The day after Master Cerian departed, Brandon and Bruce went for a walk around the city looking for the nearest docks.
"So, according to the map, the closest dock should be right around the corner", Bruce said, glancing at a projected image.
"Cool, let's go," Brandon said walking ahead.
The port was bursting with activities as machines carried packages from the dock to ships and vice versa; a few individuals were on the ground to oversee the procedure as well as facilitate boarding for civilians who wanted to travel, mostly mercenaries.
Walking up to a huge billboard, they scanned through looking for a destination that had the least amount of human inhabitants.
"Clagore, it's a balanced planet not yet claimed by anyone" Bruce suggested.
"Yeah, but it's the planet that separates the human-owned planets from the others, which means the demon king could easily have pawns there", Brandon replied.
"Well then, what about Jurio? A bit desert encroached, but it's better than nothing, though it's human owner", Bruce said.
"Let's use that as a last resort. I think I will go with Kiruvia, mostly waterlogged, but it has a rich ecosystem, human-owned but not often visited, and it's just an eight-hour flight through the speed drive", Brandon said.
"Okay, it says here that the last ship heading in that direction already left, so it's either we wait for it to return or come back earlier tomorrow morning", Bruce replied.
"We can come back tomorrow, I was thinking of looking around for an apartment to move into," Brandon said.
"Right, you will be seventeen soon; your files have been dropped off at my place", Bruce replied.
"Yeah, Master Cerian filled me in on that," Brandon said.
"Why not move in with us?" Bruce asked.
"It would just be another temporary home; I'm looking for a place I can call my own; in two years, we will officially become soldiers, which I believe marks the beginning of our independence," Brandon replied.
"Then let's get a place together" Bruce suggested.
"Woah, slow down; you don't have to move out of your parent's place because I'm moving out of the orphanage; you can do that after graduation,", Brandon said.
"So you are saying you don't want me to move in with you at all" Bruce replied.
"That's not what I meant; I'm saying when you are ready to move out, we could find a place together, but for now, I will just find a small apartment," Brandon said.
"So it's not alright for me to move out right now but it's alright for you to waste money on an apartment you will barely stay at?" Bruce asked with a cocked brow.
"I see; you have already prepared your argument,t" Brandon sighed.
"You are damn right I have", Bruce said.
"Fine, I will move in, but only on one condition", Brandon replied.
"Which is?" Bruce asked.
"I'm allowed to earn my keep" Brandon replied.
"You will have to take that up with my mom," Bruce said with a smirk.
Seeing he had lost the argument, Brandon said nothing more as they walked back to the orphanage to help Alicia prepare for the art display.
"Great, you guys are here; I need another set of opinions", Alicia said, turning some paintings to them.
"Wow, these are amazing; one would think you have visited other planets to create images this serene and beautiful", Bruce commented.
"Yeah, they are beautiful; what are those?" Brandon said, pointing at some still-covered art.
"Don't open those; they are for the art display", Alicia quickly said.
"She believes it's bad juju to unveil the main art before the display" Kai said.
"Then what are these?" Brandon asked pointing at what she had just shown them.
"Possible additions" Alicia replied.
"So you are all set for the display," Brandon said.
"Well, I still need a dress for the display, I have to be a work of art myself on that day," Alicia replied.
"And this is where I take my leave," Kai said.
"Come on, Kai, you know you are my favourite shopping buddy,", Alicia said with a wink.
"More like your favourite load lifter", Kai replied before leaving.
"I will go with you; it will be just like before I left", Brandon said.
"Yeah, just like old times," Alicia said.
"Well, good luck with your shopping, I have to head home to get some work done," Bruce said before leaving.
Walking down the street, the sound of silence enveloped the two teenagers but not awkward silence, comforting silence.
Alicia was the first friend Brandon made at the orphanage and the 2nd friend he made in town, what brought them together was their common reserved nature, they could sit together in a room for hours without saying a word to each other and it never got weird, some of the other kids believed that they spoke through the silence.
With the mall in sight, the two hastened their steps, excited to relieve old memories, but halted at the sight of a group of four boys, amongst whom was Dexter and two girls walking out of the mall; the group also halted as they saw Brandon and Alicia.
"Is that Brandon Flare?" A girl whispered.
"Yeah, I almost didn't recognize him either, Lisa", Dexter replied.
"Wow, he's gotten so hot," The other girl called, Elizabeth, said.
They assumed Brandon couldn't hear them as they were still a few feet apart.
"Let's go, Alicia", Brandon said, tugging her towards the mall.
"Are you sure? we can always come back later or tomorrow" Alicia said.
"Trust me, we will be fine" Brandon replied.
