The Summoner & His Reaper Leipzig

In the stillness of the night, while Leipzig's townsfolk slumbered, chaos erupted in the foggy streets. The clash of steel and guttural roars echoed through the cobblestone alleys, a secret battle fought just out of reach of the sleeping town's awareness.

Two figures moved like shadows incarnate, their cloaks swirling as they engaged a monstrous Galco. One of the knights fought with bare fists, his strikes precise and devastating, while the other wielded a massive scythe, its midnight blade gleaming faintly in the moonlight. The two knights were a perfect contrast—one a whirlwind of fire and passion, the other a stoic enigma.

Behind a nearby house, two boys crouched, their breaths shallow as they watched the battle unfold.

"This is insane! The knights are actually real!" Klaus whispered, his eyes shining with excitement. His voice barely contained his awe as he turned to his brother.

Wolfgang, however, was pale. His disbelief was written on his face. "But how?" he muttered, his voice shaky. "How can they exist? The monsters too… it's all too much." He pressed his hands against his head, as if trying to hold back a tide of thoughts threatening to overwhelm him.

Klaus's enthusiasm faltered as he noticed Wolfgang's state, but before he could say anything, the beast was thrown back with such force that it collided with the wall of the house next to them. The impact shook the ground, and the boys froze in terror.

"Shit! I overdid it!" one of the knights cursed, his tone clipped but calm.

"Dumbass!" the other hissed, her thick Scottish accent cutting through the tension. "We need tae keep quiet around here! The folk in this town have nae clue any o' this is real."

The beast, a hulking creature resembling a werewolf but far more primal, began to stir. Its elongated snout sniffed the air wildly before its glowing eyes fixed on Wolfgang. It growled low in its throat, a sound filled with hatred. The boy's aura seemed to enrage it, though Klaus remained ignored.

The knights moved instantly. The woman gripped her scythe with purpose, her stance poised to intercept the Galco. "Sin, circle 'round the next street and cut it off. I'll check this alley fer anyone else in danger."

Her fiery determination was evident even in her hushed tone. The other knight, Sin, nodded silently and sprinted into the fog without a word.

The two boys ran down the alley, fear propelling them as the beast squeezed through the narrow space behind them, its claws scraping against the walls. Saliva dripped from its open jaws, its wild pursuit relentless.

From the fog emerged the second knight, her scythe slashing in a wide arc to push the creature back. Her hood slipped as she lunged, revealing a cascade of curly red hair that caught the moonlight.

"This bloody hood!" she muttered, irritation flashing across her face.

Meanwhile, Sin raced through the streets, his sharp senses guiding him. He reached the point where he expected the Galco to emerge and paused, his breathing steady despite the intensity of the chase. "It should be here any second," he murmured.

What he didn't anticipate were the two boys barreling toward him, the beast close on their heels. The younger one screamed, "Help us!"

Sin acted without hesitation. In one fluid motion, he knocked Klaus unconscious, his hand quick and precise. Wolfgang barely had time to gasp before he too was subdued. The knight's expression darkened as he turned to face the Galco, his demeanor shifting into something cold and lethal.

"Hraaahh!" Sin roared, his fist connecting with the beast in a bone-shattering punch that sent it skidding down the street. The force left the ground trembling, cracks spidering across the cobblestones.

The beast came to a halt in front of the second knight, her scythe raised high. Her lips curved into a smirk. "Yer time's up, ye bastard," she said before bringing the blade down in a swift, deadly arc. The Galco's head separated cleanly from its body, which disintegrated into ash moments later.

The two knights exchanged a brief glance, the silence between them speaking volumes. Nina's triumphant grin met Sin's unreadable gaze. From the ashes of the beast, a crystal rose into the sky, its blue light piercing the night before disappearing.

Nina's attention shifted to the unconscious boys. She pointed her scythe at them, her tone casual but curious. "What're we gonna do about them?"

Sin approached, kneeling to inspect them. He sniffed Klaus's overcoat and closed his eyes, his sharp senses conjuring a mental image of their home. "I'll handle it. You head back tae the academy and get some rest before the next mission."

Nina clicked her tongue in annoyance, dismissing her scythe in a shimmer of ash. "If ye make it back quick, we can set up the band room. Play a few songs? Maybe?"

Sin rolled his eyes but gave a reluctant nod. "Yeah, sure."

As he hoisted the boys onto his shoulders, Nina disappeared into the shadows, her fiery presence leaving the street as quiet as the grave.

Oma's House

Now standing at Oma's front door, Sin used his knee to push it open, the creak of the hinges barely audible against the stillness of the night. The faint smell of woodsmoke and lavender greeted him as he stepped inside.

The house was eerily quiet, save for the rhythmic ticking of a grandfather clock. Sin moved with deliberate silence, his sharp eyes scanning every corner to ensure no one stirred. The dim glow of the hearth cast flickering shadows that danced across the walls, making the small home feel larger and emptier than it was.

What he didn't expect was the figure in the living room—an old woman, fast asleep in her rocking chair. Oma's wrinkled face was peaceful, her head tilted slightly to the side as she breathed softly. Sin paused for a moment, observing her with an unreadable expression. His body remained relaxed, but his instincts stayed alert.

After a brief hesitation, he continued his soundless march toward the boys' bedroom. Pushing the door open just enough to slip inside, he laid Wolfgang on his bed, tucking him in with surprising care. Then he turned to Klaus, removing the boy's overcoat before settling him under the covers. The room was dim, illuminated only by the faint moonlight that seeped through the curtains, but Sin moved with practiced ease.

As he stepped toward the far corner where the shadows were thickest, something gave him pause. A sensation crawled up his spine, subtle but insistent. Someone was watching him.

His gaze shifted across the room, his sharp senses sweeping for any sign of movement. That's when he noticed the third bed, its small frame nestled against the wall. Claudia's bed.

Claudia lay beneath the blankets, her small body trembling as she peeked out just enough to see the strange figure standing in the dark. Her eyes were wide, her breathing shallow as fear clutched at her chest. The man before her wasn't like anything she'd ever seen. His hood obscured much of his face, but the way he moved, the way he seemed to melt into the shadows, was deeply unsettling. He wasn't human. He couldn't be.

Sin's eyes met hers, sharp and piercing even in the low light. For a moment, neither of them moved. Claudia's heart pounded in her ears as she gripped the edge of her blanket, ready to pull it over her head should he make a sudden move.

Slowly, Sin raised a single finger to his lips, the universal gesture for silence. The movement was deliberate, almost unnervingly calm, as if he were aware of her fear and sought to control it. His gaze didn't waver, and for a brief moment, Claudia felt as though he could see straight through her.

The room seemed to grow darker as Sin stepped back, his form blending seamlessly into the shadows. The door creaked softly as he closed it behind him, leaving the room in an oppressive silence.

Claudia remained frozen, clutching her blanket as if it were her only shield. The ticking clock in the living room seemed deafening now, each sound marking the passage of time with agonizing slowness. She wanted to scream, to wake her brothers or her Oma, but fear kept her rooted in place.

What had she just witnessed? Who was that man? And more terrifyingly, why had he been in their home?

The darkness seemed to press closer around her, and she curled into herself, whispering a silent prayer to whatever might be listening. It was a long time before she dared close her eyes, her mind replaying the haunting image of the stranger disappearing into the night.