Moonlight Massacre

Leo awakened in the dream archive and sighed. He scratched the back of his head.

“You must really be stupid.” His mentor called out, she descended from the trees and landed on all fours before rising to look him in the eyes. “A thief, trying to take on a group of enemies with a medic at his side…?”

“It was a bit ambitious. I know thieves aren’t known for their combat ability, but for their versatility. I know. But I had to try, right? If I had just learned the silver moon style sooner…” He says.

“You can’t.” She says.

“Huh? Why not?” She says.

“Or rather, you couldn’t.” She says.”You’d need an advanced class.”

“Seriously?” He questions. “I could’ve sworn it was possible.”

“Nope. Whatever you’re thinking is wrong.” She says. “I should know I’ve tried it and I’m one of the best thieves there are.”

“When you put it like that…” He mutters. “What did you mean by ‘couldn’t’?”

“Congratulations, you finally meet the requirements for an advanced class.” She shook her fingers rapidly as if flourishing.

“What class is it?” Leo asks.

“Trickster.” She says.

“I had a feeling… It’s always the first one thief can switch to.” Leo says. “At this point, I don’t have any other choices.”

An orb appeared in his mentor’s hand with the image of a hat and card, surrounded by a swirling vortex.

“Then here it is.” She says.

“Thanks for everything,” Leo says.

“Good luck on your next journey.” She says.

Leo grasps the orb in his palm and crushes it above his head. The dream archive darkens, and Leo awakens. He stood up in a daze, hearing screaming and shouting that only sounded like booming noise. Caius noticed his movement and knelt beside him.

“Stop Arte!” He exclaimed.

The words woke him up like ice on his neck. He shot up and saw that Arte was currently tearing through the crowd that attacked them, slicing their swords into ribbons before cutting them down. Leo shoots over there as she raises her blade on the next, and darts in between them.

“Arte!” He calls out.

She freezes. Her eyes were almost completely dyed red, and her hands were covered in blood that trickled down her blade.

“Leo…?” She questions.

She lowers her sword, and the bloody flame on her sword fades away. She looks at all the injured people lying at her feet, feels the warmth of their blood on her hands, and splatters it on her face.

“Caius, can you treat them?” Leo asks urgently.

“I can, but it’ll take time!” He exclaims.

“What have I done…?” She questioned.

“For now, don’t focus on that. You have to purify them so Caius can help them.” Leo wipes the blood off her face and hugs her.

“It’ll be alright.” He says.

After taking time to calm down in his embrace, she uses the purifying flame to start from the person who was injured the worst. Caius went to work quickly, using his threads to close the wounds; they also had the effect of promoting natural healing. After suturing the cut, he ran over to the next. When the injured in the area were all purified, she sighed. All she could do was watch as Caius steadily made his way through each of the injured.

“I lost control once I saw you were down.” She mutters. “I felt so much dread. Because, unlike with the poison, I thought I was too late.”

“I’m tougher than you think, you know.” He plucks her on the forehead.

“Oww… I guess you’re right.” She sighed.

Valeria came to a screeching stop after running over from the arena.

“I heard there were other students here, but it’s you three and… oh.” She says. “I see you had most of them.”

“They planned an ambush, I got attacked in my sleep, and they got ganged up on. We handled it.” Arte says.

“They're a little beat up, but with Caius here, they should be fine. At the moment, all the other students are safe in the arena. There’s a stampede coming, and all the instructors are working together to take them down.”

“Another one?” Leo sighed.

“Another one?” She questioned.

“No, no. He means the one that occurred in Kellansburg not too long ago.” Arte interjected.

“I see. I think the warpainter himself is aiming to come here now. We’re more or less defenseless now.” Valeria sighed. “The dean and I are the only ones who can combat him, right now.”

“We’re also able!” Arte placed a hand on her chest.

“I’d prefer it didn't come to that,” Valeria says. “For now, just rest up. You’re our last hope if everything goes wrong.”

“No pressure,” Leo smirks.

“Where’s the dean?” Arte asks.

“He’s preparing himself for battle.” She spoke. “Since he’s much older, he likes to warm up first.”

“How rude. I’m still in my prime!” The dean states.

He walks over with his cane, eyeing the destruction of one of the dorms and the countless injured on the ground.

“With an attack like this, the warpainter is sure to show his face, sooner or later.” The dean added.

Boom.

The ground shook, causing the brick walls of the school to fall apart. The shaking was completely unnatural, as though someone had been shaking a pocket of coins.

“What is that?” Caius questions.

Valeria turned her attention toward the meadows where the monsters were approaching.

“It came from over there!” She exclaimed.

The dean, Valeria, Arte, and Leo ran over to the slope leading into the blood meadow. The instructors were still fighting against the monsters, but far beyond the hordes of monsters was a solitary figure. Dressed in head-to-toe black armor with violet accents. He had a sword to match, with a purple hilt and a black blade as long as the night was dark. His dark bangs flew in the wind as Arte and Leo nearly felt their hearts stop beating.

The familiar figure they saw went against everything they thought they knew about Crystal Quest. The symbol of light and hope had been warped before their very eyes. Arte wrapped her arms around herself as if blanketing a chill, and Leo’s jaw hung open.

“The hero.” They whispered.

The words carried on the winds as the space between them slowly dwindled.