them apart. Putting on similar clothes only made it harder.

"You see, that building is the kingdom's prestigious knight academy." Agnar continued. "So unless you both dream of becoming knights, you can't go in."

"Oh, well then I guess we're never going to see the inside of it." Kiyan sighed. "I thought the knight academy would be in Mulgard central."

"Well, it isn't." Agnar replied.

"You boys don't want to be knights?" Demas asked.

"No, we want to be great wizards, just like father." Raten replied.

"You can also be great knights, you know. Why not think about it?" Demas spoke. He wanted to see if he could shake their resolve. 

"Hmm..." The brothers placed their hands on their chin, rubbing it as if in thought.

"We have thought about it and come to a conclusion." Raten started.

"We're going to be wizards!" Kiyan declared.

"Can we head off on our own now?" Raten asked

"You can. Just don't wander off too far. Also, you must meet us back here. Understood?" Their father spoke.

"Yes sir!" They answered as if in the army and ran off.

"Aren't you worried they will get lost?" Demas asked.

"Not in the least. Even if they do get lost, they know how to find me." Agnar answered stating there was no need to worry.

"Quite stubborn, they are. Just like their father. I take it you've been using magic still." Demas stated, a bit infuriated. "You know how dangerous it is for you to be doing that."

"I know, I know. I had valid reasons as to why. Besides, I am still alive." Agnar replied.

The twins ran around the city, roamed different streets. Amazed by everything they saw. Raldon was even bigger than Venus, they noticed.

"I wonder how big the wizard's academy will be." Kiyan thought.

There was a lot they wanted to try, but didn't know which to pick. There were some children gathered in a spot. They were about the same age range. The small audience of children seemed to be cheering on two boys who stood in the centre of a wide space, with a club each in their hands.

"Looks like they are about to have a friendly fight." Kiyan said, taking a step closer.

"This should be interesting." Raten said moving forward as well. Just then a large shadow was cast over them.

"What the-?" They looked up and behold, not just one, but five beasts flew over them.

Their tails, claws and fur from the hind limbs to the waist contrasted sharply with the talons and feather covered skin of the front limbs up to its head. The large wings on their backs flapped fast as they flew above.

"It's a, they are.. real-life griffins!" Raten squealed in amazement. Kiyan had his mouth hung open. "So cool!"

"You shouldn't leave your mouth open." Turning around, they saw a dark haired boy behind them. He was around the same height as them, just a few inches taller. But, looked older.

"Have you two never seen one? He asked.

"We haven't." Kiyan answered. "We don't really see much in the village we came from."

"Well, they fly around here often." The boy said.

"Why did they go into the academy?" Raten asked. Having seen them descend beyond the gates, he became curious.

"They are usually ridden by the knights, so they might have information to pass on. But, quite a number did go by..." He stopped as if in thought. "They must be planning for an event or something like that." He concluded.

"It must be really cool to ride one of those." Said Raten. "Our father said a person who is able to tame one can keep it."

"That is true." He confirmed. "But, they are wild beats. It is difficult and dangerous to tame one. Still a lot of people have griffins. I am one of them." He leaned closer and whispered the last sentence.

"Really?" Raten asked. His palms clasped together. His eyes seemed to be glimmering with excitement. "Can we see it?"

"You can. That is if you're both willing to follow me home." The young lad said.

The brothers paused for a moment. They didn't like the idea of following the strange boy to his home.

'He is very young, how could he tame a griffin?' They wondered. They thought he must have been lying. But curiosity and excitement burnt inside them so much so, they accepted to go with him.

"I am Lecter, Lecter Ackerman." He introduced himself as they walked. "You two are?"

"Raten..."

"And Kiyan Silverstone."

Lecter stopped and turned around. He stared at them for a while, nodded and resumed walking. He walked ahead of them, so he didn't know when one or the other spoke.

"I am sorry. You both are very identical, so I just want to confirm which one of you is which." He said.

"I am Raten. He is Kiyan." Raten said pointing. "How about this?" He asked. The edges of his hair then turned purple. "Now you can distinguish between us."

"M, m-magic?" Lecter stuttered. A hint of surprise and amusement on his face. "You can use magic?!" He asked.

"We both can." Kiyan said bluntly.

"Amazing. I have always been enthralled by magic." Lecter said, a smile evident on his face. They continued their path to his home.