The end of the century is approaching, but for most, there isn’t much significance in celebrating it. It’s just another day, another year, life will continue like normal. Or that is what it’s supposed to be. Today, the sun refuses to rise, the starry sky continues to loom with more bright dots adorning it. It’s a magnificent sight yet terrifying at the same time.

The unknown looms over the world and along with it the Runelands spread. Along with them are monstrosities, alien to the most veteran of Blind hunters.

Many continues to sleep, memories of their pasts returning in droves. Some of them already forgotten. A man dreams of the day a long long time ago, when he was still innocent. Of the day he freed a monster…

___

It was a day like any other in the academy, the young mage was bored, like always. But then, something happened, a strange guest from a faraway land, the others said. The boy was curious, he must see this person.

The staff area was locked off but he snuck in anyway. The boy tried his best to go to the guest quarter but failed to. There were too many people, even the seniors were curious of the Stranger. Apparently, he came from the far West, the land of endless deserts stretching as far as the eyes could see.

The boy came close to reaching the window but had to give up in the end. He could hear the Stranger pacing around in the room, a strange ding sound like a bell, repeating with every other step. Maybe he could know more of this Stranger from the other staffs.

And so, the young mage suck to the faculty office and luckily, this person was quite a topic.

He learnt of the Stranger identity.

The man was Clayton Black of the 22nd Company of the Desert Ranger. “What is a Ranger?” One of the staffs asked and the question was answered. In the far West, to cross the desert is a long and arduous journey under the blazing sun. Armoured Knights couldn’t exist, their equipment too cumbersome and a heat trap for such an environment. Then one man, known as the Owl, created the Desert Ranger, the West peacekeeping force. Wearing light leather gears and wielding weapons that spit out thunder, the group assumed the function of both the Knight and the Blind for the region.

“But then, what business brought Clayton Black of the 22nd Company here?”

“Clayton Black, the last of the 22nd Company”

That was how the man referred to himself. Him and his company were chasing something unnatural, different. Something that was foreign to this world and even the Runeslands. In their pursuit, the creature had killed them one by one, until only Clayton Black remained.

“What happened to it? That monster?”

“Oh, he finally captured it! That’s why he is here”

Transporting it back to the West was too much of a journey for one man with this creature in tow. Clayton Black wanted the thing studied by the scholars of this land to research and find a way to end it once and for all.

“Oh, that’s exciting!”

Needless to say, the researchers were all excited for this occasion. They talked about what they would do, how they would cut the monster apart, maybe with some electric shock and many more gruesome experiments all in great details.

Feeling sick in the stomach, the boy stopped listening in and continued to wander the restricted area.

He wanted to get out, it was about time. But then, the natural curiosity of an intellectual compelled him otherwise. This strange monster wouldn’t be there for long, the boy wanted to take a peak. And so, he made his way to an obscured wing of the castle. There wasn’t anyone around, the time for research was soon to come.

What would the thing look like? The young mage was filled with images of his own wildest imagination. A giant lizard with wings? Or maybe like those fishes that he sometimes heard about? The possibility was endless.

He opened the door to where the monster was kept.

Inside a chamber was a glass cage reinforced by the strongest magic this side of the world had to offer. The boy could see the monster sat in the middle and he couldn’t contain his surprise.

“A guest” The creature turned back and looked at him, a smile on its face.

It wasn’t a giant lizard nor something from the sea, not it as just a pale woman with crimson hair. She sat there with her knees up, covering her unclothed body. Her eyes had no irises, their depth drew the young mage in.

“You should turn back” The ‘monster’ spoke softly “What are you doing here anyway?”

“I… I wanted to see what you are like” The boy answered truthfully.

“Well, I am here, what do you want to see”

The ‘monster’ stood up and the boy immediately turned away, he covered his eyes. After realising why, the ‘monster’ giggled and sat back down.

“Aw, aren’t you a cute one” It said “Don’t worry, it’s alright to turn back now”

The boy turned around but with his hands still over his eyes. He peaked a bit to find that the ‘monster’ had covered itself with its’ knee again. The young mage was confused, he could tell this wasn’t a normal human. The eyes were a dead giveaway, but no one in the waste had skin this pale, at least, that was what he thought.

And yet, this ‘monster’ felt like a person to him.

Their meeting had to stop here as he could hear the sound of footsteps. After barely escaping by hiding in a closet, the boy returned to his dome. Around him, his fellow students were still talking about the Stranger that arrived into the academy. One of them managed to get a glimpse of him said he had a wide-brim hat and a star attached to his boot.

The day continued like normal, they had food then went to sleep. The young mage had his eyes opened wide. What the researchers were talking still fresh in his mind. They would cut the monster up and that would be the least of it.

‘It’s not right’ He thought to himself.

The day after, the young mage went through the same grind. Breakfast then to attend the class then more class and some more classes, after lunch was the same, classes after classes. Finally, the students were let free to have time for themselves before dinner.

Using this time, the boy snuck into the staff’s quarter again. Tracing his way from yesterday, he arrived at the chamber with the ‘monster’ again.

