Chapter 3: First Battle

In our last chapter, poor Soma and Andrew are facing 20 skeletons. Now we get to see what Andrew can do with that sword he swiped from Joachim. Heh, heh…Soma's stuck with that puny little knife. Poor guy.

Soma and Andrew wasted no time in attacking the undead horde. Soma is forced to attack from extremely close range with the knife, but his years of experience more than make up for it. Andrew's sword lets him keep the skeleton's at arm's length, but is unable to press the situation due to his shaken state. Soma is shocked when the skeleton he is fighting leaps into the air and brings his bone club down on Soma. Soma is able to dodge just barely, while the same cannot be said of poor Andrew as the bone connects with his shoulder.

"You're doing it all wrong." Says the voice in Andrew's head. "You should be accessing your mana" Okay, whoever you are, what the hell are you talking about? "It's your latent power. First, put some distance between yourself and the skeletons." Andrew takes a long jump backwards away from the walking boneheads. "Very good. That's the way you want to work. Now, focus your thoughts on projecting your swords edge. Call upon the darkness within you." Andrew focuses his mind and slices at the air with his sword. Instantly, an edge of pure darkness flies at the enemy skeletons, slicing 5 of them in half. Andrew and Soma stare in awe at what they see. "You see? I told you it would work. But take care not to drain your mana too quickly." Andrew nods, his confidence regained. While Soma continues his close up assault with the switchblade, Andrew proceeds to slice some of them up-close then jump back and launch a few shadow edges at the skeletons. In a short time, all of the skeletons have been reduced to small piles of dust.

"That was very good, you two," says Arikado, "I know why Soma was able to do that, but how were you able to, Andrew?" "Oh, it's nothing really," Says Andrew, "I have a habit of practicing all sorts of odd techniques in my spare time. I like to be well rounded." "I see," says Arikado, not fully believing him, "Well, I think that it's best we not dally in getting to the castle. To Eternal Night it is…" Andrew's mind reels at the mention of the name, thinking that he had heard it before, even felt like he had been there. He quickly dismissed it as he heads off with Arikado and Soma. Soma stops them and points to his school uniform. "Um, maybe this is just me, but I think that we should go and change into clothes that are more fitting for this occasion? Andrew agrees and heads home to change clothes. "I know you're scared," says the voice in Andrew's head, "but I can help you where we are going." In the meantime, Andrew thinks, would you mind telling me why I have these powers? "I'm not sure. I guess we'll just have to go to Eternal Night and find out, won't we?" Andrew is now fairly certain that he has gone insane and decides to just go along with it.

So what do you think? We get to meet some old friends in the next chapter and we see the castle of Eternal Night.