"Giddy up—"
The cavalry clad in black light armor took the lead, charging onto the path across the plains. Several carriages followed behind, heading towards Waterditch Town.
Inside the carriages, the young trainees either rested with their eyes closed or inspected their weapons and gear. Because this was an extrely critical assessnt, everyone felt a mix of nervousness and caution.
At five in the afternoon, the convoy arrived at Waterditch Town. They would rest here for the night and head to a location about 15 miles outside the town tomorrow morning to begin the assessnt.
The first-floor lobby of the inn.
Sylutia, Mick, Koa, Karen, and Ray sat together at one table. Other tables were also occupied by trainees. Everyone ate a hearty dinner while discussing the situation for the next day.
Even those who didn't know the assessnt content now had a general understanding of the process.
"The first objective tomorrow is definitely to find sothing," Koa explained while sipping sweet honey water.
"The second objective is probably to kill so First Tier monster."
"As for the third objective, I hear it's very difficult, with very few people completing it."
"Sounds not too hard," Mick said through a mouthful of bread, his voice muffled.
"A First Tier monster isn't hard?" Koa tilted her head to look at the young man.
"Don't you rember that day we were chased all over the forest by that giant boar, nearly getting into an accident?"
"That was before we stepped into the First Tier, so we couldn't fight it," Mick swallowed the bread, his speech gradually clearing. He gripped the steel sword on the table, feeling his own strength.
"It's different now." His tone carried a hint of steady confidence.
"Hah, fine, I won't argue with you about this." Koa shook her head. She would be quite satisfied just achieving the first objective.
At her current stage, facing a First Tier monster was still very dangerous. If her 'Phantom Eye' didn't work, she didn't have Tia's kind of physical constitution to escape.
"What about you, Sister Karen?"
"I'll probably try for the second objective," Karen thought for a mont before answering.
"Sister Karen is a hunter, that makes sense." Hunters had rich experience dealing with monsters in the wild. Even if they couldn't defeat one head-on, they could use traps and their familiarity with the creature's habits and weaknesses to find a way to handle it.
"Ray." Koa looked at the companion beside her who had been eating without saying a word, feeling that asking him wouldn't yield any interesting answers.
"Never mind, Ray, just do your best."
"Tia, what about you?" Finally, Sylutia, who had been quietly eating her al, was called by na and looked up, snapping out of her thoughts.
"? I'll first see what the three objectives are. If I can do them, I'll try my best to complete them." She had been thinking earlier about what choice to make if she faced Iona.
Through conversations these past days, she had slowly co to understand the importance of this assessnt to Iona. If the other girl wanted to restore her family and save her family mbers, entering the Hidden Grove was the most likely thod, though also an extrely dangerous path.
Should she give the opportunity to the other? But then, where should she place her own pursuits and hopes?
"Tia is the most amazing in my heart." Koa raised a finger, but this remark was overheard by people at the next table, eliciting so snickers.
They didn't mock loudly, but the quiet discussions and disdainful glances still made the group feel sowhat annoyed.
Koa imdiately wanted to run over and argue, but Karen held her back.
"Forget it, we'll know the answer tomorrow. Save your energy and strength."
"Hmph, fine." Koa lowered her small fist. Actually, she didn't really intend to pick a fight with these people. After all, she couldn't beat them alone. It just really didn't suit her style to swallow her anger quietly like this.
Nearby, while eating, Mick locked eyes with Solyn at the next table. The two looked at each other across the distance for a while. Even without any words, they communicated.
This ti was the mont for them to settle their rivalry.
At the last table, Iona wore a dark red-based short skirt hunting outfit. Beneath the bright fabric was sturdy leather. This was light armor that combined good looks and practicality, and it wouldn't affect her agility. Besides, Iona also had two swords hanging at her waist, presenting a capable and swift image.
Tonight, she also had no mind to chat with the trainees at her table. After finishing dinner, she held a small glass of red wine, seemingly lost in thought, staring blankly.
