Raventon Campus.
One of the most prestigious schools in the region of Ebonreach—where every graduate carried a reputation not just of excellence, but of honor. Those who had passed through its gates were admired, idolized even, by the people they encountered in life.
It wasn't just the strict, unparalleled academic system that set Raventon apart. Its unique policies attracted even foreigners who crossed seas just to enroll their children—or themselves—in the hopes of securing a future only Raventon could promise.
The school grounds rested in a tranquil place surrounded by a vast prairie, where peace and beauty danced in harmony. People often came not just to study, but to escape—to find rest in its calm breeze and picturesque views.
But that peace was shattered within hours.
Where laughter once echoed from clean hallways and eager students filled the air with stories and plans, now there was only despair—screams that pierced through the air like knives.
Where the grounds once sparkled in sunlight, they were now drenched in blood and scattered with torn limbs and twitching bodies.
The sky, once a soft cerulean blue, had deepened into a red haze—heavy, ominous, as if the sun itself had chosen to hide in terror.
To this day, the few who survived still couldn't explain how it started—or why.
"Ha… haaah… h-help! Help me!!!"
The desperate cries of a lone man tore through the stillness of Raventon Campus's outer perimeter. He sprinted across the barren stretch beyond the courtyard—his legs trembling, lungs screaming, and heart hammering against his ribs. Panic had seized control of his body, overriding exhaustion as he fought to escape what trailed behind.
A hulking figure limped after him—a grotesque creature, once human in form, now something else entirely. Its leg bent at an unnatural angle, flesh dangling, and a jagged shard of glass embedded deep into its forehead. The shard pulsed faintly, radiating an eerie crimson glow that throbbed with every step.
"P-please help me... I-I don't wanna die!!" the man sobbed, his voice cracking under the weight of pure terror. His face was streaked with dirt and tears, and with every desperate step forward, his body seemed moments from collapse.
His breath caught in his throat as he realized how close the monster was behind him—mere inches now—and his muscles were already beginning to give up.
"Damn it! Why do they have to come after me... when we both just wanted to escape?" he thought bitterly, his fear now mingling with a deeper, more personal rage.
"Garrrhhh!!!"
"Leave me alone! I didn't want to do what I did! We were both thrown away—discarded like trash!"
He risked a glance behind him, yelling at the creature even though he knew it couldn't understand. Yet... something in him whispered that it might. There was a familiarity in its twisted form, and his voice shook as he continued.
"W-why didn't you die...? I even stabbed you... in the forehead... even when I didn't want to."
His words wavered, not just from fear, but from sorrow. His eyes gleamed with unshed tears, grief heavy in his chest. His hope of survival was draining fast.
"But you... but you—ack!"
His sentence broke off in a grunt as he tripped over a loose stone hidden in the overgrown path. The impact sent him sprawling to the ground, and instead of scrambling to his feet, he remained still—his body numb, his soul exhausted.
"I-If only you hadn't trusted that person so much... we wouldn't have ended up like this, Arc..."
"Gaaarhhh!!"
His voice, ragged and choked by sobs, echoed into the sky. He closed his eyes, trembling, accepting his fate.
"Gaaahhaahh—eeiiikkk!!!"
Seconds passed... but the impact never came. The creature's guttural growl still rang in the air—so close, too close—but no pain followed.
"Mister."
A soft voice, startling in its calmness, cut through his fear.
Something tapped his shoulder lightly.
His breath caught.
Slowly, he opened his eyes and turned his head. Instead of death... he found a small girl staring down at him. Her expression held neither fear nor confusion—only concern.
"Are you alright?" she asked gently.
He blinked at her in disbelief, then quickly turned his gaze behind—yes, the creature was still there, snarling, twitching—but... oddly agitated. Not attacking.
"Miste—"
"Run," he urged the girl, his voice hoarse. "You need to run while that monster is distracted."
"But—"
"Go now. I'll handle this... You need to escape, kid."
The girl frowned, her brow creasing.
"If I do that... they'll eat you."
She pointed behind him.
His stomach dropped.
He turned—and his blood ran cold.
There were more.
Not just one... but several of them now. Pale, red-eyed husks dragging their disfigured bodies toward them.
"Iieekk—Gaarhhh!!"
"You—You need to go!" he pleaded again, voice rising in panic. Even if it meant death, he would rather it be him than this child. She deserved a chance. He didn't.
"Go, please. Don't be afraid... They won't catch you. I'll protect you."
Tears streamed down his cheeks, but his lips held a smile—a bittersweet farewell etched into his expression.
The girl looked at him intently, eyes unreadable.
Then she knelt.
Without a word, she unzipped the small bag she had been carrying and dug through its contents.
He watched her, confused—too weak to stop her, too surprised to guess her intentions.
Then...
She held something out to him.
A chocolate bar.
His eyes widened.
The innocent gesture—the pure kindness of it—shattered the remnants of his composure. He sobbed openly now, clutching the gift as though it were a lifeline.
"Th-thank you. Now... please, run."
He tried to stand, wincing. His legs refused. Cramped. Numb. His body had long passed its limit.
"Mister," she said softly. "I don't understand why you want me to leave so badly. But I know you just want me to be safe."
He blinked, thinking she was about to go.
He was wrong.
