《Harriet Gozon: Legion Academy》


 Dawn

    "COME BACK HERE!" shouted one of the legionnaires at the young girl, who was now running away from them.


    The leader clenched his jaw, feeling a violent urge to tear her apart. Because of her, they couldn''t use their powers, making it difficult to capture her. Once they did catch her, he wouldn''t let her off easily¡ªhe would torture her until she passed out.


    Meanwhile, the girl''s face was streaked with tears, her hair tangled like a bird''s nest. She was breathing hard, her heart pounding as if it would leap out of her chest. She had been running for so long, trying to escape the five legionnaires chasing her. She was confused.


    Who were they? And what did they want with her?


    She cried out when she suddenly tripped, sending her glasses flying onto a rock. Tears smeared her face with dirt, and the once-clean girl was now covered in grime.


    She sobbed as her knees throbbed in pain. Why was she experiencing all of this? Wasn''t it enough that people already avoided her? And now, strangers were chasing her for reasons she didn''t understand. Was her life really this cursed? She needed her parents! She wanted to see them and hug them tightly.


    "Mom... Dad... Help me, please." She cried out, imagining her parents'' faces.


    Moments later, she stopped sobbing when she heard footsteps. Her eyes widened, and she instantly thought of who it could be. She had to get up and run again.


    "There she is! Let''s catch her before she escapes!" one of the legionnaires shouted as he spotted the girl.


    Even though her knees were still aching, she quickly stood up and tried to walk faster. Her eyes widened further when she heard them shout her name. She didn''t recognize these people, but somehow, they knew who she was. What did they want from her?


    She couldn''t help but scream and call for help, hoping someone would come to her rescue. But they were in the middle of the forest, and only the shadows seemed to hear her desperate cries.


    Looking to her right, she saw a path leading to DEATH FOREST¡ªa feared place in Bonum. Before she entered, she swallowed nervously. Even though she knew it was dangerous, she stepped inside. She''d rather risk facing dangerous creatures than be captured by these men from Malum''s legions.


    Once again, fear gripped her as she entered the dreaded forest. A shiver ran down her spine, her legs felt weak, and her stomach churned. She could feel the strange magic in the air, filled with hatred. She regretted entering this place.


    Meanwhile, the five men stopped at the forest''s edge. They hesitated, unsure whether to enter. One of them looked at their leader. "She went in there!" He pointed to the path leading inside.


    The others exchanged uneasy glances. "Are we really going in there?" one of them asked.


    All but the leader hesitated. Even in Malum, the Death Forest was infamous. It was home to many monsters, including terrifying SS-Class creatures.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    "We have to!" the leader replied.


    "Didn''t you hear the rumors about that place?" asked the third legionnaire. Their leader shook his head dismissively. "They say strange creatures live there, and their leader is terrifying."


    The leader raised an eyebrow. "Who are you more afraid of? The monsters in there, or our leader?"


    The four men swallowed hard. Even though they dreaded entering, they feared their leader more than any creature in Magik¨¥. In the end, they followed him into the forest to capture the girl.


    -


    On the other side...


    "Where is she?" asked the leader of the group, directing his question to a goblin.


    "She''s over there... sitting by the enchanted tree. And she''s crying¡ªcrying!" the goblin replied.


    The leader glanced at the goblin, his brow furrowing. How was he sensing five sources of j¨¡du? Other creatures in the forest had told him five people had entered, but who was this goblin referring to?


    "Let''s go. They''re bold for entering here," he responded firmly.


    -


    AFTER running for several meters, the young girl realized she had escaped their sight. She felt a wave of relief. She looked around but couldn''t see well in the darkness; the silence around her was deafening. She seemed to be in the middle of the forest.


    She decided to rest. Taking a long breath, the girl sat beside a tree¡ªwhich looked rather eerie to her. The old, thick trunk was twisted into a circle, forming a large hollow in the middle.


    She leaned her head against the tree. She desperately hoped they wouldn''t find her. She just wanted to go home and see her parents.


    The little girl looked up at the sky, wondering why those soldiers were chasing her. Could it be because of her strange powers? What did they want with her? People had always avoided her because of her abilities, which were uncontrollable and would sometimes emerge on their own.


    Her parents were the only ones who understood her and her powers, but they weren''t here now. She felt lost, fearing her powers might take over.


    She was so lost in thought that she didn''t notice the forest leader approaching. He tapped her on the shoulder, startling her. She whirled around, afraid he was one of the soldiers after her, and in that moment of fear, her j¨¡du began to surge.


