Chapter 1: Chaos in Auglarus

"The Demon Spirit has escaped!"

The repeated screams of the civilians were repeated in a trance, escalating into heightened screeches as flames consumed the trees and buildings quickly. Smoke rose into the air, forming a choking haze, blackening the faces of the crowds which fled desperately to safety.

Within the Palace, the strong palace walls that have weathered and remained standing for centuries now crumbled like baked plaster as they lost the fight against the underground tremors. The brilliance of the fire eating up the once prestigious behemoth of a manmade miracle now lighted it up inside out, as if allowing it a final display of glory before consuming it whole. Soldiers scampered across the Palace grounds as they heeded orders to put out the fierce blaze and contain the situation.

But they all knew that even if the fire were put out and the collapse of the Palace was halted, there exist the final peril: the demon spirit has escaped its confines within the enchanted Palace core. Disaster will soon strike the kingdom.

"Moon Saint, you have arrived!"

A middle-aged man with grey hair and a gorgeous handle-bar moustache hurriedly approached a young woman with a bob haircut. Both were wearing a military stylised uniform, except that the middle-aged man was wearing a green uniform while the woman adorned a white one with silver linings and embroidered wing patterns. A thin sword hung by her side.

Behind her were three other uniformed young men, dressed in blue, black and purple military suits respectively.

"Your Highness Alistar, Sir Omkara and Sir Jair!"

Alistar, who was wearing a dark blue uniform, waved his hand irritably to dismiss the greeting. The Auglarus crest embroidered in gold sat proudly on top of his ponytail, as his peach blossom sea-blue eyes scanned the chaos within the Palace grimly. Behind him followed Yurian, a noble from the kingdom of Bylonia who wore the black uniform, and Sylvester, the third prince of Clomodor who was dressed in the purple uniform.

All three had formed a student team with the Moon Saint due to their outstanding performance at the Academy, but they had never thought that the team would be summoned so soon for a mission, and of this nature. Only by gaining sufficient mission points would they be able to graduate.

"What's the situation?" a bell-like voice asked with a slight tremor. Having been summoned from the Academy immediately after the first alarm rang, Marianne had rushed to the scene with her team. She knew how urgent things were, and as the Moon Saint, it was her responsibility to protect the land from any spiritual or demonic dangers. But she was both excited and tense.

This would be the start of a new adventure.