Early night had settled over the school, shadows stretching down the empty corridors. Oswald Omni trudged along, still late from detention, unaware that the evening would become a battle for survival.
"Late again, Omni?" Lyra Vey's voice echoed from the lockers. Her silver-streaked hair shimmered under the flickering lights.
"Yeah… detention," Oswald muttered. "Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
Before she could answer, a guttural growl ripped through the stairwell. A massive werewolf appeared, claws scraping tiles, amber eyes glowing.
"Omni! Distract it! I'll seal it!" Lyra shouted, sparks of violet energy crackling from her fingertips.
Distract it? Oswald had no magic. Only instinct.
The werewolf lunged. Oswald dodged, punched, swung a chair, kicked, ducked—every move desperate. Cuts and bruises appeared, then vanished instantly. The creature roared, furious, but he kept fighting.
Minutes dragged on, their battle echoing down the hallways. Finally, the werewolf lunged one last time, jaws snapping at Oswald's chest. He ducked, clenched his fists, and swung with all his strength.
The punch connected—an explosive shockwave burst from his fist, sending the werewolf flying backward into the corridor. Lockers rattled and tiles cracked. Lyra stumbled back, eyes wide.
Oswald didn't pause. He charged forward, grasping the dazed creature by the scruff of its neck and dragging it across the hallway. His muscles burned, but the werewolf was too stunned to resist. Step by step, he hauled it closer to Lyra.
"NOW, Lyra! Seal it!" he shouted.
Lyra's hands shook as she traced glowing runes in the air. Energy erupted from the floor, wrapping around the werewolf. It thrashed, snarling, but Oswald held it steady, dragging it into the spell's circle. The magical bonds snapped tight, trapping the beast.
Oswald dropped to his knees, chest heaving. His injuries had vanished again, leaving him unharmed.
Lyra stepped back, pale and trembling. "You… you actually fought it, and… dragged it to me to seal it?" Her voice was a mix of awe and fear. "Omni… you're dangerous. If you ever lose control, I won't hesitate to seal you too."
Oswald wiped sweat from his brow, a shaky grin forming. "I… just wanted to survive."
Outside the windows, early night pressed in, shadows deepening. Oswald realized the truth: he could survive anything, but that survival—and the raw strength he didn't fully understand—made him a force even allies feared.
Early night had settled over the school, shadows stretching down the empty hallways. Oswald Omni's heart still pounded from the fight. The werewolf was finally sealed, thanks to him dragging it to Lyra's spell circle—but the aftermath was tense.
Lyra stepped back, her hands trembling as violet sparks flared around her fingers. Her eyes were wide with fear. "Omni… I… I can't risk it. If you lose control… I'll have to seal you!"
She pointed at him, the glowing runes hovering in the air, ready to trap him.
Oswald froze. "I… I don't know!" he stammered. His chest heaved, sweat and adrenaline making him dizzy.
Lyra's gaze sharpened. "You don't know?! Then I have no choice!"
Panic surged through Oswald. He had survived a werewolf, healed instantly, and now the person he trusted—or thought he trusted—was trying to lock him away like a monster. He didn't wait to think.
He dashed toward the nearest window, yanking it open. The glass shivered in the frame. With a deep breath, Oswald smashed through the glass, shards spraying around him, and leapt into the cold night.
He hit the ground hard but rolled, scrambling to his feet, heart hammering. The night air stung his lungs as he sprinted away from the school, adrenaline carrying him faster than he'd ever run before. Behind him, he could see Lyra at the shattered window, mouth open in shock, still glowing faintly with magical energy.
Oswald didn't stop until he reached the familiar streets leading to his home. He didn't know what would happen next. He didn't know why he could heal or fight like he did. But he knew one thing: he wouldn't let anyone—magic user or monster—control him. Not tonight, not ever.
The early night was quiet again, shadows stretching long, but Oswald's mind burned with questions he couldn't answer. And somewhere deep down, he realized this was only the beginning.