Children of the Night

“That's exactly what the Firsts always said,” said Mr. Kei agreed, making Abara grin happily. “They still think it's a curse, but it's also a gift. The beginning states that in the second century, there was a large organization called the Security Order, which aimed to keep the world in balance. The organization experienced success in a period of about a hundred years, before the Bats came from behind the Mountains of Heaven.

“They come in groups every year. Their faces were wild and violent, with fangs sticking out from between their sharp teeth. Even worse, they ate the blood of the Reds like beasts. Bats are difficult to kill or even injure. They were as fast as the wind, as solid as rocks and as evil as the Night God.

“Only fire could defeat the Bats, but the Reds still couldn't beat their enemy's speed. Over the years, the Reds have tried to survive and fight back, but the number of Bats has continued to increase. The Red Nation calls these terrible years the Era of Despair. They even have to be vigilant just to breathe if they do not want the bloodsuckers to eat them.

“Then, in the middle of the fourth century, the Fangs with clear blood came for the first time from across the notorious Sea of ​​Death. The Red People were even more worried, because their name seemed not much different from the Bats. However, the Fangs were only ‘fanged’. They do not consume blood. They are like humans in general; they are just as strong as the Bats.

“The Fangs were helping the Reds, even though they were not as many as expected. Years passed and the Order of Security was back on its way again with the help of the Fangs, eradicating a growing number of Bats. Entering the fifth century, after years of discussing and arguing about how they would solve this problem, the Reds and the Fangs agree on one thing; create their own race to fight the Bats.

“The Reds and Fangs agreed to carry out a massive ritual involving blood oaths, forbidden marriage and supernatural powers from nature. The Reds divided themselves into three groups, while the Fangs remained as one whole group.”

Mr. Kei stopped talking and looked at all the listening students with curious expressions on their faces, some looking horrified. Quan knew where this story would end, but she did not intend to spoil the fun of her classmates.

A few moments later Mr. Kei continued the story, with complete confidence that Quan saw the teacher deliberately staring at her and the other Blacks disciples.

After making the blood oath, the first group of Reds summoned the spirits, Mr. Kei recounts, for many nights. On the seventh night, the first spirit in the form of a black wolf appeared, then the second, third and so on until it was the same number as the summoners.

The first group of Reds sang their sad songs and wails of despair and their wishes before the spirits. Then, the wolf spirits granted their wishes by infusing a portion of their essence into the Reds. The people who were possessed fell unconscious until dawn and woke up already becoming wolf-shifters.

Mr. Kei cleared his throat for a moment. “The following night, the second Reds group did as the first did in a different place. However, the spirits answered them more quickly, on the third night. This time the spirits that came were in the form of golden lions. The same procession took place and great lion-shifthers were created.

“In a different place again, on the same night as the second group, the third Reds group carried out their ritual. On the sixth night, the spirits of white tigers came in a rage because they were annoyed. The singing of the callers soothes them, and the wailing and sorrow of the Reds touch the souls they are calling. That is how it was, and then the third Reds group had the trust of the spirits to guard half of their essence.

“However, the Fangs didn't manage to become stealth like the Reds had. In just one night, the spirits had appeared in the form of black angels. They were angry and refused to help the Fangs and, instead, allowed the essence of the realm of death to enter the souls of the Fangs people.

“That essence darkened the poor men's blood, eroded their fangs and snatched away their speed on par with the Bats. They wake up in a state like ordinary people; black blood and does not have the privileges of the Red groups. Feeling ashamed and guilty, the Fang declared to the Order of Security that they could not help. The Reds comfort and mourn for them.

“Then, the Red Nation who had become shapeshifters came together to fight the Bats. When injured, they finally realized that their blood was no longer red. It was then that the Reds as well as the Fangs began to call themselves according to the color of their respective blood. This incident marked the beginning of a peaceful split between the Reds. From that, we remember those years as the Age of Partition.

“By the end of the fifth century, the Bats had already been eliminated and, unfortunately, so were the Reds who were basically a few hundred people left. The curse of the spirits' help finally surfaced. A marriage born from a mixture of red blood and other blood will never be able to give birth to a red-blooded baby again. Over time, the Red Nation was completely gone, replaced by other blood nations.

“Decades later, the gods bestowed upon the descendants of the Black People who were fortunate with a magical power called oge as we already know. Hence, the smiles and hopes of the Black Nation returned, for they had something as valuable as the shapeshifters.”

Mr. Kei ended the long story in a low voice, then walked over to the chair and sat down. The end led to the other blood colored disciples starting to stare at the Black disciples, including at Quan. Again, Quan's head felt as if an invisible ant, hot and disturbing, was biting her. Yoan teased the awkwardness by raising his hand.

“Yes, Yoan?” greeted Mr. Kei as he leaned back in his chair.

“Why does oge rarely appear now, even though there used to be so many Blacks who had it?” Yoan asked aloud. “And also, why can't other nations change shape like the people of old did?”

“Good question, Yoan,” Mr. Kei replied with a smile. “I think now we know what the best assignment for this material is.”

The other students simultaneously complained and glared at Yoan. Mr. Kei stood up, packed his books and a moment later the recess bell rang.

“See you next week,” he said, “and tells me your own essay or explanation of Yoan's question on a piece of paper. Gather the day after tomorrow in my office and yes, Yoan, you have to answer your own questions too.”

Quan sighed. Yoan is such an annoying kid.