The Order of Lunarius: Return of the King

Chapet 2: Ashlyn is one of my close friends who I share a lot, we both like the same programs, both of us don’t take shit from just anyone, and she personally likes to hug me alot also. As we approached the group she looked up from her phone, only to say the most unexpected thing.

“Who's got a shotgun? I want to shoot someone in the Balls!” Conner and I collapsed onto the floor from laughter. After a couple of minutes of intense spastic lung convulsions, I got up and wished her a Happy Birthday while I gave her a big bear hug. That was probably the most unexpected thing that I could have heard in the entire day, otherwise, we just talked about our classes and what our teachers did in class. In other words, gossip. After our break was over the rest of the day was pretty normal, except for the conversations people were having about the crater in between the band room and pool, oops. Note to self, try not to destroy the school campus.

You may be calling me a fool for having thought that the rest of the day would be normal after stopping an earthquake, hearing voices in my head, and meeting some random guy who says that I remind them of someone. To be honest, yea, I was a fool for believing that nothing else would happen the rest of the day, cause boy was I extremely freaking wrong.

Towards the end of 5th period, things went to hell, literally. My 5th period was chemistry. We were in the middle of cleaning up our lab areas when we heard a loud crashing sound from outside. People began to run past the door, screaming. It was pandemonium. We all quickly left the class to see what was going on. My heart stopped when I saw what everyone was freaking out about. I saw Lydia on the ground by the memorial trying to back away from a creature. It looked like a huge crossbreed between a bear and wolf, only its upper body was covered in a black bone-like covering that was smoldering with tiny flames. Its head had horns, fangs like a crocodile, and burning eyes. What I did next was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.

My body moved before I could even decide what to do next. While everyone ran for their life, I ran towards Lydia at full speed. Right as the creature lunged at her, jaws ready to tear into its prey, I stepped in front of the creature and grabbed it by its jaws. I felt an immense amount of heat blast into my face. This thing was literally burning up.

The creature started trying to wrestle its jaws out of my grip. I just gotta say that as strong as I am, this thing was freaking heavier than I even thought. Each tug that it gave pulled me along with it, and I eventually began to feel the sensation of its fangs cutting into my skin. At that moment I felt that I had to do something quick to end the battle, but this thing was stronger than it looks.

At that moment I heard Lydia speak, “You have to get it off the school grounds! It is only when it is off the grounds that the school will put up the barrier.” I had no time to think about what she meant by barrier, but she was right about getting this thing off the school.

The creature must’ve understood what Lydia said and it didn’t look like it liked her at all, it then shot a spine out of its tail that struck Lydia in the left arm. Lydia let out a yelp. Wait, this thing has SPINES?!

When I saw Lydia’s injury and that she was pulling the spine out with great effort, I felt something click. Something in my body made a popping sound and I found myself filled with rage towards this thing. I then felt a surge of strength that made the creature feel as if I was handling a small animal.

Without mercy I broke the creature’s jaws, it let out a small yelp. Trying to get away at all cost the creature tried to shoot spines at me, but I grabbed its tail with one hand as it whipped its tail towards me, all while still holding onto its jaw with one hand. I proceeded to pull on its tail, dragging its hindlimbs towards me in order to expose its side. I kick at the base of the tailbone, breaking the bone and severing its control over its tail.

I was about to end the creature by breaking its neck, but I felt pity for it. It was whimpering and I felt it shaking, it was actually afraid. Call me foolish but I spared its life, however I still had to get it off the grounds. So I wrapped an arm around the creature's neck and began to start turning, using my momentum to lift the creature off the ground. I started turning in circles. Once I had enough momentum, I threw it into the sky away from the school. It gave a howl that faded as it flung through the air.

I soon found out what Lydia had meant by a barrier once the creature was away from school grounds. A translucent bluish wall was beginning to form around the school from the ground up that started to close above the school. I remembered Lydia, and ran to her, “Lydia. Are you ok?”

She just looked at me, “How did you do that?” I was a bit confused, “What do you mean? Flinging it into the air? Oh, well you ju…”.

“NO, I meant how the hell did you manage to overpower a hellhound? Not even our strongest warriors have been able to fight one and live, much less overpower one.” Lydia looked somewhat annoyed.

“So that’s what that thing was? A hellhound?” I asked. Although some part of me was not surprised at what it was.

“Yea, and you just single handedly took one down,” Lydia said. “More like throw one out if you ask me.”

“Why are you so surprised that I took down a hellhound but not over me stopping an earthquake?”

“Because,” Lydia said. “I knew that you were strong, but taking down a Hellhound has only been done by either higher Demons or Angels, or by the ki-” Lydia stopped all of a sudden. “I need to take you to the order right away.”

“Woah, woah, woah,” I said. “So you're telling me that there are only 2 types of people who can take down a hellhound, and I just took one down?”

I expected a “Yea, sounds about right” from Lydia, but instead this is what I got. “Yea, but there is only one other person who has taken down hellhounds and he was the strongest of them all. He was one of our kind.” Lydia explained.

“What do you mean by our kind exactly?” I asked. I was a bit confused, but my heart was also beating really hard as if from excitement. Waiting to hear something.

“You’re a Lycanthrope, more commonly called a werewolf.” Lydia smiled as she finished saying that.

“I’m a WHAT?” I felt a sense of relief and excitement. “You’re telling me that I turn into a fucking werewolf on full moons, and I’ve never noticed?”

Lydia gave a smirk, “It doesn’t work that way, at least not for everyone. Yes, some people do struggle with that but that is only due to their inability to control themselves. But otherwise, our kind can live normally so long as we keep control.” Lydia continues, “In your case, you just may have much more control than any of us to have not gotten out of control at least once in your life. And YOU, happen to be much stronger than a normal Lycan”

“Ok, that does explain some things better but still, how come I’ve never transformed, even by accident?” I asked.

“That’s the thing,” said Lydia. “You have transformed before, you just haven’t noticed and you’ve only ever partially transformed. I didn’t even know that it was possible to transform that minimally, but you seem to do it as a sort of boost.”

“What do you mean by partially transforming?”

“You may have not noticed, but while fighting that hellhound, you partially transformed.” Lydia explained, “During the moment when you began to overpower the hound, your ears got pointy, your hair grew longer, which looks good on you by the way.” She pointed at my hair that had apparently grown a few centimeters more. “And your fangs pop out. Needless to say your strength is also multiplied by tenfold. Need I explain more or do you get it?”

I took a moment to process and feel the side effects of the transformation. “I understand it now.”

“Great,” Lydia sighed in relief. “Now I can take you to the order. Maybe then we can get some answer on what’s going on.”

“Wait,” I said. “What order?”

Lydia smiled, “Follow me.”

We walked towards the memorial, to which Lydia went to one of the stone plaques and lifted it up to reveal a carving of a Sun connected to a crescent moon under a crown. There were small slits surrounding the circular carving. Lydia then proceeded to clench her hand and then snap it open, making a clicking sound. She then revealed claws that she placed into each slit in the carving, and turned it like a dial. She then retracted her claws as if they were retractable claws.

“Stand back,” she said. Just as the memorial slid forward enough to reveal a set of stairs that led underground. “Welcome to The Order of Lunarius, our kingdom. Our home.” She began to descend down the stairs, and I followed. Once my head was below the entrance, the entrance slid shut. I then descended into darkness.