Dreig

Brimor Academy located in Weingrove, is known for its excellent education and research, where even foreign royalty choose it as their steppingstone to success. It features three factions, the “Externus” faction which is home to the richest nobles from around the world. The “Internus” faction which houses the domestic royalty or those who achieved academic excellence. And finally, the “Fortunatus” faction, which is the abode of the minority, comprised of those fortunate to have been admitted. Naturally, Atsuo and Taru fit right in, however Yuna was a different story.

Once the gossip got out that “that” Yuna is likely in Fortunatus, the other factions had their hands tied yet outraged enough to give Fortunatus a new name.

“Bastards from Fortunatus”, or “Basfort” for short, is what they agreed upon after coming to terms with the fact that their factions no longer had a chance of being blessed by Yuna’s presence.

The whole Fortunatus faction became their common enemy, with Atsuo and Taru who are always near her, at the center.

At the Externus Dormitory…

Even among the royals, there was a clear hierarchy. And at the top, was none other than Lord Kaiser. Everyone knew it should be him. He had a striking presence and naturally drew attention to himself. It was an understatement to say that he was special. His white curly hair, and crimson-red eyes. His tall and athletic stature. Everyone felt inferior to him as a human being.

In his eyes however, there was but one human who could stand on even footing, if not overshadow him.

“Now men, let us devise a plan” Lord Kaiser said, sitting with his legs crossed, his head supported by his fist. “We need to find a way to have Yuna transferred from those Basfort bastards. Any ideas?”

Suddenly one of Lord Kaiser’s henchmen, Reyn, entered the room.

“Sorry— to interrupt— your Highness… but the matter is urgent” Reyn said out of breath.

“Hmm? What is it?” Lord Kaiser opened one of his eyelids.

“We’ve received word that there will be a courage test at 10pm near the Bound—"

Lord Kaiser sighed while leaning back in his chair.

“What a joke. We’re past that age already” Kaiser said uninterestedly, closing his eye.

“Your Highness, her ladyship Yuna is planning to attend” the henchman added.

Lord Kaiser’s eyes shot open. “Is that information reliable?” he quickly turned to the henchman.

“Yes, sir. I heard it from Fortunatus’ Taru himself.” Reyn quickly replied.

“Good work Reyn” Lord Kaiser sprung up from his chair.

“Make haste, men. We cannot afford to be late” He ordered them with his hand.

Meanwhile, at the Fortunatus Dormitory…

“Atsuo, are you ready yet?!” screeched Taru, “I don’t want to make her wai… I don’t want to be late!” he corrected himself.

Atsuo glared at him as he drearily got dressed for what looked like a stormy night. They picked up Yuna from the girl’s dorm and headed over to the Boundless Forest.

It was a twenty-minute walk from the Brimor Academy to the forest’s notorious entrance.

Upon their arrival, they could see students in trench coats meeting up near the “No Entry” sign, just outside the forest.

Taru began looking around frantically, until his face lit up again. It was now clear why he wanted to go. He ran up to one of the students, who Atsuo recognized as Fumi, the girl from the Internus faction, renowned for her academic excellence.

Atsuo sighed. “And here I thought that bastard really wanted me to go” he said grinning.

“He did,” Yuna said, smiling. “It seems he’s been waiting to introduce us to her for quite some time now.”

“Hmmm…” Atsuo said, a little surprised.

Taru waved Atsuo and Yuna to come over.

It turned out that Fumi came from a noble family, yet her academic achievements far outshined her social status. It made Atsuo happy that she still chose someone like Taru, despite their differences.

“Anyway, let’s get going” Taru told Fumi. They waved their goodbyes and followed another group into the forest.

Shortly after, Yuna got called over by her female friends.

“Want to come along?” she asked Atsuo.

“Not really” he lied, “I’ll be waiting for you guys here.”

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“Yeah”

“Alright. I’ll get going then” Yuna said, disheartened as she joined her friends.

“Have fun” Atsuo said.

As soon as she left, he shifted his gaze to the sky once more.

A little time had passed until the forest entrance got eerily quiet. Atsuo didn’t even notice that everyone had already gone in.

Suddenly he felt someone’s hand on his shoulder, breaking his stupor.

“I thought it was you, you Basfort bastard” spoke a familiar voice. It was Lord Kaiser.

“Hmm? Where are you looking?” he asked in confusion, tilting his head upwards.

Atsuo felt like he just regained consciousness. He looked in awe as he stared at the blood moon and the surrounding dark sky. It was a total lunar eclipse. Atsuo felt relieved he could see color again, his “all-black” phenomenon had passed.

“Basfort bastard, don’t tell me you’ve never seen a blood moon bef—”

Lord Kaiser abruptly stopped.

“Hey, dreamer. What’s that?” Lord Kaiser anxiously asked as he forcefully turned Atsuo’s head in the direction of the forest entrance.

Atsuo squinted his eyes.

“Hmmm…” Atsuo nervously uttered.

What he saw was undeniably the mythical creature out of folklore that resides in this forest.

A Dreig.

The atmosphere instantly changed. Violent winds passing through the forest reached them, carrying an unfamiliar yet alarming scent. They felt its bloodthirsty gaze upon them as chills went down their spine.

It was a tall, yet skinny beast that could stand on its hind legs. Clad in black cloth, enveloping everything but its fleshless limbs and sheep-like skull. It was fascinating how it was even alive…

They knew they had to get out of there. They were about to run, but the moment they turned around, they found themselves surrounded by trees.

“Huh?” they wondered anxiously.

They could not comprehend what just happened.

“Hey dreamer, weren’t we just near the entrance?” Lord Kaiser anxiously whispered. “Why are we in the middle of the forest?”

“This is bad…” Atsuo said nervously.

Lord Kaiser gave no response. He quickly examined everything in their immediate vicinity, and turned to Atsuo.

“I can smell its scent nearby,” Lord Kaiser muttered to Atsuo.

“I am afraid we are left with no choice but to get away from it in its own territory” he deduced.

Atsuo agreed.

“Think like a Dreig. Where would you not go?” Lord Kaiser asked Atsuo.

“Huh?” uttered Atsuo. “I mean… maybe up the mountain? It did look kind of weak” he reasoned.

“Ok, Dreig. Let’s go” whispered Lord Kaiser.

They covered themselves in mud to block off their scent and began to climb the harshest terrain they could find.