The werewolf tore at sheets, ripping pillows apart, feathers flying up in the air and floating down slowly all around it. Where had the blood gone? Where was the body that was in the bed? And the room… It wasn’t Vincent’s. The beast stepped down from the bed, it creaked from its weight as it moved to the floor, padding its way to the window, squinting its eyes, and bursting through it, breaking css and pane and pstic and wood in all directions as it broke through. It soared through the air, nding on the ground in a crouch, hand against grass. It stood and peered over the backyard fence, then burst forward, leaping over it with ease and grace, nding on the sidewalk, then moved to the center of the street, looking this way and that. It eyed a house down the street, near the end. This one looked like Vincent’s, and it moved into a sprint, bounding along the ground as the house got closer, and closer, and closer. And with each step, and each pad of its feet and cws scarping against the ground, its heartbeat thudded in unison with it.
. . .
When Mr. B entered the cssroom, he shut the lights off and closed the blinds, putting the room into darkness, save the light on his computer screen and its projected image on a rge screen they could all see. Vincent was happy about the lights being off as he had not slept well because of his trouble dream that kept repeating itself, making him feel like he was being hunted. He didn’t like it at all, and his eyes felt heavy.
“Today,” Mr. B said, “we’ll be covering a few supernatural being basics, starting with werewolves. Some of you may know this stuff.” He gave Acard a gnce. “So if you’re thinking of disrupting the lecture with silly comments, I suggest you keep them to yourself and think of this as a refresher.”
He started the video, which showed a werewolf foaming and salivating at the mouth. It made Vincent shiver as he thought of st night’s dream. The beast looked ready for the hunt as it stood atop a cliff, overlooking the valley. It leapt through the air, nding in a forested area not unlike Lunestra’s various wooded areas, and moved forward through the foliage, making the hairs on Vincent’s body stand on end as he leaned forward.
“Do we really have to go over this basic baby stuff for the chump’s sake?” Acard said with an audible eye roll.
“Werewolves,” Mr. B continued, ignoring Acard, “are a type of supernatural being that some legends say lead to a curse following a bite from a werewolf that causes a person to change shape into the very beast that originally bit the victim. And during a full moon, werewolves are said to go on a random rampage that leads to bloodshed and death, leaving the individual to wake as if from a dream, naked and bloodied in the woods, all memories of the night before mostly forgotten.”
The werewolf in the video moved through the forest, its eyes like little lights leading its way. Vincent leaned forward, eyes intent on the video, his breaths short and quick like his heartbeats. The werewolf leaned back and howled, making Vincent flinch as he grasped the sides of his desk, feeling as if he was in the presence of the beast, not just watching it on screen. He licked his lips, feeling sweat bead on his forehead.
The werewolf fell to its knees, hugging itself as it winced and growled and whimpered, curling into a ball, then shapeshifting back into its naked, human form.
“He naked,” Max said with a boyish chuckle.
No one ughed.
“The legend of the werewolf is partly true,” Mr. B continued. “Even if it is embellished in media. Actual werewolves, though, have what’s known as the Power of the Were, which are a set of abilities that come with being a werewolf.”
Vincent straightened in his seat, as he wanted to know more about this Power of the Were.
“One of the abilities, and possibly the most crucial thing for a werewolf to do is to master the transformation at will, which can be learned through a series of rigorous training exercises that also help gain more control over the Beast Mind. The Beast Mind has a strong influence over the human side of the werewolf being, and if not managed properly through conscious training and exercise, it can take over. If this happens then the fabled werewolf of legend that goes on an uncontrolble rampage to satiate the beastly hunger through bloodshed and death that movies are made of can happen.”
Vincent leaned forward, searing this information, and the images, in his mind. Acard shook his head and smiled at Vincent’s obvious nervousness.
“Your Beast Mind first shows up in the form of a recurring dream.”
Vincent gulped, thinking about his own dreams he had been having, the same ones Lucian Illustrious had told him about. Here it was, finally being expined. He needed to listen carefully, and if he didn’t get an answer on how to take care of it, he would need to ask Mr. B what to do, as he certainly didn’t want the werewolf to find him in his dream.
