Astra has been waiting patiently for seven years. She secretly trained and gathered information. Now, she was finally ready to create an organization of people to protect what she held dear.
She decided that she would protect her family at all costs. Protecting her family would require eliminating a huge cult: the Demon Cult.
She gathered information in the shadows, in town, and through books. She finally mapped out all hide-outs of the Demon Cult.
The objective of the Demon Cult was to resurrect the Great Demon King. As for why, Astra didn't know, but she knew that it would threaten the safety of her family.
Astra decided to start destroying one of the Demon Cult's smaller hideouts for today.she decided to set her plan in motion at midnight.
•••
Astra blended into the shadows. It was now midnight. She changed her appearance to 16-year-old Nanami's body to make it easier to move around because her legs were too short to run quickly and to make sure nobody knew her true identity. She also wanted to reduce her chances of standing out in the case that the hood that she was wearing came off.
One of the smaller hideouts for the Demon Cult was located on the edge of the southern border in Gardenia which was where Astra was hiding.
Astra traveled from shadow to shadow. She named this magic, "Shadow Leap."
Soon, she reached her destination. She watched silently as a suspicious person wearing a black hood touch a mechanism and open a stairway which was located underground.
She used "the Cat's Eyes" to identify the mechanism which appeared to be a small button hidden under the grass.
Astra silently followed the black-hooded person using her original magic, "Ghost." This magic hides the sounds, presence, and appearance of a person.
Astra killed the person who wore the black hood and she wore it instead.
"Heya, No.467. It's been a long time."
A burly man called out to Astra who was wearing the black hood. Astra assumed that the owner of the black hood was the 467th person join as a subordinate.
Astra nodded.
"Are you going to check the sacrifices again?"
Astra was a bit shocked that people were sacrificed, but she recovered and nodded.
"Here, I'll show ya to the sacrifices."
The burly many led Astra to a small damp room with a cell stuffed with beastmen and what appeared to be slaves as well as some well-dressed children. They were packed together like sardines.
Astra was enraged by their cruelty, but she held back her urges to kill him so that she could do so at the right moment.
"Here's today's sacrifice."
The man unlocked a room which contained a dark elf in chains and let Astra in.
Before the man could react, Astra killed him. Astra stepped closer to the dark elf which looked at Astra with cautious eyes.
"Who... are you?"
"I am the one who hunts dangers at night striving protect my family, friends, and those who are suffering unreasonably. My goal is to destroy the Demon Cult who is trying the resurrect the Demon King. My name is Diana. She who hunts under the light of the moon."
One reason Astra introduced herself this way was to create a fake identity and to state her purpose. The other reason why she did that was because she just wanted to say it at least once in her life since it sounded cool.
Astra cut down the chains that bounded the dark elf with magic.
"Now, head to wherever you need to. You are free."
Astra dashed to where the remaining people in the Demon Cult were gathered using detection magic. She tested her new magic on them one by one. Of course, nobody could resist or escape because Astra was just too strong and a barrier stopped them from leaving.
When she finished, there were only corpses lying around. She made sure to dispose of them using her shadow magic.
"O shadows, swallow thy corpses and allow thee to sleep an eternal slumber."
Of course, Astra didn't need to chant, but she did so to make herself sound cool.
Astra returned to the cells where many were trapped and sliced the bars of the cell open with a sword made out of magic. She looked at the huddled children gently.
"Go ahead. You're free now. If you need any help going home, please tell me."
After transporting many children back to their homes, only nine remained.
"Do you have anywhere to go?"
"No, we are those without family or homes."
The one who spoke seemed to be the oldest. She had dark purple hair and resilient black eyes. Astra looked at the group of children.
"Then, will you join me in my mission to destroy the Demon Cult?"
The children looked at each other for a moment and nodded.
"We wish to join you."
"Very well. We shall be known as Phantoms of the Night. At night, we shall hunt the Demon Cult who threaten the safety of many. In the day, we will silently gather information. This is all to protect our loved ones and those who are suffering. I ask you again. Will you join me in my mission?"
"We will join you in your mission."
Astra nodded at their declaration. She brought the children out of the hideout and scanned the hideout one more time to find that one living being remained. She told the children to wait outside, and went in.
Inside of the room that contained the sacrifice, the dark elf was standing. Silently.
"Why have you not left yet?"
The dark elf got down on one knee.
"I have heard what you told the children and I wish to join you."
Astra gazed at the dark elf and nodded. And thus, Phantoms of the Night was established.