The Sunset painted the sky red as the S-class students gathered at the forest's edge.
The Bloodwood Forest loomed ahead-ancient trees with bark so dark it looked black. The canopy was thick enough to block most light. Even now, with the sun still visible, the interior was shadowed-Dark.
Examiner Veld stood at the entrance. "You have until dawn. Hunt well and Return alive."
He stepped aside.
Prince Theron walked forward first, not looking back. "Stay close if you want to survive. I'll lead."
Helena Stross snorted. "No one elected you leader, Your Highness."
"I'm ranked second in the academy-"
"And I'm ranked third. That doesn't make you my commander." Helena's eyes flashed of anger.
Lightning crackled faintly around Theron's fingers like he was annoyed.
The group shifted uncomfortably. Already fracturing.
Seren's voice cut through the tension, calm and cold: "We should stay together until we understand the threats. Split up once we have information."
Theron looked like he wanted to argue, but even he couldn't dismiss Seren. She was ranked first for a reason.
"Fine. Together for now."
They entered the forest.
---
The temperature dropped immediately. The Bloodwood Forest earned its name-red sap oozed from some trees like blood, and the undergrowth had a reddish tint in the fading light.
Sounds echoed strangely. Bird calls that didn't sound quite right. Rustling that could be wind or something else.
Aerin kept his hand near his grimoire. Kael walked beside him, flame already dancing in his palm for light.
After fifteen minutes of walking, they reached a small clearing. A stream ran through it, water dark and fast.
Theron stopped. "We should split up here. Cover more ground. More cores collected means better results."
"That's how people die," Seren said flatly.
"That's how weak people die. The strong can handle themselves." Theron looked around the group. "Who's with me?"
Helena stepped forward. "Fine ,I'll go. Someone needs to make sure you don't get others killed."
Marcus Delvine joined them, shooting a glare at Aerin as he did. The earth mage clearly wanted revenge for his humiliation.
"Anyone else?"
No one moved.
Theron smirked. "Cowards. Fine. We'll collect the most cores and show you what real mages look like."
He headed west. Helena and Marcus followed.
Seren watched them go, expression unreadable. Then she looked at the remaining six. "Anyone else want to split off?"
The three students Aerin didn't know well-Nina, Ren, and Dmitrizclustered closer to Seren. Safety in numbers moreover She was the strongest.
That left Aerin and Kael.
"We'll manage on our own," Kael said confidently. "Two's better than ten for moving quietly anyway."
Seren's eyes met Aerin's briefly. He saw the concern there, quickly hidden. "Don't go too deep. Stay near the edge."
"We'll be careful."
She nodded and led her group north.
Aerin and Kael headed east, into the darker parts of the forest.
---
They walked in companionable silence for a while. Kael's flame provided light, but it also advertised their location. A calculated risk.
"You think they're really out there?" Kael asked quietly. "The Ashen Hand?"
"Wait.How do you know about Ashen hand?"
"C'mon it's balatantly obvious that they would come after you, besides everyone knows who they are."
Aerin stayed quiet.
"Well, if they show up, we'll handle them. Together." Kael grinned, but it was strained. "Just like training, right?"
"Right."
A howl cut through the forest. Long. Mournful. Angry.
Both of them froze.
"Was that...?" Kael started.
Another howl answered. Closer. Then another. And another.
"Dire wolves," Aerin said. His blood ran cold. "They hunt in packs." Kael said.
"How many in a pack?"
"Too many."
The undergrowth rustled. Shadows moved between trees—low, fast, circling.
Aerin drew Sangreal. "Back to back. Now!"
They pressed together. Kael's flames flared brighter, pushing back the darkness.
Six dire wolves emerged from the shadows.
Each was the size of a pony. Fur matted and dark. Eyes glowing yellow. Teeth like daggers. They moved with predatory intelligence, spreading out to surround their prey.
The largest-pack alpha-growled low. The others tensed, ready to strike.
"On three, I'll hit them with fire," Kael whispered. "You follow up."
"Wait." Aerin bit his thumb. Blood welled up. He pressed it to the ground. "Crimson Trail."
Thin threads of blood seeped into the earth. Spread out. And suddenly Aerin could feel them. Seven wolves, not six—one was hiding, waiting to ambush.
"There's another one. Behind that tree to your left."
"Got it." Kael's grin was fierce now. "IGNITION WAVE!"
Fire erupted from Kael's hands in a wide arc. The wolves scattered, but the flames caught two of them. They yelped and retreated.
The alpha charged.
Aerin activated Crimson Pulse. Blood flowed into Sangreal. The crimson veins erupted up his arm. Power flooded through him.
The world slowed.
He saw the alpha coming. Saw exactly where it would land. Sidestepped at the last second. Swung Sangreal in a tight arc.
Crimson Edge activated mid-swing. The blade coated in hardened blood.
The sword cut through the alpha's side. Not deep enough to kill, but enough to draw blood. The wolf crashed into the undergrowth, howling.
The hidden seventh wolf struck from behind.
"Behind you!" Kael shouted.
Aerin spun. Crimson Threads shot from his free hand, wrapping around the ambushing wolf's legs. It crashed down hard.
Kael's fireball hit it a second later. The wolf didn't get back up.
Four wolves left. They regrouped, circling more carefully now. Reassessing.
"They're smart," Kael said. "They're learning."
"Then we end this fast."
Aerin pulled more blood from his body into the threads on the ground. Redirected them. They shot up through the earth beneath one wolf's paws, entangling its legs. It fell.
Kael launched a compressed fire spear. Hit the fallen wolf directly. Its core shattered—instant death.
Three left.
The remaining wolves exchanged glances. Then, as one, they turned and fled into the darkness.
The fight was over in under two minutes.
Aerin released Crimson Pulse. The drain hit immediately. His legs shook. Vision blurred. He caught himself against a tree.
"You okay?" Kael was at his side instantly.
"Fine. Just... need a second."
"Take your time.but Holy shit, we actually did it!" Kael laughed, relief and adrenaline mixing. "That combo worked perfectly!"
They collected three cores from the dead wolves—crystal-like objects that pulsed faintly with magic. Evidence of their kills.
Aerin tucked them into his storage pouch. "Three down. That's a decent start."
"Decent? That was amazing! Did you see that ambush wolf? I didn't even sense it until you-"
A scream cut through the forest.
Distant. From the East. Terrified.
Then silence.
Kael's face went pale. "That sounded like..."
"Marcus." Aerin's grip tightened on Sangreal. "That was Marcus's voice."
They looked at each other.
"Theron's group is in trouble," Kael said.
"Or it's a trap."
"If it's real and we don't help-"
"If it's a trap and we walk into it, we're dead."
They stood there, torn.
The forest was silent now. No more screams. No sounds of fighting.
Just quiet.
Too quiet.
"We have to check," Kael said finally. "Even if it's Marcus. Even if he hates us. We can't just leave them."
Aerin knew he was right. Hated that he was right.
"Okay. But we move carefully. Stay alert. This could be exactly what the Ashen Hand wants."
They headed toward where the scream had come from, weapons ready.
The forest seemed to watch them go.
And somewhere in the darkness, something smiled.