When the Light Trembles
The next morning came far too quickly.
Renji sat on his bunk, replaying yesterday's events in his head. The Crescent Trial had been exhausting, but fun — at least until he saw the expression on Sir Darius's face afterward. It wasn't approval. It was… concern.
Kaito stretched and yawned loudly.
"Man, I'm telling you, we're destined for greatness. Yesterday, we took down that wolf thing like pros!"
Renji replied flatly, "You tripped, Leina screamed, Taro exploded, and I got singed."
"Yeah, and it was glorious!"
Renji smirked. "You really are hopeless."
Before he could say more, the bell tower rang three times — short, sharp, and heavy.
Everyone in the dorm froze.
"Three rings?" Taro murmured. "That's… not for class."
The Call to Arms
The students gathered in the grand auditorium.
Headmistress Celine Astrava, a calm woman draped in blue robes, stood before them. Her presence silenced the crowd instantly.
"Students of Lunaris," she began, her voice clear and steady. "Earlier this morning, during patrol, one of our guardian beasts was found slain. The barrier surrounding the Crescent Grounds has been breached."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
"Breached? By what?"
"Is it a test?"
"Please tell me it's a test…"
Celine raised a hand. "This is no test. An unknown creature born from corrupted Eclipt has entered the grounds. You are to remain calm and follow your assigned instructors."
Renji exchanged glances with Kaito.
"Corrupted Eclipt…?"
"You think it's another monster?"
"Maybe. But if even the guardian was killed…"
Sir Darius entered from the side hall, armor gleaming faintly.
"All combat-ready students will form squads. Non-combatants stay in the safe zones. This is your first taste of true danger. Do not mistake it for another classroom exercise."
His words were cold but sharp, cutting into every heart there.
And for the first time, the academy — usually loud, carefree, full of laughter — fell into a trembling silence.
Deployment
Renji, Kaito, Leina, Taro, and eight others were assigned to Professor Harto's squad.
"Alright, kids," Harto said, his tone oddly serious. "We're moving toward the west barrier. Sir Darius and Lady Lyra will cover the east and north. Remember: if anything looks like it's smiling at you, run."
"Professor," Leina said quietly, "you're… actually serious?"
"I'm always serious," he replied — then tripped over his own staff.
"...Mostly."
Even in the tension, a few students laughed weakly.
But as they entered the Crescent Grounds again, laughter vanished.
The once-vibrant forest had dimmed. The sky above twisted faintly, the sunlight fractured by a strange haze.
Kaito rubbed his arms. "Feels… cold."
Taro adjusted his glasses. "It's like the Eclipt veins are being drained."
They walked cautiously through the woods until a smell like burning iron filled the air. Then they saw it — the corpse of a guardian owl, its wings mangled, its eyes blackened by something unnatural.
Leina gasped, covering her mouth.
"What could've done this?"
Before Harto could answer, the air rippled.
Something crawled out from the shadows of the trees.
The Corrupted
At first, it looked human — a tall figure in tattered robes, moving awkwardly. But then it lifted its head, and everyone froze.
Its eyes burned with violet fire, veins of black Eclipt crawling across its skin.
A corrupted soul — a Fallen Vessel.
"Stay back!" Harto yelled. "It's feeding off the Eclipt flow!"
The creature hissed, and waves of distortion pulsed out, shaking the ground.
Students screamed as several collapsed from the pressure.
"Everyone, defensive formation!" Renji shouted instinctively. "Healers in the back!"
Kaito blinked. "When did you start giving orders?"
"When you started panicking!"
Harto snapped his fingers, casting a barrier of bright blue around them.
"Good thinking, Renji. Now, aim for its core — that glowing mark on its chest!"
The students unleashed blasts of light, flame, and wind. The creature staggered, but then slammed its clawed hand into the ground.
Black Eclipt surged upward like roots, slamming into the barrier and shattering it.
"Professor!" Leina cried.
"I'm fine!" Harto coughed. "Just… mildly concussed."
The Fallen Vessel roared, its voice like a thousand whispers.
Renji felt his chest tighten — like something deep within him resonated faintly with the creature's energy.
He ignored it.
