Flying high on shimmering, gossamer wings, they sailed in on a night where both the moon and the stars were hidden The small army of knights in blue-black armor,  flew above the clouds seeking a particular floating isle.

Their backs bearing the laminescate that was known far and wide to be the one consistent symbol held by the Eight Million Gods. They flew above the palatial school building, keeping high to avoid triggering the security array.

Remaining at altitude that would have had both the air and the gravity growing thin, had the heavenly plane been just another planet rather than an endless continuous expanse. Though the various beasts, and rampaging spirits of the sky, left it far from safe to be there.

“Alpha Unit, Spread Out. Stay in contact.” said the leader of the group. Making use of a small psychic network.

He and the specialist that flew by his side watched the security array then once they found the gap that they’d been promised would be there, they led the force through it.

“Roger. Alphas Sixteen through Thirty, now heading west.”

The group split up, half of them flying towards the school’s Western Dormitories, half of them flying East. Towards the forest that lay on the tip of the floating Isle, where the school’s newest Dormitory had been built.

Alphas One through Fifteen reached the Western Dormitories with no problem. The few guards and magical security golems that had been set in place by the school were focused outwards.

No one had really thought that anyone would be able to sneak onto the floating isle from above. The security array was supposed to be foolproof. Thus aside from the array there were no other measures in place, to defend against the invaders.

Having successfully reached their target they landed on the roof, phasing through it, using magic to make their entrance as silent as possible. Rifles at the ready, five of the men covered the windows and doorways watching for movement, while the rest made their way through the interior of the building. Heading towards the lower floors where their intel said the children would be.

The operatives crept through the building, silent like a thief in the night. If any amongst them held any misgivings over what they were doing and what they’d been ordered to do, none gave it any voice. Wars between immortals were bitter things and there was always collateral damage.

*****

The night’s peace was shattered by the staccato bark of gunfire. The darkness that lay within the Eastern Dormitory was lit up by muzzle flashes. With the sounds of combat carrying for fifteen minutes straight before a heavy five minute lull fell.

A lull that was broken by screams, wretched sounds filled with pain and fear. Several of the building's windows were shattered as the operatives repeatedly tried to escape and make their retreat. The only result would be the glass restoring itself as the soldiers were drawn back inside. Fighting desperately and futilely, with the sounds of their struggle continue till an hour had passed and peaceful silence was returned to the night.

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Thus order was returned to the Eastern dormitory, the sole structure that lay in the middle of the black woods.

Over in the Western dormitory all was peaceful, the third floor of the building which was usually only used to store supplies had fifteen new occupants. They heaped atop of each other. Their bodies cooled and stiffening. Blood and brains draining out of identical looking holes on the sides of their heads. With each of their faces frozen in bliss.

They’d died better then their peers had. Never seeing the glowing threads that wound its way around them, restricting them, controlling, seeping into both body and soul. Insidiously manipulating their actions in such a way as to leave them thinking that “they” were the ones who decided to kill their comrades.

*****

Morning came, as the sun rose wiping away the evening’s nightmares it also wiped away the two “false” dormitories revealing the real ones that lay in their shadows. Naturally the bodies of the soldiers were erased as well, cleanly fading into the ether as if they’d never existed.

Time ran on and eventually the Evil Moon’s Glenn Academy began to stir with its young students running across the campus and the servants and teachers heading to their posts.

In one particular office a barefoot man in a black and green suit sat facing a pale faced, dark haired young woman and a matronly blonde.

Principal Evil Moon,  was once a  living apocalypse and destroyer worlds. Now though, he was filled warmth and a love of education rather than a hunger for endless, rapturous destruction.

Something that was belied by the fact that his true form remained to be that off a gaunt gray wolf with eyes of frost and flame and mouth that promised ruin. His

“Sorry, guys. You’ve saved me again.” said Principal Evil Moon.

The former Demon Lord could surely have dealt with the Eight Million Gods Faction Operatives on his own, but for various reason he wasn’t allowed to spill blood. As to take even one life would risk a return to his roots, which would in turn require that he leave the school for at least one thousand years time.

“Not all, sir.” said Tamra. Yawning.

The older woman at her side simply nodded and smiled.

“Still...if I there’s anything I can do for you, don’t hesitate to ask. After all I think we all know, that last nights actions might well come with some consequence.”

The corner of the blonde’s lips curled, her look somehow simultaneously wholesome and suggestive. There was a sense that she was laughing at a joke that would be inappropriate for her young wards to hear.

“You exaggerate, sir. All we did was what any good teachers would. Protecting the children that you’ve put in our care.”

The Principal sighed, this wasn’t even the first attempt the Eight Million Gods Faction had made at kidnapping and possibly killing one of his young wards.

Worse than knowing that he was on the brink of losing the life he’d built for himself, was knowing that it was almost inevitable now. Rather than seeing the first dozen failures, over the past thousand years, as a sign that his school was not a place for them to target, the E.M.G Faction continued to send more and more of their Heavenly Killers. Saints of the Gun and Sword.

With the rankings of those they sent slowly creeping up with each attempt.This last group of Operatives had been made of Full-Step Warriors. It was getting to the point that the Principal was no longer sure that he could protect his students anymore. At least he was no certain that he would have been able to stop the attackers had he been the sole defender.

He couldn’t help wondering if it’d be better for him to just close the school and send the children back to their parents. Except then he’d have figure out what to do about those children who know longer had homes to return to.

Fortunately it wasn’t looking like he’d have to find out, there were two new Head Teachers and there was a certain company that seemed to sell exactly what he needed. Though he’d be sending some complaints about the hole that had opened in their security array. Plus he had a few cards of his own to play.

“Still...Thank you so much anyway and the kids thank you too. I just got word that a few of my old friends have popped into the area so I promise to get all this wrapped up soon. So if you could just hold on a little longer…”

Tamra yawned, her jaw nearly cracking in two. It’d been close to fifty years since she’d last had a goodnight’s sleep. It probably would have have affected her more seriously were she not a proper immortall, but even immortals needed their beauty sleep.

“Again, sir. Don’t mention it. This is what we’re here to do.” said Tamra. Aware that her statement was more true than either Evil Moon or any of their opposition knew.