Dean barely remembered falling asleep before morning arrived. It felt like he had just closed his eyes and time just flew by.

Already up and prepared, Dean made his way to the academy gates even as the first batch of students came in.

At the gates, he pulled at this bag while looking back. He’d wanted to say goodbye to Olsen at the very least. But Olsen being Olsen never made it back to the Dorm.

He waited at the gates, Expecting a phantom steed to pick him up, but to his pleasant surprise, a car pulled up instead and right in front of him.

It wasn’t just any car. It looked like a vintage sedan. Its black body was well polished for a post-apocalyptic car.

Looking expensive even by upper district standards.

’Speak of the devil.’ Dean thought, as Olsen wind down the glass of the driver’s door and opened the passenger door.

"Let’s go,* he smiled.

Dean tried not to look too excited. But failed immediately.

"..Where did you—"

"I’m a Reed, remember." Olsen grinned.

Entering the car, Dean shut the door and saw how eyes watched them.

Students slowed down to watch as Olsen reeved the flux-core powered engine and zoomed off.

They drove through the other part of the campus as more students, instructors and even nobles watched.

Some stopping mid conversation.

Dean took in the fresh air of the upper district even as people stopped to stare.

They made their way to the main road where other cars were, and even there, all eyes was still on their ride.

This was a Reed’s car. And that meant top quality in this world. And everyone knew it.

After a few minutes, the car arrived at the district border where tarred roads ended.

Dean quickly grabbed his bag, that he’d placed in the backseat and got down.

"Thanks for the ride, man." Dean said.

"Anytime, mate!" Olsen nodded. "See you soon."

"Alright," Dean waved as the boy turned and drove off.

Dean looked at the massive wall that separated the upper district from the middle district.

It wasn’t as large as the ones that surrounded the city but it wasn’t far behind.

Dean quickly reached for his student identification card and moved to the transit station at the gates of the wall.

Boarding a Manta ray, Dean made his way to the middle district.

***

After stopping at the closest transit to the Gray family compound. It didn’t take twenty minutes of walking before his house came into view.

Dean came from an unexpected angle of the road and saw people at the gate first, before they saw him.

Nessa and Yuki were already outside with the guards waiting for him as if they could somehow track his movements.

Before he got closer to surprise them, Nessa spotted him. Her baby face lit up as she ran to him even before the guards at the gates could stop her.

Flying straight into Dean’s mid- section, she hit him hard enough, it almost knocked the air out of him and definitely knocked the bag out of his hand.

"Big brother.." she squeezed him tight. "You’re home!"

Dean raised her high. "You’re sooo big. What has Yuki been feeding you."

Nessa giggled loudly as she clapped. "Lots of curry,"

"Thought as much," Dean said as he placed her over his shoulder. Her favorite spot to be.

Yuki at this point had walked closer to them, she looked at him from head to toe with an unreadable expression.

After a few seconds, she moved in and hugged him gently with a warm smile on her face.

"I’ve missed you, idiot." She said quietly.

"Missed you too," Dean replied as he hugged her back.

Yuki picked up his bag even as Nessa kept bouncing on his shoulders. "What did you bring for me?"

"What took you so long?"

"Where is your summon?"

"Did you make new friends?"

Nessa’s questions seemed to have no end but Dean answered them all as they made their way inside. Talking over each other. Laughing and catching up.

Dean listened to his sisters, as he took in the freedom that came with being around them.

Around them, his guard came down without him realizing or even trying.

This was his home.

***

Dinner at the Gray house was actually simple but it was as delicious as ever.

Grilled fish with proper ingredients and vegetables that he actually wanted to eat. The only downside was that Yuki didn’t make curry.

Ying arrived late but was still able to join them. He just sat and ate and didn’t ask Dean about anything yet.

After dinner however, Ying gestured for Dean to follow him and they walked to the forge inside of the compound.

Arriving at the Forge, Ying opened it and stepped inside, expecting Dean to follow, which he did.

The workshop part of the forge was as Dean remembered. Meticulous as ever. Tools well arranged but they looked dormant. Untouched.

It felt colder than the last time he was here, where Ying was teaching him a few things about the craft.

’When last did this place come alive?’ Dean thought.

As if he could read his mind. Ying walked closer to the small fire place and ignited it with his touch. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

The man then pulled something from underneath the table at the centre of the room.

The clothe around the object opened and it was a sword. Calling it that was being generous. It looked crude and incomplete.

That couldn’t be called a sword. It was a blade. There was no handle and it looked raw.

But even though it was unfinished. Dean could already tell it was different. The metal though crude and unpolished still glimmered in the light.

It’s edges let out a faint pulse and a familiarity that Dean was trying to recall.

"This is yours," Ying said.

Dean stared at it, trying to understand what the man meant by that.

Dean frowned . "So what exactly is it, Old man?" Dean walked closer.

"Your inheritance."

The statement jolted Dean’s memory instantly. This was the very blade, he had been helping Ying with before he left to the academy.

Ying carefully traced his hand around the edge of the blade with slow reverence.

"You know, every Gray receives one at their coming of age ceremony."

"I don’t..." Dean looked at the blade. "You never told me."

"--Because you weren’t ready,"

Dean raised his face to look at Ying. Locking eyes with him. "And now?"

Ying looked at his eyes sternly, his black pupils almost piercing through to his soul.

"...Now you’re ready."