“Argh” A faint screech travelled through the air breaking the silence between a group of armored individuals traversing the rich forest.

  “What was that?” A bald young man whispered. His voice laced in fear and his eyes infected with the same emotion scanned the surroundings. Sadly everything looked the same. Trees, trees, and more trees.

  “ That was something far away from us. Which means it’s of no concern to us, kid. Now keep moving.” A man carrying a double edged axe and a shield on his back leading the group of armored individuals answered the youngest member of the group.

  Behind the axe wielding man was a chubby man in his forties who turned to the back of the line to offer a few words to their rookie. “ Don’t worry kid. If that thing ever came running here you won’t be its first option.” The man snickered at his own joke after gesturing to his round belly ready to break free from the black colored restraints called armor.

  “I’m not a kid. I’m eighteen.” The young man attempted to tousle his curly brown hair that he had since he was a kid in frustration, only for his hand to touch skin. A painful reminder of the prank his fellow alumni pulled on him. Telling him that in order to be safe, it is best to go completely bald to make sure nothing latches onto your hair and that the Honor Guard would praise those willing to make sacrifices for the mission.

  Although he loved his brown curly hair, he wanted to make a good impression and followed the words of his fellow alumni. Of course their words were nothing but a lie.

  A lie that was exposed once he joined his current squad of the Honor Guard and is probably the reason why it is impossible for him to leave the title of “Kid” behind due to his gullible decision he made when he retold the story to his squad. He could still hear the boisterous laughter of the squad in his sleep.

  “Don’t worry Kai. You’ll get used to it.” A woman’s voice entered the young kid’s ears. The soft voice felt like a spark of light in a place where the only source of light was the occasional ray of sunlight that managed to pass through the dense canopy of trees.

  “Mmm.” The bald teenager no longer having troubles with the nickname answered the lady with a shy nod.

  “ Careful Greta, you know how powerful that voice of yours is. You might just seduce the boy.” A tall lanky man with a bow slung over his shoulder warned his squad member. His warning earned him a glare from the only woman in the group.

  Kai, wishing to change the topic, asked about their mission. “Who exactly are we escorting? You guys said we would know once we get there.” Kai gestured to his surroundings. “ Well, we’re here.”

  “The kid is right, Cap. Who are we here to escort? And does he really need an escort if he lives…” The chubby man paused after hearing a roar from the distance. “Here.” He whispered.

  “We’re not here to escort the man.” The man wielding an axe answered their question with an answer that only led to more questions.

  “So, it's a man.” The disappointed voice came from the archer of the group. “ I was hoping it would be some long lost Elven princess.”

  “We’re not doing an escort mission?” The chubby man asked, his voice covered in confusion. “But the mission clearly stated it was an escort mission.”

  Greta glanced over to the archer in disdain. “ Did you skip history Hal? How in the Spirits would we find an extinct Elven princess?And even if we did, how can she be a princess if there is no kingdom for her to rule.” Greta finished her

  Kai voiced his support for Greta. “Yeah, and if there was a kingdom we would have known about it.” Kai thought out loud his opinion on the possibilities of an Elven princess. “Maybe a small village? I think that's more realistic.”

  “We’re here to deliver a message.” The Captain of the small squad of five paused for a moment as the entire attention of the squad was now on him.

  “A message?” The chubby man scrunched his brows in confusion.

  “Yes a message, York” The Captain of the squad of soldiers

  “ It's laughable to even think there is someone who can escort the man we are planning on meeting. There is not a single person strong enough in this world to say they can escort our target. It would be more like him escorting us.”

  The words of their Captain caused everyone to freeze. The hint hit them hard as they swallowed their saliva at the info.

  ‘Grandmaster’

  The title shot through everyone’s minds.

  Kai felt excitement shoot through his body at the news. He has never met a Grandmaster outside of the Dean of the Elemental Academy. A whole bunch of guesses of what he would look like and act like crossed his mind.

  Greta shook her in disbelief before voicing her opinion that reeked of judgment at the news. “He should have just walked himself out then. If he could walk himself in, he could’ve walked himself out. Make the mission easier.” Before the group could voice their similar opinions a voice interrupted them.

  “Sorry, your higher ups must have guessed I would need a few people to carry my bags.” A voice unfamiliar to the group replied to their complaints with sarcasm.

  The Honor Guard squad quickly broke into formation: The Captain of the squad had a shield held in one hand and an axe in the other. York stood behind his Captain with a giant hammer made entirely of stone over his shoulder ready to crush his opponents. Greta held a wooden handle that quickly spawned a whip made of water. Behind her stood Hal, with his bow in one hand and the other pulling back a bowstring made of fire and a flaming arrow ready to leave the string. Kai stood beside York holding up his spear trying his hardest to calm his trembling hands.