She moved behind him—placing herself between him and the oncoming creatures.
"Gaaarrtrhhhhhh!!"
The monster screeched, seemingly recovered and furious. Its head snapped toward them with murderous intent.
"That's dangerous—!"
"Especially now," she interrupted, her voice rising, "that the Lurekinn are here!"
The man stared at her in confusion—her face, her tone. She wasn't afraid. In fact, she looked... thrilled.
Eyes glinting. Smile widening.
She pointed forward.
"Now, mister, just rest. I'm sure you're hungry. You can eat the chocolate to regain your strength."
"W-wait, what are you—No! Don't!"
His voice cracked in horror as the girl suddenly dashed forward—toward the horde.
"NOOO!!!"
He could only watch—helpless—as one of the Lurekinn lunged at her. But in the blink of an eye, she unsheathed a weapon he couldn't even name.
"Eeeeiiiikkkkkk!!!!!"
A piercing shriek erupted from the creature as it fell backward, clutching its face. It writhed on the ground in agony, as though it had been splashed with acid.
"Hahahahaha... Lurekinn~!"
The girl laughed—light and airy. She didn't look afraid. She looked... delighted.
The man gawked. Mouth agape.
She was fighting them—like it was a game.
She struck again, a burst of strange liquid splashing onto the creatures' faces.
"Iieeeekkkkk!!!"
Instead of attacking, they now howled in pain—screaming, writhing, retreating.
"Great! Time to collect some souvenirs!"
The girl giggled again, skipping forward to snatch the scalps of the fallen monsters. Her smile never faded.
The man stared, pale, speechless.
Somewhere deep inside, his fear was shifting—not toward the creatures—but toward her.
The one who smiled in the face of monsters.
And then—
"Eeeeiiiiiiiikkkkkk!!!!!!"
More Lurekinn screams rose from beyond the trees...
-----------------------------------
"H-How long have you been here?"
Thino's voice was low and unsteady as he adjusted his hold on the dented fire extinguisher. The air beneath the stairwell was tight and stagnant, shadows stretching around them like a protective shroud. Now that the immediate threat had faded, he finally dared to shift and glance toward the figure tucked in beside him.
A girl, close to his age—maybe younger—sat curled against the wall, her knees drawn to her chest. Dust streaked her cheeks, and soot darkened the collar of her uniform. Despite the tremor in her arms, her eyes remained alert, scanning their confined surroundings.
"J-Just a minute ago..." she answered shakily, her voice cracking as if it hadn't been used in hours. "I didn't even realize I was heading here. I was just looking for something to defend myself with. I thought it would be safer, but… I didn't know there were even more of them out here."
Thino studied her carefully. She was obviously shaken, and her breathing was uneven, but she wasn't panicking—not completely. That steadiness under pressure was rare, especially for someone who had clearly been through a lot.
"I see…" he replied, his tone cautious. "Where were you before this?"
The girl hesitated, brushing back a strand of hair that clung to her forehead. Her voice dropped to a murmur.
"I came from the auto service room."
Thino froze.
The tension returned to his shoulders instantly, jaw tightening as her words sank in.
The auto service room. That was the place he, Ella, and Trina had planned to reach. They weren't looking for tools or keys—they already had those. What they needed was the vehicle that matched the key they'd recovered. It was supposed to be their escape route from Raventon.
But this girl—she'd come from there.
'So why wasn't she still inside? And more importantly… why did she leave?'
He forced himself to stay calm, but a sick feeling twisted in his gut.
"Is it still secure?" he asked, trying to keep his voice even.
She shook her head. "No… it's being attacked too."
She winced as another screech echoed from somewhere above them. The creatures were still out there—still hunting. She pressed both hands to her ears as the sound pierced through the air. Thino reached over and tapped her shoulder gently, just enough to bring her focus back.
Because, as per his gut, there's still one more important thing he wants to confirm too, while hoping that his guess is wrong.
"Is there, by chance... did you see anyone else inside? A tall guy, kind of messy brown hair? His name is Light."
Her eyes widened the moment she heard the name. A faint blush colored her cheeks.
"F-Fthinoporo Eblure… the prodigy…"
Thino blinked in surprise, caught off guard.
'She knows me?'
The girl seemed to realize what she said and quickly straightened her posture, flustered and embarrassed.
"S-Sorry! I didn't mean to be rude—I just… our professor, Prof. Autur, he always talks about you. He mentioned you a lot when we were prepping for the Science Quiz Bee. He said you won the finals without even breaking a sweat…"
Her tone was sincere, but Thino could only offer a small, awkward nod. Now wasn't the time to bask in praise—his mind was already back on Light.
He cleared his throat. "I appreciate that, but… what about Light? Is he still there?"
"Oh! Yes," she said quickly. "He's still inside the auto service room. He was the one who told me to come out and find a weapon."
She lifted her hands, revealing a rusted axe with a long wooden handle. The blade looked worn but sharp enough to kill if it had to.
Thino's grip on his extinguisher tightened.
'She found that here? Not in the auto service room? That could only mean...There were no more usable weapons left in that area.'
His stomach dropped.
And if that was true—if Light had stayed behind without any means of defending himself...
Then his best friend was in serious danger.
Alone.
Surrounded.
And the worst part.
There might not be enough time to get back to him.