Those 50 feet scattered on the thorny trail towards the weapons storage sprawled like a decent 30 kilometers. I traced my head back at Gordon, whose hands were chaotically spiralling around the branch, pressuring it into the ground to create a fire spark out of the friction. I glanced at Hotaru, who was frantically chasing younger students all over the yard for them to be gathered safely away from the flammable powder. Finally, i shifted my gaze towards Sai, who nearly disappeared in the notorious squashing, but was tentatively trying to reach the group of 1st grades at the center of the circular powder lane. All of them moved dreadfully slowly, like their strength and agility were lowered to a half of their original state, making them more fragile, susceptible to believe in the fraudulent circumstances.
More of expectedly than all of a sudden, i overlooked the unnatural heaviness in my legs and disorientating white spots blanketing my eyesight. There was no chance left for the drill to be considered as such. It was a real attack. A monster hunt.
Tír na nÓg. The monster feared by every living creature that transplants mortal world into the controllable realm of nightmares. Otherwise, it controls time and space and the entire perception of existence. Sensei Adam lectured us on the effects of its powers, told a story about him witnessing knights losing their sanity in the most masochistic ways possible during the battle at Skade academy in Norway, on Monstrology classes. He said that wiggling the mind out of the monster's cage is the most intricate obstacle passable by a human. Passable only by the strongest humans. But how?
- "It's not the training! Code Red! We are under attack of Tír na nÓg." – I yelled with all the force that my throat allowed me to exert at the moment where I started seeing black. A total blindness in the imitated darkness. "Remember, Comrades, these are only illusions! Whatever it takes, stay conscious!".
I tried shouting again, but this time my voice sounded oddly remote. There was a solid possibility of it being surpassed by the panicked screams of the terrified children.
- "Gordon! You hear me?" – I tried my luck one more time before I saw myself collapsing to my knees.
- "Still here! I can't sense my arms! Fired the circle right before motherfucking paralysis rolled me over." – his screams contained a strained notes of relief. With the knowledge that he striked up the shelter on time, I guessed.
- "Do you have trouble seeing?" – I tested the waters, wondering if he can figure out the direction of the magnetic waves. Those must have been started consuming the negative enrgy coming from the agitated students. "I am blind for now. Can you track down the rainbow slits in the air?"
The waves wear rainbow trace due to light refraction from the frequency that Tír na nÓg elicits. Inaudible for humans, but visible. Sciences don't apply to Tír na nÓg as he can manufacture sound waves into light magically, and produce his illusions by manipulating natural light bendings.
- "No need. I can see him approaching the gates on your right. We are beyond the shelter and he is striking right on us! Children are inside... I think I won't be able to talk mo..." – his barely audible whisper persisted whisking away.
- "Gordon! Run!" – I could still hear him panting like a whale a few meters away from me. Still conscious, but with no energy to give out any more coherent sounds.
And then I heard HIM. Approaching somewhere from the right side. About 30 feet from me. My silver-steel Tantos is in the storage 50 feet away on my left, but Gordon would still be here, remainig scrunched and defenseless. If only I could shake myself out of the haze. At least the replacement of darkness with blurriness would do.
Come on, Satoshi. Think. You are the Strongest, damn it.
- "5th grade Knights on the bases, assemble! Formation O! That scum must not step anywhere further into the academy!" – Enzo's commands pierced through my self-flagellated thoughts. "Hotaru, tug Gordon back to the storage!".
YOU ARE READING
Assassins vs Knights
RomanceA Japanese assassin, The Strongest warrior of the Unified Irish kingdom - Satoshi Kamado, was asigned to train the cadets from the military instituition Dullahan, as monsters' attacks get more violent, coordinated and deadly each year. The humanity...
