The moment the transport crystals dimmed and the flash of teleportation light faded, the students of Class 1-D found themselves standing on the entrance shore of the academy's private island—an area specifically prepared for the final exam. The morning sun hovered at an angle that painted the sand in a pale gold, while a firm coastal wind swept across the beach, carrying a faint scent of salt and greenery. The atmosphere was calm, almost deceptively so, considering the weight of the exam that had just begun.
Arios stepped forward first, his boots sinking slightly into the soft sand as he looked ahead. What spread out before the class was a long stretch of mixed terrain—dense forest, patches of elevated rock, and an uneven clearing that led toward an inland river. Nothing felt distinctly dangerous at a glance, but the subtle pressure hanging in the air made it clear that the island wasn't ordinary. Everything was part of the exam.
