Elsewhere in the frostbitten forest, where the moon hung low and clouds crept like ghosts across the sky, another group of examinees fought for survival. This team, unlike the others, was led by none other than Rowan Aurelian—third son of the King of Tion and heir to the Kingdom of Eldros.
His silver hair, braided at the sides and bound with golden clasps, glinted beneath the pale moonlight. Though only seventeen, he wore his title like armor, and his power made it clear: he wasn't someone to take lightly.
All around his camp, shrieking speed bats—nocturnal beasts with dagger-like talons and wings that shimmered with arcane lightning—dove in packs toward the examinees. Their attacks came in unpredictable flashes, their wings slicing through the air as though they tore reality itself.
Rowan stood at the front, calm and poised. He raised one hand.
"Hexalogan!" he chanted, voice deep with authority.
A vast hexagonal glyph burned into the air above them, and a radiant barrier slammed down over a dozen of the incoming bats. The arcane wall shimmered with royal flame before detonating in a pulse of light and force. The bats incinerated mid-flight.
Nearby, a noblewoman in flowing fuchsia robes—Jasmine LuReal of the Kingdom of the Pink Willow—stepped forward, flicking her parasol wand elegantly.
"Azim Azim."
A cloud of pink mist burst forth from her wand, enveloping a clutch of bats. In seconds, they dropped from the sky, spasming midair before crashing lifelessly to the ground.
Kenneth Stroud, the third of Rowan's noble trio, from the Kingdom of Illuminia, grinned.
"Good one, Jasmine," he called, brushing back his dark fringe. "Now… Luminia!"
With a single step forward, he pointed his staff to the heavens. A blinding flash of holy light burst forth, engulfing the remaining bats in a sphere of radiant agony. The shrieks that followed sent chills down the spines of the other participants.
Those who had barely raised a wand found themselves standing in the aftermath of destruction they didn't help create.
"Wow… the nobles are something else," one of the commoners whispered.
"What'd you expect? They're royalty. We're just here to try and survive."
"They've handled everything so far without breaking a sweat…"
Prince Rowan turned to the group, adjusting the clasps on his deep crimson cloak. His voice was steady, formal. "The immediate threat is gone. But we shouldn't waste this opportunity. Everyone, combine your mana to reinforce a perimeter. A tier-three mana barrier should keep any remaining beasts at bay."
With murmurs of agreement—and a few nervous glances—his command was obeyed. The group pooled their strength, their combined magic forming a faint dome of energy around the camp.
"Wow! Prince Rowan, you were amazing back there!" Maya, a blushing student in silver-trimmed robes, approached him eagerly.
"Hmph," Rowan said, brushing past her with little interest. "Thanks."
That night, the nobles rested inside a conjured stone shelter at the edge of the woods. It was efficient, sparse, and guarded by automatic glyphs that shimmered along the cave's entrance. Most others found shelter wherever they could—some huddled near the fire, others laying down atop blankets conjured from woven bark or dried leaves.
Far across the forest, in a quieter glade lit by soft moonlight, Ymir's group had made their camp within the branches of an ancient pine tree. One of the participants—a craftsman named Erol—was adept at woodworking magic. With whispered chants and a carpenter's wand, he had crafted a treehouse from living bark and enchanted timber, seamlessly woven into the canopy above.
"Just a little more, hold that beam!" Erol called as Florence helped him balance a plank.
Bird meat roasted over a small fire below while others passed around hot herbal tea brewed from gathered herbs. Warmth and laughter slowly returned to their hearts. Within the softly glowing shelter, bonds were forming—fragile, but real.
Inside the upper level of the treehouse, seated around a circle of conjured lanterns, the group shared their stories.
"I'm from Polgov," said Alexa, twirling a strand of her dark hair nervously. "Raised by my older sister. Our parents… well, they weren't kind. Drunks, abusers. My sister took me and ran when I was twelve. Been with her ever since."
There was a quiet pause.
"Your sister's brave," Ymir said softly, her eyes warm. "I admire her courage."
"What about you?" Alexia asked, curiosity blooming.
Ymir hesitated, then looked up. "I'm from Rubin. Just south of Polgov."
"Really?" Alexia said, perking up.
"I grew up in a small village called Klevia. My mom and I lived there with the other villagers until…" Her voice caught. "A cult attacked. They kidnapped my mother and others. That's… that's why I'm here. I need to get stronger. I have to save her."
The fire crackled quietly. The others leaned in, listening.
"A cult?" Florence asked, frowning.
"Yes. I thought she was gone, too. But… she reached me through a vision. Told me she'd cast suspended animation—one powerful enough to freeze the entire group inside a barrier of time. She sacrificed her freedom to protect them."
Alexia's eyes widened. "Suspended animation? That's… incredibly high-tier magic. Only nobles or master archmages can pull that off."
"I know. But that's what she told me. I believe her."
Florence gave her a soft smile. "You've been through a lot. But you've got guts. I'm rooting for you, Ymir."
"Me too," Alexia added, gently resting a hand on her shoulder.
Ymir smiled — grateful, yet heavy with determination.
As the fire dimmed, the forest's sounds returned: the chirps of enchanted crickets, the rustle of mana-infused wind. One by one, the group settled into sleep — some dreaming of success, others haunted by home.
Dawn came slowly, gold spilling across the treetops and waking the earth in soft warmth.
Ymir opened her eyes to the light. Today, the journey would continue.
Across the forest, other groups rose from their makeshift shelters — Rowan's nobles, the commoners, the eccentrics, and the brave. Each one stepping forward into the unknown, toward the next trial, unaware of the darkness still watching from the shadows.
The forest of trials had more secrets yet to reveal.