Iris answered sharply “What is it now!?” Kana grinned sitting down on the edge of her school desk “Come on, can I please see the homework! I only need it for a few seconds!” Iris folded her arms, her hazel eyes watching her friend with an intense irritation “Can’t you just do your homework once, with ought copying off of mine!?” Kana glanced around for a moment, then bent down closer, her sandy blond hair covering part’s of her bluish-green eyes “Just one more time please!?” She lowered her voice catching sight of the teacher as she entered the class room “If you do it I won’t tell anyone about last night…I saw what happened.” Iris’s eyes widened her nearly black, red hair flying from her shoulders as she shot down pulling the other girl towards her.

Kana winced hearing her best friends alarmed whisper “What happened last night!?” Kana paused for a second, pulling up a little, her awkward expression catching Iris by surprise. “Wait…why are you asking me? You were there…some guy attacked you in the alley. He had that big knife, remember?” Iris stared at her for a moment “What, after that?” Kana bent down a little “You don’t remember!?” Iris lowered her head “Just tell me.” Kana sighed “I swear, your playing a joke on me aren’t you. That guy came after you when you were walking home. I just happened to pass by.” She looked up for a second “He was going to hurt you with that knife…I was going to help…but he suddenly collapsed.” Iris stared at her “This is a joke.” Kana stood up shaking her hands “No seriously it happened, I’m surprised myself, that you didn’t remember!” Suddenly the bell rang, Kana glanced over at her desk as the room began to fill with students “Ok, I have to go to soccer practice after school so call me tonight then you can give, the homework answers for tomorrow!” Kana said happily racing over to her desk at the opposite side of the room.

Vera sighed sitting her head on the desk as the teacher; Mr. Madison, entered the room. “Now that I think about it, I can’t really remember what happened last night but, that couldn’t have happened. I’m not hurt at all, and I woke up in my room not in the hospital or police office.”

“Ok class do you remember the last class we had in history?” One kid spoke up randomly “Myths and legends!” Madison nodded “Good, each day we have had to tackle a new legend or myth and write a paper, but because of the work day yesterday we didn’t have that chance, so I have assigned each of you a new myth, and legend, but these are huge, and some of them have actually been believed as true.” There was a quick pause Vera closing her eyes as a light whistle blew through the window to her left.

“Ok Menna, you get the legend of the Snake of the Merlin Swamp, and Heni…” he continued to speak, Vera nearly falling asleep as some began to argue about their topic, and soon the entire class was in an uproar. It was only interrupted when the dismissal bell rang through the hallways, and silenced the class. “All of you get what you were assigned and no more arguing, get your books, and don’t forget to work on your project!”

All of the students quickly grabbed their bags and hurried from the room, Vera very slow to follow behind. She was making her way to the door, but was pulled out of her recent thoughts as Mr. Madison placed his hand on her shoulder from behind. “Hey Vera, I need to give you your legend…I realize that we didn’t get to you” Vera turned around, her blank stare meeting the teachers who was kindly staring back at her “Which one?” He stepped back for a moment “Its called the legend of Midni, I think you will find it quite interesting. It’s said to be the oldest legend in these parts.” Vera nodded as he sat down in his chair, “I’ll do my research tonight, ok?” He nodded “Good, it’s just like you to get ahead of things.”

Vera turned back around sighing as she shut the classroom door behind her, all of the halls were empty. “The legend of Midni.” she began to walk; her small feet echoing through the halls “Sounds, ok.”

The windowed halls of the second floor, were narrow, only a few lockers seemed to reside in them, and only the right wall had classrooms, all of the formlessly crammed in order.

She had only passed a few doors, and seemed to be reaching an exit when the door to her side creaked open. Iris paused, looking over at the dark crack in the door, it seemed as if someone was watching her, but it was too dark inside to tell. She sat there for a moment, hoping that it would shut, or at least move, but nothing happened. “Whatever.” she whispered to herself turning her head the other way. “I’ll just go home.” She lifted her foot to take a forward step, but froze hearing a soft voice whisper from the cracked door “Are you, Vera Kameri?” Vera froze, then turned her head a little to the side lowering her foot “Yeah, what of it?” She was expecting the soft voice to respond normally but was nearly thrown into shock when the door swung open with an incredible force. Two pairs of hands reaching out and jerking her into the dark classroom, her yells muffled as the door slammed behind her.

