no name again

Chapter 1: The Midnight Horror

The village of Lor was ablaze with lights and laughter, a week-long festival to celebrate the upcoming Lunar Ascension, a time where lucky abd gifted kids will be called into a vision and given a chance to become powerful awakened or nothing but a soulless walking dead

By 2 AM, the revelry had dwindled to a few stragglers, the streets emptying as the villagers sought their beds, content and exhausted from the day's celebrations, other families were wrapped in an intense atmosphere feevently hoping this lunar ascension would be the one that would finally turn their lives around.

In the stillness of the night, amidst the lingering scent of incense and the distant hum of music, a young couple found solace in each other's arms. Li Wei and Mei Lin, lost in their romantic entanglement, held each other close under the shadow of the ancient cherry blossom tree at the edge of the village. The world around them seemed to vanish, leaving only the soft whispers of their love and the gentle rustle of the leaves in the cool night breeze.

"Li Wei," Mei Lin whispered, her eyes glistening with adoration, "I wish this night would never end."

Li Wei smiled, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "Neither do I, my love. Too bad that young master of yours can't stay long without you"

"Do I sense a hint of jealousy from you darling" Mei Lin said teasingly.

Li wei madd no effort to deny her words "So what if you do, it's not like you would be willing to live that bastard to be with me every hour of the day "

"Hehehe, you are so cute when you are jealous honey, it's not like I also like staying in that empty mansion being forced to do everything Like a mere slave for that lazy bas***d and then there is that strang cat always staring at me, sigh I want to leave but the pay is too good to let go just like how i cant bear to part with your lips for too long" Mei Lin explained, her tone mixed with a hint of seductiveness as she raised her eyes to meet her lover.

"I'm sorry you have to go through all that, but you shan't have to put up with that misery for any longer, cause you boyfriend, I will soon get a job as a guard for a caravan that will be visiting lor soon" Li Wei smiled proudky as he spoke

"Really!?" Mei Lin eyes lit up in excitement upon hearing those words

"Really" Li Wei confirmed it "now kiss me baby "

"Yes darling, hmmm" Mei Lin wasted no time before locking are succulent lips with his

Their moment of intimacy was abruptly shattered by the sound of footsteps. The rhythmic crunch of gravel underfoot echoed through the silence, each step deliberate and heavy. Li Wei's senses sharpened, and he pulled away slightly, his eyes scanning the darkened path.

"Did you hear that?" he asked, his voice tense.

Mei Lin clung to him, her heart beginning to race. "Who could it be at this hour?"

Li Wei turned slowly, his body tensed and alert, but the path was empty. He frowned, his unease growing. "There's no one there," he muttered, more to reassure himself than Mei Lin.

Then, from the depths of the darkness, two glowing red eyes emerged, piercing the night with an unholy light. They stared unblinking, malevolent, and cold. Li Wei felt a chill run down his spine, his breath catching in his throat. Memories of whispered tales on the news and frightened conversations flooded his mind. Just last week, villagers had gone missing from their homes, vanishing without a trace. Their disappearance had cast a shadow over the festivities, a fear that now took tangible form before him.

"Run!" Li Wei shouted, grabbing Mei Lin's hand.

They sprinted down the path, their footsteps frantic and desperate. The festival's music, once joyous, now seemed a distant mockery of their terror. The creature followed, its steps slow and deliberate, as if savoring the hunt. Each time they glanced back, the eyes were closer, and the figure grew more distinct. It was gigantic, its limbs twisted and unnatural, a grotesque parody of a human form.

Mei Lin's breath came in ragged gasps, her heart pounding so loudly she feared it would burst. "Li Wei, what is that thing?" she cried, tears streaming down her face.

"I don't know, but we have to keep moving," he replied, his own fear barely contained. He pulled her into a narrow alley, hoping to lose their pursuer in the maze of the village.

But the creature seemed to anticipate their every move, always a step ahead, always lurking just beyond the edge of their vision. It played with them, herding them like sheep, the thrill of the chase evident in its every move. Li Wei felt his strength waning, his legs growing heavy with fatigue and dread.

They stumbled into a dead end, a high wall blocking their escape. Li Wei turned to face the creature, placing himself between Mei Lin and the advancing horror. "Stay behind me," he said, his voice trembling but resolute.

The creature stepped into the dim light, revealing its full monstrous form. Its skin was a sickly, mottled gray, its mouth a gaping maw filled with razor-sharp teeth. It towered over them, its red eyes glowing with a sadistic pleasure.

Mei Lin screamed, clutching Li Wei tightly. "No, please, no!"

The creature lunged, and in a blur of motion, it was upon them. Li Wei tried to shield Mei Lin, but the beast's strength was overwhelming. It toyed with them, swiping at them with claws that tore through flesh and bone with terrifying ease. Their screams echoed through the empty streets, but no one came to their aid.

Li Wei felt his vision blur, the pain searing through his body. He could see Mei Lin's terrified face, her eyes wide with horror as the creature closed in on her. "Mei Lin..." he whispered, his voice fading.

The creature's jaws closed around them, and darkness consumed their world. The village remained oblivious, the festival continuing in blissful ignorance of the terror that had unfolded in the dead of night. The cherry blossom tree stood silent witness, its petals drifting gently to the ground, covering the blood-stained earth where love and life had been brutally extinguished.

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Lucian Ashwood shot upright, drenched in sweat, his heart hammering against his ribs as if desperate to escape.

The nightmare's echoes still twisted in his mind, casting long, sinister shadows across the room. He stared into the dim morning light, struggling to separate the lingering terror from the safety of the waking world.

"This damn nightmare again" Lucian said softly with a hint of frustration, mustering all his willpower to steady his racing heart.

Ever since his parents went missing in one of their adventures the burden of running the Ashwood household as well as taking the role of city guardian had fallen on him, a role ideally meant for powerful Mythbounds who succumbed to the trials of a vision and succeeded in gaining the abilities of mythical legends and celestial beings , becoming a powerful Mythbounds capable of doing otherworldly things, unfortunately Lucian was no such person , he was just a fifteen year old nearing the age of being unable to be pulled into a lunar ascension vision.

The pressure from all this sudden duties and the consequences of not gaining power soon eventually turned into his nightmare, the night became his bane as it brought him only pain and more pain.

"OH well I what will be i can only hope i'm chosen this time" Lucian

Sighed. He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, feeling the hopelessness seep into his bones.

"Meow"

Suddenly, a soft meow broke the silence.

Only then did Lucian remember he wasn't alone, he looked up to see his cat, a plump, lazy creature with a coat of sleek black fur, sitting in the doorway.

The cat watched him with an intensity that was almost unsettling making no attempt to comfort the despairing Lucian, its green eyes reflecting the dim light.

"Not now, Midnight, i need to get wasted " the Lucian muttered, But the cat didn't move, just continued to stare at him with an inscrutable expression.

Lucian shook his head, before deciding he needed some fresh air and a lot of wine to drown out his sorrows and possibly enjoy the company of some ladies. The walls of the mansion felt like they were closing in on him, and he needed space to clear his mind.