A dark plane drifts in the thought the shadow of a world that has light. This world has those who write who sing, and dance tales that sparkle is the dark space. But then many more people began to copy one another. Narrating the same story again and again with subtle differences sewn in each word, sound and script made. Slowly they became more complicated new and different that the dark space gained its own light.

The night was one of the few things that ever felt natural. The darkness was like a shield from those who meant us harm. The two moons and stars would always greet you as you traveled down the lone path, telling tales in their own unique way that almost seemed poetic.

However the night wasn't without its risks. The reason my team and I are now out here. In a cooled swamp with a low fire as our light and source of comfort away from the place we at times called a cage for people like us.

No.

For things like me.

"Captain?"

I jolted in surprise. I was too deep in though to feel someone approach, however i didn't have to turn my head, there was no real point she was the only person who called me Captain in our group. My first student and vice captain of our group.

“aren't you the stealthy one"

“I'm sorry to disturb you." She hesitated by after taking her time she continued." But i needed to report that our target has yet to appear after my scouting.”

I turned to face a rather tall girl with sharp golden cat like eyes, a lions tail, and large eagle like wings folded on her back. Golden brown hair tied in a tight ponytail. Her silver coat with wyvern fur at the ends and golden wyvern shelled chest piece had dents and tears that managed to happen in only three years. She was a shy girl at least around me but she could be a tab stubborn for her own good.

She had something different about her tonight however. I investigated her large wings. To see they were all ruffled and clumped together. As she flapped them to place them folded on her back many feathers fell to the marsh floor.

“Chloe, are you molting?”

She froze and flushed a cute red shade. “ i-i i didn't think it would be so noticeable. Im sorry. I'll deal with it right away captain!” she tried to reach out to her wings but couldn't reach.” I forgot i can't do it myself. Captain could you help me…”

“Sure,” i motioned her to calm herself,” Though I would think you'd ask our adorable little fairy for help first"

“Like i could ask him that!” She pouted in such a cute manner i couldn't help but laugh.”

But I was greeted a blob of fur thrown at me with such force forcing me to the muddy water.

One large yellow eye looked in my light violet ones. It's claws tightened on my shirt, as its terra cotta fur stuck up on it back.

"Victor!" I yelled out glaring at a young man. He had an angered expression in his soft green eyes. His hair flowing but messy the color of that of a sugar cookie. His leather armor with light armor silver plating on his shoulders and chest.

" You know better than to mistreat my Sack!" I stood up cradling the shooken creature in my arms. With my hair soaked and my purple hair bun in a messy fit.

"Well stop calling me a fairy!" He yelled back.

“Victor that was uncalled for!”

“The hell it wasn't,” He faced Chloe his expression was just a mixture of emotions. " and do you really need someone to do it, pick off your old feathers?" He points to her fluffy

" I..." Chloe looked at the ground with puffed cheeks, embarrassed that she even had to have this conversation with Victor. With her new feathers coming in she liked to keep herself well groomed so her feathers wouldn't fall everywhere around her in a bumbling mess. To her that was something very unpleasant.”you know that this isn't something I can't do on my own.”

Small bubbles began to rise from the water, slowly growing closer, then they abruptly stopped. As a surge of something big swam under the water.

"We got company!" Victor slammed his fist to the ground causing the solid ground around us to shake. Muddy towers sprouted out with a large creature forced up from the swamps depths. This was Victor's skill stone pillars. Six Snake like heads and skin, its body like that of a hairless dog. It's fangs dripped a black like Silvia.

“Frozen arrows” Chloe materialized a bow of pure magic. Firing magic arrows that froze over the swap water to make sure the hydra couldn't get alway.

“Looks like he did us a favor of coming to us.” I stood up with wet hair and made Sack wrap his noodle like arms wrap around me.” You reaction time with that has gotten better.” i turned to chloe.

“Of course I am your top students after all.”she smiled proudly to me.

“Hey captain,” Victor's was getting pale and he began breathing heavy.” Mind i don't know…Getting off your fat ass and helping!” Victor is very capable of using magic but it was never a strength of his, causing it to really drain him.

“on it”. I held out my arm.

"Sack," I looked at my familiar," give me number 4 from the armory." Sack opened his large mouth as a magic circle formed around my hands, light formed and began to take the form of a steel spear with glowing runes on its long blade. Spear Fulgur.

"Hold on tight Sack," he nodded as I began to dash at the serpent like monster. Three heads began to strike down at me as I grew closer, managing to dodge. With my spear I managed to make lacerations on it front legs, letting my weapons paralyzation effect take hold.

However, Fulgur was covered in acidic blood and its blade began to melt as well as some article of my clothing.

But before i could better process this, Sack hissed as another head was behind me, its cheeks puffed up.

"Aw Home!" It spat out a thick sludge at me, but before it could touch me.

"Don't you dare!" ice sprouted from an arrow freezing the head solid. However that spell can cause the target to focus on her as a primary threat, which was very bad.

“Chloe, move now!" On command she flew in the sky, however not as fast as she would normally. One of the head was stretching up at her, before I sharpened my eyes at it, Victor was able to intersect and used a hard kick away from chloe.

“Tsk, the acids way more potent then what we were told,” victor hissed as part of his pants and leg was burnt.

I put some distance between me and the Hydra, I turned to see Chole firing her arrows from the sky, her frozen arrows hitting its back only slightly slowing it down.

Victor, slipped from behind using his gauntlets to hit the hydra's hind-legs making it collapses and temporary immovable, but more acid began to splash at him. These two can't handle this

"Just gotta hit its heart," I looked down at my shadow and I looked at the hydra." Just the heart, sit out for this one Sack" he did as he was told and hooked onto a nearby log. I slowed my breathing and placed out my hand in front of me "ILLUMINATION!"

One of the heads looked at my direction as a large orb of light took to the sky and brightened the area around it.

“Get away now!” My yelling made the two of them rush away from the hydra and myself.When its shadow was visible I touched my own,"Shadow passage."

I then began to sink into my shadow, the darkness around me was like water, I swam to a light in the distance holding my spear close. Then when I reached the light I charged my attack, and jumped stabbing not only the hydra but completely through it as showers of lightning exploded about. Which was my mistake...

"I hope it burning in home," I laid down with burn marks all-around the top part of my body. My clothes were completely burned and melted i wasn't really wearing anything aside from pants, a sheet covering my lower half as the rest of me was bandaged.

"It's hell, and you're the idiot who forgot that a Hydra's blood is highly acidic!" Victor nagged at me.

"I didn't forget." I hissed from the pain as I got up. "I just accidentally overcharged my attack," I looked at my spear how it was almost completely melted." Besides my blood is just as acidic ,if not more than that hydra, if it wasn't for that, my entire upper body would've melted off." I smiled.

"And your supposed to be the adult," he sighed

.

"Hey watch it, even adults make mistakes. Even those who don't look like one," I sighed at the end of my sentences. True, i was much older then my teenaged teammates, but physically I don't look any older than 14.

"Captain lie back down i haven't finished tending to the burns yet," Chloe gently pushed me down to apply ointment to my burns. "I could finish this faster if I use my per ability," she muttered.

"No, you shouldn't waste your magic on this. I'll be fine, I just need some time to heal," I patted her head, and she let out a light blush. "I'll be all ready in the morning, it'll look like nothing even happened." As much as I wish that wasn't the case.

"Okay... I'll be back then. I'll sent a message back to the head captain informing him that the creature has been taken care of." She went to our tent.

"Don't tell Uncle Asoa, about the about the acid!"