“The Beast Mind takes the shape of a werewolf in your dream that will eventually be the same shape the individual will take when they transform themselves. It stalks you in the dream, hunting you down until it can unleash its fury upon your mind and soul and body – what’s called your essence in the supernatural world. The dream begins around the age of fifteen to sixteen for werewolves. Perhaps you have already begun to experience it.”
He gave Vincent a quick gnce, then Acard. “The good news is that if you learn to master the transformation at will before the beast catches you in your dream, you’ll be better off. In other words, you’ll have much more control over your Beast Mind. If not,” he said, frowning, his eyes dark. “The Beast Mind will gain an influence and control over you that you will forever struggle with, as it will have a much stronger pull over you. It’s imperative to master the transformation at will before anything else.”
There it was, Vincent thought. He needed to master the transformation at will, which meant he had to somehow learn how to transform into a – gulp – werewolf… at will. His throat felt dry.
“Is it a fact,” Acard said, letting out a scoff of disagreement. “That mastering the transformation at will before the werewolf catches you in your dream beneficial to a werewolf?”
Mr. B leveled his gaze on Acard. “While some werewolves in the past have disagreed on this point, it is imperative to master the transformation at will before the werewolf catches you in the dream.” He then let out a sigh, as if letting go of a heavy load on his mind. “However, if the Beast Mind finds you in your dream before you master the transformation at will, or if you believe that it will lead to more power and thus decide to just let it happen, well, then…” he rubbed fingers against forehead as if straining this point. “You are sadly mistaken. The truth is that if that happens, you will struggle to gain mastery over the Power of the Were abilities, and your power will decrease, not increase, even though some have cimed the opposite.” He let out a sigh, unfolding his arms. “But, it’s up to each and every werewolf to make that ultimate decision themselves, even if letting the Beast Mind find them in their dream is not only frowned upon, but dangerous.”
Vincent shifted in his seat, dying to know something, so he raised his hand. “Um, Mr. B?” Mr. B looked to the boy and nodded. “How long does it take the, uh…” – Vincent felt his throat tighten up at the anxiety that rose within him thinking about that werewolf in his dream stalking him – “Beast Mind to find you in your dream?”
“It varies from being to being,” Mr. B said. “Where there have been rare and extreme cases of it happening within a few weeks of the first dream” – Vincent felt his heart leap at this point – “it usually takes months to a year or more for it to catch you in that fated, final dream.” There was a dark tone to his words, a finality.
Vincent thought about the bck, hulking beast in his dream, and how it was getting close to catching him. At least it felt that way. He shifted uneasily in his seat at the terrifying thought.
Isabel raised her hand high in the air.
“Yes, Miss Dawn?”
“Does the Beast Mind have any commonality to a Vampiric Bloodlust?” she tilted her head in a way as if she knew the answer.
“Not exactly,” Mr. B said. “While the Beast Mind is a constant struggle between beast and human, it can be satiated and controlled with the mastery of the transformation at will. If one can master the transformation at will, everything following will be easier. If not, it will be an uphill battle to gain and keep control of the Beast Mind, and much more likely to lead to an animalistic nature and instinct that manifests in violent behaviors.
“I like violence,” Acard said with a toothy smile, and Vincent swore he saw a mouthful of fangs, but it was probably just his terrified imagination from the thought of that scary werewolf in his dream. The idea of him transforming into that thing was… disheartening.
Mr. B gred at Acard as he continued. “While there are some simirities, the Beast Mind fights for supremacy between the human mind and the animal mind, whereas a bloodlust is more about a vampire’s blood bance and thirst for blood, which brings us to our next being.”
A video of a girl sleeping soundly in a dark room pyed. A shadowy figured loomed over her, revealing its fangs, its lustful eyes focused on her pulsating jugur vein.
“These days,” Mr. B said, as the girl’s eyes on the video went wide as saucers at the sight of the vampire sinking its fangs into her neck. “Vampires don’t generally stalk humans or prey on them for their blood as there is universal access to synthetic blood of various types, and most are pretty comparable to real blood. Still, there’s nothing like the real thing, and like the Beast Mind, vampires do have to manage their thirst for blood, keeping their blood intake in bance with what their body needs, or risk giving into their own monstrous mind that can lead to a bloodlust.”
