The Ruins of Shiganshina

 Morning sunlight spilled over the courtyard of DIRS, casting long shadows across the lawn as the students buzzed with energy. An announcement for an excursion camp had spread like wildfire through the first-year students.

I joined the crowd with Rash, who practically radiated excitement. "An excursion, Flame! Can you believe it? The Ruins of Shiganshina!" His voice was filled with joy.

The Ruins of Shiganshina—the name alone made the place sound foreboding, laced with mystery. I’d heard rumours about it before, whispered stories from older students who’d visited once. High spiritual pressure…a place dense with spirits. Ghost stories, some called them, but I had a feeling they weren’t entirely unfounded.

The homeroom teacher, Professor Albert, stood at the podium, reading from a prepared notice as he confirmed the camp for our class. His steady voice broke through the noise.

“Gather what you’ll need for the excursion; we leave tomorrow morning. Only basic essentials. We’re entering the outskirts of town, so keep in line, follow your group, and stay with the camp. Any questions?”

A few hands shot up, mostly asking about food and accommodations, but I couldn’t shake the thought of what I’d heard about the Ruins. As the professor dismissed us, I glanced over at Rash, who looked ready to burst.

“Flame!”

Rash said, his eyes alight with excitement.

“The ruins are a real spiritual hotspot, they say! Imagine what we might find there.”

I shrugged, hiding my own interest.

“Yeah, well…there’s not much to do but follow orders.”

Rash grinned.

“Come on, admit it—this is exciting.”

I just glanced out the window, my mind on the unknown that awaited us. The ruins weren’t just an old site; they were a place pulsing with energy, thick with reiatsu. The sheer thought of it…well, I couldn’t say I was unaffected.

The next morning, the entire class gathered in front of the academy’s main gates, buzzing with anticipation. Rash was in a good mood as we waited, practically bouncing as he double-checked his belongings. We’d brought only what we needed for a day’s hike, as instructed. Elysia, Alexia, and Lessie joined us, each ready in their own way, their expressions varying between excitement and quiet determination.

We boarded the DecQween Express, an old, steel-gray train that creaked and groaned as it pulled out of the station. Inside,

students took their seats, some chatting, others leaning back to enjoy the scenic views as the city gave way to open fields. Rash took the window seat beside me, practically glued to the passing scenery.

The journey was long, hours passing by as the train cut through towns and fields, heading toward the Shiganshina District.

At one point, I overheard a conversation nearby. A boy named Kenji sat with a book in his lap, his finger tracing an illustration.

“Look here,”

he was saying to his seatmates, pointing to a sketch of the ruins.

“This place is infamous for its Spiritual pressure. They call it a Spiritual Hotspot. Spirits supposedly appear at night.”

Elysia raised an eyebrow, listening to the conversation from her seat across the aisle. She shot me a knowing look. I nodded subtly, a silent exchange of mutual curiosity. What was this place, really?

Rash chuckled, nudging me.

“See? Told you it’d be interesting.”

The train slowed, brakes hissing as we finally arrived at the station. It was dusk by the time we stepped out, greeted by the sight of overgrown paths and sprawling trees that had nearly overtaken the small station building. The air was thick with an odd, almost electric charge that raised the hairs on the back of my neck.

“Everyone stay close,”

Professor Albert instructed, holding up a lantern as he guided us onto the trail. We’d hike for another half-hour to reach the camp. Night was setting in, and the path ahead wound through dense woods that seemed to swallow the light.

The air grew colder as we walked, each step crunching leaves and twigs underfoot. Shadows crept along the ground, stretching as the trees blocked out the fading sunlight. I noticed Rash scanning the area, his eyes wide with excitement.

“Feels intense, doesn’t it?”

he whispered.

I nodded.

“Definitely not a normal camping site.”

Ahead, Lessie shivered and wrapped her cloak tighter around herself.

“Something about this place feels… off,”

she murmured.

Alexia, always one to play it cool, smirked.

“Is the tough girl scared of a little dark?”

Lessie shot her a look, and they both laughed, but there was a slight edge in Alexia’s voice too, a subtle tension that showed she felt it too.

Finally, we reached a small clearing where the professors began setting up torches, securing a perimeter around a central gathering point. Everyone started unpacking, setting up their sleeping areas and preparing for a chilly night under the stars.

Just as we began to settle down, a gust of wind blew through the clearing, extinguishing a few of the torches. In the flickering shadows, someone let out a scream.

“Where’s Ayase?”

a voice cried out.

A wave of panic spread as students looked around, realizing one of us was missing. Rash was on his feet in an instant, his face pale. I looked at the ground, spotting a series of footprints that led away from the campsite…into the trees. But they weren’t human. Each print was massive, unlike anything I’d seen before.

A chill crept down my spine as I followed the tracks with my eyes, leading toward the depths of the ruins. Rash clenched his fists, looking ready to bolt after her.

“We should go after her,”

he muttered, glancing at the teachers who were trying to calm everyone down.

One of the professors, a tall man with a grim expression, shook his head.

“It’s too dangerous at night. We’ll form a search party at first light.”

Rash’s expression darkened.

“By morning, it might be too late!”

He didn’t wait for permission. In an instant, he was rushing off, breaking into the forest before anyone could stop him. I didn’t need to think twice. Without a word, I followed, the others close on my heels. Elysia, Alexia, and Lessie caught up as we left the campsite behind, plunging into the thick shadows of the forest.

The forest gave way to an open space, the towering remnants of the ancient ruins looming over us. Massive stone structures, worn by time and covered in moss, stretched upward, casting jagged shadows in the moonlight.

Rash pointed ahead, his voice a low whisper.

“She’s in there. I can feel it.”

None of us questioned how he knew. Something about the place seemed to amplify every instinct, every sense.

“Stay close,”

I warned, drawing my sword. The ruins had an unsettling atmosphere, a coldness that seemed to reach into my bones.

We entered, stepping carefully through the rubble. The silence was suffocating, broken only by the occasional crunch of stones beneath our feet. Every shadow seemed to watch us, every corner hiding something unseen.

“Look,”

Elysia whispered, pointing at a faint trail on the ground—a line of drag marks leading deeper into the ruins.

My grip tightened on my sword. Whatever had taken Ayase had left these marks. We followed the trail, weaving through the maze of crumbling walls and archways until we reached a massive stone arch leading into an open courtyard.

There, under the pale moonlight, we saw it—a hulking figure, its form obscured by shadows, standing over Ayase, who lay motionless on the ground.

The creature was enormous, its body covered in rough, dark fur, claws glinting in the moonlight. Its eyes glowed a sickly yellow, focused on us with a predatory intensity. Rash growled under his breath, dark magic flickering around his hands as he prepared for a fight.

But it wasn’t just the creature we had to worry about. Around the edges of the courtyard, more shadows began to move—cursed spirits, drawn to the ruins like moths to a flame.

“Stay alert!”

I called, feeling the weight of the sword in my hand. It seemed to hum with energy, as if reacting to the spirits around us.

The creature let out a low growl, its muscles tensing as it prepared to charge. My heart pounded, adrenaline flooding my veins as I took a stance.

“Together!”

I shouted, and we moved as one, each of us bracing for the fight of our lives.