    The leader quickly stepped back, feeling the ominous power radiating from her. Her j¨¡du was potent¡ªstrong enough to harm him. He tried to speak, but his jaw was tense with fear.


    Her j¨¡du filled the air, wrapping around the leader and causing his body to ache. It wasn''t supposed to hurt this much, but something about her power was different.


    As her j¨¡du pulsed, the leader felt it seep into his veins, paralyzing him. He stared at her glowing golden eyes, helpless against the overwhelming force.


    With his last bit of strength, he managed to whisper, "Why... why do you have... such power?" His voice was barely audible, a faint rasp as he slumped down, knees buckling, his face etched with a mix of awe and fear.


    The girl''s gaze softened slightly as she realized what was happening, but her power was beyond her control. Tears streamed down her face as she watched the leader fall to the ground, his body trembling as her j¨¡du consumed him.


    "No... I didn''t mean to¡ª" she choked out, her voice cracking as guilt flooded her. Her power finally receded, pulling back like a wave returning to the ocean, but it was too late. The leader lay on the ground, his eyes unfocused, a faint smile frozen on his lips.


    Before he could lose consciousness completely, he muttered something under his breath, an ancient spell. "Soinefasyr... adigarfyr..." With those final words, his body began to crumble into golden dust, scattering in the air as the last remnants of his life faded away.


    The girl collapsed to her knees, staring at the spot where he had been, horrified by what she''d done. "I''m sorry... I didn''t mean to¡­ please forgive me," she whispered, voice trembling with regret.


    Just then, the golden dust drifted toward the ancient tree, causing it to glow and hum with energy. The bark shimmered, forming a swirling portal that pulsed with light, beckoning her forward.


    Behind her, she could hear the voices of the soldiers approaching, getting closer with every second. She had no time to hesitate. Taking one last, sorrowful look at the remains of the leader, she whispered, "Forgive me," and then stepped into the portal, disappearing into the unknown.

 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1 | Dream


    Two years later...


    "Okay, everyone! Line up!" Eunice''s voice cut through the air, sharp and clear. She clapped her hands, a little too loudly, as the class scrambled into a haphazard line. "We''re playing Pass the Message!"


    Harriet blinked, her eyes scanning the classroom like she was seeing it for the first time. How had she gotten here? Her mind was hazy, like there was something important she''d forgotten. The faces around her were familiar, but they felt... distant, like they belonged to someone else. The air in the room was too thick, too still. Everything seemed a little too sharp, a little too quiet, and for a moment, she wasn''t sure if she was really here at all.


    Missle, as usual, was right in the middle of everything, her energy bouncing off the walls. She pointed at Harriet, her grin stretching across her face. "You''re in this too, Harriet! No backing out!"


    Harriet let out a sigh, knowing better than to argue. Missle was always like this. The game was probably gonna turn into a mess, and, of course, Harriet was stuck right in the middle of it.


    "I''ll start!" Missle said dramatically, like it was the most important thing in the world. She cupped her hands around her mouth and leaned in, whispering like it was some big secret. The room exploded with giggles, and the message began its journey.


    Harriet couldn''t help but watch, already knowing how it would end.


    As the whispers passed down the line, Harriet couldn''t shake the weird tension in the air. Everyone was laughing and talking, but it all felt... off. The room seemed dimmer, the laughter too loud, the smiles just a little too wide. She shrugged it off, trying to push the feeling away. It was just a game, after all. Nothing more.


    The message finally got to Harriet. The guy next to her leaned in, cupping his hand over his mouth. His whisper came out fast, almost too urgent. "The crimson shroud looms above, an unyielding witness to secrets untold." Harriet blinked, a little thrown off by the weird words. It didn''t make sense, but something about it felt... off. Like it meant more than it should.


    Harriet froze. Her heart skipped a beat, and she turned to him, her brow furrowed. "What did you say?" she whispered back, her voice a little shaky.


    The boy looked confused. "I¡ªI''m just passing the message," he said, shrugging. "Isn''t that what I''m supposed to do?"


    Harriet paused, her thoughts racing. The crimson veil? Watching, unyielding? It didn''t make sense. But she couldn''t exactly stop the game now, could she? She swallowed, feeling that familiar knot in her stomach, and turned to the next person, repeating the words. But even as she did, the unease wouldn''t go away.


    When the message finally reached the last person, Missle clapped her hands, bouncing on her toes. "Alright, what''s the message?" she asked, clearly way too excited.


