“I’ve written everything down.” Rhys held out several sheets of paper toward Maeve. The pages were filled edge to edge with neat handwriting—carefully structured notes, explanations, and answers that expanded far beyond what she had originally asked for. He had not simply summarized his test responses. Instead, he had broken them down, clarified the reasoning behind them, and even added several thoughts that had come to him afterward. Maeve accepted the papers almost cautiously. For a moment she only skimmed the first page. Then the second. Her eyes slowed as she read. The corridor outside the classroom was relatively quiet, most students still trickling in from the dorms or chatting further down the hall. But Maeve seemed to forget where she was entirely as she focused on the pages. The deeper she read, the more her expression changed. Confusion first. Then surprise. Then something closer to realization. This… was not the kind of thinking she was used to seeing

The next morning, the entire class was gathered on the wide training field behind the academy. A massive circular track had been marked into the dirt, its edges faintly glowing with the runic markings used for official training exercises. The sun hung high overhead, and a mild wind swept across the open grounds. Instructor Varyn stood at the center of the field with his hands behind his back, watching the students gather. When everyone finally settled down, he spoke. “In the coming days, all of you will participate in a field trip beyond the academy walls,” he began. “The purpose of that trip is simple—you will hunt Abyssal creatures.” A quiet murmur spread among the students. “The trip will last for one week,” Varyn continued calmly. “Teachers will accompany you to ensure your safety, but do not mistake that for protection. They are there to prevent unnecessary deaths, not to hold your hand.” His eyes swept across the class. “Your performance during the hunt will be evaluated

Instructor Varyn stood before the gathered students with a serious expression. The training field was unusually quiet that morning. No one joked, no one whispered. The mood was different from the previous week of exhausting physical training. Everyone knew this was the day they had been preparing for. “You’ve all worked hard these past seven days,” Varyn began, his voice calm but firm. “But that was only preparation.” His gaze moved slowly across the class. “The real test begins now.” A few students shifted uneasily. “For the next seven days,” he continued, “you will live inside Ravenroot Forest.” The name alone made several students stiffen. “You will not return to the academy during that time. Everything you accomplish during the trip will determine your final results.” Varyn then gestured toward a large poster he had pinned to a wooden board beside him. “Your goal is simple.” He tapped the list written across the page. “Earn as many points as possible.” The students l

“Gueeghhh!” “That’s disgusting!” “I—ugh—can’t hold it!” The moment the teleportation light faded, chaos erupted across the platform. Several students staggered forward with pale faces. A few dropped to their knees, clutching their stomachs, while others leaned over the platform’s edge. Then the vomiting began. Rhys stood slightly apart from the crowd, watching the scene unfold. He inhaled slowly, steadying himself. The sensation of teleportation had been strange—like being dragged through twisting currents of light—but it hadn’t been nearly as bad as he expected. Apparently, the others disagreed. Another student gagged loudly behind him. “Ugh—!” “Don’t do it near me!” someone shouted. Rhys sighed quietly. Teleportation really is rough on people… The staff responsible for maintaining the teleportation circle didn’t seem surprised at all. Judging by their relaxed reactions, this was a routine occurrence. Once the worst of the chaos settled down, one of them waved a hand i

“This year?” Those two words lingered in Rhys’s mind long after the tavern worker casually spoke them. For a moment he simply sat there, fingers resting against the edge of the wooden bowl, staring down at the food as if the answer might somehow be hidden inside it. This year… Teacher Varyn had clearly said that the location of the academy’s survival test changed every year. It was meant to keep students from gaining an advantage from past participants. That was the official explanation. But what if that wasn’t true? What if the place never changed at all? What if the academy simply renamed the location each year? The possibility made Rhys’s stomach tighten. Slowly, he lifted his gaze and answered. “It’s called Ravenroot Forest.” “Huh?” The middle-aged woman paused, her expression briefly puzzled before it softened into an amused smile. “So they’re still calling it that this time too.” Rhys blinked. “Still?” “Well,” she said with a small shrug as she wiped down the count