Ezra ran through the frozen forest, his breath turning white in the cold air. Every crunch of snow, every rustle of broken branches pulled him forward. He followed the faint trail of Felix and Matthey — footprints pressed deep into the snow, half-covered by drifting flakes.
Minutes passed before he noticed the sounds had stopped. The forest grew quiet. No wind. No birds. Only the faint creak of frozen trees. Ezra slowed, then crouched, pressing a hand against the cold bark of a nearby trunk. He climbed up silently, his fingers digging into the rough surface, and hid among the branches.
From above, he saw Felix and Matthey rejoining the others.
What shocked him wasn't how many were there, but what they held.
"Sir Felix," a girl said. Her hood covered most of her hair, the same black coat that all test participants wore hiding her shape. Her tone was calm, controlled. "Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
Felix bent, breathing hard. "N-Never mind… ah…" He straightened after a long breath, fixing his coat and hair. Matthey lay sprawled on the snow beside him, too tired to move.
Felix looked at the tall boy standing guard. His skin was pale, his hair and eyes pure white — like the snow itself. "Gareth," Felix called. "You did what I told you?"
"Yes," Gareth said simply.
"It was easier than expected," another voice said. It came from a girl kneeling between two Silverback Dire Wolves, which were both Flankers. Her hair was split black and pink, and her eyes had the same strange pink tint. She ran her hands along the wolves' fur, smirking. The beasts were asleep, chained to a tree, their muzzles tied. "Setting the trap and putting them to sleep was easier than I thought," she said proudly.
"Where are the others?" the hooded girl asked, looking at Matthey.
Matthey scratched his head, unable to meet her eyes. "Well…" The air around him felt heavy. He could already feel their judgment. "They were…"
"They were killed by a lowborn," Felix said flatly, cutting him off. He sat down in the snow, finally steadying his breath.
The group fell silent. Only Gareth stayed calm, as if nothing surprised him.
"Wait… what?" the girl between the wolves — Page — threw her hands up. "You're telling me you ran back here because a lowborn beat you?"
"Page," Felix said, his voice deep and quiet. "That's what I said."
Page blinked, her smirk fading. "A-Okay…"
"That means," Gareth spoke, "he's not just any lowborn."
Matthey nodded quickly. "Yeah, his movement, it was too fast. He caught everyone off guard."
"No one asked you," Page snapped.
A boy beside Gareth crossed his arms. "Still, it's expected. Everyone's desperate here, from the lowest branch to the main line. It's obvious there will be some with talent."
Felix's jaw tightened. "I don't care where they're from. Anyone who annoys me… dies." His eyes were sharp again.
"So, do we look for him before the trial ends?" the hooded girl asked.
Felix's lips curved slowly. "Look for him? No need." He turned his gaze to the trees surrounding them. "The rat's already here."
Ezra froze. Did they notice me?
"I was waiting for your order," Gareth said, his hand already tightening on his weapon.
"Tsk." Ezra clicked his tongue and turned to run.
"Don't run."
The voice came from his right. The hooded girl appeared beside him in a blur, dagger slicing through the air. Ezra twisted his head just in time — the blade grazed his cheek, cutting skin. He jumped down from the tree, landing in front of Felix's entire group.
"Huh?" the girl frowned, staring at her weapon. "He dodged?"
"I see," said a boy with long white hair tied in a ponytail. His green eyes watched Ezra closely. "Quick reflexes."
Ezra stood still, snowflakes clinging to his coat. His voice was calm. "For a coward to lead a group this large, I have to say, I'm seeing you differently, Felix."
"Huh?" the hooded girl snapped. "Who does this brat think he is?"
"He talks too much," the boy beside Gareth muttered.
"You know you're going to die, right?" the boy with the ponytail said. His voice was flat, but his hand trembled slightly around his dagger.
"I know," Ezra replied. His eyes locked on Felix's. "But if I die… I'll make sure your leader goes with me."
Silence. Breath turned to mist. Even the wind paused.
Then the group moved.
Three of them charged at once. Ezra slid a step back, snow crunching under his heel, then ducked as the hooded girl's blade flashed from the side. Her dagger missed his neck by an inch. He twisted and bolted into the forest.