    The last student, a girl with a nervous laugh, hesitated before speaking. "The crimson¡­ um, the crimson veil¡­ is watching?"


    The room fell silent. The laughter and chatter from moments ago felt like they''d been sucked out of the air. Harriet''s chest tightened, and her gaze flicked instinctively toward the window. Her breath caught in her throat.


    Outside, the sky wasn''t blue anymore. It was a strange shade of red, streaked with dark, swirling lines. They twisted in unnatural ways, like something alive... something wrong. The sight made her pulse race, a cold knot forming in her stomach.


    Hadn''t she felt something off earlier? Harriet''s thoughts scrambled. The game, the weird feeling that had been nagging her... Was this all somehow connected?


    "What''s going on?" she whispered to no one in particular, barely able to get the words out. Her voice felt too loud in the heavy silence, but it didn''t matter. No one answered.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Missle, who usually brushed off anything serious, was frozen in place. Her usual bravado was gone, replaced with something Harriet couldn''t quite read. Then, as if snapping out of it, Missle muttered, "I need some air," and rushed out of the room, leaving the door swinging behind her.


    Harriet hesitated, her gaze flicking from the window back to the door. Something felt wrong about Missle''s sudden exit. It didn''t fit, like there was more to it than just needing air.


    She stood up quietly, deciding to follow Missle out of the room. As she walked down the hall, a strange chill crawled up her spine. It was an uncomfortable feeling, like something was wrong. Harriet couldn''t explain it, but it was there lingering in the back of her mind.


    She looked up instinctively, her heart skipping a beat at the sight. The sky, the same strange red she''d seen through the classroom window, felt even stranger now that she was out in it. The swirling lines seemed to move, almost like they were coming closer, as if the sky itself was alive, watching her. Harriet''s breath caught in her throat, and her pulse quickened.


    Her thoughts scattered. She couldn''t think straight, couldn''t focus. The noise around her¡ªthe hum of distant voices, footsteps¡ªfaded into nothing. It was like the whole world had paused, holding its breath.


    "Harriet?"


    The voice sliced through the silence, pulling her back. Kyle. He stood a few feet away, worry flashing across his face. "Are you okay?" His voice was distant, like he, too, was trying to process what was going on.


    Harriet opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her gaze was still locked on the sky still pulsing like it was alive.


    "The sky... it''s red," she whispered, her voice trembling as she pointed up. She couldn''t pull her gaze away from it, couldn''t wrap her head around what she was seeing.


    Kyle''s eyes followed her finger. At first, it seemed like he hadn''t seen it. Then his eyes widened, and his breath hitched. "You... you see it too?" His voice was low, almost a whisper, disbelief hanging in the air.


    Harriet nodded, her heart pounding. How did he see it?


    Hadn''t she been the only one to notice it at first? Was it a trick of the light, or had she been wrong all along? But now, Kyle could see it. More students were stopping and looking up, their faces filled with fear. Some gasped, others screamed, and a few fainted. The chaos around them grew louder, but for Harriet, it was muffled, distant, like she was standing outside the world itself.


    Suddenly, Kyle grabbed her wrist, his grip firm. "We need to move. Now."


    "What''s happening?" Harriet''s voice barely broke the silence. She felt a heavy pressure in her chest, as if the air around her had thickened. "What''s going on?"


    "Creatures," Kyle said, his voice flat. "We''re hiding from them."


    Harriet blinked, confusion spreading through her. "Creatures? What kind of creatures?"


    Kyle''s expression hardened. "I saw them watching you."


    Her stomach lurched, and a cold shiver ran down her spine. Watching her? Her pulse quickened. What did he mean by that? What kind of creatures would be watching her? Why?


    Before she could ask more, a sharp pain shot through her head, more intense than any headache she''d felt. It was as if something was trying to force its way into her mind, pressing against her skull like a vice. Harriet gasped, clutching her head as the pressure built.


    "Kyle..." Her voice was weak. Everything felt wrong. Her vision blurred, as if something foreign was clouding it. Her knees wobbled, and she nearly collapsed.


    "Harriet?" Kyle''s voice sounded distant, muffled as if underwater. "Are you okay?"


    She couldn''t answer. The pain was unbearable, and then, just as suddenly as it had started, it was gone, leaving her drained and dizzy. Harriet blinked rapidly, trying to clear her foggy mind. Her thoughts were scattered, as if everything was too much to process all at once.


    "I¡ªI''m fine," she whispered, though her voice didn''t sound convincing.


