Ending Paradise

A Night We'll Never Forget

We sat back at our spot in the corner watching the box carefully. Principal Alexander continued to go on and on about the importance of the full moon on this night.

While it's true magic performs better on nights of a full moon, it's usually not beyond human limitations. More importantly, it's not amazing enough to bore us for several minutes.

"Tonight, right before the moon reaches its peak we will perform the ritual of blossoms to help bring into the new spring season. Please–" The principal directions were cut short by a long breath of screaming.

Hastily entering was a teacher in a high panic. I stood from my seat to get a better look. The teacher soon tripped and fell before a long slithery tail-like limb grabbed his ankle and pulled him away as he screamed and cried for help.

I almost ran after him but Charlie grabbed my arm and gain a look that flashed a warning of sorts.

Unsure of what just happened the room was completely silent for a moment before the window shattered all at once, soldiers in traditional steel armor invading the school.

A mass panic flooded the hall as everyone tried to flee to safety while the teacher attempted to fight the soldiers and calm the students.

"Everyone calm down!" One of teachers attempted to calm down the students but it was of no use.

"EVERYONE GO AND GET TO SAFETY!" Two teacher held open the hall doors before the whole crowd of students started fleeing the scene.

It didn't take long for the teachers to defeat the small number of soldiers before we were all pushed outside.

Kendra, Wynter, Charlie, Rosie, and I had stood up to get a better stance on the situation but got pushed out by the crowd. In the end, we ended up running out and into town where the same thing was happening.

Houses and street shops being broken in, witches and normal civilians alike being forced to the ground. We all witness them being murder in one cold-blooded motion.

The students tried fighting but it seemed futile, I summoned my staff and began on my cruise around the city, knocking over the soldiers in one strike. They stumbled like normal people but their strength was stronger than most monsters I've come across.

I dodge a strike to my side before twirling my staff to strike down three soldiers. Their defense seemed a lot more brittle than expected but after being knocked to the floor they stood once more. I repeated my attacks until their movement slowed to a stop.

By the time I looked back an array of corpses, unmovable bodies lay in place. My hands clenched tight against my goggles. When I checked there was no synergy flowing in or around them.

They had been slaughtered. My thoughts froze as I pondered my next actions. Do I pray for them? Do I mourn them? I suppose it best to leave it until later to think about. I feel guilty but I can't help them now.

Next to me, one of Kendra's flames lit up a group of soldiers prepared to attack me. My thought hit a stopping point but I ran over to Kendra to ask if she had anything else to add to the situation.

"Any luck, Keke?" I jog up to her as I hunched over at the rising amounts of smoke and dust.

"These guys are strong but the harder you hit them the longer they stay down," Kendra told me nearly immediately as I approached.

I pulled off my goggles, "So I see, but have you noticed a weak point, or do they just keep standing back up?" I asked as I swatted a few soldiers back.

Kendra was focused on casting her flames spells with a wand in hand and the saturated red magic circle at its point. It was almost impressive how she could summon such large balls of flames and shoot them back to back at the soldiers.