Hell. (Chapter 6)

Awakened by a large explosion, the whole dorm section shook. I was startled. I quickly tried to look outside the window to see what it was, well I couldn't see much, but the hall was on fire. The screams of the girls dorm filled the academy. I and Takaii rushed out to the hall quickly.

A tall figure, cloaked with a dagger, stabbed a female student and ran off. Suprisingly, there more figures as well. Takaii and I looked shocked. We drew our weapons incase we had to draw any blood necessary. The cloaked men killed one by one of the students. Aden was no where to be found. A few men came towards me and Takaii. We engaged in a fight, but we knew, we were outnumbered. I took down a few before another explosion filled the hall. It was the classroom. Students evacuating in the classroom were all dead. The men who were battling us ran off to another facility.

I looked around, the whole academy was in hell. I decided to look for Yanagi, and Aden. "You both!, Yanagi was in the classroom, I hope she's oka-" "WHAT?". The student messenger, Phyllys was panicked. I knew Yanagi was dead. Half of my body wanted to leap into that classroom to atleast say goodbye, or carry her out, but as we stood, she was already gone I assumed. Tear drops of Takaii fell onto the flames, I kneeled down and beg. "WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS, YOU PEOPLE?!".

Takaii dashed out to the cafeteria to combat the men by himself. I didn't stop him for a hero knows what he must do. Another explosion occured in the Teacher's lounge, then the principal's office. I dashed out to the academy entrance, with my uniform, some parts of it were burnt. I knew I couldn't do much, as my only use was in combat. The acadamy was on fire. Students lying down at the entrance stairs as I witnessed a place where dreams are built, crumbled.

Takaii rushed out and his face showed an expression of guilt and pain, his arms were injured. "I'm sorry..Claude..I couldn't do much..". I guided him to a nearby forest, where I assumed the cloak men would not have been, because another explosion erupted. A few students were laying against the trees till their last breath.

I rushed out while carrying Takaii in a rescue carry position. My mind still played images of Yanagi, and Aden. I dropped tears as I tripped down. All of a sudden, arrow started gliding into tree barks. We knew we were in for it. Covered in sweat and blood, I drew my Aestus blade using Esper. Takaii was unconscious. I kept circling around him to ensure he wasn't harmed. Arrows started pouring down.

I covered my head with the large 180+ cm blade. The arrows rained down and fell on the blade. It felt like rain on a cozy day in a small cottage. I had no plans, all I could do is survive. I dragged Takaii to a nearby river and we hid under a small bridge. The bridge had a small ledge, we both took refuge under it. I tried to calm myself down as explosion after explosions came. The academy was done for.

There was no hope for Aden to survive. My friends gone, just like that. I started to cry. I remembered my father's words.

"𝙒𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨. 𝙄𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛."

I had to stay strong. That was the reason I was gifted with this Aestus blade. My successors counted on me. I must do something. I sat quietly under the bridge, with Takaii, unconscious, thinking about my next move. It could be fatal if I were to make a wrong choice, but hey, i'm just 16.