When she opened her eyes she was laying down on two desks that had been put together “What, happened?” She widened her eyes, waiting for them to adjust to the darkness. The lights were off and the red light of the sunset now shown brightly through the massive windows that lined the walls. “Oh she’s up!” Vera jumped turning sharply to see a girl sitting on a desk behind her. She was a beautiful girl. She was wearing the school uniform, but something seemed to separate her from normality. Her skin was as white as porcelain, and its color was brightly visible even through the darkness. Her hair was an icy blue, a color that seemed to match the intensity of her electric blue eyes. “Who, are you?” The girl smiled “She’s up!” Vera turned sharply around, as a second voice responded. A figure stood up from behind the cabinets “I heard you the first time. I wasn’t done cleaning out the cabinets!” Vera sighed “I think, I’m going crazy.” Behind the cabinets was a boy, also wearing the school form. His hair was a bright golden color, his shining eyes, a neon yellow. “So, how are you?” Vera lifted her head speaking up sharply “You randomly jerk me into a dark classroom! You spoke to me with creepy little voices, and now your asking how I AM doing, who are you people?!” The boy approached her “Oh sorry, we had to pull you in here so that no one would see you come in here, and well. When we jerked you through you tripped and hit your head on the floor, so we had to wait for you to wake up.” The girl grinned “Yeah, we needed to talk to you!” The boy crossed his arms “Or both of you.” Vera paused for a second attempting to comprehend the story “Both of us?” The boy nodded “Yeah…but before that my name is Nero, and this is my accomplice Yayoi.” Yayoi interrupted “Yeah but lets get back to matters! We need to talk to Rio!” Terra stood up “Good, you got the wrong person bye, bye.” She was going to make her way to the door but was stopped as the girl grabbed her sleeve “Hold on, you don’t know who he is?” Terra shook her head, and that was followed by a quick glance from the two accomplices. Nero spoke up “Well it’s no surprise; the others said he had probably kept to himself. They said he was really stubborn.” Terra crossed her arms “What are you guys talking about!?” Yayoi released her sleeve “Nero you tell her” She said sitting back down on the desk. Nero approached her “Do you know what a Midni is?” Terra respond quietly unsure of her answer “Aren’t they, those beings in legends…that control the elements or something like that?” He nodded “That too, but they also are said to guard humans most likely those who have no guardians themselves.” Terra nodded “So it’s just a legend. What of it?” Nero shook his head “Not a legend actually…this might come of a surprise to you…but we’ve found Midni…and now…we’re trying to gather them.” Terra stood up and began to walk towards the door “I am not nuts, so if you would excuse me id like to…” She was interrupted “You don’t believe me?” Terra turned back around sharply “No, who would believe something like that!?” He spoke up but not to her “Yayoi…you can show her.” Yayoi nodded “Sure…Minwu!” The room grew quiet, and Terra was beginning to get irritated. “What?” A voice echoed through the room. Terra froze, now glancing around the room wildly. Then she saw it, all of the light seemed to be gathering in once spot, and soon the beams wound together to form a human being, and a strange one at that. He was a blonde haired teenager draped in yellow robes. A gold strap was wrapped around his neck, and hanging from his neck was a golden scarab. His sandals matching with his Egyptian like robes. “I said what do you want Yayoi?” She smiled “I just needed you for a second…” She looked over at Terra who was dumbfounded “You believe us now?” Terra forced herself to turn back around “This is just trouble big trouble, I don’t need anything else like this.” She put her hand on the doorknob “I have nothing to do with this.” She was going to open it but was stopped by Nero’s voice “You can’t leave even if you want to, that’s why we chose you of all people you know why were here don’t you?” Terra didn’t turn around, but continued to listen to him her face shadowed by the darkness “Ever since you were little, you have gotten into conflict. Some that should have killed you, but you haven’t died, but each time escaped with simply a loss of memory. Just like that man that came after you with the knife last night you know that something’s protecting you.” Terra tightened her fist on the doorknob “It’s not a Midni!” Yayoi answered her slowly “Why are you resisting us like this, you act like having a guardian is a bad thing?” Terra clenched her teeth “Just leave me out of this, I don’t want to get involved in anything else right now.” Then The Midni answered her, his voice holding a strange accent “Both of your parents are dead correct?  The rest of your family is gone as well it’s a miracle that you have gone this far, and done so many jobs to stay in school. I realize that you do not want anything else to deal with, but you don’t have to choice in the matter.” Terra turned around sharply answer in her voice that quieted the room “I never have a choice do I!? I never HAD a choice! I’m sick of everyone telling me that!” Suddenly Minwu stepped back, a dark matter beginning to surround the Items in the room. Yayoi froze as the desks began to shake, the dark matter lifting all kinds of things uneasily into the air, and the shadows on the ground began to spin “Terra!” Nero whispered to himself “Her Midni is using her anger to control his powers, we have to calm her down.” He shouted out “Yayoi, use Minwu to counter the power that’s causing this stuff to levitate!” Yayoi nodded, as Nero tried to speak to Terra.

