The air around me is thick with tension, the scent of battle heavy in the air. I can feel the vibrations of each strike, each thrust and parry. My eyes are fixed on my classmates who are fighting off a pack of wolves. It's a gruesome sight, the wolves yelping and snarling, my classmates huffing and grunting with exertion. This is the fifth group of wolves we've come across. It's honestly a bit overwhelming. How sad, why do they run to their deaths? It hurts my heart, the way they fall to the ground.
"Uuuuugh, this is the fifth group of wolves we've come across. Isn't this getting out of hand?" Kaida's voice rumbles next to me, her head leaning on my shoulder. There's a certain weariness to her words, a tinge of frustration that mirrors my own.
"Yeah, it's really strange." I murmur, my gaze glued to the brutal dance playing out in front of us. It's no use in trying to understand the situation, I'm not a strategist, I will only confuse myself if I try to understand. It's best to leave it to Aira and Liam.
"It is a bit unusual, but I doubt the professors would give us an impossible test. I just hope nobody gets hurt, I don't have any proper equipment," Arin's anxious words cut through the scene, dragging me back to reality.
His concerns weigh heavily on me. If only I were a better magic user, if only I had more to offer, If only I could get stronger. But I seem to be struggling, listening to plants and controlling them is not simple, I can't use any other magic since my affinity doesn't allow it. Yet, there's no use dwelling on what-ifs. I force a smile, giving him a reassuring pat on his arm. "Don't worry, Arin, we're all doing our best."
The fight rages on, the howls of the wolves echoing eerily through the empty landscape. My heart pounds as I watch Aira gracefully cut down four wolves in one go, her blade glinting under the stark sunlight. And then there's Isabella, stoic as ever, her magic arrows taking out each wolf with ruthless efficiency. A shiver courses down my spine at the sight. It's brutal and yet mesmerizing in a grim kind of way. Wow, how long must one train to use a sword like Aira does?
Yet, amidst the chaos, I can't help but be drawn back to my thoughts of V, Isadora, and Biana. They chose to split up, to increase our chances of survival, yet the worry gnaws at me relentlessly. Could they be fighting off wolves as well, just like us? I know Isadora is strong but can she really protect Biana and V?
Aira's fierce battle cry breaks my train of thought, her sword slicing through the air and cutting down another wolf. I watch as the remaining wolves begin to back up, their whimpers filling the air. Something shifts inside me, a quiet determination to do something, to contribute, however I can.
Without missing a beat, I focus, channeling my energy. My eyes close as I reach out to the life forces around me, the plants, the grass, the roots. I feel their energy responding to my call, a silent agreement between us. "Hold them!" I command, my words coming out stronger than I intended.
And just like that, the earth responds. Thick, twisting roots spring from the ground, wrapping around the wolves, ensnaring them in their firm grasp. A moment of satisfaction flutters in my chest. I did it.
Rai doesn't miss a beat. He lunges at the trapped wolves, his sword slicing through the air, ending the threat once and for all. It's over. For now, at least.
As the adrenaline fades, my mind drifts back to V, Isadora, and Biana. I can only hope they are alright. I can only hope we made the right decision.
But, for now, I must focus on the present. I must focus on my own growth. We're all in this together. It's a test, a challenge, a chance to prove ourselves. And I'm not going to let it go to waste. Despite my worry, a spark of determination ignites within me.
With the echoes of the battle fading, I turn back to my classmates, ready for whatever comes next. "So, who's up for some roasted wolf meat?" I suggest, the faintest hint of a smirk playing on my lips. After all, we can't afford to let anything go to waste in this wilderness, right?
As the last vestiges of the battle fade away, Oliver gives a mumbled laugh, his voice breaking the silence. He is beaming, holding up a pouch crafted from wolf skin. "Hehehe, I got it! I made something without any equipment! I truly am a genius!"
Aira, who's just cleaning her sword, rubs her temples. "And just what did you manage to make, Oliver?" Her tone is half-exhausted, half-interested.
I find myself drawn to the conversation, as curious as everyone else. Duchess Rosalind, Oliver's mother, is known far and wide for her potions and magical brews. The thought of making potions has always intrigued me, though I've never tried. In my mind, it always seemed to require a big pot, like a cauldron or something. Yea like the one scary witches use!
With a wide grin, Oliver starts explaining, "Hehe, a mutated Boex horn which has high mana applications, Black potatoes which when mixed with Boex blood, a tad bit of a Boex horn and blue wolf blood creates a blinding concoction."
Kaida raises an eyebrow at him, "So it just blinds? Doesn't seem very useful." She states, her voice laced with skepticism.
Oliver then turns to her, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "HUH!? Do you think I would create something that just blinds!? No! It completely blinds their sight and smell. But the best part is if it's used on a monster that uses magic, whenever they try to use magic it will hurt like hell. The only downside is that it will only work for about 30 minutes, given its effects, it will reduce any monster's capabilities by at least 15%."
His words send my head spinning. It's a lot to take in, and most of it goes over my head. Yet I manage to catch the gist of it, 'use it, makes them blind, no smell. magic hurts'. I nod at him, pretending to understand everything he just said.
