The Stranger and The Beast

Charlotte calmly walked through the hallways, admiring the view outside the large windows. Even though it hadn’t snowed yet, the days were already gray and cold.

“We’ve arrived,” Bastion informed her.

“Looks like we’re early.” She inspected the place carefully. “Thanks to you, now I’m always in time.”

“At this point I feel like a phone.”

“A what?”

“Never mind, let’s search for your group.”

She walked around looking for her friends. Inevitably, she felt that some students gave her judgmental glances. The semester was almost over, and still she was a victim of silent criticism.

After a while, she finally spotted Zoe along with the others. Arthur was driving the conversation. Alysia was distant as always. And of course, a strange guy was next to them.

“Oh, you’re here, Charlotte.” Zoe received her warmly.

“Hello, everyone,” she replied, a little bit shy.

“Good morning, Miss Charlotte.”

Alysia and the stranger didn’t say a word. 

To her surprise, they resumed their conversation. She wanted to know who that was, but she didn’t dare to ask.

Charlotte kept glancing at him, trying to size him up.

“You need to ask about him,” Bastion whispered from behind.

In a burst of courage, her mouth opened, but she was quickly interrupted. Several professors and tutors arrived at the place, among them Suri, Alexander, and even the principal.

“Welcome to this first semester's finals,” announced the principal. “The global situation needs qualified individuals…”

She tried to listen to the speech, but her mind and eyes were still on the stranger.

“He’s a friend of the prince,” Alysia said.

“Oh, really?” It felt weird to Charlotte that she was the one who answered her.

“Yes, his name is Gerald.”

“What’s his Magica?”

“Who knows,” she replied curtly. “Now forget about that and pay attention.”

Charlotte returned her attention to the principal’s speech.

“The exams are going to be more demanding, because the world calls for it. Watch each other's backs. Good luck, everyone!”

“Oh darn, I missed everything.”

“Are you dumb? You need to focus on what’s important.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Spare me your apologies.” Alysia wouldn’t even look her in the eyes. “I’ll ask the others to review everything they said, so this time pay attention.”

“Thanks…” She was speechless, but deeply grateful.

Everyone reunited with their respective group. Charlotte did the same. This time she had forgotten about the stranger and focused on the exam.

“So what does it say, Prince Arthur?”

“Our mission is to search and capture a beast.”

“A beast? Where?” Charlotte was intrigued.

“It says in a forest on the outskirts.”

“What type of beast?”

Arthur remained silent and frowned, confused.

“A bear.”

“A bear? That's odd.” Zoe was also confused.

With no other choice, the group set out on their journey.


The forest was extremely dense, and the gray sky only cast a soft, dim light, making it difficult to see. Sometimes the wind made the tree branches dance wildly.

After walking for hours, they stopped to rest.

“Prince Arthur, are you sure this is the right path?” asked Zoe.

“Yes, the paper said it was last seen in this direction.”

“I see.” She paused for a few seconds. “A bear? That’s all? Can’t be that easy, right?" Zoe still couldn’t believe it.

“Well, it’s our first mission.”

“Yes, but they mentioned that it was going to be harder… Don’t you think there's something weird?”

“Yes, I agree.” He turned to look at the stranger with black hair. “What do you think, Gerald?”

“I’m not sure. Some of the academy’s decisions have been questionable.”

“What do you mean?” Charlotte asked.

“They’re desperate for what they cannot control.”

Charlotte tilted her head and raised an eyebrow.

“It's about the Buried Tree. It has become more unpredictable, more aggressive, more strategic…”

“Strategic?”

“Yes, some cases seem to have been planned.”

“Like the former hero?” The prince asked.

“Exactly.”

“Or like in her case.” Alysia interrupted.

“What’s your problem, Lens?” Zoe confronted her.

“Am I wrong, Hufgens? I was just being honest. Do you have a problem with that?”

“We’d better continue.” The prince stepped in to prevent the argument from escalating.

The forest grew denser and denser, and the tall trees were shedding their leaves.

“I almost forgot,” Arthur said, trying to lighten the mood. “He is Gerald Rant, an old friend. I was hoping he could join our party.”

“It’s a pleasure. I hope you'll accept me as one of you.”

“Of course you can. If you're a friend of the prince, I think we can trust you.” Charlotte kindly accepted him.

“I appreciate it.”

He kept pace with the prince. He had a stern expression, and his eyes were constantly scanning the surroundings.

