Run, Young Hero

'Isabella left?!' Merlene exclaimed, her hands slamming on the table in her outburst.

'She left in the middle of the night, leaving this note about quitting her position,' the Director sighed, sliding the piece of paper their way on the table. The monk picked it up, reading its contents as he looked towards the group.

'So does this mean the traitor was her?' he pondered as he read, his eyes switching to the Director and Vasrien, who was at his side.

'Most likely, but we don't know anything about her whereabouts, so that's not our main concern right now,' Vasrien added, his gaze shifting to the Director to see his concerned posture, his hands supporting his chin as he pondered.

'May the goddess watch over her and bless each step she takes,' Niao murmured in a silent prayer.

'Aiden, does it say anything about where she left to?' Merlene pondered.

'No, sadly. It would've made our job much easier,' Aiden sighed, sending the paper back to the Director. The paper glided against the wood's smooth surface until it met its founder.

'Excuse me, sir, I'll have to leave a bit early,' Vasrien murmured, taking his leave and closing the door gently behind him, leaving the group to ponder their thoughts.

'Honestly...' Vasrien snarled, his steps hastening with each strut, a cold glare facing forward. His footsteps echoed through the halls, the only noise accompanying his thoughts. His teeth gritted in anger the more he thought about it—seeing her before she left.

'I told her not to leave yet!'

'I can't do this anymore.' She would plead, her hand to her chest as a form of sincerity, her eyebrows furrowing over her big blue eyes, pleading for him to understand.

'I know this might be against our deal, but I'm not looking for what you owed me anymore. I just want to leave this place, with or without it!' Her eyes were flooded with tears waiting to be shed, her arm clutched over the chest of her nightgown, waiting for a response from the man who promised her it all.

'Please, Vasrien, let me go.' Hearing her pleas and cries, Vasrien raised his hands, cupping her ears in his gentle palm.

The room was silent, the moon shining its rays through her window, a tint of blue devouring them all as the night cold starts to settle in.

'You sure you want this?' He pondered, his voice barely above a whisper as he looked down on the maiden waiting for what's yet to come.

'Yes, please!' She closed her eyes as she waited. A blue glow emitted from Vasrien's palms, the light illuminating the area around them. Soon he would let go, her ears pointed to the sky.

'There, elf ears, just as promised,' he announced, his hands cupping hers, dropping a capsule filled with dark matter inside.

'It's a Shadow beacon capsule. Use it for when you plan your escape tomorrow,' Vasrien ordered, walking towards the door to see himself out.

'Tomorrow?' Isabella called out to him, clutching the beacon to her chest in concern. 'I need to leave tonight.'

'I said stay here, and that's an order.' His voice left no further room for discussion, locking the door behind him and leaving Isabella to her thoughts.

'I'll gut her for this,' he murmured as he walked on down the halls.

______________________________________________________________

'There, all done!' Kaluar announced, holding his creation to the sky, the musket he tried so hard to prepare. The wind gently blows, the curtains dancing in it's graceful rhythm, creating soft crackles with their soft yet harsh movement. The moon peaking through the cracks of their dance.

Kaluar looked up to the moon, it's soft midnight glow caressing his face and the table he sat by. Our young hero let's out a sigh before placing his musket on the table, it's design the same as before, now having two hearts instead of one. The musket shined in the moon's rays the intricate design flourishing under its embrace.

'Can't wait to show Celi this.' He huffed, his smile getting even wider at the sight of his creation adorned with the attention of the moon.

'This'll surely impress her. Heck I think I impressed myself!' He chuckled by his lonesome, the feeling of dreariness soon catching up to him as his palm instinctively covered his mouth as a yawn erupted.

'I should probably go to bed....' His train of thought was interrupted, the sound of knocking filled the room. Kaluar paused, his head turning towards the door. He couldn't explain why but his heart raced within his chest, threatening to break out with each beat. Hands running cold, just sitting there, staring at the door before him with dilating pupils.

'Who would be out here this late?' He pondered, his hands shaking with fear as he got up from his chair. Slowly he raised from his chair, walking towards to the door with quiet footsteps as the knocking continued. His hesitant palms latched on the handle turning it slowly before opening the door. His pupils shrunk at the sight of him, the man from before, looming over him, a blade made of ice, showing the reflection of it's next victim.

His breath hitches at the sight of it, sharped to deadly perfection, he can feel it's cold mist brushing against his skin from there causing his skin to prickle to the sudden shift in temperature. They stood face to face in silence, no one dare making a move. 

'Hand over the girl.' He murmured finally, his breath just as cold as his blade. Raising it the face of the young elf. 

'I'm not handing anything over to you.' Kaluar muttered, stepping back inching closer to the table until his hands wrapped around his musket. 'In fact, i'm taking that rune back right here!'

The man's eyes narrowed at his claim, the glare sharper than his blade, his eyes colder than the lingering mist that emitted from it. Without saying a word, the man walked past Kaluar, his body frozen stiff, unable to react. He was speechless. Immobilized by fear.

'You shouldn't be fighting battles you can't win, kid.' He murmured as he walked by, his hands raising to the bed Celi slept at, his cold fingers wrapping around the soft sheets, slowly tugging at the silk fabric.

'I told you...' Kaluar muttered, turning the musket towards the man with eyes flaming with determination and resolve. His hands gripped tightly around the musket as if to break it once more. 

'I wont let you!' His teeth gritted as he pulled the trigger waiting for impact. A massive flame flourishes, shooting out in a concentrated beam towards the man, his eyes widened with the little time he had to react. His blade shimmering in a silver blur against the light of the moon as the attack finally collided.

He was sent flying through the wall, his robe flying wildly with the wind unable to do anything, the attack barely blocked by the sword, now broken in two.

'Woah, that worked-' Kaluar said, his voice barely above a whisper before shaking his head vigorously. 'Focus, Kaluar!'

Quickly he ran to Celi's side, shaking her up, with slow and groggy movements, the rubbed her eyelids to rid herself of sleep.

'What's up, Kal?' She pondered, stretching lavishly before looking at him with a confused look.

'We need to move!' He shouted, grabbing her into his arms and placing her in his fiery red hair. His feet digging into the ground sending him dashing straight towards the dorm exit.

'What's going on!?' Celi shouted as he ran, her hands holding onto his strands trying not to fall.

'Can't explain right now!' Kaluar shout her question down, still trying to make it out alive.

'That kid packs a bigger punch than I thought.' The man in crimson sighs as he regained his composure from the floors of the school grounds. His hood fallen off his face to reveal white hair and blue eyes. His clean shaved face slender yet defined.

'No matter, chasing him won't be that hard.' He stretched his palm as far as he could as blue light emitted from it's center, walls of ice forming around it making a scythe, with the twirl of his thumb the blade spun around in a silver blur against the moon. Soon landing by his side once more.

'I'm not leaving without that girl...'