Pied Piper, a name that began to rise in fame ever since he earned the title of Ensnaring Dark Lord seven years ago.
Not many people know where he truly comes from. The most popular rumor though, is that he hails from a small town named Hamelin.
Although the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin is centuries old, it's a tale many consider nothing more than folklore.
A story about a man who led away an entire town's children with his flute. There are no surviving witnesses.
However, many people believes that he's simply borrowing the name Pied Piper.
Another prevailing theory is that the Pied Piper was once an espionage master from the Northern Federation.
Betrayed by the very country he served, it is rumored that his thirst for vengeance contributed to the eventual collapse of the Northern Federation in 1992.
Some believe his espionage expertise allowed him to orchestrate conspiracies leading to the Federation's downfall.
—What should I do?
Now, Oz was in the staff room, sitting across from Professor Glyde. The walls were lined with dusty bookshelves, and odd objects crowded the desk between them. The air felt tense.
The reason?
He had transfigured a skunktoad, making it release its strong smell, which filled the whole classroom with a horrible stench that no one could stand for a minute.
Luckily, Oz wasn't being punished. Professor Glyde had promised earlier that Oz wouldn't get in trouble. Still, Oz couldn't ignore Professor Glyde's sharp eyes.
"Why did you transfigure a skunktoad? Though, to be honest, I'm impressed by your talent."
Professor Glyde's expression was a strange mix of anger and admiration.
For someone who had been teaching transfiguration for decades, it was a rare thing indeed to see a student as skilled as Oz.
"How about you become my assistant in the next lesson?"
The truth was, Professor Glyde hadn't called Oz here to scold him.
—If only he weren't a member of the Rattenfanger, maybe this would be a different story.
The Rattenfanger were Pied Piper's followers, named after the Pied Piper legend itself.
The Pied Piper was feared because of the way he ensnared people, brainwashing them into his loyal servants.
The Pied Piper would often lure people with promises of wealth, political power, magical knowledge, or whatever they desired most. His skill in manipulating people's deepest desires is what earned him the title of the Ensnaring Dark Lord.
—There's no doubt that Professor Glyde has already been brainwashed.
No one knew exactly what had been offered to Professor Glyde, but Oz was sure the professor had been influenced by the Pied Piper. The professor probably made a deal long ago.
"Sorry, Professor, but I think I'll have to decline for now. Maybe I'll consider it in the second semester."
Oz's has made his decision.
Professor Glyde was now part of the Rattenfanger, and becoming his assistant meant no good for Oz and a high chance of being influenced by the Pied Piper himself.
"Ugh, what a shame. Perhaps I'll have to offer something else that might interest you."
Professor Glyde's voice, though casual, carried a tone of disappointment. His words hinted at the professor's intent to continue his recruitment efforts, even if it required a different approach.
"Well then, you may leave. We'll continue this another time."
Oz rose from his seat, relieved that the conversation had come to an end. Yet, before he could walk out the door, Professor Glyde's voice called out once more, this time with a chilling calmness.
"Soon, you will understand."
The flat, almost emotionless tone made Oz's skin crawl.
—Fuck, when a Rattenfanger is rejected, they become even more determined.
Oz quickly made his way out of the staff room, eager to distance himself from the Rattenfanger.
"Hmm, at last, I've found my next apprentice."
Two years ago, Professor Glyde's previous apprentices were found dead in a forest. Their bodies had been covered in bruises and wounds, signs of a violent. Yet, despite the evidence, the magic police ruled their deaths as a accident.
Professor Glyde was devastated. He sought justice, only to discover that some of those responsible were from noble families, rendering it impossible for him to seek retribution.
His grief was deepened when all of his achievements, painstakingly earned over the years, were quietly erased from the records. A punishment intended to break his spirit.
At his lowest, Professor Glyde was approached by the Rattenfanger, offering him the means to exact vengeance on those who had wronged him. It was then that he made his pact, and from that moment on, he became one of Pied Piper's loyal followers.
Professor Glyde was fully aware that his mind had been altered. He no longer knew if he was acting of his own volition or if he was simply a puppet of the Ensnaring Dark Lord.
However, after witnessing Oz's immense potential, an obsession began to take root. The professor was determined to make Oz his apprentice, no matter the cost.
"But first, I must fulfill my mission."
**********
That afternoon, Oz, August, Opheila, and Miranda made their way to Kuiper Town. Specifically, they were attending the annual Harvest Festival, a lively event that celebrated the season's bountiful crops.
