While sitting on the yard's rock, Dante sighed then said: "I'm sorry I couldn't get you an invitation, your big brother is totally of no use...."
He sighed again disappointed but quickly brighten up adding: "Regardless, I have no worries, you don't need my help to pass the entrance exam."
Sky glanced him then directed her sight to the horizon, she exhaled then nodded. Dante smiled gazing up.
" Since you're going to the academy, I have to be honest with you, your not kid anymore Sky, and I'm afraid I can't took care of you out of my sight"
She was puzzled on his sudden seriousness while he continued explaining...
" That place... is a hell, for people like us. You will find different kind of trash all around the campus. So you must be careful of whom you call a friend, whom to trust...and whom you make an enemy out of. Specially those decadent of the four ancient families. No matter what, stay away from their sight as much as possible"
Sky wasn't much surprised but she asked:
" Such an awful place, you must be hate it so much ".
" You have no idea...however, it's the only road we walk on and for us to get a license".
She felt rage and sadness in his eyes, and could tell from now on, she as well will walk on a road from hell.
"But... even with the struggle, I was able to meet them and other amazing people, I'm sure you'll find who you can call friends as well".
He said gazing at his teammates who were waiting him out for awhile, arguing about something.
" So in the end you called them friends, not just teammates".
Sky laughed slightly elbowed him.
" Yea, I would be grateful if you don't tell them".
He was about to move onward yet stopped.
"I almost forgot! If you ever happened and needed anything, you can always ask Winter. She will be an assistant professor this year, when you reach the academy, ask for her at the weapons department".
Sky nodded and smiled back to him.
"Its reassuring to have someone backing me there".
He seemed more at ease and was able to continue his way, waving for last time, he joined his teammate and walked togather through the gate and then dissappeared behind the haze. Suddenly her vision blurred after the farewell. Like mother like daughter, she cried her eyes out that day.
Soon after Dante left, she started to work even harder at miss Lenda's garden, this is her last day since she will be leaving next moring, and she needed money.
Lenda watched over Sky working in the garden, picking up a bag of dirt and sometimes holding a shovel digging into the soil with heavy breathes, then rest for abit. She always admired her sincere efforts.
Lenda is getting older and grew weak by days. Sky was a great aid, she helped her not only with the garden but also in marketing, cleaning doing the laundries and stuff, she even did it for free sometimes.
Sky always talks to Lenda about her thoughts and dreams, her eyes even glow and beam whenever mentioning the academy. Lenda noticed that while she got so attached to her, but now she is leaving.
At first she was happy for her, yet couldn't but to feel sadness and emptiness, including of how much she will miss her being around.
"Little Sky, don't you have better things to do? you don't have to do all this. I will just tell Nilon to finish it off".
Said Lenda with sad tone.
"Nope... I started it and I want to finish it with my own hands, so when I come to visit next time... it would be blossoming nicely".
Sky replied while implanting a small wild plant. She stood up and wiped her muddy cheeks then dusted her old dress.
Observing the fog turning into darker shades, she realized it almost night.
"I should probably go now ".
"Oh right, before it getting darker. Ah.. and Sky, my dear, before you leave, how about we do a mini party for you?".
Sky was delighted but her expression immediately turned sour, she put her palm on her chest, in heartbreak and sigh she said:
"So thankful for your generosity, but it's like rubbing the subject on dad's face, I don't want to cause him anymore agony".
Lenda laughed at her serious yet dramatic reply.
"I guess I understand where he comes from, he and I are the only ones opposing your leave. On the contrary, Dante was annoyingly urgent and managed to convince him".
"Yea , let's hope he doesn't change his mind.....oh no I will be late..."
" You better get going "
" Let's meet again after year, Lenda. Although I'll be missing you".
" Take care dear, stay cheerful and may the hardships only make you stronger".
Saying goodbye to Lenda, she then headed home running through the alleys and racing the shifting layers of night. The moment she arrived, she heard her mother weeping behind the door.
"Not again!" she thought.
She hesitated before entering yet couldn't help it, she went in and saw her mother crying, while her father stood close by, patting her back .
The moment Annie glanced her, she dashed and hugged Sky tightly to the point she can no longer breathe properly.
"M..mo...m..! I can't brea..th..e!".
"Oh.. , sorry sweetie. It's just...your mom being silly again... and I will miss having you here... the house will feel wider and empty... and....it will be just me and your dad...and little Dean....".
Annie's words became throaty, and began crying again. She was miserable and messy but Logan looked frowned.
"What's wrong with just being stuck with me? Am I that bad?!"
The father protested on Annie's nagging, declaring he is hurt and not liking this.
They looked at him for a moment then burst with laughters, Annie's tears run while laughing in hysteria. Logan couldn't but to laugh on this too. Little Dean wondered why they were laughing.
After dinner, Sky began packing up, it was an easy task since she didn't own many things to begin with. Pant, a shirt, two of her best looking clothes and the greenish training suit Dante gave her as a gift among other daily necessary things she will need.
"So you're really leaving..".
A voice came from behind startled her, she turned only to see her dad resting his head on the wall .
"Yes, according to the message, the cart will arrive with the lightest shade of gray".
" A cart? not carrier? If I remember clearly... Dante ride a big silver painted carrier last year".
" That what they said. It will take us through the gate to city (B)".
Logen didn't seem happy about this, the academy clearly discriminat between trainers. A poor attitude from highly ranked people.
He sighed and tried to sort his thoughts into words.
"Sky,... I just want you to know, whether you become a Nightwalker or not, this tiny house... is always open for you and your brother to come back".
At that moment, seeing his daughter's teary-eyes melted his heart, she wiped her tears right away, then pulled her cheeks to draw a smile.
"See.. I won't cry over this"
He chuckled shifting his sight down.
" Such ungrateful kid.."
"thank you, dad".
Logen smiled at her then let her be to finish packing.
The long dark night faded away and the destined day finally came. With the first shades of gray, Dean suddenly came in yelling:
"Cart...! Sky!!! the cart! It's here!".
With heavy heart Sky pulled up her small bag and went outside. Annie was waiting by the door, talking to Sky's friend Natalie as she climbed into the cart with two others. A dark brown haired boy and a girl with black hair were already inside the cart.
" When are you going back, sis?".
Sky crossed sight with Dean's brown eyes as they shined and almost cried. She stopped by the cart and kneeled down to him.
"I will visit whenever I could ".
" You will?"
"It's a promise".
Annie shed tears all night and got puffy eyes, even at this moment she couldn't help it and hugged them warmly.
"Has everyone arrived?".
Shouted the man wearing a set of brown shirt and pants sitting at the head of the cart. He was ready to go. Sky hurried and got in.
Finally, the cart moved onward and was getting farther and farther.
"Take care of yourself! eat well and stay healthy!!".
Annie yelled and waved at her, she waved back smiling with almost teary-eyes.
"I will mom.. I'll be coming back soon".
Dean waved his little hands as hard as he could next to his dad. Sky sighted her family for the last time untill she was no longer able to see them.