Moonlings: A Clash of Meteors and Mages

The peaceful darkness of the cosmos was interrupted with the opening of four blackholes.

Just minutes earlier, the outer space was at its usual. Planets were spinning, meteors and other satellites moving around, and the eruption of stars here and there. But the sudden pooling of magic from another dimension sent danger signals throughout the galaxy. Other planets raised the alarm, recognizing the familiar wavelength of power that appeared.

Out of the blackholes came four voices. Each of them was distinct but all of them had the same air of ancientness and otherworldly intelligence tone in them. 

"Is that the planet?" The first one asked. It was like an elder who had seen a gadget for the first time of his life.

"Yes. Without a doubt, that's it." The second was a woman's, high-pitched but not in a beautiful way much like a bad witch or an evil sorceress from the ancient books.

"How can you be so sure?" This one was young. His tone was full of rigor and excitement.

"Why, as you can see, it's the only planet left with a moon," the fourth answered. His laugh afterwards belonged to that of a wanted serial killer.

It reverberated all through the four corners of the galaxy. Though they were thousands of lightyears away, it still reached the ears of some significant people, a race of completely different humans residing on the Earth.

The moon was out in its full form, and so were the Nightspawns.

They were bigger, stronger, and unfortunately, wilder. Their eyes had the color of blood and were glinting at him like rabid albino beasts. They were monsters born of the romance between the moon and the Earth, though any Moonling would deny it.

Still, Tanori had a feeling that was not the sole reason why he suddenly felt a different shiver, as if he heard a voice–a whisper from beyond the moon.

Tanori shook his head. The age where the moon and the humans used to talk with each other has already passed away and now it only remains as a myth to the common people. But to those who were gifted like Tanori, he knew full well that the tales of the moon were not mere stories but that they were real history. 

To ordinary humans, it was just a random bedtime story but to the Moonlings, it was a legacy. They knew the story of the moon and especially on how to get rid of these Nightspawns who keep on appearing every full moon.

Tanori counted seven of them. But who knows how many more are hiding behind the trees?

He knew he was surrounded, feeling their sinister energy. They formed a ring around him as they growled and bared their fangs and giant claws. It still gave him chills--moments like these. What moonmage wouldn't be? 

But thanks to his fifteen years of experience, ever since he was a decade old, he had already taught his body not to shake. If he still trembled in fear, he would be a bad example to his juniors, especially to that careless part-timer of his agency.

Now that he thought about it, he should have brought her with him. This was a great opportunity to show her how to do a mission nicely and neatly. But since it wasn't really her schedule now to do patrol, he will have to do a proper demonstration for her next time.

One nightspawn decided it couldn't stand Tanori just chilling and not being afraid so it attacked. Unfortunately, Tanori hated being interrupted in his thoughts. When the claws were upon him, he swiped his arm and the large beast burst into silver liquid, the color of their blood, reflecting the moonlight.

The others suddenly stopped hissing, realizing that what was in front of them was not their prey, but a predator.

It was too late for them.

Half of them attempted to run but Tanori was faster. He grabbed two by their heads and flung them to the nearby rocks. The others had the guts to stand their ground and fight. Though most were ordinarily dealt with, Tanori made the mistake of catching his breath for too long.

A snap from behind surprised him and made him fall to the ground. The eighth nightspawn had pounced on him and he could only block its fangs with his dagger. The remaining beasts took advantage and jumped on him as well.

For two seconds, Tanori concentrated on the full moon.

In the nick of time, he shouted Luna and everything that happened next was a miracle.

All nightspawns on top of him disintegrated into puddles of white liquid. He stood and almost fell hadn't he leaned onto a tree for support.

Tanori was getting old. Just a simple extraction from the moon's power was enough to make him dizzy. 

A different color trickled from his shoulder blade.The moon made the blood glisten and shortly after, the pain came. In his haste, he actually forgot to bring a bandage. 

No. That wasn't it. It was because of his pride that he thought he didn't need one. He didn't expect to be deeply wounded, which was funny and arrogant for someone about to patrol on a full moon, the bloodiest nights of Earth.

Heh. Looks like my years of experience have made me weak.

So, Tanori had to endure. Plus, he had to conserve his energy. The night was long and to think that he was immediately wounded when it was just the first hour. Tanori didn't want to believe that his carelessness had an actual reason. But what had made him so rusty on a crucial night? Or was he just really getting old for this?

It seems that his generation of moonmages is ending. They had to train new ones who will carry out their will. Unlike before, they didn't have much trouble handling them and nightspawn hunting was just playtime for them. But now, it even takes magic to take one of them down. 

The nightspawns were evolving, he knew. All the more reason for him to train the younger ones himself. He had to or else the higher-ups' slackening will be the death of them all.

A familiar scent whiffed through his nostrils and triggered his battle instincts.

He planned on tearing his shirt as a makeshift bandage but looks like he had no time to tend to his wound. His nose told him that a group of nightspawns had emerged a few kilometers from him. He had to hurry or else ordinary humans–the innocent ones will be harmed. 

Tanori walked out of the forest and started patrolling the streets of Jazel, the city of Jubilee--a name that he would gladly give up his life for.