    Kyle didn''t waste any time. He yanked her hand again, pulling her into a fast-paced sprint. "We can''t stop. They''ll find us."


    Harriet had no choice but to follow. Her body moved on instinct, her mind racing. Who were these creatures? Why were they after me?


    Her heart thudded against her chest. She didn''t know the answers, but she had a feeling she wasn''t going to like them.


    As they ran, the world around them grew darker. The red sky deepened into a blood-like hue, casting an eerie, unnatural glow over everything. The air chilled, pressing in on her, and the usual hum of life felt distant, as though it were fading into nothing. Harriet''s breath came in ragged gasps, her chest tightening as she struggled to keep up with Kyle. Each step felt like a heavy weight, dragging her down.


    "They''re here," Kyle whispered, his voice so soft it was almost drowned out by the silence.


    Harriet''s eyes darted around, searching for any sign of movement, anything to explain what he meant. But all she saw was emptiness, the stillness creeping over everything like a thick fog.


    Who are they?


    The question burned inside her, but she couldn''t voice it. She wanted to scream for answers, but Kyle pressed his finger to his lips, signaling for silence.


    Then, a sound. At first faint and distant, something or someone moving, creeping closer. Harriet''s pulse raced, her heart pounding in her chest. The quiet was suffocating, and with every second, the noise grew louder.


    Her breath hitched, her heart hammering in her chest as the sound drew closer. Panic clawed at her throat, but she forced herself to stay still, her eyes darting in every direction, searching for something, anything. Her legs shook, but she couldn''t move. All she could do was wait.

 Chapter 2

    <b>Chapter 2 | Dream (2)</b>


    "They''re coming," Kyle whispered again, his voice trembling like it carried the weight of the world.


    Harriet''s teeth sank into her bottom lip, her hands curling into tight fists. What if these things ripped her apart limb by limb? The image flashed through her mind, grotesque and vivid. Or worse... what if they started with her toes? The thought sent a cold wave through her stomach, twisting it into knots. This is it. She was done for.


    "That''s not going to happen," Kyle said suddenly, his voice cutting through the suffocating silence. It wasn''t loud or commanding, but there was a steadiness to it, like he wasn''t just telling her, he was telling the universe itself. "Not on my watch."


    Harriet froze. Her heart stuttered, and for a brief second, she felt... steady. But then her brain caught up, and the overthinking kicked in. Wait a minute. How does he know what I''m thinking?


    Her eyes shot to Kyle''s back as he kept moving ahead. Was Kyle some kind of... psychic? No, that was ridiculous. Totally absurd. But the thought planted itself firmly in her mind, stubborn as a weed. Or was it really that absurd?


    A chill zipped up her spine, making her shoulders stiffen. Her gut told her something was off... scratch that, everything was off.


    The air around them felt heavy, buzzing faintly, like the world was holding its breath. Somewhere in the distance, there was a faint scrape, and her brain immediately supplied the worst possibilities. Claws? Teeth? Something worse? Her steps faltered for half a second.


    Before she could blurt out the million questions bouncing in her head, Kyle let out a sigh. Not the <i>I''m mad</i> kind of sigh, this one was worse. It was the <i>"you''re exhausting"</i> kind. Harriet clenched her jaw.


    "It''s your face," Kyle said, not even bothering to look back at her. "You''re like an open book."


    Her face? Her face? Harriet blinked, fighting the urge to slap her hands over her cheeks like she''d been caught spilling all her secrets. Did she really wear her thoughts so plainly? She didn''t like the idea of that. Especially not when Kyle was looking at her like she was some puzzle he''d already solved, no big deal.


    Something in her stomach twisted, but she shoved the feeling away. "Okay," she said, crossing her arms, even though her voice wobbled just a little. "But how do you know? How can you be so sure they''re, you know..." She gestured vaguely into the dark. "Not normal?"


    Kyle slowed down just a bit, enough for her to see the way his jaw tightened. Was that hesitation? Guilt? It flickered across his face and disappeared before she could pin it down.


    "They were flying."


    Flying. Harriet froze mid-step. That word... it just hung in the air like it should mean something. But all it did was mess with her brain. Flying. Birds fly. Planes fly. But people? Her fingers twitched, curling into fists at her sides as if holding onto something tangible might stop her thoughts from spiraling.


    She blinked a couple times, expecting Kyle to burst out laughing, to say "Gotcha!" and move on. But nope. He didn''t.


    "Flying?" she echoed, her voice catching. "As in... actually hovering above the ground?"