“Why am I so mad? I was just upset but now.” Terra thought to herself “It’s the darkness…that’s causing this to go out of control.” Terra responded “Who are…”

“you should know…”

“Why…are you guarding me?”

“Why?”

“I don’t need protection…”

“What? Girl, do you truly believe that I am doing this out of my free will. I am your prisoner, I am a captive within your shadow. I was sealed there.”

Terra clenched her teeth “Then I release you, I want to release you.” the voice responded in an amused tone “Release me?” They laughed “That is truly impossible but rest assured I am going to protect you, from the demons. Rest girl, I won’t let them take you.” Terra paused realizing, that she was very tired, as if the darkness had drained away her energy. “Rest” She thought to herself “That’s what he’s telling me…that I’m going to be ok.” She spoke up, her voice now a faint whisper, but she was certain he could hear her “Thank you.”

Minwu slammed his hands down on the ground, electricity running through his fingers and bringing some of the levitating items closer to the ground. “Nero what’s happening over there!?” Yayoi said loudly. Nero growled back, the dark energy stopping him from going further towards Terra, who’s eyes were closed. “I’m not sure, I don’t think she can hear me!?” Suddenly everything in the room fell, including Terra who nearly hit the ground, but was caught by Nero. “Terra are you ok!?” She didn’t respond.

Yayoi approached them, Minwu walking up behind her “Is she ok?” He nodded “The dark matter was too powerful for her, her energy was drained in seconds, she’s just asleep. We need to take her back to the organization.” Yayoi was going to speak, but was suddenly jerked back as Minwu pulled both of them towards the back cabinets leaving Terra on the floor “Minwu what are you doing!?” Exclaimed Nero “Rio is coming. She fell asleep…so now he’s fully awake.” All of them watched as Terra stood back up, dark energy winding around her like fire. “How dare you.” A harsh voice echoed through the room “You peasants.” Nero yelled out “Kemar!” Suddenly a second Midni was summoned, this one a girl with long black hair, her blood red clothes, torn and frayed. Her hands and armor charred from the use of fire, and a soot covered mask shielding half over her face, nearly covering her fire red eyes. “Kemar try to get the girl and wake her up!?” Kemar nodded, focusing on the target as her hands lit up in flames “So she’s the one Rio is sealed with.” Suddenly Terra’s shadow took a different form, the form of a different person. Nero spoke up “Rio, please come with us!” The voice responded as the room seemed to fill with a black miasma “Come with you? I suspect you want to take me to the organization so that I can become a pet to be ordered around, by you humans.” Minwu spoke up “It’s not what you think! We are working as one, we were sent here to protect the humans, now we both work to protect each other!” Rio laughed, his dark voice once again haunting the classroom, as the shadows eyes flashed a blood red. “Humans and Midni working in unison? Do not attempt to fool me…what can humans do to protect you!? Where is your pride? Now you are worthless tools, both of you…the known wielders…of fire and electricity…have bowed to the likes of these vermin.” Now both of the Midni were silent, Yayoi watching both of them sadly “Why aren’t you two saying anything?” She said quietly. Kemar took a step forward, reluctantly speaking “We enjoy…working for both of you…but we can’t deny him…he overrules both of us.” Nero took a second step back “You don’t mean…” Kemar nodded “Rio…is simply one of his names.” Nero growled “So then…” Rio raised his head up, lifting his hand forward, his shadow parting from the wall “Leave mortals…” Nero responded sharply. “We know how to break the seal on Terra, you can be free!” The clawed hand was followed by a body of shadows “Break it? What a foolish lie…I’m ordering you…leave.” Nero was prepared to argue but Minwu stopped him. Yayoi answered calmly “Just give us the girl, we wont hurt her…this is our last time before we use force.” He chuckled “Force?” Suddenly Nero shouted out “Minwu, Kemar!” Kemar hissed running forwards, fire trialing from her hand. Minwu followed soon after with a wave of lighting but both the fire and lighting were eaten by the darkness, and quickly all of the shadows withdrew, swallowing Terra, and vanishing within a split second.