Milo took in the nice cool breeze. His curly hair fluttered in the wind as he walked with Lucy to school. He had a soft smile on his face. Today was going to be a very good day, no doubt about it. It was Friday, the school week was nearly over, and his sixteenth birthday was coming up on Sunday. Absolutely nothing can ruin this for him.
Lucy looked over and sighed. "You know that we probably have a pop quiz today in combat classes, right?"
Milo frowned
'She just had to ruin it, didn't she?'
"I know that much. Did you really feel like ruining my good mood that much?" Milo mumbled out.
Lucy chuckled, "Maybe..." She looked ahead, noticing the small corner store that was a block down from the school. "You should buy me a donut."
Milo shook his head. "Last time we were late because we stopped, I'd rather not get chewed out again-"
Milo looked to his right. Lucy was already walking into the small corner store.
Milo sighed, muttering something under his breath along the lines of spoiled brat. He walked in as well, and a tall, imposing figure approached him. The tall boy had visible muscles and veins on his forearms. He looked down at Milo with a death glare.
Milo brought up his hand, and so did the boy. The two clasped hands, the gesture reverberating throughout the small shop.
"Why are you still here, Juno? It's five minutes before school starts."
Juno straightened his crumpled school uniform. His head nodded at his backpack.
"Figured I'd buy some snacks for the guys, especially since an Awakened is visiting our school."
Milo's jaw dropped. "For real? I haven't heard about this. Can a public school even afford such a thing?"
Juno nodded. "For real, Wallace texted me about it. He saw the Awakened at the gate. He was wearing some golden plate armor."
Milo let out a low whistle. "Well, shit"
Milo peered behind Juno, noticing Lucy was looking at a freshly made batch of donuts. She gave the sprinkled chocolate donut a greedy look.
"Lucy, we're heading out. Theres an Awakened at the school."
Lucy looked longingly at the chocolate donut, nodding her head. She gave the petite shop owner a small wave. Poi was the owner of the small shop. Apparently, she had a cousin named Aiko who had been stuck as a Sleeper for gods know how long. Aiko was a greedy woman, and suggested she open the shop next to a school a bit before the winter solstice came.
Milo could relate to the loss. His cousin Ivan died in the First Nightmare a couple of months ago. Ever since then, his whole family has been paranoid about who would be next, and Milo was nearing the age of possible infection.
His parents got on his case about getting an Awakened tutor, but Milo rejected the idea. He got plenty of practice with his friends in the Dreamscape. Milo could beat Wallace pretty consistently, and Wallace had an Awakened tutor. His parents hadn't followed his logic, but decided to postpone the idea either way.
Milo walked with Juno, idly chatting about the Dreamscape fight between Leo Striker and The Fool. Milo had to admit he was an adamant fan of Leo Striker; while he wasn't the best in the Dreamscape, he stood up for the rookies. Which Milo soon hoped to be... but to become one, he would first have to become an Awakened.
'On second thought... no thanks.'
Milo reached the school gates. Small cherry blossoms were in bloom on the separated sections of nature. It was time for the first period, which would be combat class. Their instructor, Franco, was a bit strict but a charismatic teacher.
Perhaps he would meet the Awakened there.
***
Milo was slightly disappointed when he exited the boys' changing room and onto the padded mat, only to be met with Franco and no Awakened in golden armor in sight. Milo stood on the mat, along with him were twelve other boys and fifteen other girls. Lucy was not included since she was only a first-year student and was off in History right now.
Franco looked around. Counting the heads of the students.
"Alright, pop quiz time, someone volunteer or else I'll pick. Don't think avoiding eye contact will save you."
Milo looked around, but no one raised their hand. He steeled his resolve, ready to raise his own hand, but someone beat him to the punch.
A slender girl stepped forward, makeup done a little too well. Her eyelashes a little too big, her aura a little too extravagant. Milo sighed inwardly; he knew exactly what was going on.
He sat against the wall, Juno sat to his right, and Wallace sat to his left. That girl was rich, and it seemed her boost in confidence likely came from the fact that she had an Awakened tutor.
Milo watched as a young buzzed man stepped forward. Franco raised his eyebrow. The girl was no match for the boy physically. The girl smirked, and Franco shrugged his shoulders slightly. The two shook hands in the middle, went to their respective sides, and Franco shouted.
"Begin!"
The girl moved first; the mat was big enough to create a period of about five seconds before someone reached their opponent. As the girl stepped forward, so did the boy. The girl moved forward slightly, and the boy suddenly jumped out with a flying side kick. The girl side-stepped and threw a roundhouse, which was blocked.
The two backed up, creating some distance between each other. The buzz cut boy engaged with a jab and a blow to the side. The girl dodged the jab and blocked the blow. She moved to the counter, but the boy suddenly dropped all his weight to the ground. Grabbing her legs and pushing her to the ground. He worked his way into side control and began to set up an arm bar.
"Yeah, she's done for" Milo whispered to Juno.
Milo turned back, and the boy was on his back. However, he was not holding an armbar; he was getting pinned down. His back was taken and put in a chokehold. Twenty seconds before he tapped out.
"Oh... hell no." Milo whispered, and even Juno looked slightly shocked.
Milo watched as the girl stood up with a cheery smile, fixing her gi with practiced ease. The boy stood up, and they shook hands. Milo looked at Instructor Franco, who looked at the students sitting against the wall.
"Any volunteers?"
Milo looked around, but no one raised their hand. Milo didn't feel like raising his either.
"Okay..." Franco's eyes swept the students; Milo didn't make eye contact.
"Milo, you're up next."
Milo groaned inwardly. With a sigh, he stood up. He moved to the right of the room. He knew there was no shame in losing, yet he still didn't want to. It wasn't because he was losing to a girl, but rather because that girl looked rather... weak?
