Mistress Of The Evil Forest

''Have you ever seen the other side of the moon?''

Silence.

In the suffocating silence, against the droplets of crimson sweeping the air, a dim, flickering light fills the distant room. Before the worn-out screen, a man sits solemnly, burning his eyes on the looping tape played by the clacking projector.

''...''

Ever since his childhood, Lucius Calistaire has always been fascinated with space and stars. Once an ordinary child, he would perhaps have grown up to be an ordinary man... if not for his grandfather's presence.

The old man, in Lucius's mind, often appeared simple yet enigmatic, and he loved to talk about the places beyond the world, ones he would never reach. In the mind of a young child, it felt a bit silly. Still, as the child's own passion grew, so did his sympathy toward his blood.

Space is immensely intriguing.

Lucius used to plunge himself in the vast library of his grandfather all day, shimmering his youthful time in books and writings of unknown authors. Some of them were clunkily translated, and some were even left as they were in a language nobody could decipher.

But he soon realized a truth upon looking at the sky—the stars weren't lining up.

Between choosing to believe either the abundant knowledge written in the books or the sky he had always gazed upon, Lucius chose to confront his grandfather. With the unparalleled curiosity he held and the faith he had for the old man, he thought he would surely get an answer.

''...Who knows.''

Yet, that was all Lucius got. Some time later, an accident occurred in his grandfather's house, which was near the quiet beach. It was completely burned down, crumbling together with its owner.

Lucius never got an answer. Not yet, anyway.

When the little child had grown up to be a successful businessman, he stumbled upon several lost possessions of his grandfather. A few books to refresh his passion for the sky's beyond, a few trinkets, and a few unknown cassettes.

It took him quite a while to get those cassettes, which had a vastly different base compared to standard magical ones used in this continent, to work. Still, the result was perhaps monumental.

''This is...''

Space.

Beyond the shadow of a doubt, it was space. 

For the first time, Lucius saw other celestial beings through a recording, and it almost instantly resurrected the young child from those certain days.

At some point, even he, who clearly tried to avoid memories regarding his childish passion, had to admit it. He wanted to see the place beyond this planet with his own eyes—the real space.

Not long after, he used his accumulated wealth and influence to establish an organization of his own—one with the ultimate goal of bringing humanity into outer space... again. It would later be known to the public as 'Ravenous Moon'—a fanatic cult.

To achieve his goals, not even committing unsavory acts was out of the question. And when Lucius received HIS gaze, everything became clear—he had to do it.

''To break free of this damned cage...''

To break free of this damned cage, and to liberate the human spirit.

All under HIS supreme rule.

The continent is plunged into a crimson ocean.

In the viscous madness, monsters begin to run rampant, swelling with unfound power each time the moon gives out a pulse. Yet, not every city suffers the same level of damage.

The scene at the Astra Empire's capital can only be described as 'chaos.'

From small to big, juvenile to adult—the mythical creatures one would refer to as 'dragons' net the sky, teetering on ramming themselves onto the paralyzed humans below. The only reason they haven't been able to do so is thanks to a certain grandmaster's thorough defensive system set around each district.

High-voltage laser towers with auxiliary drones carrying additional firepower to support.

The defense is completed with the remainder of the military and the imperial guards. For the moment, things seem holdable, but the city's enemies aren't only the dragons. If they want to get out of this, they must deal with the crawling moon at some point.

As hopeless as it might seem, no one has given up just yet.

At the academy.

While almost every single student and personnel member chooses to either flee or hide, many brave souls still gather as groups and fiercely fend off the attackers. 

At least, that was what would have happened if a colossal dome of ice hadn't engulfed the whole institution since the beginning. People—inside or outside—look up in amazement as the enraged creatures all have their bodies frozen and shattered to crisps upon making contact with the thin ice membrane.

Many can sense the distinct mana.

''...So this is the realm of a grandmaster.''

''...''

Standing just beside Alice, the principal, Professor Claudia Heisenberg, sighs. She has prepared to give it her all and fight to the very end in this academy, but it seems she has to do that outside for now. Even her small boss is walking toward the entrance.

''Wait.''

''...You sensed that, too?''

The duo stare at one another for a moment, then turn to the sky. Once that overwhelming silhouette, one as dark as the void, casts its shade upon the buildings, that faint suspicion becomes a certainty—something is coming.

And, just like that, the ice dome begins to crack.  

Without even a moment for suspension, a giant claw explodes through the barrier, sounding a deafening boom. Now, panic really sets in.

''...''

Putting down the cup of coffee, the owner of the spell, Duchess Bianca Cecil, lets out a tired sigh. Since that little girl has gone into the forest, it seems she has to overwork today, too.

Meanwhile, at the imperial palace.

''Did you confirm it?''

''Yes, sir. It is indeed a Lord Dragon who entered the academy grounds.''

''...''

At the informant's words, the man with striking blond hair remains silent. It would be a lie to say that he isn't worried about his colleague, but he cannot leave his position, and he is sure she doesn't want him to, either.

Graham glances at the moon.

The invasion brings forth the remaining four lord dragons, one of which has headed to the academy. Presumably, the lord dragon that Yggdrasil is riding will accompany them, and their destination seems to be...

''Zircon.''

''You think so, Ivan?''

Holding his sword's hilt firmly, Grandmaster Ivan Apollo slowly nods.

''As expected, there's something special about that woman...'' He mutters.

''I think we should be worried about something else.''

''I suppose.''

Of course, their biggest concern at the moment isn't about Zircon but the king's safety. If two out of four lord dragons have gone somewhere else, then perhaps...

''The remaining two will come here, won't they?''

''Your Majesty?!''

Appearing out of nowhere is a woman whose nobleness cannot be hidden no matter what—the empress, Christine Alaina Astra. Despite her subordinates' pleas, she still decides to witness the fight for herself.

''The safest place is beside you all.'' She insists.

Just in time, two menacing figures begin to descend from beyond the blood-tainted clouds, forcing the imperial palace to brace itself for impact.

And with those two battlefields fully set up, only Zircon is left.

The vast, seemingly lifeless carpet of forest sways in the intense wind. 

[...]

An indecipherable pair of eyes gazes down, waiting for something—someone to show up.