The shop light flickered on as it woke up the dusty relics and scavenged goods, it’s glow clashing with the glass casing blinding the gems below as they glistened in protest. The soft mauve colored walls absorbed the warm rays, as their high end shelves clung to it, holding steadfast not daring to let the mounds of leather bound books be cast down to the wood floors. Unlike the ancient relics, the floor showed little want for attention, their soft gleam betraying the intrepid cold seeping through it. A brief moment later the telltale hum of a neon light echoed through the broadened space, the harsh gleam warming the window pane, as the shop’s light spilled out onto the empty sidewalk; its only company the steady silent rows of street lights constantly watching over the merchant street. A lone girl stood in the back door way, the thin black curtains enveloping the backs of her ankles, her shadow casting itself into the room, as the soft whir of her eyes penetrated the quiet reprieve, the eerie glow yellow dissipating from them only broken by the constant scroll of white text across them. A soft yawn caused their disappearance as she closed them running a hand over her face in an attempt to wake herself up, per usual she had woken up to see to that the storefront would be ready, even today of all days, for today was the day the young girl would set off into a world completely outside the comfort of her home, and oh the wonders that awaited her. [Center]~~~~[/center] The blaring of her alarm woke Mia awake with a jolt as her eyes quickly adjusted to the dark, a soft display showing the date, time, and temperature by default in the corner. She closed her eyes once more slowing breathing before bringing a hand up in front of her vision, steadying herself as she reopened her eyes the flash and scroll of text and numbers quickly replacing the former display. [i]Designation:HumanTemperature:97degreesClassification:HandLength:0.15mAttributes:Flesh, Hair, Nails, Scars…[/i] This constant stream of data continued to emerge in her vision, as she started the process of getting ready, the same data she had seen for the past eleven years, nothing had changed in her room, more books and old scrolls laid scattered on her desk, and sprawled down onto the floor around it. A small oak armoire, another remnant of a past life, stood tall in the back corner, the bathroom light washing over it, sparkling slightly on the chipped and worn red paint. Besides those small adornments the room was bare, the bed itself took the other half of the girls room. A starry landscape projected on to the covers, the sheets and pillows a soft off white, plain in most regards to the tapestries strung in rows on the barren right wall, stretched out to tell a story and create another world the girl could spend hours starting at. It started with the depiction of fairy tales, elves dancing, human shaped flames joining in the folly, the raiding of orcs, fairies and dragons taking to the air, the contents of hers childhood storybooks expanding to a massive black tapestry parting it from the side of cave drawings, and knights, from castles, and space ships, mecha’s and lasers, horses and motorcycles littering the other half of her collage. It seemed that someone had taken a black marker and drawn on it so the black void encompassed parts of the others, covering creatures and items alike. Making her bed proper, Mia turned to address the pile of clothing adorning the only chair in the room, intentionally meant for her to relax in as she read, and usually covered with the books littering everywhere. A slow shaky breath leaving her small lips, [b]”Well today’s the day..”[/b] came the soft ethereal wisp of a voice as she turned towards the bathroom a slight glimmer of fear etched onto her face, the data filled eyes as cold as they day she got them. [center]~~~~[/center] Outside the seemingly small shop, the street slowly crept to life matching the rays of sun as it ascended into the sky. More lights started to decorate the once empty avenue, the sole presents on the street was currently resting on the pavement outside the store. Should another traveler had walked by not five minutes earlier they would have seen the proud being descend from the heavens as gracefully as a cat claims its prey, it’s wings clipping the sun light casting blinding rays of gold into the shadowed way below before landing with nary a sound to claim not even as it walked across the cobblestone pave, a tribute to the old markets. The lithe muscles of the being bristled as it settled down lying on the cool ground, mimicking the sphinx of old. The gold shimmered once more with the motions as a brief gust rustled the fallen leaves, its large wings folding neatly into place, its bright keen eyes focused on the girl standing in the shop. [center]~~~~~[/center] Walking down the stairs, the uniform falling nicely onto the girl’s slighted frame, Mia ran a hand along the wall once more not needing light as her eyes adjusted. A quick battle with her hair had tamed it back down into a manageable state, bright red rimmed glasses nestling on her noise mirrored the letter she had received from the academy as she reread it hoping to see if she could gleam any information on just how she was to reach the Academy perched in the precipice of death known as the Black Gale. A soft sigh escaped as a brief flicker in gaze to the left sent the letter flying back into the depths of her data files, not having found anything advantageous. [b]”Hmm guess I’ll just have to wait and see..”[/b] She mused softly, taking in the time as she pushed the curtain aside reaching out to flick on the life, during her younger years she would have closed her eyes at the incoming tirade of data, but experience and a few upgrades had fixed that issue. Those upgrades, even the most recent ones with the influx of data on Lucius didn’t deter from the shock factor of seeing a fully grown griffin staring back at her from the street side of the display window. [i]Designation:GriffinColor:Gold:Sex:MaleHeight:68inWeight:268lbsTemperature:102degreesClassification:LucianWingedBeast…[/i] Mia stared at the stream of data, interrupting her view of the majestic creature before tentatively taking a step into the shop, her two small bags stood ready by the heavy oak door baring the entrance to the store. Awe stricken the girl continued her slow pace easily avoiding the counter and smaller display cases, annoyed by the humans slow pace a sharp clack of its beak mixed with a rumble of displeasure echoed from the griffin as he roses shaking himself off in the process once more casting rays of gold light in all directions, his left claw pawing the ground slightly in agitation, as if this reaction was common in most first years. A soft giggle escaped the girls look at how much the griffins cross expression matched that of her mother’s when the small girl couldn’t keep up with the woman’s made dash through the shopping mall for a sale.[b]”I’m coming, I’m coming.”[/b] She reassured the griffin as she opened the door walking outside, collecting her bags in the process, truthfully the mostly held the girls favorite books and items rarely anything essential to completing a school term. She had learned a while ago that taking notes would become a tedious habit for her. Placing her bags down in front of the griffin, Mia tilted her head slightly wondering just where she should place them, doing a small circle of the beast slowly running her left hand through its silky feathers, pleasantly surprised by how warm and soft he felt. Almost smirking the griffin casually collected her belongings in his front claws before using his left wing to buff and scoop her up on to his back, and without a warning took off for the sky, a soft hoot of enjoyment slipping past his beak as the girl clung desperately to his neck, [b]”Hey!! That was rude!”[/b] her cries of protest were meet by the griffin diving down precariously into a loop as it pulled back up joining the rest of the flock heading towards the Black Gale. Knowing the danger of staring into such a massive anomaly, Mia should have looked away but instead tightened her hold on the griffin determined to see this entire massive cavern in the sky and pass through it. [i]WARING: OVERLOAD IMENENT!! DATA CORRUPTION POSSIBLE!![/i] The bright red warning flashed vividly in her eyes as they entered the gale, the griffin increasing in speed as they white light encased them just as her vision failed and once more she found herself fumbling desperately to keep a grip on his feathers leaning against in not daring to sit proper in case she tumbled off having no read on how high they were above the ground or the void itself. Mia stayed like that until she could feel the griffin land and a soft nuzzle on her cheek from the concerned creature, made her smile before. [b]”Give me a minute, mein herr, this happens at times..’[/b] She answered sitting up slightly as the soft glow flickered back on. [i]Reboot System Activated. Welcome Back Fehlschuss Betancourt[/i]