Chapter 5: The First Attack
800 Words
A heavy silence settled over the dining hall.
No one moved.
No one dared to speak.
The words "The northern barrier has been breached" echoed in every student's mind.
Headmaster Orion's calm expression disappeared.
His emerald eyes hardened.
"Teachers," he commanded, "escort the first-year students to the shelter beneath the east wing. Senior students, report to your captains immediately."
The hall exploded into motion.
Chairs scraped across the floor as students hurried toward the exits.
Some looked frightened.
Others looked excited.
Aria stood frozen.
"Luna... what's happening?"
Luna grabbed her wrist.
"We have to go!"
"Who attacked the barrier?"
Luna shook her head.
"I don't know, but nothing has broken the academy's barrier in over fifty years."
Kael appeared beside them.
"Professor Thorn wants the two of you in the shelter."
"What about you?" Aria asked.
Kael fastened a silver sword to his belt.
"I'm one of the student captains."
"I have to help defend the academy."
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
"Stay inside," Kael said quietly.
"No matter what you hear."
Before Aria could reply, he ran toward the castle gates.
---
Outside, the peaceful academy had transformed into a battlefield.
The shimmering magical barrier surrounding Mooncrest Academy flickered like cracked glass.
Dark shadows gathered beyond the forest.
One by one, enormous wolves stepped out of the trees.
Their fur was black as midnight.
Their eyes burned crimson.
Each one was nearly twice the size of an ordinary wolf.
Standing before them was a tall man wearing black armor etched with blood-red symbols.
His silver hair flowed behind him in the cold wind.
Magnus Bloodfang.
He smiled as he studied the academy walls.
"So this is where you've hidden her."
He raised one hand.
"Destroy the barrier."
The crimson-eyed wolves howled together.
Dark energy slammed against the glowing shield.
The entire mountain shook.
---
Deep beneath the academy, frightened first-year students gathered inside a massive underground chamber.
Ancient crystals lit the room with soft blue light.
Aria stood beside Luna, unable to calm the uneasy feeling in her chest.
"I don't like hiding," she whispered.
Luna sighed.
"Neither do I."
Another powerful impact shook the castle.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Several younger students cried.
A teacher tried to reassure everyone.
"The barrier will hold."
But even she didn't sound convinced.
Suddenly...
Aria heard something.
A whisper.
Soft.
Familiar.
"Come..."
She turned toward the far end of the chamber.
"What?"
"Follow the moon..."
Aria looked around.
No one else seemed to hear it.
"The truth awaits..."
She slowly took a step toward a dark hallway leading away from the shelter.
"Aria?" Luna asked.
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"The voice."
"There wasn't any voice."
Another whisper echoed inside Aria's mind.
"Find me."
Almost without thinking, she walked toward the hallway.
"Aria!"
Luna hurried after her.
"Where are you going?"
"I... I don't know."
"It feels like someone's calling me."
---
Meanwhile, above ground, Kael fought alongside the academy's guards.
His silver blade flashed through the air as one of the shadow wolves lunged at him.
With a single strike, he forced it back.
"Hold the line!" Professor Thorn shouted.
More creatures poured from the forest.
They weren't ordinary wolves.
Some had glowing horns.
Others possessed wings made of black smoke.
A teacher gasped.
"Shadow Beasts..."
Magnus smiled.
"This is only the beginning."
He lifted his hand toward the castle.
"I know you're in there, Aria Blackwood."
"You cannot hide forever."
---
Far beneath the academy, Aria reached the end of the hidden hallway.
An enormous circular chamber lay before her.
At its center stood a crystal unlike anything she had ever seen.
It glowed with brilliant silver light.
The moment Aria stepped closer, the crystal pulsed.
A beam of moonlight shot upward.
Images began appearing inside the crystal.
She saw a beautiful woman with silver-blonde hair.
Her mother.
Selene Blackwood.
Aria's breath caught in her throat.
"Mom..."
The image smiled sadly.
"If you're seeing this, my little moon..."
"...then the seal I placed upon your powers is beginning to weaken."
Tears filled Aria's eyes.
"You can see me?"
The image continued as though it had expected this moment.
"There are many things your father could never tell you."
"I sealed your wolf so you could grow up in peace."
"But darkness has found you."
"You must become stronger."
"You must trust those whose hearts are loyal."
"And above all..."
Selene's expression became serious.
"...never let Magnus Bloodfang claim the Moon Crystal."
The vision suddenly flickered.
A violent explosion shook the chamber.
The crystal dimmed.
A deep c***k echoed through the academy.
Above ground, the magical barrier shattered into thousands of glowing fragments.
Mooncrest Academy was no longer protected.
Outside the gates, Magnus smiled triumphantly.
"The hunt begins."
And somewhere deep inside Aria...
something ancient finally stirred.
- Writer
