"Albert! Come on! We're going to be late!" I yelled, pulling at Albert's arm.

"Alright, alright, hold your horses!" he grumbled.

The chubby boy panted as we ran down the street, trying to keep up with my pace. I could feel the excitement bubbling inside me, my heart racing with anticipation as we left the dorms.

"For crying out loud Sienna, you know I'm out of shape," Albert whined, struggling to keep up. "Mom's been making me taste test too many of her recipes lately."

I laughed, rolling my eyes. "That's what you get for having a restaurant owner for a mom."

I didn't slow down; my eyes locked on the building in the distance. Today was our first day, and I couldn't wait to see what it would bring. I couldn't believe that we were finally here.

We finally reached the school and rushed inside, our eyes taking in the sights and sounds around us. The hallways were bustling with students, some chatting with friends, others rushing to their classes. I felt a rush of excitement run through me as I took it all in.

"This is it, Albert. All those hours of cramming for exams with your mom, all those sleepless nights studying. It's all worth it now that we're finally here," I said, grinning from ear to ear.

Albert chuckled. "Yeah, it's pretty cool. But you know what's even cooler?"

"What?" I asked, curious.

"We get to do it all together. You and me, Sienna. Best friends for life," he said, giving me a soft, playful punch on the shoulder.

I smiled at him, feeling a warmth in my chest. Albert was right; we had been through so much together. From our childhood in the low-income neighborhood we grew up in, to studying side by side during late nights at the library. We had always been there for each other, and now we were embarking on a new adventure together. We were even in the same homeroom together.

...More importantly, the school had paid-for dorms, and I could finally get away from home.

Kaleidoscope High was a large school; we were just two small fish in a big pond. It was a highly competitive school, and only the best and brightest students were accepted. But I was determined to make the most of my time here, to challenge myself and push my limits. I knew we would make the most of it, and I couldn't wait to see what the future holds.

As I walked through the hallways, I couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. It was a strange sensation as if someone or something was observing me closely. I glanced around but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

"Sienna, are you okay?" Albert asked, noticing my distracted state.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just...feeling a little strange," I replied, shaking my head to clear my thoughts.

I had been a bit jumpy since the incident at the arcade, but I tried not to let it affect me. I didn't want to let fear control my life. Everyone from Homeland Security to the Magical Knight Corps had investigated the blue-eyed attacks, but no one had come up with a definitive answer. It was as if the attacks had occurred out of nowhere, with no rhyme or reason.

I shrugged off the feeling and focused on the present. Today was a new day, and I was determined to make the most of it.

Albert looked at me with concern, but I shrugged it off, and we continued walking.

We made our way to the auditorium and took our seats. The room was already buzzing with chatter as other students filed in, their excitement palpable. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness as I surveyed the room, wondering if I could keep up with the high standards of Kaleidoscope High.

As our keynote speaker walked in, the room fell silent. It was Magical Knight Sapphire Dream, a famous alumna of Kaleidoscope High who had made a name for herself as a hero in the city. She smiled warmly at the students, her bright blue hair shining under the lights.

"Good morning, Kaleiscope High!" her voice boomed, filling the auditorium.

The students erupted into cheers and applause, their excitement palpable. Sapphire thanked them with a smile, her eyes bright with pride.

"I am so honored to be here with you today, to welcome you to this incredible institution. I know firsthand how challenging it can be, but I also know how rewarding it is. You are all here because you have what it takes to succeed, to become the next generation of great inventors, leaders, and heroes," she said, her voice filled with passion.

"Not everyone here will be a Magical Knight, of course, but I urge you all to find your own path, to discover your own talents and passions. Whether it's in the arts, sciences, or something else entirely, I believe that each and every one of you has the potential to change the world," she continued, her words inspiring.

I sat there, listening intently as Sapphire spoke. Her words resonated with me, filling me with determination and purpose. I knew I wanted to make a difference and leave my mark on the world.

As Sapphire finished her speech, the room erupted into applause once again. I looked at Albert, who was grinning from ear to ear.

"This is going to be great, Sienna. I can feel it!" he exclaimed.

A strange feeling washed over me once again. It was as if the room around me was shifting, the colors becoming more vibrant, and the air crackling with energy. I tried to shake the feeling off, but it only intensified.

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"Al, I'm getting that feeling again," I muttered, causing him to stare at me in surprise. "The same feeling as that time in the arcade."

Suddenly, the lights flickered, and the room fell silent. Sapphire stopped mid-sentence and looked around, confusion etched on her face.

"What's going on?!" I whispered to Albert.

"I don't know," he replied, his voice equally hushed.

Just then, the floor beneath us began to shake, causing some of the students to stumble. The shaking grew more vigorous and more violent, and I could hear screams starting to fill the room.

"Everyone, remain calm!" Sapphire shouted, her voice echoing through the auditorium.

But her words fell on deaf ears as chaos erupted. The lights flickered again before going out altogether, plunging the room into darkness.

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, my mind racing with fear and uncertainty. What was happening? Was this an earthquake? A supervillain attack?

"Anyway," Sapphire Sapphire continued, her voice ringing in the darkness. "As I was saying, we must all be prepared to face any challenges that come our way."

The lights flickered back on, illuminating the room once again. The shaking had stopped, and the students were looking around in bewilderment.

"What just happened?" I asked, my voice shaking with fear.