  In front of the squad was a thin bald old man with gray sideburns that he was scratching as he observed the group in front of him. Nodding at what he saw, with a look of satisfaction. “ Not bad. Quick reaction and eyes that say you're ready for whatever comes.” The old man paused after his eyes landed on Kai who swallowed nervously once their eyes met. “Well, except him. But if we go by the looks, I’m guessing he’s the new recruit.”

  With a scan of the group once again. “Not bad, not bad. But for what's coming next they probably should have sent someone much stronger.” The old man stared behind the group of armored individuals after seeing something making its way towards them. The experienced soldiers didn’t bother turning around. Instead choosing to keep their eyes on the old man who managed to sneak up on a squad of the Honor Guard.

  Kai did a quick scan of his fellow squad members, wondering if anyone was looking behind them. Kai hoped Hal would sneak a glance in.

  “Something’s coming.” Hal’s voice announced the presence of an incoming creature.

  A second later, the ground began to tremble. Kai and the rest of the squad members maintained their stances, not bothering to look behind. “ Hal?” Cap asked without taking a glance over his shoulder.

  “I can’t see it.” Kai felt the ground shaking more than before, almost like whatever was coming was much closer than a second ago.

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  “HAL.” Captain shouted this time.

  “I CAN’T SEE IT.” Hal shouted back his voice exposing the fear of the unknown.

  Fear creeped itself up on the squad after hearing the news. Kai kept looking in the corner of his eyes until the old man smiling caught his eyes.

  “ Don’t worry, how could I let my own guests come to harm?” The old man’s creepy smile and dangerous glint in his eyes was the last thing Kai saw before the old man disappeared right in front of his eyes.

  Roar

  A loud roar came from behind. Kai turned around to see Hal slowly lowering his bow, in awe. Right in front of them was a War Bear. It was Kai's first time seeing a War Bear- a local beast within the Dark Forest- in person. The only chance he ever got to see a War Bear was from illustrations in books. The books told of a creature in the form of a regular bear but much bigger and deadlier. And with the creature now in front of him, he realized the illustrations from his books didn’t do the creature justice.

  It stood at the height of a story house but once standing on its hind legs, its size would probably dwarf the many houses back home in Granite City. It had the strength to destroy an entire squad of Elemental soldiers with a swipe of its giant sharp claws and teeth the size of a child that would make a quick meal out its prey. Finally, with its black fur with red tips that could withstand the strength of an Elemental attack. It is a top apex predator, especially with its ability to camouflage itself in darkness, a specialty very appropriate in a place like the Dark Forest. With the only way to take down a beast of its caliber is to send a dozen Elite Elementals, it is considered one of the most dangerous creatures to exist.

  And yet here the mighty creature stood on its hind legs, stumbling back and forth resembling a drunk on the night of the new year. Only the creature wasn’t stumbling due to the many drinks he consumed but from the many wounds he suffered from.

  All across the War Bear were countless cuts and gashes inches deep, pouring blood out, painting the dark green grass crimson. With each step it took, a whimper would follow. After a few moments the mighty creature gave one last silent roar to the old man standing in front of it before it fell to the ground.

  “Greetings Grandmaster Ken.” Captain started off with a greeting before diving into the mission.

  “ We, the 4th squadron of the Honor Guard, are here to deliver you a message.” The words got a brow raise from the old man.

  “A message? The Academy’s very own Honor Guard came here personally to hand deliver a message. And not only that, they sent the legendary 4th Squadron. Isn’t your Squadron led by the man they call ‘Berserker’? I guess you I was wrong about you bunch not being able to take the beast.” Grandmaster Ken smirked at the Squad Captain.

  “There is nothing to hand deliver Grandmaster. It’s more like telling you the message.” The Captain ignored the tales the old man was saying and simply stuck to the mission.

  “Tell?” The old man, now giving his full attention, turned towards Captain to face him. “ What message could be so important that they wouldn’t even risk writing it down?”

  Taking a deep breath, the Captain of the 4th squadron uttered the message that was made of two words that his squad risked their lives to deliver.

  “They’re here.”

  Although he didn’t understand what those words meant he knew they held significance. And from the reaction of the Grandmaster, he knew that he was right.

  The Grandmaster's eyes widened a bit before a smile found its way onto his face.

  “Finally.”

  ***

  “They should’ve reached him by now.” An old man sat in a chair beside a fireplace, spoke to the room full of Professors while staring at the flames crackling in the fireplace.

  “Are you sure this is the right thing to do, Headmaster?” A man in his thirties wearing black robes with red accents, tone full of uncertainty asked. “Grandmaster Ken is known to be…” Pausing for a moment to find the word that would fit the Grandmaster but at the same time, not offend him.

