"You'll have to undertake a mission with your group," the principal declared, a faint smile playing on her lips.
The courtyard fell into a hushed anticipation as students eagerly awaited details about the impending mission.
"The task at hand is a survival test in the Forest of Death."
Before the students could react, the principal abruptly snapped her fingers, plunging them into darkness.
Principal's Perspective:
Still in the courtyard, the principal was now joined by a man, Midori, the dragon-like being. Her demeanor was serious, and she seemed genuinely concerned.
"Midori, we have a problem," she began gravely.
Midori, his anxiety palpable, inquired, "What's going on?"
A sense of urgency crept into her voice as she continued, "A rival has emerged, and it appears he's enamored with Mana. What's more, it seems that Mana might reciprocate those feelings."
Midori clenched his fist, summoning a sword into his hand as he said, "Tell me his name and describe his appearance."
"He goes by the name Toshiko, a striking elf with white hair, green eyes, quite tall, and well-built," the principal hurriedly explained.
"Very well, I'll do what I can to remove him from the equation," Midori vowed, his determination evident.
Before they could take any action, both of them were jolted as something struck them in the head. They turned to find Nurse Jade, her expression a mix of annoyance and frustration.
"What are you two doing? You're not going to kill Toshiko, are you?" Jade's voice was laden with a threatening edge.
The principal tried to assuage Jade's concerns with a disarming smile. "No, we're not going to kill him, don't worry."
Midori chimed in, his tone somewhat more sinister, "Yes, don't worry, it's not my intention to kill him. Perhaps just... incapacitate him, erase his memory, or simply ensure he vanishes without a trace." He punctuated his words with a self-assured smile.
Jade's patience wore thin, and she swiftly responded with another punch to Midori's head. "You can't do that. I'm confident Evangeline can handle this situation, beat Toshiko, and reclaim Mana."
The principal and Midori exchanged glances, their skepticism regarding Jade's optimism evident in their expressions. They even shared a brief, incredulous laugh.
"You know Evangeline very well," the principal remarked, "and you're aware that Evangeline can be quite inept when it comes to matters of the heart. Before her reincarnation, she nearly lost Mana multiple times by unintentionally hurting her emotionally."
Midori added solemnly, "Indeed, and furthermore, Evangeline isn't particularly inclined toward romance. She consistently prioritizes others' feelings above her own."
Jade, undeterred, delivered her ultimatum with an angry undertone. "I don't care. You will trust Evangeline in this matter. If either of you dares to meddle, prepare to face me."
The headmistress and Midori nodded in understanding, yet their expressions hinted at a lingering determination that suggested they hadn't entirely abandoned their plans.
Back to Evangeline's perspective, she opened her eyes to find herself alone in a foreboding forest, no longer bound to Mana, and with her group scattered around her. Seiko, as usual, perched atop her head.
Evangeline surveyed her surroundings with a sense of trepidation. The forest seemed eerie, and the uncertainty of their situation weighed heavily on her.
"What's our next move?" she mused aloud, her gaze sweeping the unfamiliar, ominous landscape.
Before she could gather her thoughts, the headmistress's voice echoed through the trees, sending shivers down their spines. Her words were ominous and sent a chill through the group.
"Starting now, you have two days to survive in this forest. Good luck, and above all, stay alive," the principal's voice reverberated, leaving a lingering sense of foreboding in the air.
Evangeline couldn't help but feel a strange déjà vu, as if she'd been in this situation before, though she couldn't quite place it.
Her discontent was palpable as she remarked, "This all feels strangely familiar."
The rest of her group shared her sentiments, although Seiko couldn't quite comprehend why Evangeline was in such a sour mood.
"I suggest we first find a safe place where we can spend the night without any problems," Evangeline calmly proposed, her voice carrying a sense of practicality and composure.
Once more, the group collectively nodded in agreement, though the weight of their decision bore heavily on their minds. The Forest of Death wasn't known for offering safe havens willingly.
Their collective attention was suddenly drawn to rustling in the bushes nearby, a sound that sent a ripple of unease through the group, causing them to hold their breath in anticipation.
From the underbrush emerged an unexpected sight: a squirrel. Relief washed over the group, and Seiko couldn't resist chuckling at their collective overreaction.
"You're genuinely scared of a squirrel? How pathetic," Seiko taunted, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"It's not a laughing matter, Seiko. We're in the Forest of Death, where anything can be a threat," Soon-ni retorted, his unease still lingering.
As Soon-ni's words left his lips, an eerie transformation overtook the seemingly harmless squirrel. It grotesquely morphed into a towering creature, easily three meters tall, with teeth that gleamed like razor-sharp blades.
"Well, that's just perfect. You really should've kept quiet, Soon-ni," Yuriko grumbled, annoyance etched across her face.