The festival was full of bright lanterns lighting up the streets, music filling the air, and the smell of delicious food coming from many stalls.
Some vendors sold sweet treats like candy apples, their shiny red surfaces gleaming under the festival lights.
Others had fragrant pumpkin bread, fresh out of the oven, and stalls were brimming with vibrant vegetables of all kinds, showcasing the harvest.
"Too bad Sam couldn't join us, hahahaha."
August couldn't help but laugh as he remembered Sam's misfortune. Sam had chipped a tooth trying to bite into a brick during the lesson.
"This festival is pretty big."
Miranda said, glancing around at the colorful decorations.
"But too bad we can't visit the first floor. The festival there is supposed to be way bigger."
Miranda, who had lived in Stellarkeep since she was a child, couldn't help but compare the festival on the first and fifth floors.
"You guys have to try the carrot pie they serve up there, It's my favorite."
Her eyes sparkled as she talked about the festival foods, describing each dish in mouth-watering detail.
She also shared stories about the games she used to play during the Harvest Festival, her voice full of nostalgia and excitement.
At one of the vegetable stalls, something unusual caught Oz's eye.
"Excuse me, sir, what kind of vegetable is this?"
Oz asked curiously, pointing to a bright red vegetable that looked nothing like what he had seen on Earth.
The old man behind the stall, with a wrinkled face and a playful look in his eye, grinned.
"This here is a Screaming Broccoli."
The broccoli, wrapped tightly in bandages, seemed oddly alive. With a steady hand, the old man began to unwind the bandages.
As soon as the last bandage came off, the vegetable revealed a small mouth.
"Gyaaaah!"
It screamed in a high-pitched voice, making everyone around jump in surprise.
"Mphhh... Mphhh..."
The moment the old man wrapped the bandages back around, the muffled screams made it sound like the broccoli was being kidnapped.
"And this one."
The old man continued, pulling out another vegetable
"This is a Dancing Carrot."
The carrot wobbled, trying to stand up, but kept falling over again and again. The movement was awkward, but it looked like the carrot was trying to run away.
—Is it just me, or does this old man have a strange obsession with kidnapping vegetables?
Oz thought to himself, raising an eyebrow.
"I'll take the Screaming Broccoli."
Oz had read in a cooking book that vegetables capable of making noise were rumored to taste incredibly flavorful.
"Guys, look! There's a Ferris wheel over there! Let's go!"
Miranda's voice was full of excitement as she pointed to the large Ferris wheel in the distance.
She had actually spotted it the moment they entered the festival, but now her enthusiasm boiled over.
"Hmm, I didn't think nobles were into harvest festivals."
August muttered, looking tired after following Miranda around to nearly every food stall. He glanced at the bags of food he and Oz were already carrying.
"At least we're getting free food."
Oz said with a mischievous grin. He had eaten most of food already. It had been a long time since he had been to a festival, so he made the most of it.
"Here, let me help you with that,"
Opheila offered, reaching for one of the bags in Oz's hands.
"Um, no need. Your hand is still injured."
Oz replied quickly. His gaze dropped to Opheila's left hand, which was still wrapped in bandages.
He could even see small spots of blood staining the fabric, a sign that the wound hadn't fully healed yet.
"It's fine."
Opheila insisted. With a swift motion, she grabbed one of the bags with her right hand.
"Yay! I've already bought tickets for all of us!"
Miranda said cheerfully, her face lighting up like a child about to ride a carousel for the first time. She had been waiting all day for this moment.
"Come on, let's hurry up and get on the Ferris wheel!"
They climbed into the gondola, their excitement growing as the big wheel started to turn, giving them a stunning view of the festival and the town around them.
Actually, one gondola could fit six people, but since Miranda had booked all the tickets for their group, it felt much more spacious.
Oz sat next to Opheila, while August was seated beside Miranda, who looked even more excited as the Ferris wheel started moving.
The sound of gears, cables, and the occasional squeak of metal echoed in the night air, mixing with the happy festival music from below.
The Ferris wheel stood tall over the festival, about 40 meters high, slowly lifting them up until they could see all of Kuiper Town, filled with lights from the lanterns.
—If this were Earth, everyone would be busy snapping pictures and taking videos.
Oz thought about how tourists back on Earth would rush to take pictures of a view like this.
But in this world, where magical disasters and constant wars affected every continent, technology hadn't advanced much beyond what Earth had in the early 1900s.
"On the first floor, the city lights stretch out as far as the eye can see. It's really something else."
Miranda said, her voice filled with both excitement and a disappointment as she leaned against the gondola window.
