[u][b]Sylus Moriam[/b][/u]

Rays of sunlight, in hues of gold, orange and red, began to peek through the treetops, bidding the humble abodes that lay nestled in the branches just below a good morning. Sylus stood up from a sitting position at the realization that it was dawn, brushing his long white hair behind his shoulders, fastening his bow and quiver to his back, and checking inside his pack once more to ensure all he needed was there. Once satisfied, he slung it over his shoulder and took out his smoking pipe, loaded it with tobacco and lit it. The white tiger that lay curled at his feet stirred, lifting her head up towards Sylus, looking him in the eyes with piercing deep blue ones of her own. 
Her voice, a gentle feminine tone that echoed in Sylus’ mind,  chided him, saying 

“Your father would hate to see that you took up such a habit, Master.”

Sylus glared down at her, not in the mood to be scolded by such a layabout.

”I am aware of that, Nalia, but t’is the only thing that can calm my nerves at times like this.”
 
“Relax, Master.”, Nalia replied, “Treat this day like all others before it, and you will do fine.”
 
“That is easy for you to say. All you need to worry about is your next meal and finding a warm patch of sun to bask in.”
 
Sylus looked away from her, having nothing more to say. Nalia knew he was awful with goodbyes, and he’d already said his parting words the previous evening, to her and to everyone else. Just hours ago, he had left the  the gathering at the Chieftain's hall that took place every time any resident of Caeldiron’s Rest left the village for any reason, no matter how long they would be gone, be it weeks, months, years, decades or centuries. He had nothing more to say, to anyone within earshot at least.
 
he put out his pipe, put it back in his tobacco pouch and spoke into the morning air.
 “This will be my second year at the academy. I will reach greater heights of my  abilities, and I will take every step necessary to surpass you, Father. I promise you, I will be a gatekeeper just like you, and I will return here one day. I will keep my promise to mother, even if you could not do the same.” 

He said something very similar to himself one year earlier, on a morning very much like this one.
 The academy was worlds away from here, both literally and figuratively. Last year was an equally overwhelming and refreshing experience, and he knew this year would be no different. Within the hour, a griffon would land right before him, to take him within the black gale, to the Academy. He wondered if it would be the same Griffon as last year. He hoped not, as he was not the greatest conversationalist among beasts, repeating “Just hold on and be silent” to all of Sylus' inquiries. although, thinking back on it, perhaps he simply was not used to being spoken to by a student, as the beast-tongue was not a common gift, even among Sylus’ people. 

At last, after a seeming eternity had passed, he began to hear the beating of wings and gallant screeching of a Griffon.
 “I have arrived, student” echoed within his Sylus’s mind, the screech given meaning by his Druidic bloodline. The beast landed before him. Sylus mounted the beast promptly, opting not to make conversation this time, as this griffon exuded the same no-nonsense attitude the last one did. 

“The second year… I almost cannot conceive of it” Sylus found himself muttering as the great beast flapped its wings and gained momentum, emerging from the treeline and careening towards the great rift in the sky once more. Thoughts of what the coming months may hold weighed heavily on Sylus’ mind, so much so that the scenery seemed to shift and change even quicker than the year before. Eventually, he was stirred from his daydreaming by the Griffon's change to a downward momentum, the Academy gates looming below.