Between two towering mountains, a large clearing stretched out like a scar on the land. In that clearing, a wall of hardened clay rose defiantly, forming a crude circle. At each of its four corners, tall watchtowers stood like silent sentinels. Within that wall, around four hundred students had built their encampnts—small shelters molded from the sa clay, split into two camps. One half claid the east, the other the west. In the heart of the division, two larger tents faced one another, tension thick between them.
Inside one of the tents, Kaelan Ignis of the Fire Phoenix Clan—the noble Ignisara line—stood stiffly, his blue eyes narrowed as he argued with a brute of a man. Towering at six feet, with a gorilla-like physique, his tanned muscles bulged with restrained aggression. His hair, wild and fire-red, frad his stern face like dancing flas. This was Varek Drakthorn of the Fire Dragon Clan—the fearso Drakthorn lineage.
Kaelan's voice was firm, weary. "We don't have much food remaining. We must send teams to hunt."
Varek replied, voice like grinding stone. "That's what I'm saying. Let's go hunting. Whoever brings back more ga, leads."
Kaelan's eyes flared, but he kept his composure. "We can't leave the camp. Monsters could attack again at any ti."
A mocking smirk twisted across Varek's face. "Just say you're a coward. I won't argue with that."
Kaelan exhaled sharply, shoulders tense but not rising to the bait. "If you want to go hunting, I won't stop you."
At that, Varek crossed his thick arms over his chest and fell silent, his crimson eyes gleaming with suppressed fury.
A voice echoed from outside, urgent and respectful. "Sir Varek, Sir Kaelan! We saw a person coming from the forest—headed toward us!"
Kaelan stepped outside, his expression already darkening. "Which watchtower?"
"West watchtower, sir!" the student responded, snapping to attention.
Kaelan scaled the watchtower with practiced ease, and when he peered into the distance, his mood soured at once. His jaw clenched. His eyes narrowed into slits.
Of all people.
He detested that person—no, that bastard—and yet there he was, striding casually from the forest as if summoned by fate. Worse still, he was carrying ika Noctshade on his back. Kaelan's eye twitched. Why is that bastard always so lucky with girls?
In a voice that carried across the entire encampnt, Kaelan bellowed, "Open the gates. He is Riven Veylor."
The bamboo gates creaked open, and Riven stepped inside, back straight, carrying ika with surprising ease. His presence, casual yet confident, drew curious glances from the students. Order reigned among them—the encampnt's discipline evident as several girls approached him imdiately.
"Please hand her to us," one of them said politely.
Without hesitation, Riven shifted ika into their care. "She'll wake up in a while. I've already given her a high-rank healing potion."
Healing potions, like elental stones, ca in ranks—lowest, lower, mid, and high. The highest grade could restore wounds even on the brink of death. Crafted from rare plants. Elental stones—precious gems ford in places where elental energy condensed, stones essential to any Elental's cultivation.
Kaelan approached, his footsteps heavy with suppressed emotion.
"Hey Kaelan, how are you doing?" Riven asked with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, extending a hand.
Kaelan grasped it but didn't return the smile. "I would've said everything's fine, but right now, we're out of food."
Riven's thoughts swirled. This bastard. Can't you at least invite in first? Now I've got to feed myself too? These guys really are too much.
Feigning concern, he replied, "Oh? Is that so? But don't you have Varek with you?"
Kaelan's face scrunched as if he'd tasted sothing bitter. "He is with ."
Riven's smile sharpened. "He should be restless to hunt, right?"
Right on cue, Varek's deep voice bood across the space. "I am! But that coward says we can't leave the camp alone!"
Riven turned, his voice smooth as silk. "Oh? That shouldn't be a problem now that ika and I are here, right, Kaelan?"
Kaelan hesitated. His pride warred with logic, but in the end, he nodded. "Yes."
You're still too inexperienced to match in sches, Riven thought smugly.
"Then it's settled. Can I get a camp, or do I have to make one myself?" Riven asked, stretching slightly as if already choosing a spot.
"Don't worry," Varek said, placing a aty hand on Riven's shoulder. "I'll ask the Earth Squad to build it for you."
Far from them, deep in the forest where the canopy swallowed most of the light, three figures trekked quietly.
Alex sat beneath a wide tree, exhaling slowly as he looked to the mountain peaks ahead. "We'll reach there around evening," he said to the two girls beside him.
Rina and Selene sank to the ground with him. Their movents were relaxed, their eyes soft when looking at him. Around Alex, both had beco at ease.
"I miss chocolates," Selene said with a soft smile. "Alex, I'll treat you to a whole box when we get back ho!"
Alex blinked. "What's chocolate?"
Both girls laughed. The sound was light, unburdened, rare in their world.
Chocolates were a luxury—nobles enjoyed them, not commoners. To most, they were myth.
Selene bead, already imagining the taste. "It's sweet... but more yummy!" she said, drooling a little.
Alex tilted his head. "Oh, like toffees?"
Then his expression changed. His eyes darkened, lips tightening ever so slightly.
Anna used to like them, he thought, pain flickering behind his eyes. She would've loved this chocolate thing.
Rina and Selene exchanged glances but said nothing. They had seen that look before—that silent grief Alex never voiced. They never pressed. They understood.
After a long mont, Alex blinked the mory away and stood. "Let's keep moving."
By the ti the sun began to set, they crested a hill and saw it.
The barracks.
Walls of clay, tall and proud, stood against the golden light. Flas danced on the watchtowers as torches were lit, casting shadows across the clearing.
Their journey was ending.
But sothing far greater was about to begin.
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