“Can’t never trust a bloodsucker,” Acard said with a chuckle.
Isabel spun in her seat and glowered at Acard. “I’m not a”–
“Now, now,” Mr. B said, raising his hand to Acard. “Let’s not have any of that today, Acard. Use that word again and you’re outta css, ya hear?”
“Sounds like a vacation,” he said, leaning back with arms behind neck.
“There are three different kinds of vampire beings,” Mr. B continued. “Prevalents, elven vampires, and Crimson or Dawn vampires.” He gave a little smirk, and met eyes with Vincent. “Complicated, I know, but stay with me.” A new slide dispyed each type of vampire. Both the elven and Prevalents shared gray skin and red eyes with a bck dot like Castile’s eyes. The elven vampire, Vincent guessed, was the one with the pointy ears that jutted out. The Crimson and Dawn vampires looked the same, sharing all the characteristics of Isbel and her sister, Alicia.
“Prevalent and elven vampires are an undead type of vampire that is turned or created from the bite of another, already existing, vampire, and after dying, they can be reborn as the undead being that is a Prevalent or elven vampire. While it is an oversimplification for a complicated thing, it’ll do for now.” He nodded at Vincent again, giving him a little wink. “Prevalents are humans turned to vampires, whereas elven vampires are elven turned to a Prevalent.
Mr. B then clicked through slides that included more examples of Prevalent and elven vampires, both male and female, and Vincent felt his curiosity rise at the many possibilities of vampires, wondering how many were out in the world, and all the subtle nuances of how they looked, functioned, and became what they were.
A slide with more examples of Crimson and Dawn vampires was dispyed. “Then we have the Crimson and Dawn vampires, which are one in the same except for one difference – Dawn vampires can walk in the sun. Each of these vampire beings are not fully Prevalent or turned, but rather are born and are part Prevalent, part elven. I’m sure Isabel will answer any questions you have if you are curious about her being type.” His eyes fell on Acard again. “Within reason.”
Isabel slumped in her seat, looking a little embarrassed and unsure of how to feel or look in regards to the attention.
“While there is a lot more involved in the convoluted and complicated mix that is vampire beings,” Mr. B said. “The basics will do for now. If you’d like to learn more about them, you can also read a digital copy or hardcopy of the textbooks on vampire being basics through the Crescent Academy app or library, cause you know, we’re in an institution of learning and all that, and we have plenty on the topic.
Mr. B brought up a video of a bearded man in a long cloak and a pointy hat, waving around a wand, sparkles bursting from its tip.
“Magicians,” he said, with a slight chuckle in his voice at this video which was obviously dated and exaggerated or a form of entertainment like the previous vampire video. “Are human beings with the ability to use magic, known in the supernatural world as the Usages of Magic, which range from a scale of having very little magical potential to having seemingly limitless magical prowess. All with work, practice, and discipline, of course.”
“I kind of like the robe and pointy hats,” Alexander said, mildly amused. “I could see it becoming a trend.”
Mr. B smiled slightly. “Granted, magicians don’t typically wear cloaks and pointy hats, boots, and long beards these days, nor do they fly around on broomsticks and have cat companions, even if a rare individual does choose the old ways. If you do see a witch riding a broomstick and carrying a cat,” he said with a little chuckle, “It’s either for the Fall Festival or an actual witch that wants to curse you.”
Vincent gulped, not knowing if the joke was something true or not, given the scope of everything he had learned over the st few days. If witches did exist, what would happen if he encountered one?
The video ended with two gentlemen in suits shooting bsts – one of fire, one of water – at one another, their spells colliding in an explosion of fme and mist.
The next presentation slide showed an ancient and magnificent scroll that dispyed three glorious creatures painted in bck. As Mr. B clicked through slides, an example of each of the creatures was dispyed in full view, and color. One of them was a rge phoenix bird with feathers that resembled fire, its opened beak emitting a furious fme. Another scroll painting had a rge gryphon, its wide wings outstretched, its beak sharp and pointy like a massive bird of prey that seemed as big as a bus. Finally, a giant bear, rger than any bear Vincent had come across online or when traveling. The bear was huge with its white fur with blue tints in it, like an arctic bear but much rger in its hulking stature, standing in the deep snow as if it was nothing.