"I don't know, Sienna. But I think we should get out of here," Albert whispered, grabbing my arm. "Same feeling as this summer?"

I nodded, the memory of the arcade incident still fresh in my mind. I shuddered at the memory of the woman convulsing on the ground after having her throat torn out. No explanation had ever come up for what happened that day, but I would never forget what I'd witnessed in the arcade.

"Right. We need to go," I said, standing up from my seat.

Sapphire turned as a teacher ran up the auditorium stairs to her side, whispering urgently in her ear. She nodded, her expression grave.

"Attention students, we are currently experiencing some technical difficulties. Please remain calm and stay seated while we sort this out. We will update you as soon as possible," she said, her voice projecting calmness even as her eyes flickered with concern.

Albert and I exchanged a worried look before heading toward the back of the auditorium. The feeling of being watched had returned, stronger than before. I couldn't shake off the eerie sensation that someone or something was lurking in the shadows.

Just then, a blinding flash of light filled the room, causing me to shield my eyes. When I opened them, I saw that a portal had opened at the front of the auditorium. It was swirling with otherworldly colors and seemed to be pulsing with energy.

I watched in horror as figures emerged from the portal, their forms distorted and twisted. They looked like raptors, but their bodies were larger and more muscular, with scales that glinted under the light. Their eyes were glowing blue, and I could sense the malevolence radiating off them.

"What the hell is that?!" Albert shouted, his voice barely audible over the din.

The students around me were screaming and running for the exits, but I was frozen in place. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. This wasn't supposed to happen, not in the real world.

But it was happening, and there was no denying it.

One of the raptors locked eyes with me, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. It seemed to be studying me as if trying to determine if I was a threat.

Then, it lunged.

I screamed, but before I could even think to run, I felt a hand grab onto my arm. It was Albert, pulling me towards the exit.

"Come on, Sienna, we have to go!" he shouted.

At the same time, Magical Girl Sapphire sprang into action, her hands glowing with a bright blue light. She began to chant a spell, her voice ringing through the chaos.

She was holding off the raptors with energy blasts, but there were too many of them. The students were panicking and running in all directions, making it difficult for Sapphire to protect them all.

Albert and I stumbled towards the exit, our hearts pounding in our chests. We could hear the sounds of chaos and destruction behind us, but we didn't dare look back. We burst out of the auditorium and into the hallway, joining a crowd of panicked students.

"What the hell is going on?!" someone shouted.

"I don't know!" I replied, my voice shaking.

There was a loud explosion from the direction of the auditorium, followed by the sound of screams and shattering glass. I turned to look, my heart pounding in my chest.

The raptors had broken through the magical shield Sapphire had put up and were now wreaking havoc on the school. I could see flames and smoke rising from the auditorium and the shapes of the raptors moving through the chaos.

"We have to get out of here," Albert said, pulling me along.

We ran down the hallway, dodging other students who were trying to flee. The doors to the stairwell were jammed shut, so we had no choice but to keep running.

We turned a corner and nearly ran into a group of raptors. There were at least six of them, their eyes glowing with malice. They were snarling and snapping their jaws, their sharp teeth glinting in the dim light.

My heart was racing, and my mind was screaming at me to run, but my feet refused to move. The raptors were between us and the exit, and there was nowhere left to go.

Just as I thought it was the end for us, a figure appeared from the shadows. It was another Magical Girl with fiery red hair and a fierce expression on her face. She wore a suit of armor that glinted in the dim light, with a weapon in hand.

Without hesitation, she charged toward the raptors, her weapon slashing through the air. The raptors snarled and lunged at her, but she was too fast for them. She dodged their attacks and struck back with deadly precision, her weapon leaving deep gashes in their scales.

I watched in amazement as she fought. Her movements were fluid and graceful. She was like a warrior goddess, fierce and unyielding.

With the raptors distracted, Albert and I seized the opportunity and ran past them toward the exit. We didn't dare look back, but I could hear the sounds of battle behind us.

Finally, we burst through the doors and into the open air. The morning sun was high in the air, but the warmth was lost on me as I turned around to see the school under attack.

The raptors were everywhere, snarling and tearing through the buildings. People were fleeing in all directions, screaming and crying out for help.

The red-haired Magical Girl was still battling the raptors, her weapon flashing in the sunlight. I could see that she was outnumbered, but she showed no signs of fear or hesitation. She was a hero, fighting to protect the innocent.

"Come on, Sienna, we have to go!" Albert yelled, pulling me towards the safety of the surrounding streets.

As we ran, I could feel the tears stinging my eyes. This was supposed to be a typical day of new beginnings and possibilities. But now, it was a day of terror and destruction.

"Oh. Shit." Albert grumbled as we stopped.

Portals were opening up all over the city, and creatures other than the raptor-like creatures were emerging from them. Some looked like giant spiders, with legs as thick as tree trunks and dripping with venom. Others looked like twisted humanoids with jagged teeth protruding from their maws.

The streets were chaos, with people running in all directions and buildings collapsing under the weight of the attacks. The sounds of destruction and screams of terror filled the air, drowning out all other noise.

"What... what do we do?" I asked, my voice trembling.

Albert looked around for a moment before giving me an answer. "We keep running." He said, grabbing my hand and pulling me forward.

And so we ran away from our school and toward the uncertainty of Kaleidoscope City proper.