Teacher Orion stood at the podium, surveying the class with a helpless expression. He had been teaching for many years, but he had never seen a group of students as troubled as this one. As he looked at their tired faces, he couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility. He knew that the trials were a crucial part for the question 'if Humanity would survive' but he also knew that they were taking a toll on the students. Orion's eyes lingered on Aria, who was staring blankly at the floor. She had always been a bright and eager student, but lately, she had seemed distant and preoccupied. Orion's heart went out to the girl. He knew that she was struggling, and he wanted to help. But he didn't know how.
As he looked around the room, Orion saw that she wasn't the only one who was struggling. Charles was brooding in the back of the room, his eyes fixed on some point outside the window. Sophie was staring at her notes, her brow furrowed in concentration. Orion sighed, feeling a sense of frustration. He wanted to help his students, but he didn't know how. How even for a minute forgot about the upcoming Red Moon and have a little fun, he had seen what overthinking had led to, depression and eventually madness. That's why all Exorcist are taken care of as they become thinking time bomb when depressed and when they become mad, it a different situation, expectally when having thought of peace, they do everything in their power to enact their will. Just like them.
As he stood there, trying to think of a way to help his students, Orion's eyes fell on a small inscription at the very end on the wall of the class. It was a quote from an ancient text, one that he had forgotten until now. "The greatest teacher is not the one who gives the most information, but the one who inspires the most questions. Orion's eyes lit up as he read the quote. Maybe, just maybe, he had been going about this the wrong way. Instead of trying to give his students all the answers, maybe he should be encouraging them to ask more questions. With newfound determination, Orion turned to face his students.
"Today, we're going to do something different," he said, a smile spreading across his face. "We're going to do some quiz, you quiz me and I quiz you".
The students looked at each other in surprise, but Orion could see the spark of curiosity returning in their life in their eyes. Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something new.
"Let's start with the basics," Orion said, walking over to the blackboard. "What do we know about the trials?". The students looked at each other, and then back at Orion.
"We know that they're a test of our worthiness to proceed in our path to Godhood".
Aria said, her voice hesitant.
"That's right," Orion said, nodding.
"But what else do we know? What are the trials, exactly?"
Charles spoke up, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Oh, they're just a series of fun and exciting challenges designed to push us to our limits and beyond".
Orion smiled wryly. "Well, maybe not exactly fun and exciting," he said. "But you're right, Charles. The trials are a series of challenges that are designed to test our strength, our courage, and our wits and most of all learn about our past or what was once our past".
Dawn spoke up, his voice quiet. "But what's the point of it all? Why are we being put through this?, humanity already has great warriors on equal power with lots of powerful Stain, why then does it push us forward".
Orion's expression turned serious. "That's a good question, Dawn," he said. "And it's one that I'm not sure I have the answer to. But I think that's what we need to figure out. What is the purpose of pushing humanity towards Godhood, I say we were good where we were".
"How was the world before the arrival like". Sophia said her voice filled with curiosity.
'yes I got them, how time to steer them away from the present'.
The class started to become rowdy as everyone was talking to their friends talking him, the atmosphere was light, even when Charles said a joke it wasn't perceived as annoying but everyone laughed genuinely. But as he gazed upon the class his eyes caught someone who was left out, the last time he saw him, he was part of the discussion but now he was staring at thin air with an expression of confusion but before he could ask what was wrong the red haired boy voice cut through the class
"What is this Red Moon about".
That one question was all it took to undo all he has done, the atmosphere stilled for a moment and then receded back to it's quiet, heavy atmosphere.
The majority of the students directly bowed their head hiding their ugly expressions.
Seeing the culprit looking at him with his confused expression he sign and begun the explanation.
"The Red Moon is a like a sequel to your Trials, but this time instead of going alone, you would see some of your classmates and people from the real world". Orion waited for them to digest it before continuing.
It got the name Red Moon because it Always come on the night of the Red Moon unfailing, taking all of those that are marked and have passed their trial to battle Stains from ancient past".
"But it not all bad when you pass it you ascend to become an Awaken and you won't be forced to go through the trials anymore".
"Then it would be mandatory we fight at the war". Dawn timid voice rang out.
"Yep just two years of mandatory war, and then you are free to continue fighting in the war or do your own thing. But you are also wrong, only when you become an Enlightened, any lower then that you are just cannon fodder".
"There is a war going on". He had expected this question from the self named Eclipse but not from Charles. But before he could answer Dawn beat him to it.
"Yeah it been going on for a long time now, and recent studies shows that the gateways has become more frequent and are releasing more potent Stains and even Clan of Stains".
"So you are saying that Stains also have Clans just like us". Charles asked bewildered as the news.
The entire class was curious as they turned to Dawn.
"Yes Clans who contributed the strongest Stains to the war, for example in the Stains ranking, the rank shackled actually come from a clan called shackled.
"But aren't Stain mindless". A girl timid girl asked.
But this time it wasn't Dawn who answered but Aria
"There are at lower class and rank, but as they advance the grow in intelligence, many has shown intelligence rivalling that of humans".
"Then aren't we doom then, the Stains are in fact more powerful than humans in the same realm and now with our advantage gone how will we survive". Charles in his usual pessimistic outlook of life spoke out. Aria look at him visibly upset.
"That's were the Gods come in, your are right by saying that but, that logic only applies to humans without the the inheritance of Gods. The human who inherit the power of Gods are capable of standing on equal terms with those vile Stains".
"Inheritance". The timid girl spoke out again confusion in her voice.
"Yes for example Clan Ambrose, the clan leader not only inherit the power of the Sun God but also his zodiac, while Clan Demios has inherited the power of the war God and his Zodiac Beast, so you see with generations of wealth to play with they have the highest chances of surviving their trials and standing apart from the rest of the people who are not in a clan".
"I wish I was born in a clan". The timid girl said again.
"It's not all good, they decided to passively involve themselves in the war and decided to fight for territories, if they had been involved in the war actively the war would not have reached this critical and exhausting moment, they only send their little ones to war to sharpen them physically and mentally".
"Sorry" the timid girl said in a quiet voive
"That's what gave them those monstrous strength that they possess". Charles voice of realization rang out.
"You don't get it, they force their children to war to come in contact with Nether so as for the Diary to contact them, sending children even if they didn't fight but to only see the brutality of war is enough to drive them insane, yet they do it". Aria voice was filled what so much rebukal but he could understand where she was coming from, hell every independent or Government aligned Excorsist have a slight issue with them but what can they do they had power.
"Still I rather be born in a clan, for one the war zone is basically a different dimension so when they enter and then come out they will be transported to their trials, and seeing the brutality of war is enough training to survive the brutality the trials promised, as for me I choose being born in a clan any day". Davis twin brother of David spoke out. But Aria was having non of it.
"When the late brother of the current head of the Ambrose clan was killed in the war, his five years old daughter was taken to the war zone, when she came out she was transported to the trials but she is sixteen and is still in the trials, how do you think she is doing now, is she dead no one knows and if she is alive how do you think are mental state is like, separated from her family at a young age just to fulfill her family ambition".
"Do you have a beef with the Clans". Davis had a frowning expression on his face as he questioned Aria.
"What do you think" Aria spat back at him. Just as Davis was about to respond the bell cut him off.
"That's enough, everyone has their own experience with the world and as such look at it in different ways". With a sigh he continued. "You know they will be no class today, we are going to have a long night so everyone is free to do what he or she pleases.
The students got up and filed out of the class with a disturbed expression due to the singular message flashing in their retinas.
"Count down until next Trial: fourteen
hours fifty eight minutes forty seven seconds".