"Too bad all we can see from here is Kuiper Town."
Even so, her face glowed with excitement, especially with the Harvest Festival happening below.
—When was the last time I even rode a Ferris wheel?
Oz wondered, his thoughts drifting back to a different time.
It had been over twenty years since he last set foot in a Ferris wheel. Back on Earth, the last time he'd ridden one was at a summer festival with his friends in elementary school.
"Heh, sometimes being a kid isn't so bad."
Oz admitted quietly to himself, a small smile forming on his lips.
Ever since he became young again, he found himself noticing the things he had taken for granted during his first childhood.
The simple joy and carefree nature of youth felt different when he became an adult.
"Eww, Oz, why do you suddenly look like an old man?"
August teased.
Oz's expression reminded August of his grandfather, who often had the same look when he talked about his youth.
"Is that so? Oz's face looks perfectly normal to me."
Miranda chimed in, turning toward the conversation.
"Muhahaha, good job, Miranda."
Oz chuckled, leaning back in his seat with an exaggerated evil grin.
"Now you look like a real villain."
Said Miranda again, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
Everyone in the gondola burst into laughter at Miranda, except for one person. Opheila sat quietly, her gaze fixed on the town below, seemingly lost in her own thoughts.
Suddenly, Miranda's eyes lit up.
"Look! Look! There's a firework!"
she exclaimed, her hand pointing eagerly toward the sky where a bright red flare shot up from Kuiper Town.
But instead of exploding into a colorful display of sparks, the firework arced downward, fizzling out before it even reached its peak. Several more fireworks followed, each one rising briefly before plummeting back toward the town.
"Um, Miranda, I don't think that's a firework."
Oz said, squinting at the flares.
"That's a signal flare."
Oz noticed that hundreds of flares were being launched all over the fifth floor of Stellarkeep.
Flare signals were typically used for emergencies. Either to mark someone's location if they were lost or to signal immediate danger.
Judging by the sheer number of flares, this was clearly the latter. The town below erupted into chaos as people started running, their panicked movements visible even from their gondola.
*Krieek*
The Ferris wheel screeched to a halt, the machinery came to an abrupt stop. Their gondola swayed gently from the sudden jolt, leaving them stranded at the top.
"What's going on?!"
August's face paled as he gripped the seat tightly, panic beginning to set in.
"It looks like the Ferris wheel operator stopped the ride."
Oz guessed, glancing down at the platform below, which was now empty.
"In the middle of a panic, they probably abandoned the controls and ran."
"Yay! Now we can stay up here as long as we want!"
Miranda cheered, seemingly unfazed by the chaos below.
Out of the four of them, she was the only one who seemed excited to be stuck at the top of the Ferris wheel.
"Guys, I think I know why everyone's running."
Oz muttered, his expression darkening as he pointed toward the town.
Thousands, no, millions of red flies swarmed over Kuiper Town. The morrowghasts even seemed to cover the entire fifth floor of Stellarkeep, like a living red blanket.
"Oh my god."
August gasped, his face becomes pale. He collapsed onto the floor, shocked by the horrifying scene below.
Every street, every building, every tree was covered by the morrowghasts. What had once been a bustling festival now looked like a crimson sea, alive with the nightmarish movements of the flies.
—Something's off.
Oz thought, his brow furrowing as he watched the people below.
Despite being attacked, the people weren't disintegrating into bones as Oz had expected.
The morrowghasts weren't killing anyone. Instead, people simply collapsed, unconscious.
This was a contrast to the morrowghasts' lethal attack in the cafeteria last week, where a victim could be reduced to bones in just a few seconds.
"What's going on?"
As Oz pondered, the morrowghasts reached the edge of the festival grounds and began crawling up the Ferris wheel.
"Fuck! They're climbing up now. Hey, you haven't paid for tickets! No climbing allowed!"
Oz growled in frustration, trying to maintain some humor despite the situation.
The morrowghasts were quickly advancing, their numbers growing as they crawled toward the gondola. It wouldn't be long before their small cabin would be swarmed.
"Do any of you know the Aegispectra spell? Some people down there look fine."
Miranda asked as she pointed to several people who remained standing, surrounded by the morrowghasts but seemingly unharmed.
Aegispectra, a basic protection spell, enveloped the caster's body in a translucent aura, acting like magical armor. Those using it appeared to resist the morrowghasts' effects, but the spell required focus and a lot of starlight to maintain.
"I know it. But keeping it up for long…"
August replied quickly.
"Let's cast it now!"
Miranda urged.