The monstrous creature charged towards them at an alarming speed, prompting swift reactions from the group. Evangeline conjured a fireball, flinging it toward the beast. Yet, before it could reach its target, the fireball abruptly vanished, leaving Evangeline bewildered. With the squirrel-monster nearly upon them, the group's only option was to evade its ferocious attack, a feat they managed to accomplish just in the nick of time.
Yuriko, taking her cue from Evangeline's earlier attempt, summoned a ball of water and hurled it towards the grotesque squirrel-creature. However, like Evangeline's fireball, the water sphere inexplicably vanished before making contact with the creature.
"Stop using magic; it's ineffective. It seems like something's negating our magic. Allow me to handle this," Seiko declared as he nimbly descended from Evangeline's head, preparing for combat.
Seiko approached the squirrel-monster with deliberate steps, closing the gap between them in seconds. Their eyes locked in a tense standoff. The squirrel, upon meeting Seiko's unwavering gaze, involuntarily recoiled a few inches. Seiko's paw lifted, gently touching the creature. In an instant, the squirrel was engulfed in intense azure flames that consumed it entirely. When the flames subsided, not a trace remained, not even ashes. Seiko nonchalantly returned to his perch on Evangeline's head, as if his actions were no more significant than a casual stroll.
"I suppose we don't have to worry about finding a safe place with Seiko around," Lily remarked, her hand affectionately ruffling Seiko's fur.
"True, but we still need to construct a shelter before nightfall and secure some food and water," Somi added, a hint of concern in her voice.
With that in mind, they forged ahead through the forest, the day slipping away rapidly. Along the way, they encountered several more menacing creatures, all of which they swiftly dispatched. Yet, despite their efforts, they found neither sustenance nor a water source, and the encroaching darkness loomed ominously.
Trapped in the vast, bewildering forest, they felt like they were going in circles, their earlier enthusiasm now replaced by frustration. Oddly, they hadn't encountered any other living beings during their journey. But then, as if answering their unspoken wishes, a river materialized before them.
"Do you all see what I'm seeing? This is real, right?" Somi's voice quivered, tears of relief forming in his eyes.
With hope gleaming in his gaze, Somi hurriedly separated from the group and sprinted towards the river. He bent down to drink the water, his parched throat yearning for its cool embrace. Just as he was about to quench his thirst, a colossal fish, easily two meters in length, erupted from the water's depths. In a horrifying moment, it swallowed Somi whole before vanishing back into the river's depths.
The rest of the group stood dumbfounded, shock etched across their faces. Without a moment's hesitation, they rushed to the river's edge, their hearts pounding in unison. Spotting the enormous fish, Evangeline summoned a dark rope, effortlessly ensnaring the creature and hoisting it onto the riverbank. The fish thrashed wildly, its struggles futile against the inky restraints. Evangeline delivered a sharp blow to the fish's belly, compelling it to expel Somi with a grotesque retch. In the process, the fish succumbed to its injuries, lifeless at last.
"Are you out of your mind, Somi? Do you want to get yourself killed?" Yuriko's voice trembled with anger.
"I-I'm so sorry. I never thought I'd be devoured by a giant fish," Somi stammered, his eyes downcast in apology.
"Never pull a stunt like that again, or I might just do it myself!" Soon-mi scolded, a well-aimed smack to Somi's head punctuating her point.
Evangeline, stomach grumbling audibly, tried to find a silver lining in the dire situation. "Well, on the bright side, we've got something to eat now."
Evangeline's words seemed to resonate with the entire group, and as if on cue, the rumbling of hungry stomachs broke the tension, sending everyone into fits of laughter that helped lighten the somber mood.
By the riverbank, they made the decision to set up camp. Gathering wood for shelter and fire, the day seemed to pass at a rapid pace. Nightfall descended upon them, painting the forest in an inky darkness. The campfire crackled to life, casting dancing shadows on their faces as they cooked the fish they'd caught earlier. Somi, harboring a newfound resentment for the fish, savored every bite with an oddly satisfying vengeance. Soon, their makeshift meal was finished, and they set about crafting a rudimentary shelter.
"Well, it's time to decide on watch shifts for the night. Who's up first?" Soon-mi stifled a yawn.
"No need for shifts. I'll create a barrier to keep us safe throughout the night," Seiko offered, his own exhaustion evident in a wide yawn.
"You're on, Seiko, but if it falters..." Yuriko began skeptically.
Seiko's irritation flared, his aura releasing in a palpable wave that sent a shiver down Yuriko's spine. "Don't underestimate me, kid," he snapped.
Evangeline quickly intervened, her hand gently caressing Seiko's head, bringing a halt to the display of power. "Seiko, ease up. We're all on the same team."
Lily, sensing the need to change the topic, chimed in, "It's time to get some rest."
With collective nods, they retreated into their shelter. Seiko erected his protective barrier, cocooning the group within it. One by one, they drifted into slumber, the day's weariness overtaking them. Unbeknownst to them, a looming sense of dread awaited, unseen in the darkened forest.