The trainees, each with their own thoughts, finished this last al before the assessnt and then returned to their rooms to rest.
...
The next day, several carriages passed through the morning mist and arrived before a mountain forest. The carriages then stopped, and people got off one after another.
"So this is the place." Viscount Xuefeng was dressed in a proper silk formal suit today. He stood in place, gazing into the mist-shrouded mountain forest.
"Yes, my lord." A Second Tier professional hunter ca before him to report. This hunter had a sharp-eyed grey falcon on his shoulder.
"After you notified us with the information the day before yesterday, I gathered nearby villagers and temporarily sealed off this forest, prohibiting outsiders from entering or leaving."
"However, according to the villagers, an adventuring team just entered the forest a few days ago and hasn't co out yet."
"That's fine, thank you for your hard work, Deen." Viscount Xuefeng raised his hand in thanks. The hunter then stepped back, continuing to observe the situation from the side.
Soon, attendants set up a platform on the grass and placed chairs and a table for Viscount Xuefeng and Scholar Heide to be seated.
Around eight in the morning, part of the mountain mist dispersed. A black stork flew out from within, circled above the group for a while, and dropped a scroll.
An attendant picked up the scroll and presented it to Viscount Xuefeng.
Not long after, the accompanying Instructor gathered all the trainees. He first explained the various rules of the assessnt and then began to announce the objectives.
"This assessnt is extrely important and also particularly dangerous. Anyone who feels timid can withdraw now." The trainees looked at each other, but no one spoke up or withdrew.
Having co this far, they had long since made up their minds.
"Very good. Then I announce the three objectives of this assessnt."
"First objective: You must obtain the water from a hidden spring in the mountain forest. It is a sweetwater spring, its waters shrouded in mist, possessing a faint 'Mist Shadow' Aspect."
"Second objective: You must kill an aberrant monster in the forest, at least a 'First Tier' monster."
"Third objective: On a mountain cliff within the forest, a 'Blood Aberration Flower' blooms. Pluck it and bring it back. But be warned: the flower's location is extrely perilous, it is highly toxic, and there may be other aberrant creatures guarding it."
"Bringing back an assessnt objective is considered completing the task. If you fail to return midway, it is still not considered completed."
"Completing one objective will earn you a reward from the Viscount. Act according to your abilities, because no one in the forest will provide any assistance. Even if you are injured and unable to move, you must wait until three days later, when the assessnt ends, before soone might go in to search for you."
"Alright, that concludes the explanation. If you have any questions, you may ask now." After the Instructor finished speaking, everyone began to discuss animatedly.
"Instructor, can we form teams during the assessnt to complete tasks?"
"You can form teams, but your entry locations are determined by drawing lots. You won't necessarily start together."
"Instructor, if we kill one monster, does that count as the entire team completing the objective?"
"No, killing one monster only counts as one person completing the objective. Also, I must remind you, this forest is vast and shrouded in mist. Simply finding one of these monsters won't be easy."
"Instructor, for the third objective, could we encounter monsters above 'First Tier'?"
"I cannot guarantee anything." The Instructor shook his head.
"In other words, we might et exceptionally dangerous enemies." The trainees whispered amongst themselves.
"One last question, Instructor. What if we have conflicts in the forest, even attacking each other?" Soone asked cautiously.
"As long as no one reports it, no one will investigate." The Instructor gave them a aningful look.
"Assessnts like this have been going on for over a thousand years. Any problems you can think of now, any situations you might encounter, have countless precedents."
"I want to tell you, the world is cruel. Not all environnts are as stable and peaceful as within Scorchstone City. Even if you don't encounter it during the assessnt, you will sooner or later in the future."
"Protect yourselves, make choices carefully, and find the correct path in complex and ever-changing environnts."
"This will be a challenge you face throughout your lives."
"Alright, now the assessnt begins. Everyone, start drawing lots to choose your locations."
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