It was still sitting there but there were cuts running all over its body. The room were filled with instrument, knifes and scalpels of all size. Electrical prods could also be found with many more items that he couldn’t name.

“Do you like to go where you aren’t allowed… or do you want to see me again” The ‘monster’ said still with a smile on its face.

“Are you alright?” The young mage asked nervously.

“Of course, I am, are you worried about me? That’s sweet” The monster giggled.

“I… I…” The boy breathed in and readied himself “I’m going to break you out of here”

This seemed to surprise the ‘monster’, it didn’t expect such a… decision.

“You are certainly easy to charm… I am a ‘monster’ you know” It said.

“No I am not charmed, I just can’t sit still knowing someone or something is in pain” The boy said with conviction.

His mind was already made up and there was nothing that could change it. He immediately worked on deactivating the magical reinforcement. The ‘monster’ watched in amazement, it couldn’t believe someone like this existed.

“You will get into trouble, you know” It said.

The young mage ignored the ‘monster’ as he was too focused in this particular artefact. An advance design but the maker didn’t think anyone would tamper with it so there was no security. Eventually he managed to turn off the magical reinforcement. Now to deal with the glass. It was put over telekinetically, without a charger, he wasn’t going to do that.

He took a look at the table, on it were equipment used for the many experiments. The boy grabbed the table and with the best of his strength flung it. The thing crashed through the glass cage, luckily the whole thing didn’t fall down.

From within the ‘monster’ walked out, the boy hastily covered his eyes.

“Thank you” He gave him a kiss on the forehead “What’s your name?”

“I’m Mordia” The boy’s face reddened as he could feel her close “What about you?”

“Me? I’m…”

___

Mordia Castellanos wakes up from a long sleep. The spot next to him is empty, his wife already up, keeping watch over the town’s perimeter. The man can’t seem to remember the dream he just had, a strange phenomenon for him. Mordia feels like he had forgotten something but can’t seem to remember it. Probably nothing important.

Outside it is still dark, he must have woken up early. Mordia takes a peak inside the children room to find them still sound asleep. He grabs the charger, a gauntlet like device and hides it under his sleeve. Then, grabbing some food already prepared, the man heads out.

Outside, the people are worried and panicking, but why he wonders. His wife is watching over the barricade nervously, she is waiting for something.

Mordia tries to sneak up on her and suddenly asks “What’s going on?”

“Oh, you awake” She answered, too sharp to not notice him “The sun should be out some time before already. And yet, it’s still night” Claudia gazes up “The sky is also unnaturally starry”

That would explain the panic. Mordia is worried about the barrier, he had already shrunken it but it’s not possible to watch the perimeter from here.

“I will go and check on the barrier” He said.

“It’s too dangerous, I will go with you” Claudia answered without hesitation.

“Nah, they need you here” This settlement has always been peaceful and so when this disaster is upon them, Claudia is the only one with enough experience to lead the place “Besides, I have this” Mordia secretly shows her his charger.

“Ten minutes” She said then gave him a kiss “Then I will go look for you myself”

The mage makes his way outside and wanders the perimeter of the barrier. There doesn’t seem to be any problem, only a bit left to see. As he approaches the end, Morida can spot something, or someone lying outside back against a tree, a raider.

Is he dead? The mage wondered.

He decides to get closer, to get a closer look. The raider is still conscious, but he is hurt badly. Mordia nearly walks outside to help when a thought appears in his mind ‘It’s a trap’.

“Mor…dia?” The raider spoke weakly.

That voice, the mage recognises it “David! Oh no” He rushes outside to tend to his old friend from the academy.

“So… you are the… mage in the wood” The raider tried to speak “You idiot… what if this is a trap”

“Is it?” Mordia asked.

“No… but it could be” David answered.

The mage tries to check on the wound only to be horrified by what he finds. His friend’s back is gone, flesh dripping out along with his insides. This wound is fatal. Mordia doesn’t even understand how his friend is still alive. Taking a closer look, he can see strange spiral pattern running along the ribs.

“I tried… to run away… with her” David said, coughing out blood “But… there… were too many of… them”

“Hang on, don’t say anything” Mordia said that but he doesn’t know what could be done.

“They got… Marissa, please, you must… save her. She is… bearing… our child”

With those words, a burden is lifted from the dying man. David lets go of the unknown, his life fades away for good.

Morida sits next to the corpse of his friend, wondering what had happened. Why is he and Marissa here instead of the academy? What were they running from? Is she also a raider?

The mage can still remember that girl, Marissa, she was so bright unlike the rest of them. He stands up and decides on what to do. The man will honour his friend last wish. He will rescue Marissa and her child.

There is only thing holding him back, his family. Mordia thinks about leaving now but he can’t do that. Claudia needs to know. She will try to stop him but he will go no matter what. The man knows that she won’t be able to follow, leaving the children behind. It’s selfish of him but Mordia is a man who can’t and won’t turn down a cry for help, especially from an old friend.

He is just that big of a fool.