Borun and Vol huddled near Miss Liora, watching as nobles stormed into the attendant reception, their faces twisted with frustration.
Some cursed the Academy under their breath, others wept openly, tears streaking their fine silks, while a few shouted at their attendants, blaming them for their own failures.
Borun's small hands tightened around Vol's, his eyes narrowing as understanding sank in. His young heart swelled with worry for his sister.
"Sister Aeri, Candymus, why're you here?" he asked, his voice tight, bracing for bad news. Vol, clung to his brother's side, his small hands fidgeting.
Aeri knelt to their level, her voice warm but laced with concern. "Relax, Borun. We made it to the second round. It's in the forest, six days total. You guys gonna be okay?"
Vol's eyes welled up, tears threatening to spill. "Six days?" His voice quivered, small and fragile.
Borun grabbed Vol's hands, squeezing them tight. "A whole week?" he echoed, his bravado faltering as he glanced at Aeri, whose composure wavered, her lips trembling.
Caelumis stepped forward, his golden eyes soft but steady. "Borun, I told Aeri she doesn't need to worry about Vol with you around. Was I right?"
Borun puffed out his chest, his voice firm despite the shake in it. "Of-of course! It's just a week. Leave Vol to me."
Torren, leaning against a pillar, grinned wide. "I knew you said they were kids, but actual kids?"
Borun shot him a glare, his small frame bristling. "Who're you calling a kid, you muddy-brown dirt clod?"
Torren's eyes widened, hands raised. "Whoa, whoa, chill, man...!"
Aeri knelt closer, her gaze searching Borun's face. "You sure you'll be okay?" she asked, her voice softer now.
Borun nodded, his jaw set. "Don't worry, Sister Aeri. Miss Liora's been real kind. She plays with us all the time."
Aeri's expression softened, a small smile breaking through. "I'll make sure to thank Miss Liora when I see her."
Borun turned to Caelumis, his eyes fierce with determination. "Candymus, take care of my sister."
Aeri's face flushed, her voice rising. "Why would he need to—"
"Leave her to me," Caelumis interrupted, his tone light but earnest, a spark of amusement in his eyes.
Aeri's protest sputtered. "Caelumis, you don't have to indulge him—"
Borun cut in, his voice bold. "Candymus, man to man, promise me."
Caelumis chuckled, scratching his neck. "Okay, that's a bit much, buddy."
Torren burst out laughing. "Little man hasn't even grown his little—"
Caelumis slapped a hand over Torren's mouth, muffling him. Aeri side-eyed Torren, her nose wrinkling. "Ew, gross. Who says that to a ten-year-old?"
Caelumis and Torren let out hesitant laughs. Aeri turned back to Borun, her gaze lingering, heavy with love and worry. "I'll be gone for six days. Take care of yourselves, okay?"
Borun nodded, his small face set with resolve. Aeri stood, sighing deeply, her eyes still fixed Vol. "As expected, I can't leave—"
Before she could finish, Caelumis and Torren each grabbed an arm, dragging her toward the exit with synchronized determination.
Caelumis glanced back, waving at Borun with a grin. Borun returned a sharp nod, his ten-year-old frame radiating a fierce determination that belied his age.
As they stepped into the dusk, Caelumis smirked. "Hard to believe he's only ten."
Torren snorted. "No kidding."
Aeri's voice was quiet, her worry lingering. "I hope they'll be okay."
Caelumis's tone was firm, reassuring. "Don't stress, Aeri. The Imperial Academy prides in their top-notch security. They'll be fine."
Torren grinned, tossing his hands behind his head. "You two talk like they're wanted criminals with bounties on their heads. Chill!"
Aeri's lips twitched, her concern easing just a fraction, though her eyes still held a shadow of doubt.
The trio hustled toward the equipment counter near the Academy's towering entrance.
Aeri stepped up first, her fingers closing around the hilt of her mythril sword, its blade gleaming like liquid starlight. Mythril, the second-strongest material in the world, felt alive in her hands, its weight perfectly balanced.
Caelumis followed, claiming a steel sword, its polished edge betraying a quality far beyond what you'd expect from a countryside forge.
Torren, with a flourish, hefted a blade carved from the bones of an Earth dragon, its ivory surface etched with faint, pulsing runes.
Caelumis's golden eyes widened. "Whoa, is that really made from Earth dragon bones?"
Torren's grin was all swagger. "Yup. My dad hunted one when he found out I had the Earth attribute. Said the bones have the same vibe as mana veins. When channeling Earth mana there is no waste, pure output." He swung the blade lightly, its eerie glow catching the light.
Aeri's jaw dropped, her sky-blue eyes glinting with awe. "Your dad took down an Earth dragon?"
Torren's grin widened, a touch smug. "Heh, yeah." He glanced at Aeri's mythril blade, his tone shifting to mock humility. "Still, it's no match for mythril's sharpness or hardness."
Aeri puffed out her chest, exhaling proudly as she gave her sword a small twirl. Before they could banter further, a metallic voice echoed from artifacts embedded in the yard's pillars and walls.
"All aspirants qualified for the second round, report to the yard. Carts are ready. Enter your assigned carts immediately."
