Hidden behind the veil of night, two shadows blur as they leap over a wall near the north-east gate of the Academy. Upon landing, the dark figures scout their surroundings before vanishing once again into the shadows. They move soundlessly, treading within the darkness of the walls as they rush toward their destination.

“... probably already belongs to someone else. Just enjoy the kindness for what it is. Nothing more.”

Hearing the voice growing louder, the two figures halt their steps. One of the figures extends two fingers, placing them on the wall beside him. Two invisible strings of aura escape his fingertips, running along the wall back to where they first entered.

On the other side of the wall, eight figures stand straight against the wall, trying to stay shrouded within the shadows. Their palms, open and flat against the wall, suddenly twitch upon detecting the nearly imperceivable strings of aura traveling through the wall. Upon receiving the intel, all eight figures blur as they leap over the wall before making their way toward the source of the aura.

“...Oh, Lia? Why is she…”

“Are you going insan- oh it’s really her. Lia!”

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to trouble you…”

“Nonsense. It’s our job. By the way, thank you again for the food!”

As the shadows regroup within view of the gate, they wait patiently for an opportune moment to strike.

“You’re eating it cold?!”

“It’s fine, really! They’re still good, right?”

“Yesery! I mean- yes, very. Thank you.”

All ten figures grip the handle of the short blade strapped behind their backs.

“Anyway, what brings you out and about at this hour?”

“Sorry! I just forgot that I had somewhere to be…”

“At this hour?”

“Haha, of course not. It was for sunset, but I overslept.”

On the other side of the gate, about the same distance away as the first group, another squad of ten masks their steps within the shadows.

“By the way, those look nice on you.”

“Hmm? Oh, the earrings… Thank you…”

Watching the conversation unfold, the figure standing at the front notices something. Glimmering beneath the light of the lanterns on the gate, a pair of crystal blue earrings dangle from beneath the young lady’s ears. His hand blurs as he places three fingers on the wall, hastily sending out his aura. After a short moment, he lifts two of his fingers, cutting off two of the three strings of aura.

“Well, I should really get going. I don’t want her to worry too much.”

“Take care. Stay safe out there!”

“Will you come by tomorrow?”

Back across the other side of the gate, the figure in charge picks up on the message. Turning to the men behind him, he signals instructions with hand motions.

Kill guards.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

He pauses, putting much more emphasis in the second set of instructions.

Capture girl. ALIVE.

The nine figures nod in unison. A slight hum escapes as they draw their blades and bend their knees.

“Probably not. I’m staying with a-”

“By the way, brother.” The senior guard cuts her off as he turns towards the gate, hiding the motion of his hand as he grasps the handle of his sword. “The stars are beautiful tonight, are they not?”

“Hmmm?” Lia looks up towards the hazy sky, confused by the random observation.

“Lia.” Alerted by the hidden meaning of his brother’s words, the junior guard steps in front of Lia, placing her between him and his brother. “Could you do me a favor and bring us a drink to wash down th-”

He cuts his words short upon sensing multiple people approaching him from all sides. Sending his aura into the blade, his hand blurs, drawing the pale steel from the sheath.

*Clang!*

A deafening ring fills the air as the pale steel collides against a black short sword. Without giving him time to breathe, another blade tears through the air from behind, aiming straight for his neck.

*Click.*

He smirks upon hearing the sound of his brother’s sheath unclasping from the sash. Ignoring the attack approaching him from behind, the junior guard lifts his other hand and smashes it against the flat side of his blade, causing it to screech as it slides down towards the crossguard of the assailant’s sword. Upon making contact, the edge of his blade slices through the black steel crossguard like butter, continuing on to sever four fingers as it travels towards the tang of the blade.

Just as the assailant opens his mouth to scream, the junior guard releases both hands from his sword. In an instant, his hands blur to grab the assailant’s head, one hand pulling the head towards him from behind and the other tightly pressed against the mouth. As the blade descends towards the ground, the junior guard lifts his knee and pushes it forwards against the tang of his blade, jamming it through the assailant’s abdomen.

“Shhhhhhh.” The junior guard smiles as the assailant’s blood seeps through the cracks between his fingers. “You’ll startle the lady.”

Feeling an attack coming from his side, the junior guard releases the hand holding the dying assailant’s head and swings it towards the handle of his blade. With a firm grip, he drops his other hand onto the man’s chest and grabs the collar of his black uniform. Just as the black steel pierces through the light from the lantern, the junior guard sweeps his leg backward, repositioning the dead assailant into the path of the attack.

The junior guard waits patiently, watching for the exit point of the black steel as it pierces through the body shield. Upon seeing the tip of the black blade exit through the body, he leans forward and jams his shoulder into the meat shield, pushing his sword with so much force that even his hand exits through the backside of the corpse.

Feeling the sensation of his blade piercing through flesh and bones, he releases his blade and withdraws his bloodstained hand. His body blurs before reappearing behind the second assailant. Once again, he presses his palm against the assailant’s mouth before the dying man could scream.

Lia flinches upon hearing the initial clash. Her eyes break from the hazy sky, dropping towards the direction of the sound. Before she can register what was happening, two lifeless bodies collapse beside her. The senior guard whips his sword hand, sending blood splattering onto the stone-lined walkway. He silently steps forwards, extending his arm in front of Lia and pushing her back against the gate.

“Shhhhhhh.” The junior guard hushes the man as he drags him backwards towards his brother. “If you’re on a stealth mission, stay stealthy until the end, yes?”

Seeing the life snuffed from the assailant’s eyes, he releases his grip. As the body slumps onto the ground, the junior guard grabs the crimson handle of his blade and extracts it from the lifeless body. With a snap of his arm, blood flies off his blade, splattering across the stone-lined walkway mirrored to his brother.

“Filthy Night Walkers.” The junior guard frowns as he watches fourteen figures fan out to surround them. “Awfully bold of you to infiltrate Academy grounds with such measly numbers.”

“You’re quite cocky for someone who’s about to die.” A voice calls out from behind the encirclement.

“Get the girl and go. Leave them to us.” Another voice calls out.

The powerful voices set both guards on high alert. They bend their knees, bracing themselves as two men step past the encirclement.

“On guard…” The senior guard whispers to his brother. “Their aura… almost Grandmaster ranks. Hold out until reinforcement arrives.”

“What reinforcements?” The figure mocks as he pulls out another short sword from the sheath on his back.

“They’ll be too dead to help.” The assailant beside him follows up.

Both assailants lift the black steel beside their faces as a gust of wind passes by, revealing a black half-moon tattoo on the corner of their foreheads.

“Shit.” The junior guard tightens the grip on his blade as he leans forwards. “Half-Moons.”

As the wind disappears, so do the assailants.