'Ah... I might be sexist.'
Milo shook the thought off. Stretching his arms. The girl did the same
They moved to the center, shook hands, and moved back.
"Begin!"
Milo decided not to make the same mistake as the previous, he would let the girl come to him first.
Then he peered over at his friends. Juno mouthed
"You won't, bitch."
Milo had to bite back his grin.
'Well, now I have too.'
Milo rushed forward, opening up with a jab and a cross. The girl dodged and returned with a right hook that was blocked. She then shot for the legs
'Sh-'
Milo felt his back hit the ground. The girl was on top of him. She grabbed the neck collar of his gi, her arms making an X shape.
'No... please don't.'
Milo bucked his hips as best he could, attempting to get the girl off him, but she wouldn't budge.
Milo hurriedly snaked his hand into the choke, preventing it from ending the fight. It still hurt like crazy, though.
Milo wasn't too worried about losing at this point. It was his thoughts he had to keep under control as her body pressed against his.
'Pure thoughts, this is your classmate.'
Milo pushed up with everything he had and managed to get her off. He wouldn't win the ground game, so he stood back up. He had a few precious seconds to regain his composure before she charged in with a flying heel kick.
'Why is everyone so damn obsessed with these things?'
Milo jumped back, then jumped back forward with a Superman punch. The girl dodged and grabbed his collar once again.
'It's over.'
Milo felt his body lifted off the ground and thrown over the girl's shoulder. He hit the ground with a large thud, and a low groan escaped from him. He felt his cheeks redden as everyone let out gasps or chuckles. He heard a boisterous laugh come from a certain spoiled brat whom he had already beaten once.
"Thats time, Helen has won." Instructor Franco stepped in. Milo got back up, fixed his gi, and shook hands with Helen.
He tiredly limped over to his friends and reclaimed his spot as they scooted over.
"How was it?"
Milo looked at Juno.
"She's really fucking strong."
Juno chuckled
"I can see that."
Milo lay his head against the wall. At least he would do better in the weapons section.
***
Milo donned his sparring equipment. He put on his padded helmet, vision slightly barred by the net-like structure of his visor. He grabbed his training weapon, a wooden blade that resembled a blunted longsword; the only other options were curved or shorter blades. Milo liked this one much more.
Just as Milo finished donning his equipment, a loud alarm blared. Followed by the voice of the Headmaster.
"This is not a drill. A gate is opening in the school's vicinity. Please evacuate to the nearest-"
The voice was cut off by a terrible screech, and then a loud boom resounded throughout the gynaisum. Milo turned his head.
A large and terrible monster with wings was looking right at the students. Instructor Franco screamed out.
"Get out, now!"
The students didn't need to be told twice. Milo ran for the door. Another boom resounded throughout the room, and Milo felt something crush his body. He let out a shrill scream.
He was face-first in the ground, and he felt the weight of debris press down on his back. With all his might, he tried to stand up. It was fruitless. Instructor Franco was not an Awakened; he was likely dead by now. Everyone else should've run out of the building. Then he heard a voice scream out. An angel in hell itself calling his name.
"Milo!"
"Juno! I'm stuck under some debris!"
Footsteps quickly approached, and Milo barely managed to raise his head to see Juno on his right. Everything except his right arm was stuck under the debris.
"Milo, shit!"
Juno's hand crept under the derbis. They strained as he attempted to lift, and Milo attempted to push as well. The debris wasn't giving.
Another terrible shriek followed. Juno gagged.
"Milo... I can't get it up."
Milo gritted his teeth.
'Stay, please stay!'
"Go! Find Lucy and get the hell out of here!"
'Stay!'
Juno's hand disappeared, and he heard footsteps run off and out of range.
'Damnit! Fuck, Fuck!'
Milo strained as much as he could.
'Come on!'
He felt his bones pop.
'Come on!'
The debris moved slightly
'Yes!'
Milo used his right hand to push as hard as he could. He turned to his right.
Instructor Franco was looking at him, his eyes dull and lifeless. A small crook of a black beak was visible. The Nightmare Creature lifted its beak, revealing Franco's severed head, blood pouring from the wound.
'No!'
Milo began to sob
"Not like this... please not like this."
He heard a swallow and a screech yet again. Then his arm was torn apart and flayed by what felt like hundreds of knives and needles. He felt his flesh be ripped apart, felt his bone be removed from his body.
"Ah! No! I don't want to die!"
Milo's screams were in vain; the Nightmare Creature lifted the debris off of him. Its black beak bloody from tearing his arm apart. Its beak shape made it look like it had an elated grin on its face.
Milo raised his left hand to shield his face, and the Nightmare Creature lunged forward. Milo braced himself for the pain.
He heard a wet schlick and felt blood fall onto his chest, but it wasn't his own.
He looked up, seeing perhaps the most breathtaking woman ever. She had short, raven black hair, flawless white skin, and icy blue eyes. A war scythe was in her hand.
"You ought to get out of here, schoolboy."
Milo looked ahead, dozens of the same creatures that had nearly killed him faced down the beautiful woman, but someone else joined her side. A man in a full suit of golden armor. A golden schimtar in his hand.
Milo quickly scrambled to his feet and ran off. He ran outside the building, his pauldron was covering up the details of his terrible wound. He was bleeding terribly; every second spent awake felt terrible. His sprint turned into a weak run, which turned into a shamble. He saw the gate of the school, and he saw his classmates. Some half-dressed in their sparring equipment, some fully dressed. He saw Juno with Lucy.
'Good, she's alive.'
It was only then that Milo allowed himself to pass out. The last thing he remembered was the scream of his sister and classmates as he collapsed to the ground.