The trio exchanged quick glances and hurried to the yard, where massive boards displayed application numbers and cart assignments. Torren squinted at one. "I'm cart 42."
Aeri checked hers. "27."
Caelumis found his application number. "54."
Aeri's brow furrowed. "So we're splitting up. Regrouping in the forest is gonna be tough, huh?"
Torren groaned, running a hand through his brown hair. "Among 40,000 people in a forest that size? Good luck."
Caelumis's gaze turned thoughtful, his voice steady. "It's near impossible at the start, but I bet it gets easier toward the end. Early quests will be all over the place, but as they wrap up, I'm guessing the Academy funnels us into common quests to spark competition. By the end, Red and Blue teams might even share a final quest."
Torren nodded slowly, impressed. "Makes sense."
Aeri's eyes lit up. "So we could meet during one of those common quests?"
Caelumis shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Just a guess."
A shadow loomed behind them, and they spun to find a guard, his armored frame towering, his formal tone barely masking his irritation.
"Have you checked your cart numbers?" His eyes said, Don't make my day harder.
"Yup, we're good!" Torren chirped, and the trio scurried away from the board, dodging the guard's glare.
Torren pointed to a cart in the distance. "That's mine. I'm off!"
"All the best!" Caelumis called.
Aeri smirked. "Try not to get fooled in the first five minutes, okay?"
Torren laughed, waving her off. "Five minutes? Easy!"
Aeri side-eyed Caelumis. "He totally missed the sarcasm, didn't he?"
"Yup," Caelumis said, chuckling as Torren's figure vanished into the crowd.
He turned to Aeri, his tone softening. "Aeri, your injuries are fading, but don't push yourself too hard."
She nodded, her expression serious. "I won't do anything reckless."
"Good," Caelumis said. "Avoid fights if you can. Save your strength for the end, those quests probably give the most points."
Aeri gave a firm nod. "Got it."
Caelumis's gaze lingered, warm but steady. "Let's meet up in the forest, then."
Aeri hesitated, her voice softening. "Hey, Caelumis… thanks for pushing me to try for the Academy. I don't know where me or my brothers would be without this."
Caelumis's smile was gentle, his golden eyes bright. "You're here because you're capable, Aeri. Don't give the credit away."
Aeri's lips parted, then closed, a spark of determination igniting in her eyes. For her brothers, she had to succeed. With a final nod, she turned toward her cart, her mythril sword glinting at her side.
**
I scrambled into the cart, clearly the last one to make it, judging by the single empty seat staring back at me.
I slid in, my steel sword clanking awkwardly against the bench. Ten of us packed the cart. Four girls, six guys, a mix of mages and swordsmen, each face etched with the same cocktail of nerves and hope.
Many carts like this one were about to flood the forest with 40,000 aspirants. I glanced at my companions, their eyes darting or fixed straight ahead. Doesn't this mean all ten of us start from the same spot? I wondered, my stomach twisting at the thought of being thrown into the wild with strangers.
The cart lurched forward, its thin black-framed windows blocking out the world. No cold breeze slipped through, but they also kept us from seeing where the other carts were headed.
A heavy silence settled over us, thicker than the dusk outside. Nobody said a word. I thought of Aeri and Torren, their carts rumbling somewhere out there. Would we find each other in that massive forest? The odds felt like a cruel joke.
An hour dragged by, the quiet broken only by the creak of the cart and the muffled thump of my own heartbeat.
Then, abruptly, we stopped. Just one hour? I thought, frowning. That seemed… too quick for a forest as vast as they'd described. We piled out, the air cool and sharp with the scent of pine and damp earth.
An instructor stood waiting, her expression all business as she launched into her spiel.
"Use your wristbands," she said, her voice cutting through the dusk. "Tap the marker icon to log this location on your map."
I fumbled with my wristband, its sleek surface glowing faintly. Sure enough, a detailed map of the forest flickered to life, and this spot was marked with a store icon.
The instructor went on. "There are 800 stores across the forest, each set where a cart drops its aspirants. Stores let you view quest rewards, convert them to points, or buy items with points. You can also request drone services from the nearest store, but you have to mark it on your map first. Drones are pricey but handy, they've got cloaking artifacts, so only you can track them through your band."
Perfect for hiding, I thought, my mind racing. If you're laying low, a drone could keep you out of trouble. The instructor's voice pulled me back.
"Now, step into the ten circles ahead. Each will teleport you to a random spot in the forest. Once you're there, your team, Red or Blue, will be assigned, and your wristband's other features will unlock. All the best for the second round."
We shuffled toward the circles, my boots scuffing the dirt. I glanced at the girl behind me, her armor screamed paladin, all polished plates and a thin, elegant sword strapped to her side.
Her crimson eyes locked onto mine, sharp and unyielding, like she was sizing me up. My cheeks burned, and I snapped my gaze away, heart thumping.
Focus, Caelumis. I stepped into my circle, the ground beneath me humming with arcane energy. A glowing ring flared to life around me, and in a blink, the world shifted.
Darkness swallowed me. Towering trees loomed, their branches blotting out the sky, the air thick with the scent of moss and mystery. Not a single soul in sight. My wristband blinked, its screen flashing: Red Team.