"Aegispectra!"
They shouted in unison, their bodies instantly cloaked in a soft, blue aura.
"We need to get down from here. Maybe we can find shelter in one of the buildings that can hold off the morrowghasts."
Oz suggested, his mind racing to think of the best escape plan.
"Um, Oz, we're forty meters up… and I don't know any flying spells."
August admitted, his face pale. He glanced over the side of the gondola, clearly unnerved by the idea of being stuck so high up.
"Me neither."
Opheila added quietly, finally breaking her silence. She had been staring at the sea of morrowghasts, her face void of emotion.
"I only know Levitasera… the slow descent spell."
Miranda said, biting her lip.
"It's not like we can just float away, but it'll let us get down safely."
Flying spells were notoriously difficult to use, requiring extreme precision and control.
Many wizards, even those experienced with magic, preferred to use magic tools like flying brooms because manipulating flight with magic alone was like trying to balance a bicycle in every possible direction like up, down, left, right, forward, and backward.
"Flying spells are awesome, though!"
Oz exclaimed, looking genuinely confused as to why none of them had learned one.
—Even every kid on Earth dreams of flying like Superman.
Oz thought, his mind drifting back to childhood dreams.
"How about this plan?"
Oz proposed. The group listened intently, though August still looked reluctant. Miranda hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded in agreement, while Opheila, remained silent but didn't reject it.
"Okay, let's do it!" Oz declared.
With the gondola locked from the inside, Oz carefully worked at the small latch near the bottom of the door. It took a few moments, but finally…
*Clack* *Krieek*
The door creaked open, and a gust of cold wind rushed in, whipping through the gondola. The strong metallic smell of blood hit them immediately, carried on the wind by the swarm of morrowghasts crawling across the fifth floor like a pulsating wave.
"Volariflux!"
Oz chanted, casting his flight spell. He gently scooped Opheila into his arms, lifting her in a princess carry. Her expression didn't change, though she held on to Oz without protest. Together, they began their slow, cautious descent from the top of the Ferris wheel.
"Levitasera!"
Miranda cast, her body floating gently down like a feather. She carried August in her arms in the same princess-style hold.
"Muahahaha! If I had a camera, I'd take a picture and post it on every notice board!"
Oz couldn't hold back his laughter at the sight of August being carried in Miranda's arms. August looked utterly humiliated.
"Fuck! My man pride is in shambles. Huhuhu…"
August whimpered, his confidence crushed, leaving him slumped and defeated in Miranda's grasp.
The streets were no longer filled with people, but with the unconscious bodies of those who hadn't managed to protect themselves in time.
—We need to find shelter first.
Oz thought as they floated closer to the ground. As soon as they touched the ground, the morrowghasts swarmed over their bodies in an instant.
*Bzzz*
The sound of flies buzzed from every direction.
"Incendia Orbis!"
*Boom*
*Screeeetch*
The morrowghasts let out a screeching noise as Oz cast his fire spell to burn them away.
"Incendia Orbis!"
He repeated the spell, clearing a path through the swarming creatures.
However, as the morrowghasts burned, Oz noticed something strange. The morrowghasts that were engulfed in flames turned into sand.
Curious, Oz scooped up a handful of the morrowghasts and crushed them in his palm. The creatures disintegrated into sand.
"Guys, these morrowghasts are fake. There's no need to panic."
Oz announced confidently. To demonstrate, he crushed another clump of morrowghasts, and once again, they crumbled into sand.
"This is likely the result of transfiguration."
Although Oz wasn't an expert on summomed beast, he had seen real ones before. The real morrowghasts were far more vicious, and when they died, they turned to ash, not sand.
"Untransfiguro!"
Oz cast a spell to reverse the transfiguration. As a beam of light shot from his hand and struck the morrowghasts, they instantly dissolved into sand.
"My suspicion was right."
Oz was now certain that Professor Glyde was behind the incident. It was highly likely that all these morrowghasts were creations of the professor.
—But how did he have enough starlight to transfigure this many morrowghasts?
"Untransfiguro!"
Oz, August, Miranda, and Opheila took turns casting the spell at every door they passed in Kuiper Town, clearing away the morrowghasts that covered them.
Most of the doors were locked from the inside by their owners. But eventually, they found a candy shop with an unlocked door.
"Quick, get inside!"
Oz yelled, urging the others in. He stayed back for a moment, using untransfiguro to keep any morrowghasts from entering with them.
*Clack*
Once they were all inside, the four of them shut and locked the candy shop door.