The three girls also introduced themselves briefly.

“Understood. I’ll remember your names.”

“He is someone to trust. If you need something, you can ask him.”

“Making commitments again without asking my opinion?”

“I just want you to make new friends.”

“However you’d like.”

“What is your Magica class?” asked Charlotte.

“I’m a—”

Crunch.

They abruptly stopped.

Everyone except Charlotte drew their weapons.

Only the wind could be heard.

They were in a circle, with their backs to each other.

They continued in silence, as if expecting an attack from any direction.

“L-let’s stay together,” ordered the prince.

It was impossible to see beyond a few meters. The trees shrouded the landscape in deep darkness.

“Charlotte!”

“What is it, Bastion?”

“You need to get them out of there right now!”

“What?”

“I c-can see it…T-that thing is not a bear…”

“What do you—”

“Get Down!”

Instinctively, she did as he said.

She took Zoe by the arm and led her down.

“Everyone down!”

Barely able to react, they followed her.

Suddenly, a series of spiderwebs appeared from the darkness. Fortunately, none of them caught them.

The ground was shaking harder and harder.

Right in front of their eyes, something appeared.

Eight legs extended from a sturdy and bear-like body. Its head was wide and massive, but it had eight eyes, and fangs were peeking out of its snout.

Everyone was paralyzed with fear.

“Charlotte, wake up!”

Her whole body was trembling.

“W-what is t-that thing?”

“You have to get up.”

“I c-can’t…”

“Yes, you can. Force yourself to do it! Do whatever it takes to get out of here alive!”

Her body wouldn't respond, no matter how hard she tried. All she could do was close her eyes.

“We need to run away,” said Gerald as he helped the prince to get up.

That beast started climbing up the trees. Its long legs were violently shaking the trees.

Gerald followed its movements with his eyes.

He fired his dual flintlock cannons. With every shot, they launched a cannonball engulfed in small lightning bolts and powered by Electric Magica.

“Now is our chance!”

Without warning, the beast pounced on them. They could see its legs and its hideous face up close.

He shot again.

The beast cried and turned towards him.

Arthur cast a spell that lit up the Magica runes on his sword, severing one of its legs.

Again it screamed out in pain.

The beast staggered, but in a second its leg regenerated. It was made of roots and bark.

And now its attention was on him.

The beast used its long legs to attack the prince.

Arthur rolled, dodging the attacks, but a feint by the beast left him vulnerable.

Just as he was about to be struck, he was pushed out of the way.

Gerald, who took the hit, crashed into a tree and lost consciousness.

The beast charged towards Arthur again.

Before he received a fatal blow, a bubble of water enveloped him.

It was Alysia, holding her Magica staff.

The beast unleashed a flurry of attacks in an attempt to break the water bubble.

Arthur was safe for the moment, but the bubble became unstable.

That spell required too much Magica, and Alysia was running out of it.

In the blink of an eye, the bubble exploded.

Arthur was completely exposed.

With her last ounce of strength, she launched a sphere of water that struck Arthur, sending him flying.

The beast let out a cry of anger and ran towards Alysia.

She collapsed to her knees.

Its spider legs were moving at an exaggerated speed.

Zoe, still gripped by fear, pulled out a pocket watch. After it was activated, the hands quickly turned clockwise.

The beast was getting closer.

After half a second, her pocket watch dispensed two cards.

Immediately, she threw one to Alysia and the other to Charlotte, who was still on the ground.

The two of them began to glow. The beast now seemed to ignore them.

Still thirsty for blood, it fixed its gaze on Zoe, whose legs wouldn't support her.

“Leave her alone!” Charlotte screamed with tears in her eyes.

“Stop hesitating and behave yourself! Remember who you are!” Bastion tried to get her out of the trance.

Thorns began to grow on her arm, tearing the bandage.

“We won’t let you harm anyone! You’re nothing against us!”

The voices inside her intensified.

The familiar sharp pain was now worse than ever.

The roots spread to part of her shoulder, her left eye turned green, and root-like lines ran down her cheek.

She slammed her left hand on the floor.

Roots began to sprout from the ground. As if they could move at will, they formed walls in front of each teammate, protecting them.

When she reassured her teammates, she stood up.

Her hand turned into a stake that shot out swiftly and wrapped around the beast's neck.

She immobilized it.

Her eyes were filled with rage.

“We’re Superior. Us. A heroine of the highest kind.”

Charlotte wasn’t Charlotte anymore.