The group still stood in front of the mall, hoping for a confrontation with Brandon, but to their surprise, Brandon pulled Alicia towards a farther entrance.
"We are going back in," Lisa said.
"For what? we got everything we need" a boy named Michael asked.
"Because we want to, right babe?" Lisa said caressing Dexter's shoulder.
"Yeah, we probably need more burgers or something" Dexter replied.
"I could go for some fries right about now," A boy named Rio said.
"Well then, I guess we all have something we forgot to pick up," Lisa said.
"I guess so," Michael said with a frown.
"Don't make that face; it will ruin your skin", Elizabeth said.
"Let's just get this over with," another boy by the name of Billy said.
They returned to the mall, taking note of the places Brandon and Alicia went, hoping to corner them somewhere.
"They are heading for the fashion shop", Elizabeth said.
"I wonder what event they are trying to look good for", Bills, the last bo,y, said.
"Doesn't matter; we are going to ruin it?", Lisa said.
"Aren't we a little too old for pointless bullying?? g?" Michael asked.
"Really? One year at some run-down military academy, and you think you've grown up?" Lisa scoffed.
"Huh, I have had it with your attitude; I'm leaving,", Michael said, standing up.
"No, you are not. Come on, babe, stop him,", Lisa said.
"Let him go if he wants; he's gotten too soft to hang around us", Dexter replied.
"What? Michael, wait," Elizabeth called.
"Just go already; I know you only stuck around because of him," Lisa said.
"You are just awful and not at all worth the attention," Elizabeth said before going after Michael.
"Anyone else wanna bail?" Lisa asked, looking at the rest. To her surprise, Bills went along with Elizabeth.
"Huh, can you believe the nerve of those guys, just one year apart, and they developed that 'holier than thou' attitude? Pathetic,", Lisa said.
"Whatever you have planned, I suggest we do it now; I don't think Brandon and Alicia would take time in there,", Billy said.
"Alright then, let's go," Lisa said.
They walked casually into the the shop under the pretence that they were also there to shop, they followed the sound of Alicia's giggle and eventually found the room they were in.
"It does not," Alicia replied slightly flustered.
"Well, they say beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, but in my eyes, that dress makes you look like a turkey with feathers missing from all the appropriate places", Brandon casually replied.
"Fine, I will change it" Alicia said as she went back into the changing cabinet and appeared a few minutes later in another dress.
"That's the one" Brandon instantly said.
"Really?? I was going to say it was a bit much, but I guess it's okay", Alicia replied, unsurely.
"You said it yourself: you have to be a work of art. Besides, the main event takes place at night, so this would be perfect for that", Brandon said.
It was a purple-fitting dress with luminous gemstones on the chest and around the tip of the gown; the material itself looked like something cut out of the night sky and the gemstones shone like planetary bodies, making Alicia look like a goddess of the universe.
"Well, then I guess we have everything we need except your suits," Alicia said.
"My what?" Brandon asked confused.
"Your suits, did you really think I would go to this alone? Kai is on toddler duty that day, so you are my last option", Alicia replied.
"Okay, just pick whatever you believe I would look good in," Brandon said in surrender.
After purchasing the clothes, they were on their way out when they were halted by Lisa, Dexter and Billy.
"Hey guys, how have you been?" Lisa asked with a mocking smile.
"Hi Lisa, we have been good, how are you?" Brandon replied.
"I have been awesome; what might you have there, Alicia?" Lisa asked eyeing the bags in their hands.
"Just some clothes for an event", Alicia replied, sticking close to Brandon.
"Well, can I have them? I have a ball to attend in a few days, and that cosmic night dress would look better on me", Lisa said.
"Unfortunately, you can't have it, though I believe I saw something more fitting for a ball back there; you can go and check it out", Brandon replied.
"Oh, don't be stubborn, Brandon; I will have that dress now, Alicia", Lisa said with a sinister grin.
"No, I need it. Besides, I bought it first, fair and square", Alicia replied.
"Boys!!" Lisa called.
Dexter and Billy walked forward to pry the bags out of their hands but were suddenly halted in place.
"What's happening? I can't move" Billy said as he struggled.
"Me neither, it's like something is holding us in place," Dexter said.
" Let's go, Alicia, they can't stop us," Brandon said.
They walked past the boys and the dumbfounded Lisa, the boys were only able to move again when Brandon and Alicia were out of sight.
"Did Brandon do that?" Billy asked.
"I think so; when I bumped into him the other day, he dispersed my fireball with a flick of his wrist", Dexter replied.
"So he's a telekinetic mage here. I thought he would be fire or earth", Lisa scoffed.
