Dawn broke cold over Ashbourne's eastern gate.
The team assembled with practiced efficiency—Korvan adjusting his massive shield, Lyra checking speed-enhanced boots, Kade organizing tactical supplies. Van stood at the head, reviewing mission parameters one final time. Adrian arrived last, rune-enhanced equipment secured, violet pendant tucked beneath his armor.
"Everyone ready?" Van asked.
Nods all around. No ceremony, no speeches. Just warriors preparing for work.
They rode east into mountain terrain that gradually softened toward farmland. Two days to Thornpeak Village. Time enough to understand who they'd be fighting alongside.
The first day passed with terrain navigation and professional assessment. Korvan rode with the confidence of someone who'd tanked charging monsters before—his armor clinked rhythmically, shield strapped across his back like second nature.
"Fifteen confirmed monster kills," he said when Adrian asked about his experience. "Mostly trolls and rock drakes. Heavy combat's about positioning and timing. Let the monster commit, use their momentum against them, shield the weak points your team needs to exploit."
"Sounds like you've taken hits."
Korvan grinned, gesturing to scars visible on his neck. "Troll club to the shoulder last year. Cracked three ribs, dislocated arm. Back in action two weeks later. Ashbourne doesn't train quitters."
Lyra was different—smaller, quieter, but her eyes constantly scanned surroundings with predatory awareness. Scout instincts never fully at rest.
"Speed's survival," she explained during midday break. "Monsters are strong, but most are slow. Get in, strike weak points, get out before they react. I've killed twelve—mostly gnolls and wyverns. Things that hunt in packs, require mobility to counter."
"You ever fight demons?" Adrian asked.
"Once. Demon Soldier during border patrol exercise. Fast, intelligent, nothing like monsters. Demons think, adapt, plan. Scariest fight of my life." She met his eyes with respect. "Heard you've killed more than one. That true?"
"Northwatch border. Demons are common there."
Lyra nodded slowly. "Then you know real combat. Most students here train against monsters. You've faced intelligent enemies. That's different skill set."
Kade was scholarly but capable—rune specialist who understood enhancement theory like Master Torven.
"Runes are force multipliers," he explained, showing Adrian his equipment. "Focus rune in my helmet sharpens tactical analysis under pressure. Endurance rune in armor lets me maintain support longer. I'm not frontline fighter like you or Van, but I make frontline fighters more effective."
"How many hunts?"
"Eight. Support role, mostly. But I've studied rune applications extensively. If we encounter enslavement runes, I'll recognize the patterns, maybe even reverse them if we capture equipment intact."
Van rode beside Adrian frequently, professional assessment giving way to genuine curiosity.
"Your demon experience—what's the biggest difference between demons and monsters?"
Adrian considered. "Demons plan. They use tactics, set ambushes, retreat when losing. Monsters rely on instinct and strength. Demons are wars of strategy. Monsters are battles of capability."
"Makes sense why Ashbourne placed you in second year. You've already learned lessons most of us are still studying."
They rode in comfortable silence until Van noticed Adrian's hand drift to his chest—subtle movement, touching something beneath armor. It happened repeatedly throughout the day. Unconscious gesture.
"That pendant," Van said eventually. "You touch it often. Significant meaning?"
Adrian paused, then honest. "It's a promise to someone."
Korvan overheard, grinning broadly. "A someone? Tournament champion has romantic attachments? This I want to hear."
"Just someone important," Adrian said firmly. "We're separated while at academy. The pendant's reminder of promises made."
Van's expression softened with understanding. "Ah. Long-distance situation. That's tough during academy years. My adopted family writes letters, but it's not the same as being there."
"Exactly," Adrian agreed.
Korvan wasn't done. "Important enough to carry into monster territory? Must be serious promises."
"They are."
"Violet color," Lyra observed. "Pretty shade. Gift from this someone?"
"Yes."
"And they're waiting for you while you're at Ashbourne?" Kade asked.
"At another academy. We're both working toward early graduation—two years instead of three. Makes the separation shorter."
"Two years apart from someone you care about that much?" Lyra's expression showed sympathy. "That's harder than most monster hunts."
"Hence the pendant," Van observed. "Physical reminder of what you're working toward."
"Exactly."
The teasing continued good-naturedly—Korvan joking about tournament champions having secret relationships, Lyra wondering if they wore matching pendants, Kade speculating about reunion after graduation. But underneath the humor was genuine respect. Adrian had someone worth fighting for, worth enduring separation for. That resonated with warriors who understood sacrifice.
They camped as twilight descended, setting watch rotations with military precision. Van took first watch with Adrian, fire crackling between them.
"Sorry about the team," Van said quietly. "They mean well. But personal matters are personal."
"It's fine. Actually... nice to talk about it. Ashbourne's been mission-focused. Haven't really discussed her with anyone here."
"Must be strange. Going from training together to complete separation."
"Strange and necessary. We both need academy education. She's at Silverkeep learning politics and leadership. I'm here learning comprehensive monster hunting. Three years total, two if we excel." Adrian touched the pendant again. "Worth it for what comes after."
Van nodded understanding. "I've never had that. Romantic attachment, I mean. Merchant family gave me everything—love, support, purpose. But I don't remember anything before them. No childhood, no origins, just... waking up one day in their care. Sometimes I wonder who I was before. If I had people who cared like you and this someone care for each other."
"Your merchant family cares."
"They do. But it's different. They found me, chose to help. I'm grateful beyond words. But there's emptiness in not knowing where you came from, who you were supposed to be." Van stared into the fire. "Maybe that's why I push so hard at Ashbourne. Earning first rank through capability, proving I'm worth the second chance they gave me."
"You've definitely earned it," Adrian said. "First-ranked squire isn't luck or favoritism. That's pure skill."
"Appreciate that. And for what it's worth, I think what you have is rare. Worth protecting. Worth enduring two years of separation for." Van smiled slightly. "Just don't let the pendant distract you during combat tomorrow. Gnolls are vicious when they sense weakness."
"I won't. Combat focus, personal thoughts after."
"Good answer."
The second day brought them into farmland territory. Thornpeak Village appeared on the horizon by late afternoon—small settlement nestled against hills, fields stretching around it. But something was wrong.
Smoke rose from damaged buildings. Fields showed signs of violent passage. As they approached, villagers emerged cautiously, eyes scanning the Ashbourne crest on their equipment with desperate hope.
"You came," an elderly man breathed—village elder, weathered face lined with exhaustion. "Thank the gods, you came. The monsters attacked again last night. Three more injured, livestock slaughtered. They're getting bolder."
Van dismounted, professional assessment immediate. "Show us the damage. Tell us everything you know about their patterns."
The team followed the elder into Thornpeak, professional mode engaged. The journey's camaraderie shifted to mission focus. Time to understand what they were facing, plan the assault, execute the elimination.
Adrian touched the pendant one final time before dismounting. She was at Silverkeep, excelling in her own challenges. He was here, about to face gnoll pack and evil faction.
Different academies. Different missions. Same commitment to becoming worthy of what waited after graduation.
The hunt was beginning.