    Kyle''s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing. "Yes. I wouldn''t tell you this if it wasn''t real, Harriet."


    The words hit her like a slap in the face. A cold shiver snaked down her spine, coiling in the pit of her stomach. Her breath felt heavy in her chest, like her body knew something her brain didn''t want to accept.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Flying.


    The word buzzed in her head again, but this time, it tugged at something deeper, an echo of a memory she couldn''t quite grab. A flash of shapes moving through a crimson haze blinked through her mind like a glitchy video, leaving her heart racing. She shook her head, like that would somehow help clear it. Nope. Still there.


    "This is insane," she muttered, mostly to herself. Her gut twisted, like it was trying to tell her something her brain couldn''t wrap around yet. Kyle wasn''t lying. She didn''t want to believe him but who would?


    Then her thoughts flipped straight to Missle. If this whole flying-people thing was legit, Missle could be in danger.


    Harriet''s stomach churned. She couldn''t just stand here.


    Harriet pulled back, ready to yank her hand from Kyle''s grip and bolt back to the dorm. Missle could be in danger, and the thought made her heart race. She took a step¡ª


    Smack.


    She bumped straight into Kyle''s back, stopping so abruptly that her forehead throbbed. She winced, her hand flying up to rub at the sore spot. "Ow..." she muttered, trying to focus through the sudden sting.


    Before she could ask why Kyle had stopped, a voice spoke.


    "Well, well, looks like you''ve been busy," someone said, smooth and casual, but the tone sent a chill crawling down her spine.


    Harriet froze, her head snapping up. That voice wasn''t Kyle''s. And it definitely wasn''t hers.


    Ahead of them stood five figures. The four of them looked... wrong. Like their faces had been wiped clean by some kind of moving fog. No eyes, no mouths... just a thick, unnatural haze blurring their features.


    The fifth figure stood in sharp contrast. His face was painfully clear. Sharp cheekbones, eyes that seemed to see right through her, and a smile that wasn''t friendly, not even a little.


    His gaze locked onto hers, and for a second, everything else seemed to fade. The air felt heavier. A chill crept up her spine as those eyes held her, unblinking, like they were seeing through her. Who was he?


    Harriet glanced at Kyle, but his face remained unreadable, the kind of expression that told her nothing. It only made her feel more exposed.


    Swallowing hard, she managed to push the words out, though her voice came out weaker than she''d hoped. "Who are you?" It sounded braver in her head, but out loud? It was shaky like she wasn''t sure she even wanted to hear the answer.


    Kyle''s voice sliced through the silence, colder than she expected. "It''s them."


    Them? Harriet''s mind scrambled to catch up. She blinked, glancing between Kyle and the strangers, still struggling to make sense of it all. "They''re the ones you meant?"


    Her eyes shot back to the group, and her stomach flipped. The fog surrounding the others only made everything feel even stranger. Why were they blurry, and why was this one guy, the one staring at her like he knew something, so clear? He stood out, like one of those people who''d get noticed in a crowd. Handsome, even. But there was something in his gaze that made her feel exposed, like he was reading her thoughts, maybe even seeing something she wasn''t supposed to let anyone see.


    She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the cold feeling creeping up her spine.


    The man smirked. It wasn''t friendly. It was like he knew something, something she didn''t. Something she wasn''t supposed to know. "Thanks," he said, his voice smooth, as if everything unfolding right now was perfectly normal for him.


    Harriet''s stomach turned. Thanks? For what? What the hell was going on?


    Harriet frowned, her brain short-circuiting. Was Kyle about to hand her over to these people? Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was trying to escape her chest. She should move. Run. Scream. Do something. But her feet stayed glued to the ground, and all she could do was stare at Kyle''s back, waiting for him to explain the unexplainable.


    And then he spoke, his voice cold and sharp. "I won''t give you to those evil creatures, Harriet."


    Her stomach dropped. Evil creatures? What the hell was he even talking about? Her head felt like it was spinning in circles, trying to make sense of his words.


    But then... how did he know? Her mouth had been zipped shut this whole time. She hadn''t said a single word, hadn''t even made a sound. So how¡ª


    Her chest tightened as a horrifying thought crept in. Was that why he stopped me earlier? Was Kyle actually protecting her? Or was this all some kind of game?


    Her breath hitched as panic clawed its way up her throat. She swallowed it down, forcing herself to speak. "Kyle..." she whispered, her voice so shaky it didn''t even sound like hers. "Are you one of those... evil creatures?"