Algae swims through the Seawing Kingdom, making his way to his school. He swims through the buildings and past the schools of fish, his bioluminescent scales shining through the ocean. He swims into the entrance, through the tunnel and into the building. He emerges from the water in the tunnel, shaking off the droplets from his scales. Seawings long ago figured out the technology to drain the water from their homes, even under the ocean, allowing them to safely live away from other dragon tribes.

None of his other friends attend this school, because it’s a school for animus dragons. An animus is a dragon who has the ability to animate objects, and even in extreme circumstances living beings. Algae personally believes that it’s a genetic mutation, mostly because it can be passed down through families, but that isn’t official knowledge as of yet.

Seawings have a special affinity for breeding animus dragons. The gene seems to be much stronger in the Seawing tribe, and the royal family also has the animus gene. So does Algae, although he isn’t a royal. Animus’s are special to tribes, especially for her abilities. That mindset changed after the Seawing Royal Massacre. Decades ago a Seawing Prince names Albatross, was driven mad by his own animus abilities, leading to him slaughtering eight members of his own family, as well as a Skywing royal, eventually concluding in his own death.

After that, animus’s became feared, they were viewed as unstable. Seawing protocol for an animus dragon was changed. Instead of solely being taught how to use their powers, they were now taught how to control them, how to hide them. The power of an animus is dangerous in the wrong hands. Which leads to where Algae is today.

He walks into the classroom, sitting down at his desk and laying his head down. Algae is an animus, much to his mother’s horror when she found him floating an apple off of his table at home. He’s been going to this school every day after his regular classes, ever since he was just one year old. Now four years old, he’s nearly an adult. He’s ready for another strenuous day of what he jokes is abuse.

Algae opens his eyes and sees you walk in, sitting at your desk. You’re another animus, like himself. It was a little ironic because you’re about the same age as him. There are only 9 documented animus’s alive in the Seawing Kingdom, and you’re the same age as Algae. Before long Halibut, your grumpy old instructor who is also an animus walks into. Halibut is old, ancient, Algae likes to joke. Halibut was alive at the time of the Royal Seawing Massacre, so he has a no-nonsense attitude about nearly everything related to animus dragons.

Algae sits up, his tail swaying lazily behind you. He makes a silly face at you, and before he can even react he’s slapped in the snout by a floating ruler, no doubt from Halibut.