Moonlings: A Clash of Meteors and Mages

Raii Shin Nohani suddenly had the urge to take down her teacher.

When she was about to enter her room, a familiar set of glasses awaited her in the hallway.

"Good to see that you're not late," her friend greeted with a smile as she fixed her glasses.

"Yeah. Morning, Dawn," was Raii Shin's reply. Both of them entered and half of their classmates waved at them, specifically to Dawn's direction. One of the girls suddenly came from behind and hugged her friend there, asking Dawn how the party last week was. She wasn't able to reply because a group of girls and boys flocked and greeted her as well. It was obvious that Dawn looked uncomfortable and looked at Raii Shin for help but Raii Shin was already taking her seat. Raii Shin was invisible and she didn't have any problems with it. 

It was the usual Monday for a college student. No breakfast, a tied but uncombed hair, face drenched in sweat with all the running–all because Mondays were hectic, traffic was sure, morning schedule sucked and Raii Shin had to do everything not to be late for her first subject because of that teacher.

At the sound of the familiar heels walking through the hallway approaching the direction of their room, the boys suddenly fixed themselves. They took their seats and so Dawn was finally free.

"Here she comes," Dawn excitedly said as she took her seat beside Raii Shin.

"Good morning, Professor Ague," one of the guys at the front seat said, his eyes bulging and taking in the figure of their teacher who paused at the doorway and held the door frame like some model. Everyone, whether boy or girl, looked at the sexy teacher with hunger.

Raii Shin wanted to scoff at that moment. They were already in college. Greeting professors was very elementary. She wasn't jealous. She was just annoyed that this always happens for almost fifteen minutes every single time in her class. Raii Shin looked down on her history book and impatiently tapped her fingers on its hardbound cover, itching to learn something from the professor aside from her clothing, hairstyle, and make-up. She hadn't meant to make the tapping so loud but she stopped when she felt a sinister stare. 

Raii Shin gulped.

It was just for a second. After that, the professor put up her angel smile towards her and walked towards the front of the class writing something on the board. Raii Shin didn't know if her eyes were able to perceive correctly what she saw earlier.

Professor Ague had given her that look–again.

Her lips pursed dangerously, she had glinting killer eyes, and that dark aura surrounded her—the total opposite of how her classmates saw her.

It was something that creeped her ever since. She tried to tell Dawn before but her friend just looked at her like she was thinking Raii Shin was crazy and making things up. Of course, no one will believe her. They see Professor Ague as a beautiful saint and maybe, just maybe, Raii Shin was just seeing things.

Though a voice at the back of her mind reminded her that this was not the first time her professor gave her the cold look.

Class dragged on as usual. The lecture was killing Raii Shin but it seemed like it was heaven for her classmates, especially the male species.

When they were finally done, Professor Ague even got greeted on her way out, twirling her long and thick red hair as she walked with the sound of her heels making the students turn their heads towards her.

That beauty of hers was dangerous. Raii Shin didn't know where she got the assumptions but based on the way she smiled, it felt like she was a dangerous fairy who was casting a spell on all those who saw her.

Raii Shin just sighed and got up while gathering her things.

"Going to the library?" asked Dawn.

"Yeah," replied Raii Shin. She then looked at her friend who was bringing out the blue jersey with the word JADE at the center and its corresponding meaning, Jazel Academy for the Diverse Ethnics, printed on the sides. 

"You're gonna train as usual?" 

"Yep. Tournament's just around the corner. Looks like we won't be able to get that barbeque any time this week." Dawn's tone was sad. They had been planning on going to the newly-opened barbeque station but duties and responsibilities were first.

"Don't sweat it. We have lots of tomorrows," Raii Shin said and Dawn smiled at that.

Raii Shin then stepped out of her room along with her classmates who were rushing out to do what normal college students would do on their break. It was a miracle she wasn't swept away by her classmates due to her small stature. People around her were wary of her existence, just not so much of her presence, though she wasn't complaining. Having Dawn was more than enough or else Raii Shin would go crazy if she had too many people around her.

As she passed by the hallway, a large calendar was put up. It read March 18, 2022. Aside from the numbers and the month, it also contained celestial events that humans predicted would happen for the month. And it took all her will to not correct their prediction. She dreaded the inaccuracy. The full moon was not next week. The full moon was tonight.

When she reached the library, it was a little bit crowded but it was very quiet. She went to her favorite spot beside a broken computer and laid her things as well as her head. She needed all the sleep and strength that she could gather. Intel told her the full moon would last for three days.

Even if it's just part-time, it was still a tough job.

The soft steps of the considerate students moving around as well as the sound of hardbound books opening and closing was soothing music to Raii Shin's ears, putting her to sleep in no time.