Group finished waking up. So checked their belongings, others simply sat near embers, waiting.
Then, sound of footsteps.
Bīng Xuě returned.
He carried several pieces in his hands.
Fish.
dium size, still fresh, with scales reflecting morning light.
"There was a pond nearby," he said naturally. "Pretty clean."
Gerald blinked.
"...Really?"
"Yes."
He left the pieces on ground, near fire.
"Co on, help."
Group moved again, but this ti with different rhythm.
Lighter.
More relaxed.
Lyria took care of cleaning fish with precise movents. Marlon prepared suitable branches to use as support. Kenji revived fire, adding dry material to raise stronger fla.
Noelia adjusted terrain to create stable surface where to place food.
Gerald observed everything, then decided to intervene.
"Okay... I... can help with this..."
He crouched, trying to imitate what others did.
Bīng Xuě sat near fire, watching cooking.
Sll began spreading slowly.
Aku took one of the pieces when ready. He examined it a second before trying it.
Flavor was simple.
Direct.
But sufficient.
Group ate in silence for a few minutes.
Fatigue remained present, but no longer weighed the sa.
Artificial star’s light illuminated clearing with complete clarity.
And for the first ti since night began...
There was no tension in air.
After a few hours, camp remained behind without ceremony.
There were no formal goodbyes or unnecessary words. Each group collected their things, extinguished fire remains and left clearing in basic conditions. Forest recovered its silence as soon as they took a few steps among trees.
Return began with slower rhythm.
Fatigue remained in muscles, accumulated after night without real rest and prolonged combat. Even so, tension had disappeared. Movents were looser. Gazes no longer sought threats in every corner.
Bīng Xuě walked at front, hands behind head, advancing with lightness not corresponding to wear he’d shown hours before.
"The pond was over there," he comnted, pointing vaguely left. "We could return another day."
Gerald, a few steps behind, let out brief laugh while adjusting glasses.
"First let’ s survive today’ s classes... then we’ll talk about excursions."
Marlon walked beside him, spinning dagger between fingers.
"Wasn’ t bad for a night in forest."
Kenji didn’ t respond. He maintained constant pace, attentive to environnt, though his posture no longer so rigid.
Lyria closed formation beside Aku. Her spear rested on shoulder, and her gaze swept forest more relaxed.
"Terrain changes less in this direction," she murmured. "Seems we’re approaching academy area."
Aku didn’ t respond. His gaze remained ahead, following environnt’ s natural progression. There was less undergrowth, less ground irregularities. So trunks showed clean cut marks, intervention signs.
Forest began organizing.
Trees separated slightly, letting more light through. Artificial star’s clarity descended without so many barriers, illuminating path with uniform tone.
Group advanced several more minutes.
Then structure appeared.
First as line between trees.
Then as defined form.
Walls.
Tall, smooth, of clear material reflecting light softly. Had no visible wear. Showed no cracks or irregularities. Rose precisely, delimiting academy periter.
Gerald released air.
"Okay... that I like better..."
Bīng Xuě smiled.
"Already missed walls?"
"After last night... yes."
Group approached entrance.
Wide access, flanked by vertical structures seeming more decorative than defensive, though their size imposed respect. No visible doors, but crossing certain point, air changed slightly, as if crossing invisible barrier.
Sensation was brief.
Then disappeared.
Inside, environnt was completely different.
Ground was paved, clean, without trace of mud or leaves. Academy structures rose in distance, with defined lines, polished surfaces and symtry contrasting with forest’s natural disorder.
Change was evident.
Group reduced speed almost from inertia.
So students from other classes had already arrived. Moved through area, so talking among themselves, others simply walking in silence, with sa fatigue reflected in posture.
And there, at point where forest gave way to academy environnt, was he.
Hok Nerris.
Standing.
Motionless.
Arms crossed over chest, gaze fixed on returning groups. His posture hadn’ t changed since last ti they saw him, as if he hadn’t moved all night.
When Aku’ s group approached, Hok slowly uncrossed arms.
His eyes swept each one.
Evaluating.
Unhurried.
Stopped instant on Gerald, then Bīng Xuě, then Aku.
"You’ ve returned."
His voice sounded sa as always. Grave. Direct.
Gerald nodded, still recovering breath.
"Yes... more or less intact..."
Hok tilted head slightly.
"That’ s what matters."
His gaze moved toward forest, as if able to see beyond trees.
"Night wasn’ t calm."
Wasn’ t question.
Lyria responded.
"There were attacks."
Hok nodded once.
"Expected it."
Added nothing more for second. Then refocused on them.
"Most groups had problems."
His eyes stopped on team.
"But you maintained formation."
He looked at Gerald.
"And soone thought."
Gerald blinked, surprised by direct attention.
"I... well... I tried..."
Hok raised hand, cutting explanation.
"Was sufficient."
Boy fell silent.
Bīng Xuě smiled slightly.
"There was also sothing big."
Hok looked at him.
"I know."
Didn’t ask details.
Didn’t need them.
"That type of situation isn’t part of basic exercise."
Tone didn’t change, but weight of words did.
"And even so, you’ re still here."
Brief pause.
Then nodded.
"Good."
Wasn’t exaggerated congratulation.
No applause.
But recognition was clear.
"That’s survival."
Group remained silent.
Fatigue, combat, accumulated tension... everything found closure in those simple words.
Hok took step aside, clearing access.
"Go rest."
Pointed toward academy interior.
"Classes continue."
Gerald let out tired laugh.
"Of course... how not..."
Bīng Xuě stretched, as if already ready for next.
"Let’s go then."
Group began advancing again, leaving entrance behind.
Aku was last to move.
Stopped second.
Looked at Hok.
Man didn’t look away.
No word exchange.
Wasn’t necessary.
Aku turned.
And followed rest.
Academy rose before them, intact, ordered, as if night in forest hadn’t occurred.
But weight of that experience remained present.
And there were still more tests ahead.
***
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