A headache begins to pulse at the edges of my awareness, an unwelcome side effect of the escalating situation. I exhale heavily, rubbing the bridge of my nose in a futile attempt to stave off the pain. "I swear, if this survival test doesn't end soon..." I mutter to myself, the sentence trailing off into a frustrated growl.
I survey the now still forms of the wild dogs, their vacant eyes staring blankly into the nothingness of death. There's no sign of malnourishment on their bodies, their fur is sleek and well-groomed – they were healthy animals. No physical indications of mind control either, their eyes don't hold that glazed, vacant look I've seen in some manipulated animals recorded in books.
But there's something – a pattern that's gnawing at me. All these dogs came from the same direction. An uncomfortable realization begins to set in – the best way to resolve this might just be heading straight into their territory. The idea is as appealing as swallowing a mouthful of dirt.
Looking towards Ariande, I call out, "The next group will probably be twice the size. How far do you think their main base is?"
Before Ariande can respond, Rami steps in, her voice edged with determination, "It doesn't matter how long it takes, waiting for them is a stupid idea. We should head their way and finish this."
Remy quickly backs up her statement, adding, "Rami's right. We need to attack whatever is controlling these dogs."
Ariande looks thoughtful, her eyes distant as she studies the pack's trail. "Based on their movements, we should arrive wherever they came from within a day or two," she finally answers.
The group's agreement gives me a strange sense of relief. The plan is bothersome, sure, but it beats waiting around for more dogs to attack. My role as the de facto leader is not one I relish, but it's necessary – we need someone to make decisions, to guide the group. And since no one else is willing to do so, I'm stuck in this position.
"Alright then, it's settled," I say, nodding resolutely. The others echo the sentiment with their own nods and expressions of determination. "We'll head their way and strike at them directly."
Together, we begin our trek in the direction from which the wild dogs emerged. The silence of the forest feels heavy around us, yet oddly calming, providing a sense of unity among the group.
Nyssa drifts towards me, her cheerfulness standing in stark contrast to the quiet surroundings. "Hey~ Do you think V is doing well?" she asks, her voice laced with playfulness.
I sigh, rubbing my throbbing temples. V... He's probably doing fine, knowing him he probably has his situation under control. As far as I know, he's not the type to struggle, especially with classmates like Isadora, Isabella, Aira, and Liam around him. "I'm sure he's fine," I reply, trying to reassure her. "With Isadora, Isabella, Aira, and Liam by his side, I doubt he'd have a hard time."
Nyssa laughs, looping her arm around my neck. "Come on, cheer up and smile~ Class A is full of nobles. How many of them do you think know how to cook? Hahaha, V must be struggling feeding them all~"
As I contemplate Nyssa's words, Elara and Zara join our conversation. "Nyssa~ Who is this V you keep bringing up?" Elara asks, playfully tugging her shoulder. Zara, not missing a beat, adds fuel to the fire, "That's right~ Who is this V you like so much?"
I tilt my head in confusion, trying to process their words. Nyssa... likes V? That seems strange... Did he help her out with an issue or something?
Flustered, Nyssa releases my neck, stuttering out a response. "I-I, think you guys are m-misinterpreting it incorrectly, h-he's just a friend." Her hands fidget nervously, a clear sign of her discomfort.
Despite my confusion, I can't help but find the situation amusing. Elara and Zara exchange knowing glances and chuckle at my cluelessness. "Hey Sera, Nyssa is-" Zara begins to explain, but before she can finish, Nyssa interrupts.
"I! I am very hungry! How about we hunt something to eat?" Nyssa quickly changes the subject, her face bright red. Is she sick?
Her suggestion makes me realize just how long it's been since we last ate. My stomach grumbles in agreement. "Now that you mention it, we haven't eaten in a while," I say, glad for the distraction. Though I don't fully understand the dynamics of Nyssa and V's relationship, I figure that it's a conversation for another day. For now, our focus should be on eating something.
I sigh, digging through my bag to find some fruit we'd gathered earlier. It's not much, but it'll have to do for now. The wild dogs have likely scared off any potential prey in the immediate area. "Alright everyone, I doubt we'll find anything to hunt because of those damn wild dogs, so let's just eat the fruit we've saved up," I announce, distributing the scant supply.
As we continue walking, I notice Elara and Zara still playfully pestering Nyssa, but I decide to let them have their fun. Meanwhile, a grumbling voice interrupts the steady rhythm of our journey.
"Tsk, how am I supposed to eat fruit? My muscles are going to shrink at this rate, I need some meat," Gareth complains, his dissatisfaction as apparent as his bulk.
Mira, never one to pass up a chance to mock Gareth, snorts at his protest. "Huh!? What the fuck are you on about muscle head? Look at yourself, your muscles are gonna burst before they shrink, dumbass. Maybe I should beat some sense into you, you overgrown bastard."
Gareth rises to her bait, his usual easy-going nature giving way to annoyance. "Huh!? Shut it, you fucking cat! All you do is dodge with your shitty magic arts or whatnot. Fight me like a warrior. All you do is run around like a pathetic bastard!" He lumbers toward her, his hulking form casting an intimidating shadow.
Mira, unfazed by his stature, clenches her fists, her eyes glinting dangerously. "I guess I need to put you in your place, you muscle-head bastard."