  “Eccentric.” A middle aged woman of dark brown hair that reached her waist completed the sentence. “I think the word Professor Harris is looking for is eccentric.” After helping her fellow professor, she began walking around the room with her black robe with brown accents flapping around exposing her full figure as she scanned the book shelf for anything interesting.

  “Yes, thank you Professor Laura.” Professor Harris nodded his thanks at Professor Mara before turning around to continue baring his worries to the Headmaster. “Grandmaster Ken is known to be Eccentric. Not only that he isn’t afraid of anyone or anything. It would be hard to keep him in control.”

  “In control? What is he? An animal? A pet?” A blue haired man donned in black robes and blue accents standing by the arched windows behind the Headmaster’s desk, raised a question.

  “W-what? I said no such thing.” Professor Harris guffawed at the accusation. “Grandmaster Ken is a man worthy of his title and the respect that comes with it. I would never slander his name. Don’t put such egregious words into my mouth Professor Laurel.” He finished with a glare at the back of Professor Laurel’s head.

  “ You don’t have to say the words hidden in between the spaces for us to know.” Professor Laurel rolled his sky blue eyes before he continued to gaze outside the window, not bothering to send a look towards the man who was the target for his words.

  “That's enough.” The old man sitting by the fireplace interrupted the argument before it could get any further. “ Commander Grant,” A man dressed in golden plated armor made his way from guarding the door to landing on a knee beside the old man. “ No one was given word of the mission to the Dark Forest, correct?”

  “No one Headmaster. The only ones who were privy to the news before today were me and you. Captain Spark was simply given the message.”

  The headmaster nodded before a cough escaped him. Cough cough “ Good. And what of the others?”

  Commander Grant cleared his throat before answering. “Our reports say that all the major powers are on the move. Including the Southern Kingdoms and the Eastern Isles. The royal families from each of these powers have sent their heirs and followers. They should be here in a week's time.”

  With a nod the Headmaster turned his attention to the Professors in the room. “You ask why send for Grandmaster Ken despite his… shortcomings?” Cough cough “Well, the signs are here. And everyone in the world has read them. The pieces on the board are moving and with the storm brewing, I believe we are in need of more pieces.”

  ***

  In a room that's only light came from the flickering flame of a candle, a man in silver robes stood. By the window, the man stood looking up to the sky where a lone moon stood, like the candle, the only source of light in darkness. The flames of the candle lit the man’s backside whereas the moon lit the man’s front up, exposing his white well kept beard surrounding thin lips that were currently teaming up with the man’s furrowed white eyebrows that hung above a pair of blank clouded eyes to make up a frown of confusion.

  Creak.

  The loud creak from the entrance to the room announced someone’s presence to the old man by the window.

  From the crack of the door, a boy of twelve slipped into the room behind a young man in his twenties carrying a crystal ball that was flashing with gold. “Lightning, grandfather.” The young man announced the Element but not before bowing to the old man whose attention never left the sky.

  Silence was the response the long platinum blonde haired young man received and the boy with similar hair beside him lifted his head to sneak a glance at the old man. The room's only noises came from the people breathing and waiting.

  The two boys waited for a sign to continue and the old man stood by the windows waiting for a sign to move.

  Silence filled the room for a time until finally the old man turned his head to the side to acknowledge the pair.

  Seeing this, the older of the two broke down his report on the Awakenings. “A surge. All over the Republic, a surge of Awakeners have broken out. Every city has reached past their average quota of Awakeners. Quite a few rare elements have also been reported.” Gesturing to the boy of twelve beside him. “Garret and a few others have Awakened the Element of Lightning. A few wood Elements have also been reported, one of them being from the Southern Kingdoms-”

  The young man paused his report, after seeing the old man turn his head back to the window to continue gazing out the window.

  The pair bowed their heads, continuing the silence from before.

  “Garret,” The old man waved the boy over. The boy quickly made his way over to the old man after seeing the old man call him over.

  The old man without pulling his gaze away from the sky asked “What do you see boy?”

  Garret scanned the night sky to find a moon surrounded by stars. “I see the sky.” Garret answered while secretly keeping his eyes on the old man to see his reaction. The old man shook his head.

  “Is that all?”

  Feeling the answer was important, Garret scrutinized the sky for a few moments, hoping to find the answer in the sky. “It's… the moon. All I see is the moon.” Garret answered unsure if he got the correct answer not bothering with the stars that surrounded the moon.

  The old man who held no reaction the entire time the pair entered the room abruptly broke into laughter, shocking the pair who turned to glance at each other for a quick second to see the question in each other’s eyes.

  “Yes, yes. All you see is the moon. Good.”

  “Theo,” The old man called out for the young man who took a few steps forward. “Make sure all preparations are in order. Something is coming out the horizon. And whatever it is…” The old man gazed at the lone moon in the night sky, a ripple of emotion flashed across his face.

  “We must be ready.”