"Kaito, left flank! Leina, keep the back line safe! Taro, use that bomb thing you love!"
"Already working on it!" Taro yelled, fumbling through his bag.
Desperate Battle
Kaito charged forward, his Eclipt sparking in arcs of blue light.
"Alright, ugly! Let's dance!"
He swung wide, hitting the creature across the shoulder. The hit barely scratched it — but it was enough to draw attention.
"Renji!" Kaito yelled. "Now!"
Renji rushed forward, Eclipt glowing faintly around his hand. He struck at the creature's leg, driving it to one knee.
For a second, it looked like they might win.
Then it screamed.
A pulse of black energy exploded outward, sending everyone flying.
Renji hit the dirt hard, coughing. His vision blurred. He heard Kaito grunt, heard Leina's panicked voice calling for healing spells, heard Harto shouting orders.
But the creature wasn't done.
It raised one claw, gathering Eclipt like a dark storm.
Renji forced himself to stand. We'll die if that hits…
Then, like lightning, a new voice rang out.
"Get down!"
A spear of silver light shot through the air, piercing the creature's arm. The explosion shattered the trees behind it.
The top five students of the academy's first division had arrived.
The Top Five
At their lead was Seren Valen, the silver-haired prodigy who many believed would one day rival even the Zenith Sovereign himself. Calm, focused, with eyes that glowed faintly with golden Eclipt.
Beside him stood Rhea, a fiery-haired mage; Izen, a twin-sword user; Kael, a healer-warrior hybrid; and Lyn, whose control over wind was almost artistic.
Seren turned briefly to Harto.
"Professor, take the injured and retreat. We'll handle this."
Harto hesitated.
"Don't do anything reckless. That's not a normal Vessel."
"We know."
The five stepped forward.
Renji watched in awe. Their coordination was flawless — wind boosting their speed, fire distracting, blades slicing, healing weaving between attacks. The ground itself trembled under their combined force.
But even then… the creature didn't fall.
Rhea screamed as the monster's tendrils lashed out, cutting her arm.
Kael quickly healed her, but his Eclipt was fading.
"It's adapting!" Lyn shouted. "Our attacks aren't working anymore!"
Seren's jaw tightened. "Then we change tactics. Izen, left! Kael, barrier!"
He leapt high, spear spinning in his hand, gathering light so bright it illuminated the entire field.
"Eclipt Art — Nova Piercer!"
The spear struck true, blasting through the monster's chest — but the creature caught the weapon midair, roaring, dragging Seren to the ground.
The shockwave threw everyone back again.
Renji stumbled up, terrified. They're the best… and even they can't stop it?
The Breaking Point
"Everyone, fall back!" Harto yelled.
But Seren was still trapped, the creature's claws closing around him.
Without thinking, Renji rushed forward.
"Renji! Don't—!" Kaito yelled, but it was too late.
Renji grabbed Seren's fallen spear, channeling every ounce of his Eclipt into it.
His vision blurred, his veins burning like molten fire — but he thrust forward, right into the creature's chest.
For a moment, the world froze. Then, light burst outward.
The creature screamed, its body convulsing before finally disintegrating into ash.
Renji collapsed, gasping, vision fading. The last thing he saw was Seren kneeling beside him, gripping his shoulder.
"That resonance… who are you?"
Renji tried to answer — but darkness took him first.
Aftermath
When he woke, it was already evening. He was in the infirmary, Kaito sitting beside his bed eating fruit.
"Yo," Kaito said with a grin. "You survived. Barely."
"What… happened?"
"You went crazy, stabbed the monster, and saved Seren's life. The teachers say you used a rare Eclipt surge. Whatever that means."
Renji looked toward the window. Outside, the sky glowed faintly red.
Even from afar, he could feel it — something watching, something that had noticed him.
"Kaito," he said quietly. "That thing today… it was strong, but not unstoppable."
"Yeah?"
"Then imagine what's coming next."
Kaito swallowed hard, his grin fading. "...You're saying this was just the beginning?"
Renji didn't answer.
Outside, in the deep forest beyond the academy, a faint whisper echoed in the night.
"He carries the resonance. The seal weakens."