Aaron was sent to search for the possible key clues around the Wasteland. It was not just him; many were sent on this search, including most of the youngsters who joined the expedition, like Mary.
There was no reason for the Alliance to assign the youngsters to find a way of entry by studying the ruins. No one should be well-versed in these categories.
Neither Aaron nor Mary had any prior education regarding those things. These were supposed to be taught in the second and third years, but their second year was almost over due to the ongoing war.
They didn't have the chance to learn other subjects, as for most, they are not considered essential and would be offered as optional after their first year.
The first year was primarily spent improving their levels and ranks by following the best possible approach. Additionally, they would teach a few things that would be useful as one advances to higher ranks.
Although it was just a brief description, it served as a foundation for their future search, should they wish to learn more about the topics.
In the second year, students would be given optional topics to choose from. Well, all classes are optional in a way, but these are not directly related to one's profession or similar pursuits.
As long as students pass their year-end exams, they will progress to the next year. Once the fourth-year exams are completed, they will either graduate or not, depending on whether they fulfil the graduation criteria. Attending or not attending classes has no bearing on passing the academy.
This was how it was supposed to be. Still, the two-front war consud a significant amount of the Alliance's resources. Also, it required a substantial amount of human personnel ti, which likely cancelled the first-year exams, possibly even the second-year exams.
For the final-year students, an exam was held, but it differed from the one given to the previous students.
For other years, no exams were conducted either formally or informally.
In fact, after the Interacademy tournant was held more than a year ago, no such significant events have been held. Even the tournants that were confined to the academy itself were not held in such numbers as before.
There are not enough staff to oversee these tournants, in addition to maintaining the academy's standard procedures, while ensuring that the academies are well protected and can supply resources for the war.
There is only so much a few staff can do at a ti. Most of the ti, the first years are left to themselves and work as they fit.
Of course, as the academy has failed to provide so things that the new students require, they were subsidised through other ans, but those are not important.
As Aaron and many others who joined the expedition are youngsters with no knowledge of how to deal with the ruins and other unexpected places, they were all assigned to find the possible key buried sowhere in the Wasteland.
The biggest problem that they face is not about whether it exists or not, but how to recognise it if it is the key. There was no description, and they couldn't just think that any piece of tal or stone could be the key to the ruins.
If the key were similar to the key that can open a door, then everything would be easy, but no one thinks that would be the case. It is a ti-consuming task and will take a long ti, but no one is complaining, as the rewards for the search are more than enough to keep them silent.
---
Aaron went along with others as they searched nearby areas.
"I thought it would be sothing interesting", Mary muttered beside him.
"What exactly do you expect?" Aron asked, raising his brows.
The Alliance has already inford them about the ruins and the possibility of a key lying sowhere in the Wasteland, or perhaps soone has already taken it away from them, or there was no such thing as a key in the first place.
Although there is a chance that the information obtained from the captured cultists might be false, they still had to act accordingly. They had no other choice.
It was sothing that the cult was well aware of, and the Alliance had doubts that they were using it to waste the Alliance's ti and resources on unnecessary matters.
It was also one of the reasons why they sent so youngsters on the search for the key in the Wastelands.
Aaron ca for the rewards, while Mary ca because she was looking to stretch out a little bit. Though she can find a dungeon and enter it to test her capabilities, it is not the right way to do so.
Maybe when one is Rank-4 and below, monsters may be more than enough, but after that, just monsters are not enough.
One has to fight other humans, not soone dumb, but soone clever or soone who would cross limits to do what they want to do, soone who would surprise you in a fight.
Fighting such individuals would increase battle experience, which would, in turn, enhance the survival rate.
"I expected more than this. Maybe a few cultists or so rare and dangerous monsters", she said.
Aaron nodded, "I can understand that you want so battle experience, but one shouldn't go and look out for troubles, but always be prepared for troubles" Aaron spoke like a wise old man.
He even started rubbing his chin, as an elderly person would while giving out so wise advice.
Though they were not even acquainted adequately during their school, the travel from Rock City to here was more than enough to make them good acquaintances.
She couldn't speak with others without revealing details about her identity that she shouldn't. So, she kept most of the conversations alive with Aaron rather than others.
Mary chuckled at Aaron's antics, as it had been a few days since she had co to appreciate him, and they had beco friends sooner. So, Aaron acting like this was not out of order.
They continued the search till night before taking a break.
---
Wake up, eat, search, and rest are the only actions in their lives for most of the young people who volunteered for this mission.
As usual, Aaron and Mary are searching for anything that could be the key to the ruins. They maintained a distance between them, but ensured they were not too far apart.
It was a rule that the Alliance ensured all followed. No solo missions for anyone, as the lands are not safe for people. They didn't want any more unnecessary deaths. A lot of people have already died in this expedition, and more in the last two years.
Aaron saw sothing shining in the sand, a dark object. He made a sound alerting Mary, who was a bit far away from him, before approaching the object, but as he touched the object, a dark portal opened.
"What the fuck?" Aaron cursed as the portal ate him before disappearing.
Mary, who saw what was happening, cried out and ran towards his position, but it was too late. The portal closed behind him.
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