"Did you pee yourself?" Lisa asked as a foul smell plunged into her nostrils.
"Let's just get out of here," Dexter said.
Once back at the orphanage, Alicia couldn't help but wonder what happened back at the mall.
"Did you do that?" Alicia asked.
"Yes," Brandon replied.
"How, you are a fire mage, right?" Alicia asked.
"Yes, the telekinesis has something to do with my affinity" Brandon replied.
"Oh, the Zodiac Affinity; I hadn't heard of it before," Alicia said.
"Neither had the priest it seems" Brandon said 
"Well, thanks to it, we live to see another day in peace" Alicia said as they went to their separate rooms.
A few days passed, and it was finally time for the art exhibition; with the other grown-ups occupied, only a few children from the orphanage could go.
The venue was bustling with activities; there were reporters from various news stations, newspaper journalists, influential members of the public, a few famous artists, as well as other contestants.
The afternoon was majorly for showcasing their side piece while their main artwork was to be unveiled at the gala later that night.
Brandon held Alicia's hand, calming her down each time someone came around and asked her to present her work; so far, she was doing really well, and when the afternoon session ended, she was ranked number one.
Alicia nearly collapsed on the spot, as she was overwhelmed with joy; this was her very first art show, and she hadn't expected to top the tables as there were some more experienced teenage artists amongst the contestants.
They all went home to prepare for the gala each was to start in a few hours. Everyone arrived looking so dazzling and majestic that Alicia internally blessed Brandon for making her pick the dress she wore.
The top five contestants were given a special platform to place their work.
"You didn't eventually let me see those paintings," Brandon said as they took their seats.
"Well, you will get to see them now" Alicia replied.
The gala was kicked off with a welcoming speech from one of the sponsors and a toast to the young artists present with them.
Each contestant's piece was unveiled turn by turn, with a slight presentation on what inspired them and how turned that inspiration into art.
Soon it was Alicia's turn.
"Wish me luck," Alicia said as she stepped forward.
"Name and presentation," The judge said.
"My name is Alicia Denmark; I call my piece Shield of Hope, I have had the inspiration for some time now but couldn't really find a way to put it down until recently. The inspiration itself came to me when one of my brothers stood up for me against a large number of bullies. He shielded me from their blows and kicked, all the while presenting a calm smile to me like nothing was happening, and to him, I will forever be grateful" Alicia explained as she unveiled her piece.
Gasps of awe filled the crowd for both the art and the sentiment behind it; it was the painting of a young girl being shielded from an onslaught of arrows and swords by a boy with beautiful white wings; the boy smiled at the girl even as blood flowed down his back and the girl smiled back.
The crowd ushered her back to her seat with a round of applause. Once everyone had presented their art, it was now time to announce the winner of the display.
"And the winner of this year's young and spirited art display is Riel Joe" The judges announced.
There was a small applause but a lot of confused expressions as the girl, Riel made her way to the stage to accept the reward like she actually deserved it.
"Calm down, we both know something's amiss," Brandon said to Alicia as she was almost hyperventilating.
"As we all know, the prize is the sum of 1 million credits and free tutelage under a famous artist of their choosing," The announcer said.
Riel claimed the prize and walked back to her seat like the confused gaze of a multitude wasn't on her.
They queued in the music and the crowd began dispersing.
Brandon and Alicia stood quietly in a corner as Alicia broke down in tears; she had believed she would win, and she had already even made plans for her future; Brandon pulled her into a hug, trying his best to console her, but how do you console a person that just had their hopes crushed.
"Alicia Denmark?" A lady called.
Turning to see the uninvited guest, Alicia's eyes went wide.
"Ariana Dota" Alicia mouthed.
"AD for short, my friends and I all know you should have won the contest, and although we may not be able to give you the prize money, I can take you under my wing and train you, if you will have me, that is" Ariana explained.
"Alicia, do you know her?" Brandon asked.
"This is why I always drop magazines in your room; that's Ariana Dota, one of the most successful female artists in the entire art industry; she's like a, umm, Sergeant Val in a way", Alicia explained.
Brandon handed her a handkerchief to wipe her tears while they waited for her reply.
"Only a fool would say no to an offer like this," Alicia said.
"Great, I will be back for you in a week; I assume the address on your form is correct", Ariana said.
"Yes, it is" Ali replied.
"Cool, see you around," Ariana said before leaving.
With renewed hopes, they went back home.
The next day, Brandon and Bruce went to the dock and dropped the elves off after purchasing tickets for them and making sure they had their human disguise on since no one else was going to that planet and they had no problem keeping a low profile till they left leaving Brandon and Bruce to return to their normal lives.