From the wide display window, all they could see was the mass of red flies covering the glass.
*Bzzz*
The sound of the morrowghasts buzzing filled the air, creating a tense atmosphere inside the shop, even though they knew the creatures were fake.
"I haven't felt my heart race like this in a long time. Let's do it again sometime."
Miranda said with innocent excitement, still buzzing from the adrenaline while the others looked concerned.
"We'll stay here until the Stellarkeep guards and inquisitors act."
Oz said, grabbing a lollipop from the display and popping it into his mouth. As he sucked on the candy, he stared at the morrowghasts outside the window, deep in thought.
—Attacking so openly isn't Rattenfanger's style. Do they have another objective?
"What candy is that?"
While Oz was lost in thought, Opheila interrupted him, startling him slightly with her sudden question.
"This? I think it's supposed to be apple-flavored?"
Oz removed the candy from his mouth, revealing its vibrant red color and apple-like shape. However, the flavor didn't live up to its appearance. It was just sugary and sweet, like cotton candy, without a hint of apple.
Without hesitation, Opheila grabbed the candy from Oz's hand and popped it into her mouth.
"Hmm, there's no apple flavor at all."
"..."
Oz just stared in disbelief as Opheila casually ate the candy. Most people would be a little hesitant to eat something that someone else had already been chewing, but Opheila seemed completely unbothered.
"Guys! Guys! Look at the TV!"
For the first time since arriving on the fifth floor, Oz turned his attention to the old, bulky television sitting in the corner. The screen flickered with static, the signal disrupted by the ongoing chaos outside.
[Emergency Alert! A massive swarm of morrowghasts has overtaken the fifth floor. A joint force comprised of Guards, Magic Police, Inquisitors, and firefighters has been deployed to secure the area.]
The news broadcast showed a panicked reporter standing in front of a video feed of the fifth floor, where millions of morrowghasts covered every visible surface. The joint force members were fighting fiercely, trying to clear the creatures.
[The number of casualties is still unknown. Residents are urged to remain calm and stay indoors.]
*Creak*
The doors and roof of the candy shop groaned under the weight of the swarming morrowghasts outside. The buzzing sound of their wings filled the air, amplifying the tension in the shop.
August, normally so easygoing, sat curled up on the couch, hugging his knees tightly. His usual carefree demeanor was completely gone. He trembled slightly, overwhelmed by the situation.
Opheila, sitting beside Oz on a wooden bench, continued to calmly munch on the candy. She seemed utterly unphased.
Oz, too, appeared calm, though for a different reason. He knew the morrowghasts were fake.
Meanwhile, Miranda had been snooping around the shop, as if searching for something.
Finally, she stopped at the cashier's counter, where she spotted an old rotary telephone.
"I'll call my dad."
Without hesitation, Miranda picked up the receiver and dialed a number.
*Crack* *Crack* *Crack*
The mechanical whir of the rotary dial echoed through the quiet shop, its sharp sound mingling with the constant buzzing of the morrowghasts just outside the walls.
[Hello?]
After a few moments, Miranda was connected to her father's work line. A woman answered, likely Professor Prosperro's assistant, judging by the tone.
"Oh, Nina? Is my dad around?"
[The Professor is currently go outside, handling the morrowghast situation with the other professors.]
"Hmm, well, when he gets a chance, tell him I'm safe."
[Certainly, Miss. The Professor also left instructions for you to leave Kuiper Town immediately if you're there.]
"Why?"
*Boom* *Boom*
Suddenly, a series of loud explosions rocked the shop, shaking the walls and rattling the shelves. Candy jars fell, their contents spilling onto the floor, as the ground trembled underfoot.
[The morrowghasts *bzzt* are now merging into a massive entity at *bzzt* Kuiper Town.]
Nina's voice crackled and distorted, the poor phone connection struggling to maintain clarity amid the growing chaos.
"What was that noise?!"
August shot up from the couch, his face pale and drenched in fear. His voice wavered, and his trembling only grew more.
Outside the shop's large display windows, they could see the morrowghasts moving.
[Breaking news, the morrowghasts that the joint force had been combating are now merging into one colossal entity in Kuiper Town.]
"Looks like we don't have to wait much longer. All the joint forces are gathering in Kuiper Town… But that's not exactly good news either."
Oz remarked grimly, his face twisting into a sour expression.
The tv showing a creature that nearly as large as Mistheaven Castle. Its grotesque form looming ominously over the town.
Its tentacles lashed out at the nearby buildings, leaving destruction in their wake, while the joint force scrambled to contain the threat.