Professor serpent and the Twilight Academy Book 1 the first year

prologue

As night fell upon the midnight sky, long after the twilight had long passed, two men walked alone in the woodland very close to a small town.

Falling in line was a group of mercs.
Approaching very quietly they then stopped just very close to their target.
One of the men was dressed in blue-clad armor. He had brown eyes, brown hair, and peachy skin.
Beside him was a hooded man who stayed close to his side.
“Are you ready?” the man asked the hooded one.
Looking at him, I nodded.
A row of bandits approached the town, axes, and torches in hand.
“Looks like easy pickings tonight, boys," said the leader with a hearty laugh.
Just then an arrow hit a bandit, silencing him; he didn't even grunt.

Someone grabbed one behind a tree. Only a slight scream rang out, halting the others' advance.
"What was that!?"

"Now!!"

A successful surprise attack caught the bandits completely off guard.

Sounds of blades clashing filled the empty night air.

I followed my partner through, taking the fight to anyone trying to cut through.

A bandit charged me. I dodged and cut him down, spilling blood.

My partner cut three down in less than a moment.
"Not a bad strategy, my dear friend."

An arrow shot for him. I quickly cast a fireball, incinerating it and hitting the shooter, taking them out.
"We're getting overwhelmed. Do something!" one bandit shouted to their leader.

Their leader grits his teeth in frustration.

"Grrrrrah! You'll die for this!"
Running through the fight, he charged at the two leaders of the group.

I turned, hearing him coming.

I went to act but my partner ran ahead of me.

"Die!!!"

Blocking his ax, he kicked his leg, making him stagger.
Jumping forward he struck him down in two lethal blows, spilling blood.

"And that should do it," my partner boasted just as the fighting started to end.

"What do you think? Bet we could make it back home before morn-"

Suddenly someone appeared before him and blasted him down with a fireball.

It was a man with red hair dressed in a dark robe.

"Pity. I hoped you put up more of-"
I cut him off, swinging my sword and narrowly missing the man.

"Quick one. How about this!?" He charged at me, swinging a lone sickle at me.

I pulled back to dodge, throwing my hood off.

The man froze seeing my face.

"So you're the masked wolf!"

Standing in the moonlight my blue fur shone in the night.
I raised my ears before raising my blade.
"Jacob, you ok?"

I heard him stand behind me.

"Yeah…I'm still kicking."

I charged at the man who pulled out a purple crystal orb that formed into a staff that he plunged into the dirt.

Right when I got close to reaching him, a huge black cloud came out of the ground, separating us almost like a wall.

"I see you’re swift with magic and blade. Let's see if you can do one without the other!"

A wave of Blackness shot at me. Based on the smell I learned from facing dark Mages before, it was Twilight Corruption concentrated into Twilight Gloom- lethal stuff if it touched you.

Using my blade, I managed to bash it to the side, scattering it around me. However, I didn't realize until too late that it had started to climb my sword.

I tried swinging my blade but then it reached my arm, making it burn with pain.

I grit my fangs as pain coursed through my arm as more and more Gloom started to move into it.

The remainder of it shot at me so I quickly raised my blade and tried to deflect the remainder of it.

*Crack*

All the Gloom shattered at the cost of my blade being broken, falling a few feet away.
I fell to my knees, almost passing out from the constant pain that was emanating from my arm.
The sorcerer stood over me with fire in his hands.
"I do enjoy a fight from someone so skilled, but alas, I was asked to do away with you. Goodbye!" He raised his hand.

But just then someone struck him, making him stop.

An arrow pierced directly through his throat. He started gurgling and choking.

He pulled it out but soon stumbled over.

Looking up I saw knights heading our way but…I was feeling faint.

Jacob rushed over to me, shouting at me.

I tried to hear him, but I was fading into sleep from the pain as the Gloom deepened. I would be dead or in an endless sleep.

"Sorry…" I said, closing my eyes.

Jacob held his friend close in his arms. He knew help was coming, but the Gloom was moving more towards his shoulder.

Realizing that it would reach his heart fast, Jacob raised his blade crying out.
"I'm sorry!!!"

The wet sound of blood splashing against the ground echoed into the night.