Morning arrived slowly over the Royal Magic Academy of Valtheria.
Mist drifted through the lower training fields where rows of young mages gathered in small groups. The air smelled faintly of damp soil and morning dew, and somewhere beyond the stone walls the distant forest stretched endlessly toward the mountains.
Takemi adjusted the strap of the small leather satchel slung across his shoulder.
Inside were the academy-issued supplies:
a basic mana compass
a healing potion
dried travel rations
a small field journal
The satchel felt light.
Too light.
He turned his head slightly.
Rauk stood a few paces away, resting his massive training sword against his shoulder like it weighed nothing at all.
"Still looks like you're going on a picnic," Takemi said.
Rauk shrugged.
"You complain too much."
Takemi grinned.
"Someone has to."
Students continued gathering across the field. Instructors walked among them, checking equipment and speaking quietly with each group.
Unlike the entrance exams, the mood today was calmer.
But beneath the calm…
there was excitement.
Today would be the first time many of them stepped beyond the academy walls as official trainees.
A tall instructor wearing dark blue robes stepped onto a raised stone platform.
"First-year students."
The murmuring stopped immediately.
"Today you will begin your first supervised field expedition."
Behind him a large enchanted map appeared in the air.
It showed the region surrounding the capital city of Solmire.
The academy sat atop a plateau overlooking the western edge of the city. Beyond that stretched forests, rolling plains, rivers, and distant mountains.
The instructor pointed toward a section of woodland just north of the academy.
"This forest is known as the Emerald Verge."
Takemi studied the map carefully.
The forest looked enormous.
"Your task is simple," the instructor continued.
"Observation."
A few students blinked.
"Not combat," he clarified. "Not hunting."
He tapped the map again.
"You will travel along marked routes and record the types of monsters and magical creatures you encounter."
Another instructor stepped forward.
"You must understand the ecosystem before you attempt to fight within it."
Takemi tilted his head slightly.
Ecosystem.
Interesting.
The instructor continued his explanation.
"Magic saturates the world. Creatures exposed to high concentrations of mana evolve in unusual ways."
He waved his hand.
Several glowing illustrations appeared beside the map.
A small rabbit with glowing blue horns.
A wolf with scales along its spine.
A bird with wings that shimmered like glass.
"These are low-tier magical creatures."
Takemi leaned forward slightly.
"Creatures like these rarely attack humans unless provoked."
The instructor waved his hand again.
The images changed.
Now the creatures were far more dangerous.
A massive boar with tusks like curved blades.
A serpent longer than a carriage.
A hulking lizard whose body seemed to radiate heat.
"These are mid-tier monsters."
The room grew quieter.
"Such creatures are capable of killing untrained adventurers."
Takemi noticed several students swallow nervously.
The instructor's voice became slightly heavier.
"And beyond them…"
The images vanished.
"…exist creatures that even experienced adventurers fear to face."
The map slowly faded away.
"You will not encounter those today."
A few students let out relieved breaths.
Takemi smiled faintly.
He wasn't sure if he believed that.
After the briefing ended, the instructors divided the students into small groups.
Takemi and Rauk ended up assigned together along with three other first-year students.
They were given a route that led through the northern section of the Emerald Verge.
Stone gates slowly opened along the academy's outer wall.
Beyond them…
the world stretched wide and untamed.
Takemi stepped through the gate.
The ground changed instantly.
The perfectly maintained academy pathways disappeared behind them, replaced by narrow forest trails covered in fallen leaves.
Birdsong echoed through the trees.
Wind rustled through the branches.
Takemi took a slow breath.
"This feels different."
Rauk nodded once.
"Yes."
Takemi glanced back.
The academy towers were still visible in the distance, rising above the forest canopy.
But already they felt far away.
The group moved slowly through the forest.
Instructors followed at a distance to supervise, but they allowed the students to lead their own exploration.
Takemi walked near the front.
His eyes constantly moved between the trees.
"Tracks," he said suddenly.
The others gathered beside him.
Several small footprints were visible in the mud near a stream.
One of the students crouched down.
"Forest hares."
Takemi tilted his head.
"How do you know?"
The student pointed.
"Two back legs. Mana horn marks in the soil."
Sure enough, tiny circular indents appeared beside the footprints.
Takemi smiled slightly.
He liked this part.
Learning how the world worked.
The first creature appeared just before noon.
It hopped into view from behind a cluster of bushes.
A small rabbit.
Except it had two glowing blue horns protruding from its head.
The creature froze when it noticed the group.
Takemi crouched slightly.
"…Mana Hare."
One of the students quickly opened their field journal and began sketching.
The creature twitched its nose.
Then it hopped away into the bushes.
Takemi stood back up.
"That was almost disappointing."
Rauk looked toward the deeper forest.
"Be patient."
The deeper they walked into the Emerald Verge, the quieter the forest became.
At first Takemi didn't notice it.
But after nearly an hour…
he stopped walking.
Rauk stopped beside him.
"What?"
Takemi frowned slightly.
"…Listen."
The group stood still.
Wind moved through the trees.
Leaves rustled.
But something was missing.
"No birds," Takemi said.
The others slowly looked around.
The forest had gone unnaturally quiet.
Rauk's grip tightened slightly on his sword.
Takemi's instincts prickled.
Something was watching them.
Somewhere…
deeper in the forest.