2 CHAPTER 1: Two Young Masters

Three young men, richly dressed in the Royal Magic Academy, rested on a bench at a gorgeous aristocratic park one might mistake for a garden. For some reason, every other pedestrian around them seemed to consciously keep a heathy distance from the trio, as if afraid to step into a tigers tail.

One had a green sash, another a sky-blue one and the third wore it purple. Other than that, the uniform in its black military cassock cut was identical, even to the ironing folds. The golden-brass buttons shone under the sun, and the gold-embroidered lions on their chest marked them as those among the top students.

The three of them were clearly related, the two on the sides twins even; the three, handsome both in looks and demeanor; their hair a coppery dark brown, a touch brighter in the middle one's case; their eyes a dim golden shade, their complexion healthy and vigorous.

That middle one seemed to lead them, both in fact and age yet not by much. He turned to look at a guardsman when he respectfully saluted, interrupting their most-likely-unimportant conversation.

The guardsman, a forgettable man like many others, wore a mostly ceremonial battledress, the only barely functional pieces of which were the antiquated helmet and chest plate. To his credit, he kept them well polished.

He straightened up and saluted, the tip of his pole arm vibrating slightly as a result. "Young Masters, a carriage bearing the coat of arms you described has arrived at the west gate."

The three of them seemed to be elated by the news; showing toothy, predatory grins. 'Oh, heavens, not again... we had to scrape the last one off the walls...' The terrified guardsman thought. His frustrated distress leaking off his very being for a second.

"Thank you for the information, Captain Casus." One of the twins said, the one with the purple sash. "Here, for your troubles." He added throwing him a golden coin. The three of them subsequently raised from the bench in unplanned unison and departed the scene while commenting "This is going to be great!"

Captain Casus looked at the coin and sighed. "I'd rather not have to clean your mess again, your fathers pay me way more than 100 Drakes to keep an eye on you..." Dejected, he followed them at a distance, knowing they didn't have the skill or thought to realize his surveillance.