"Tsk! He's slippery!" she shouted, stabbing her dagger into a tree trunk in anger.
The others prepared to chase, but Felix lifted a hand. His grin returned. "Don't. I have a better idea."
He turned to Page. "Release them."
Her smile fell. "You serious? I was getting attached to them."
"Let the rat run," Felix said coldly. "Let him regret crossing me."
Page sighed and pulled out a small sack. She sprinkled the dust inside over the two wolves. Their eyes snapped open. They rose slowly, muscles twitching, chains rattling. She pulled the ropes from their mouths and necks. The beasts growled, teeth flashing, their eyes locking on the direction Ezra ran.
Page smirked faintly. "There goes my new friends."
***
A moment later, the wolves sprinted into the forest.
Ezra heard the howl first. It made his blood run cold.
"Shit… he really let them loose," he muttered, glancing behind him. The sound of crashing trees grew louder. "I can't go back to Gena. But how do I shake them off?"
His mind raced. The traps. If Gena hasn't left to that place yet, then the area should still be safe, it was just a guess, but it was his only chance. He pushed harder, snow flying under his boots. His breath burned in his throat. The ground trembled behind him.
The wolves were fast — faster than he'd imagined. The air filled with their growls. Ezra jumped over fallen logs, leapt across rocks, and slid down a small slope. He saw the familiar tall trees ahead — his trap zone.
But one of the wolves burst from the side, its massive body crashing through a trunk. It swung a claw at him.
Ezra dropped low, rolling on the snow, his palm pushing him back up mid-run. The air beside his head split from the force of the swipe. He turned his head, both wolves were now visible, closing in.
He veered right, heading for the trap zone. Trees splintered behind him. One wolf lunged; its breath hot against his neck. It was close… too close.
Then… a sharp crack. A hidden log, sharpened at the end, swung out and impaled the beast midair, flinging it aside with a dull thud.
The other wolf didn't stop. It lunged again. Ezra threw himself backward, raising his arms as the snow exploded where the wolf landed. Its claws dug into the earth. Ezra could feel the vibration through his bones.
One hit… and I'm dead.
Sweat ran down his face, mixing with the snow. His hands trembled, but his eyes stayed fixed.
He saw the next trap. Close, but not close enough. The wolf crouched, growling low. Its breath fogged the air between them.
Ezra turned and ran straight at it.
He pulled his dagger and threw it at the wolf. The wolf smacked it away with its paw and lunged, confident.
Ezra smirked. "Got you."
He jumped. The wolf's shadow swallowed him, but ropes shot from beneath the snow — four, snapping tight around its legs. The beast roared, thrashing, but the ropes held, tied to the bamboo trees he'd reinforced earlier.
Ezra stood shakily, brushing snow from his coat. His knees trembled. His breathing was rough. He raised his bamboo gun, aimed at the wolf's head, and pulled the trigger.
The sound echoed through the forest.
He lowered the gun and exhaled. For a moment, it was silent.
Then…
Pain tore through his arm.
Another wolf burst from the side, slamming him down. Its teeth sank into his already injured hand caused by the recoil of the bamboo gun.
"Ahhhh!" Ezra screamed, punching the beast's snout with his free hand. It didn't let go. Blood spilled across the snow.
He kicked its stomach and felt a weak spot — the wound caused by the bid sharpened log that hit it. The wolf howled, throwing him aside. He rolled, coughing, vision spinning. His left arm hung limp, bleeding and dislocated.
The wolf limped, growling, ready to strike again. Ezra's legs trembled, but he forced himself up. He ran.
The wolf followed, faster with each step.
The ground ahead cracked. Ezra jumped with his last bit of strength. The wolf pounced right after him—
And the earth opened.
A hidden pit, filled with sharpened stakes.
The wolf's claws scraped his back as it fell, tearing through his coat and skin before its body crashed below.
Ezra hit the ground hard on the other side, sliding across the snow. His body stung everywhere. Blood spread beneath him, melting the snow.
The cold bit into his wounds. His breathing slowed. Above, the clouds broke, letting faint sunlight touch the forest floor.
Then a horn sounded in the distance.
Ezra let out a dry laugh. "Haha… guess that's the end of the trial…" He coughed; eyes heavy.
Snow fell quietly over him as his world faded to white.