The Red Sky

Adeleine followed the student in the borderline of trees. Despite her being almost familiar with the academy grounds, she still needed help when navigating in the forest. Ironic since she lived in a forest her whole life but. In her defense, it may be the same environment but, never the same place she grew up.

"We're almost there." The female student interrupted her rumination.

Adeleine gave a short nod.

It was considerate of Kellie to finally send another student to fetch her instead of that petty dingus stinkhorn. The sheer audacity of that guy to actually say to her face that he doesn't want to be in her company, well, she certainly doesn't want to see his face!

They walked for quite a while now. This place seems to be farther than the usual spots they train in.

Adeleine felt touched that Kellie would be meeting her before she sets off on her mission but was struck with a foreign painful tug on her heartstrings. Has she become attached? Is this like a baby chick imprinting on a mother duck?

Adeleine shook her head to dismiss such bothersome thoughts. They only did this because they want her to do them a favor. Maybe not a favor, more like a threat. Right… to them, she's nothing more than just a spy, a chess piece, a pawn. She should be more concerned about how to unravel herself in this web she caught herself in, or just play along.

But one question greatly interests her as of now... If Kellie leaves, then who will train her? Headmaster Verkel could place in a substitute, however, only a few selected should know about this plan. If they're going to teach a Letherian how to wield weapons and self-defense, no doubt, they would question the purpose of it. Then another way is to let her have her normal classes back, meaning, she'll be able to attend Affinity Mastery once again!

She'll be able to gather more information to figure out her case and the cause of Moon's disappearance. It doesn't appear to be the normal case of the voice's sulking, rather, it could be that their connection severed, or any along those lines. Despite having no clue whether that is possible, her case was abnormal, to begin with, so it's hard to use others' experiences as an example to her own.

She also began opening to various possibilities regarding her "affinity" if she could even call it one. Hence, she began borrowing self-written journals of Letherian abilities from Lavine, the Letherian enthusiast, himself—something that the library should have but no records of. Albeit, she's grateful for the male student to lend it to her even if the contents wouldn't be as accurate since he claimed that he hasn't encountered one, or so she remembered. With limited information, all sources should be considered, but has yet to be validated.

With the extensive knowledge, more questions added more problems. Letherians' abilities are far different than Adhelians' affinity. To better word it, it's exactly the complete opposite—Adhelians manipulate the elements of their surroundings through an external factor, namely, contracts with spirits while Letherians...

They have a complex set of skills, variating to all shapes and sizes unlike the light people limited to elements. But one thing for sure is that they are able to manipulate their own form and body, or enhance their skill.

The former is closer to her case compared to the typical Letherian abilities, which made it all the more confusing.

Maybe Lavine was right... she is an anomaly, to these people and to her own kin.

What is Moon? Could she really be a spirit? If it is, then what would that make Adeleine? If she's not, then what would Moon be?

As depressing as it may sound, she hit another dead end. "Oof!" And could be literally taken as she bumped into the back of the female student, too caught up in her thoughts that she forgot she was following closely behind her.

The student said nothing but Adeleine sensed the rising dread on her skin as she peered past the girl. In front of them, a group of students was propped on the floor, leaning on the trunks with their arms crossed. It looked like they'd been waiting for something, or rather, someone.

She looked around, trying to find a familiar face. No Kellie.

A bead of cold sweat ran down her back as they all watched the two enter the vicinity. For precaution, she took a defensive stance as the girl she'd been following joined the group. They all looked at her with malice and enmity.

She broke the tension first with a shaky breath but, tried to play it cool. "What are you doing?"

It doesn't take a fool to realize their intentions but when cornered, she had no choice other than to play like one. She was stupid enough after all to not cast any suspicion on any changes just because she didn't want to see a certain face. And now, she's in trouble because of that stupidity.

Why didn't they add the saying stupidity kills the cat instead of curiosity kills? It would have been more helpful.

One of them approached her. "What is a lion without his pride?"

"The once hunter becomes the prey." Another joined in and circled her.

"Will the king of the jungle bare his fangs like a- like a…" the third one paused, his line forever forgotten in the wind. The others stopped as they lost their tempo. "Like ummm…"

"Idiot, I thought you memorized your lines?!"

"I did! It's just that! I have the longest line and I just panicked! And I got nervous! And- and!"

Adeleine gaped at the scene before her. She doesn't know whether to just make a run for it while they're preoccupied or stay still since they completely outnumbered her. It's one to five. Clearly, she's at a disadvantage.

"Didn't we rehearsed this numerous times?!" The first one irritatedly sighed.

'Look at these clowns arguing.' She laughed. If this was a circus, she would have screamed it to an entire plaza that it's a recommended must as if giving them five stars. Is this their incredible yet pathetic attempt of intimidation?

No wonder those fictional scenes where the antagonists confront a person had fitting lines, she thought it was unrealistic to whip up something so good and well-coordinated. At least their dedication was something commendable, although not their memorization.

"Can you two stop it? It's right in front of us and you're displaying a humiliating act!" The fourth one intervened as she jerked her head over to the Letherian girl but only found an empty spot. "Huh?! Wait-! She's getting away!"

Hearing them notice her disappearance, she broke into a sprint.

The first one yelled at the third. "This is all your fault!"

"Stop arguing and after her!"

Her heart thundered; everything was a fast blur. Pushing her legs to their limit, she flew to the air when she rashly jumped off from high leverage. Her heart soar as she saw the height she didn't anticipate. It's certainly not that threateningly high but, it's enough to scare her that she won't be getting out without a sprain.

Her legs gave in when she landed on the forest floor, electric shocks shooting up to her thighs before she could regain her standing. It felt like jelly, ready to give up on her. As soon as she took the first step, her knees went numb and she faceplanted on the floor.

'No! No! No!' She can't give up the chase!

She pushed herself up but, a hand grabbed her wrists and locked them from behind, rendering her trapped. Soon, the others caught up to them and it was over.

"They say that in Letherian culture, the hair is the representation of everything. They value the length of it as much as like pride is to us. But what happens when they cut their hair? What would you feel?" Adeleine froze as her gaze locked in the pair of scissors in his fingers.

"What are you planning to do?! Unhand me, you damned swines." She thrashed around as two people kept her in place. "You demons, fiends! Devils!"

She trembled. 'No…' but her whimper only stuck inside her throat. Her mother loved brushing her hair even if she insisted she can do it by herself since she was already old enough. She could care less about Letherian culture but, that is only for her mother to touch!

The one with the scissors groaned. "Ugh, hold her still. I can't cut her hair."

Adeleine threw her head back, knocking the forehead of her perpetrator.

"Dammit, this whore."

Adeleine snarled. "Damn you, demons. I hope you end in miserable suffering."

The girl in front grabbed Adeleine's cheeks, yanking her chin up as their eyes meet. What she saw in them were black slates of no remorse. The girl slapped her, leaving Adeleine too shocked to absorb what happened. She felt the stinging pain on the side of her face and a hand imprint seared through her skin. However, none of those felt anything when her eyes locked on a sizeable strand of hair on the ground, cut.

"Don't lump us to the likes of you."

'What?' A huff escaped her lips while her shock slowly curved into a smile, then to a peal of full-blown cynical laughter. "For once, you're right… Because you're worse than a demon like me," she said with a twisted expression.

She slapped her again. Everything went black.

The sky bled red, trees decayed to dark lifeless barks. The full moon ever so present, glowed bright white, boldly claiming the expanse. She looked down: bodies. Five bodies. Lifeless—sprawled—on the ground.