Book 5 - Chapter 6 - Greenland Institute (2/2)

Yeah... guess that is life.

Cloudhawk leaned back and shut his eyes. He felt like everything was connected, tied together in a huge net with no edges. Like a million rivers rushing together toward the sea, whatever their twists and turns they always wound up together.

“We’re all just dust underneath the same starry sky. All we can do is try our best. The only thing we can control is ourselves.” Cloudhawk opened his eyes to see Dawn’s smiling face. “Four years ago I had a very similar conversation with the woman in that grave. I didn’t get it then, but I think I’m starting to now.”

“Hey, what’s all this nonsense? We’re not sentimental twats. That guy’s gone now, and from now on we fight together!”

Dawn polished off the rest of her drink and chucked it aside. She rose, patting the dirt off her rear, full of spirit and vigor. Cloudhawk looked up at her with a knowing smile creeping into his face.

The greatest fortune of his life was meeting people like this. Why was he always looking outside for some paradise? It was in his heart, with people like her.

***

The next morning, Claudia was brought to an unused space within the city. She was transfixed by the sight.

A thousand children stood in orderly rows, practicing drills taught by Talon soldiers. The sounds of their shouting rang through the city as they trained. At the front of the group was Azura, and though she was small she was working as hard as any of them. Her tiny face was screwed tight in focus, her punches and kicks delivered with intention.

Claudia looked out over the kids who were training the best they could. They were clumsy and unsure, but tried earnestly.

“Hey! What do you think, not bad eh?” She was shaken from her surprise by a voice from behind her. She turned her head to see Cloudhawk’s mummy-like form sauntering her way.

A scowl was her response. “What wicked plan are you scheming?”

“It’s been years since you and I have had any problems. Will you cut it out with the constant suspicion? Anyhow, in the state I’m in you could beat my ass if I said something you don’t like. Am I right or am I right?”

Claudia, her face dark, turned to walk away.

“See? Still pissy. I was gonna ask you to consider being Greenland Institute’s headmaster – pick out the talented children to be demonhunters – and you turn your back. Fine, if you think it’s below you, I’ll just ask Gabby to do it.”

She stopped in her tracks. “What? Greenland Institute?”

“That’s right, Greenland Institute. I want to build a place where students can learn all sorts of things; from science, to martial arts, to mental cultivation and everything in between. It would be an incredible undertaking, and a milestone for the wastelands.”

Cloudhawk sounded inspired. A school? In the wastelands? Making demonhunters out of these heathens? It sounded crazy, but that was exactly what Cloudhawk was planning. Did he realize the difficulty of what he was asking? Had he given it any thought at all?

“I remember you said you wanted to be an instructor. I figure it’d be hard for you to find a job in Skycloud now, but if you still want to pursue that goal you can do it here. It isn’t as nice as the Elysian lands, but you’ll have children you can mold.”

“We’ve got practically no resources, but you still want to build a school?”

“Starting from zero is tough, but I think with enough effort we can get it done. Whatever you need, I’ll find a way to get. All I need from you is a commitment to give it a try.”

Claudia looked over the ragtag group of malnourished children in silence. These were the spawn of those she used to despise, who she saw as less than human. She didn’t see things like that anymore. Instead she found them almost… friendly.

“Fine.” She made up her mind to stay.

Cloudhawk nodded in satisfaction. Claudia was a proper demonhunter, born and raised as a noble member of Skycloud’s elite. She’d undergone all of the proper training from Skycloud and knew all sorts of things Cloudhawk would never understand. No one was a better choice to start developing their demonhunters.

He made it official and announced the news to all the students. When Azura heard that Claudia would be staying she was overjoyed. The other children took the news rather calmly. They didn’t really know what this meant for them.

Cloudhawk followed up by appointing a handful of the Talon officers as instructors. In general, wastelanders were made of tougher stuff than Elysians. If they submitted themselves to rigorous training, they would grow to be very capable warriors.

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