There they go again. I sigh, shaking my head. Ever since they fought against each other in the tournament, Gareth and Mira can't seem to stop butting heads. I wasn't there to witness it myself but apparently both of them refused to back down. To my surprise, I spot Nyssa watching their bickering as if it's some kind of theatrical play. She truly is different than others, she said she went to church, just which religion is she part of?
Just as I am about to intervene and break them up, Kaden steps forward, grabbing Mira, while Eamon pulls Gareth back. "That's enough, Mira. You promised you wouldn't fight while we're here," Kaden scolds her, his voice stern.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Nyssa clicking her tongue, clearly disappointed that her 'show' was interrupted.
Mira clicks her tongue, uttering a curt, "Tsk, you lucky bastard," as Kaden pulls her back. He sighs, shaking his head, "You gotta stop picking a fight with him."
Gareth, for his part, doesn't push the confrontation further. Instead, he resumes his sulking trek, grumbling under his breath, "Tsk, all I want is some meat."
I watch them, a sigh of my own escaping. Out of all my classmates, Mira is the biggest troublemaker. She's not the type to actively create chaos, but she has a tendency to ignore commands and make decisions on her own. Still, I can't help but see this as just a part of her personality, a stubborn independence that, given time, might actually make her more approachable.
Kaden falls into step beside me, a forced chuckle escaping him. "Ugh, she is quite a handful... Hahaha."
I tilt my head at him, taken aback by his mirth. "Why are you laughing?"
He waves his hand, trying to brush it off. "Hahaha, I just realized that class A has a certain... problem."
"What do you mean?" I ask, curiosity piqued.
Kaden stretches his arms, looking a tad sheepish. "There is a girl named Biana in one of my classes. She's from class A. Apparently, all she does is sleep and refuse to do anything else. It's giving all the professors nightmares."
I blink at his revelation, confusion washing over me. "Why haven't the professors kicked her out then?"
That seems to be the most logical step, doesn't it? Any student who refuses to participate or at least show some initiative should be reprimanded or expelled. Unless...
Nyssa pops up out of nowhere, finishing my thought. "Because Biana is the daughter of Dutchess Rosalind~"
A vague recognition clicks into place. Dutchess Rosalind... a rare case of both a swordswoman and mage. One of the wealthiest nobles in the kingdom, controlling most of the potion industry. She's a household name, and apparently, she has two kids.
"But I thought the academy didn't give any special benefits to Nobles?" I ask, puzzled.
Nyssa grins at me, a twinkle in her eye that suggests she enjoys knowing more than the rest of us. "Hehe~ Dutchess Rosalind donated quite a bit this year~ Plus, it's not like Biana isn't skilled. They probably just had an agreement to let it slide as long as Biana didn't cause problems."
Even though I still find the situation strange, I can't deny the logic in Nyssa's words. The academy, despite its prestige, still relies on financial support from outside sources. And if Biana is as talented as Nyssa suggests, then I suppose it's understandable for the school to make some allowances.
The group grinds to a sudden halt as Ariande raises her hand, a curious look on her face. "Ugh, hey Sera, there's a group of...I thought they were wild dogs, but they're bigger, so probably wolves. They're up ahead, around 40 of them," she reports.
The mere mention of more fights is enough to make my headache intensify, but I also can't ignore the excitement bubbling up inside me. Despite the physical discomfort, I have to admit, it's been too long since I moved around, those wild dogs didn't really pose a threat. Stretching my arms up to the sky, I try to shake off the lethargy clinging to my bones.
There's no need for everyone to fight. I glance at the group, my eyes landing on Mira. She's still simmering with leftover anger from her spat with Gareth earlier, and she did miss the previous fight against the group of smart monsters because she was asleep. I guess a bit of action wouldn't hurt to let her vent her frustration.
"Hey, Mira," I call out to her, my tone steady despite the churning mix of emotions within me. "Let's deal with them. You take 20, I take 20."
Mira's eyes light up at the challenge, her earlier animosity forgotten. "Fine, I guess some wolves will do."
Before she can even finish her sentence, Gareth intervenes, stepping forward. "Hey Sera, how about I fight instead of this cat?"
Mira's response is immediate and full of scorn. "Tsk, shut it, you fucking mountain of meat. She asked me to fight, not you."
I sigh, trying to keep my annoyance from seeping into my words. "Fine, both of you can fight them. I'll just watch and make sure you two don't start fighting each other."
Gareth immediately shrouds himself in aura and charges forward, the ground trembling under his heavy footsteps. Mira clicks her tongue, her body radiating mana. She boosts her legs with her magic, and within seconds, she's right next to Gareth, who despite his aura, can't match her speed.
As I follow behind them, I find myself intrigued by Mira's use of magic arts. They offer a unique way of fighting, where mana density varies with each move, making her movements seem almost fluid, like water flowing down a stream or a fierce gust of wind. It's a stark contrast to using magic, where there's a definite application of spells.
I've always wanted to learn a magic art myself, but it's best I wait and prepare accordingly. Watching Mira, though, I feel a spark of excitement, incredible, magic arts are so interesting, using raw mana, no magic application in order to fight. Since there are various types of magic arts it's difficult to compare them to aura but it's very similar. Mira is incredible for learning magic arts, it must be due to her family background.
Their skirmish with the wolves is over in a flash. They weren't as strong as we initially thought, and their lack of coordination was their downfall. They just attacked randomly, making it easy for Mira and Gareth to pick them off one by one.