Kaida then asks, "So how are we supposed to use it? Do we just throw it at them?"
He chuckles before answering, "It would be best to apply it in their mouth or eyes, even a wound would work, as long as it goes in their system."
Liam joins in with a hearty laugh. "Hahaha, not bad, Oliver. Though I'm not sure if we'll need it."
Aira, however, has a thoughtful look in her eyes. "Interesting... I'm sure the professors planned some final battle. It might be useful later on."
All the while, I simply nod along, listening to their banter. Inside my mind, a vivid picture begins to form. A giant wolf monster, Oliver's potion being hurled at it, and then Aira and Isabella finishing it off in a single, swift attack.
The air around me is thick with the scent of fresh blood and remnants of the earlier battle, making my stomach churn unpleasantly. Next to me, Aira hoists the body of one of the wolves onto a large flat stone, placing it down with a heavy thud.
I cringe at the sight, a wave of repulsion sweeping over me. The idea of gutting open an animal, no matter how necessary it is for survival, makes my skin crawl. But, we need to eat. And right now, the only thing available is... this. A pang of regret for all the animals that ran into their deaths today fills me. It hurts my heart, not only having to kill, but to gut them open like this.
"Ewwww, how could V do this?" I murmur, recoiling at the sight.
Aira, donned in a grim expression, shrugs. "I know right? It's truly gross, unfortunately, since he's not here we have to deal with this ourselves. Luckily, I asked V many tips before we split up."
I can't help but glance around at our surroundings, my heart heavy with worry for V, Isadora, and Biana. "Do you think they're doing fine?" I voice my thoughts, my eyes lingering on the path they took.
Aira pauses in her gruesome task, turning to give me a reassuring look. "Don't worry about it, V is fine. Plus, he has Isadora. Just what will they consider a challenge?"
I nod, a small smile playing on my lips. Isadora is strong and experienced, she'll keep them safe. Still, the thought of them battling it out with wolves just like us sends a shiver down my spine. I force myself to shake off the unease, focusing on the task at hand.
"Alright, Liam, come over here!" Aira calls out, once she's done with her part. Liam ambles over, a grimace of distaste on his face.
"Ugh, this is truly disgusting," he comments, staring down at the open carcass. He then proceeds to weave some sort of enchantment, his hands moving in an intricate dance above the wolf. I watch in fascination as he cleans the meat, filtering out any parasites or impurities.
I find my mind wandering back to one of the many conversations with V. He had warned us not to eat wild dogs as they have parasites and diseases, but with no other options, we have to ensure the meat is safe to eat. Liam's magic was perfect for this.
Once Liam finishes, I'm left with the cleaned meat. Sighing, I turn to the makeshift kitchen I made out of tree roots. Cooking was never my forte, I've always been more at ease talking to plants than handling pots and pans. But I had volunteered to cook in V's absence.
"So, grilled meat again?" Kaida quips, appearing next to me, a grin on her face.
I frown, feeling a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry. I'm not like V, I don't know much."
"Haha, none of us can cook so we can't complain. It's not your fault, we're just used to good food," Kaida reassures me, her smile unchanging.
My frown deepens as I place the meat over the fire, using a flat stone just like V had taught me. All I have are some of these... that's right he called them jalapeños. V had used them once in a dish. It's not much, but it's better than nothing. Grilled wolf meat with jalapeños it is then.
The sun is starting to set as we gather around the fire, the smell of roasting meat wafting in the air. Everyone seems to be tired but content, gratefully accepting the grilled meat and jalapeños. They chew in silence, and though the meal is simple, no one complains. I guess having something in your belly is better than nothing at all.
My gaze wanders as I chew on a piece of grilled meat, looking out towards the mountainside. We are about one-third of the way up, the rugged pathway lined with jagged stones and craggy rocks. Even with the survival test hanging over our heads, the view is beautiful. The professors really did an excellent job with this place. I can see why some people are drawn to mountain climbing. If this weren't a survival test, I wouldn't mind being here for a vacation.
"We should reach the halfway mark by tomorrow, if we keep up our current pace," Liam says, drawing me back to our little circle. His eyes are sharp and calculating, already thinking ahead.
"Sounds like a plan," Aira agrees, her voice calm and collected as always.
I can't help but smile at their interaction. They truly are our team's strategists, always thinking about the next step, always planning ahead. I know we can rely on them.
Feeling a tug on my shoulder, I turn to see Kaida grinning at me. "Thanks for the food~" she says, a genuine note of appreciation in her voice. I feel a warm glow spread through me at her words.
"No problem," I respond, returning her smile. "Glad you like it."
As I glance around, I see Rai and Oliver giving me thumbs up, their faces bright with approval. Even Arin seems to be enjoying his meal, his previous anxiousness gone, replaced with a look of satisfaction. For a moment, everything feels perfect.
But then, my thoughts stray back to V, Isadora, and Biana. How are they doing? Are they okay? I know I shouldn't worry, but I can't help it. I know I have no right to worry about them, we only know each other as classmates. I can only hope that they're safe and well.