The Lancaster Chronicles: A Knight's Honour.

Chapter 8.- Animus Unleashed

Much of the events at Lancasters' were back to normal, classes resumed normally and students began studying for their end of term examinations. Sebastian was already half way into his day, and was making his way to his next class. "What's this new subject they've added?", asked Sebastian to Darius. "They just said it was Runes and that its mandatory", replied Darius whose arms were filled with many textbooks. The pair continued walking, the halls filled with students, most heading to their classes, others leaning against the walls, studying.

"How're things with Emilia?", asked Sebastian. "Not good actually, turns out the only reason she hung around me was because I'm always around you", Darius replied in a saddened voice. Sebastian said nothing and kept walking. The boys eventually arrived at their destination, well clear of the school and into the Elder Woods. As they entered the thicket, the entire ambience changed. The sun was blocked out by the evergreens, stretching all the way into the heavens. There was a thin mist which covered the landscape, making the path almost unrecognisable if it weren't for the somewhat out of place light sources.

They weren't simple torches lashed to the trees. No, instead they were cast iron street lamps, the ones found in the Victorian London. "Oh, so not the place where you'll find a murderous group of bandits!", exclaimed Darius, who as quite clearly afraid of the entire situation. Sebastian chuckled and kept following the path. Before long enough for Darius to jump out of his skin, they arrived at a massive clearing, one which didn't quite make sense to the pair. Standing in front of them were enormous stone blocks, which forms a sort of circular shape; covered in glowing rune symbols. When Sebastian looked up into the sky, he was shocked to see that they cloudy, midday sky was replaced by a sky full of stars and a full moon. They approached the structure and walked around one of the blocks to find the rest of the 'class'.

Gathered in the middle of this Stonehenge lookalike, was a gathering of students, only about four or five. Sebastian and Darius joined their ranks, and waited for their class to start. In the group, there was Arielle, Max, William Von Gerfried, a second year, his father a Templar Lord of Germany. The other person in the group was a student who was unfamiliar to everyone else and wore a black hooded robe. "Where in the hell is this bloody professor anyway!", shouted Darius, "It's freezing!" The other students didn't bat an eye, instead the cloaked student stepped forward and turned toward the group. He removed his hood and looked at the class, "Greetings class", the figure said, above his head was a golden halo, illuminating his presence.

The students stood in disbelief, not at the fact that their lecturer was standing right next to them but because if the looks of him. The professor stood at most at 5 feet 5 inches. His hair was a silvery white, like the hide of a unicorn and his skin a pristine pale colour. "We are your Professor", he said, his eyes shining in the moonlight, one of which was blue and the other as purple as a wizard's robes. "Who are you!?", William said, still confused. "We just said we are your professor", he said, with an eerie smile. "No. I get that but your name", William asked again. "Hmm, we go by many names: The Messenger, the oracle, Gabriel, Jibreel, The Herald of Fate, the wise old Sage", replied Gabriel, "but we suppose you would know us as Archangel Gabriel."

"Another angel?", Sebastian said. "Indeed so, your highness", replied Gabriel, "you would need every angel to help you with what you face in the near future." "Can't we just get on with this thing, I'm growing an icicle on my nose,", remarked Darius, now looking quite blue. "Indeed", responded Gabriel, "Now do any of you know why you're here?" The students remained silent, looking at each other. "Well, you have been chosen by the grace of God to be his new defenders of mankind, much like Kaiser and his sons." "Wait! We're only students!", shouted Max. "Allow us to educate you Master Iscariot, by your age Lord Kaiser had defeated every master of combat in his land and learned every conjuration imaginable, and we intend for you to do the same if you are to protect the Fallen King", responded Gabriel whose expression changed into a fearsome one.