“The Kindred are beings of deep mystery and magic that are said to be direct descendants of these three creatures. Hailing from the isnd of Illuminous, the Kindred have the uncanny ability to either manipute fire, water, or air. Mizuki is a Kindred Phoenix Child, which means she is a descendent of the great phoenix from the previous slide, and thus she can manipute fire known as the Furys.”
Vincent leaned back and rubbed his hand through his hair in awe at the huge creatures on the scrolls, thinking how crazy it was that Mizuki was a descendant of those massive monsters. How did that work? Could she also transform into them like humans into werewolves? While he knew of Illuminous from his childhood school days when he was presented with world geography and the legend of ancient creatures that roamed the nd, he thought it was just that – a myth, a story of fantasy and mysticism.
“Gryphon Children are descendants of the great gryphon creature, their ability to manipute air known as the Cyclones; and Por Children are descendants of these guys – the frost bears – their manipution of water known as the Torrents. All according to legend, of course, only a myth, if you believe in that sort of thing.” Mr. B gave a small smile as he seemed to be in a joking mood, even though this was quite serious for Vincent.
And it was crazy to think that he discounted those stories of legends that a few of his cssmates from elementary had delved into, looking at pictures on the internet and a magazine of Illuminous creatures as if it was some sort of fantasy game. He even remembered them pying a game that was loosely based on Illuminous and the ancient creatures that were not unlike the ones being presented currently. It boggled his mind.
“While each of the supernatural beings out there go deeper than what I’m expining,” Mr. B continued. “The Kindred are especially profound when it comes to their mysticism. Again, you can read more up on these things if you wish.” He met Vincent’s eyes, giving him a look as if to encourage him to look up the information, ask some cssmates, or even talk to his teachers. He just held Mr. B’s eyes, giving a slight nod as he would have to learn more about… everything. Even though this all made him feel anxious, he was determined to do what he could to learn more. He clenched his fist with eagerness at this thought.
“And finally,” Mr. B said, bringing up a video of a young girl transforming into various things – a little rodent, a toad, a boy, and even another girl – each time with a puff of smoke and a smooth transition to the next, each detail refined and distinct. It was impressive. “We have the twinzers, beings with the ability to shapeshift, just like Max aptly demonstrated yesterday.” Max gave a proud grin as if pleased to be praised, even though his transformation left much to be desired, even if he didn’t desire it.
“A masterful twinzer can not only take the shape and form of another being, but they can also copy their voice, and with enough practice, replicate their abilities which usually are just illusory. But some rare twinzers can go beyond illusion and duplicate the power and do damage with their copied form and abilities.”
Mr. B reopened the shades, letting the shining sun into the room. The students covered and squinted their eyes from the sudden rush of brightness. Mr. B sat on a bench below the windows that had little cubby areas for students to put their things and folded his arms. “That’s a basic breakdown of beings out there. I chose to cover the beings we have present in our css, which is why I didn’t bring up elven or other, rarer beings.”
Acard rolled his eyes as if sick of this lesson. “Why are you catering this lecture to Vincent and his baby mind? We all know he’s a newbie. Shouldn’t he learn all this stuff on his own, instead of wasting all our time with his novice knowledge?”
Mr. B narrowed his eyes on Acard. “That’s something only you can answer, son. But remember this. From here on out, you are not only cssmates, but companions. It’s up to you whether you get along or not, but trust me when I say this: getting along will benefit you much more than fighting with each other.”
“So are we just gonna talk, or actually do stuff?” Mizuki asked.
“That’s a good question, Mizuki,” Mr. B said, pushing himself to his feet. “Follow me, and you’ll find out.”
And with that, he left the room, leaving them all confused and curious as they quickly scrambled out of their seats to follow.
Acard was the only one that took his time, sauntering slowly behind them, shaking his head. “These teachers and their mysterious ways are really getting on my nerves.”
. . .
