The forest was thick with tension, a foreboding silence weighing down on the professors as they made their way deeper into the test grounds. Dark mana mist hovered low, curling around trees and brushing against their boots, a disturbing reminder of the situation at hand. Each professor was on high alert, knowing they were entering uncharted territory with little information to guide them.
Professor Lirin moved quietly, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings with an experienced eye. He was a slender man with silver hair and a calm demeanor, known among the academy's faculty for his unmatched observational skills. Though his face remained impassive, he felt a growing unease at the sight of the corrupted forest around him.
"This mist…" he muttered to himself. "There's something unnatural about it. Mana alone couldn't produce such effects without corrupting its source entirely."
The lack of information had been troubling him since the moment he'd entered the forest. He was used to navigating unknowns, but this felt different—darker, more insidious. Turning to the other two professors, he shared his thoughts.
"Given what we've seen so far, I believe it would be best for one of us to scout ahead. We need a better sense of the terrain before we devise any effective plans."
The other professors nodded in agreement, and with a quick farewell, Lirin moved on, his footsteps silent as he melted into the shadows of the forest.
Professor Amara was known for her methodical nature, and she wasn't about to let a lack of information derail her. A tall woman with dark, curly hair pulled back tightly, she was always one to take a structured approach to any problem. She had been observing the unnatural dark mist with an intensity that bordered on obsession, making careful mental notes of the effects it seemed to have on the environment around them.
"We're operating on too little information," she said aloud, her voice calm but firm. "I suggest we create a rudimentary map of the corrupted zones. It might at least give us a framework to determine how widespread this mist has become."
Professor Lirin had already gone ahead to scout, and Amara took advantage of his absence to refine her own strategy. She focused her mana, creating a subtle glow that formed into a projection of the forest grounds on her Aetheris. She marked the locations of corrupted areas they'd already encountered, adding notes on areas that appeared to be particularly dense with the mist.
Turning to the remaining professor, she explained, "We'll mark any pockets of dark mana we find and add observations as we go. This map will at least help us understand where students may be safest—or where they might be in the most danger."
The professor beside her nodded in agreement, glancing over her shoulder to watch as she methodically updated the display. With every step, Amara felt her focus sharpen. Though the situation was grave, she knew that strategy and structure would give them their best chance at navigating the chaos.
Professor Daelan was the youngest of the three, a man with wild black hair and a determined gleam in his eyes. His experience with fieldwork was less extensive than Lirin's or Amara's, but he made up for it with sheer resilience and quick thinking. He watched as Amara mapped out their surroundings, understanding her cautious approach but feeling the urgency to do more.
"We're not just dealing with corrupted mana zones here," he said, his voice laced with tension. "There are students out there—possibly injured, scared, and alone. I'm going to start tracking down those we know are unaccounted for."
Amara paused, glancing at him with raised brows, but she didn't object. She knew Daelan's priority was the students, and if she were honest, it was hers as well. Daelan's suggestion was bold, but if anyone could manage it, it was him. He had a gift for connecting with students, for understanding their fears and needs even under pressure.
"You'll need to tread carefully," she warned, her gaze intense. "If the mist is affecting students the way it is the forest, you'll be dealing with more than just physical injuries."
Daelan nodded, his expression somber as he considered her words. "I'll move in circles, locating groups and ensuring they're safe before moving on to the next. I'll relay whatever information I can gather."
With that, he adjusted the settings on his Aetheris, enabling it to pick up on nearby students' mana signatures. The screen blinked as a few faint signals began to appear, scattered throughout the forest.
"If I can find even one group, it might give us clues as to what we're dealing with," Daelan said. And without another word, he set off into the mist, leaving Amara to her mapping as he forged his own path.
...
Lirin moved through the trees, his senses heightened as he followed the faintest disturbances in the mana flow around him. He remained wary of the dark mist, using his own mana as a protective barrier against its taint. The corrupted mana's influence was undeniable—plants had withered, and the usual chorus of wildlife had fallen silent.
Pausing for a moment, Lirin observed an odd cluster of blackened vines wrapped tightly around a tree. It looked as though the dark mana had seeped into the tree itself, twisting it into a grotesque shape. The sight sent a chill down his spine. Whatever this is… it's more than mere corruption.
The forest floor was damp beneath his boots, and as he moved forward, he noticed more signs of decay—plants rotting, the ground growing increasingly barren. A sickly aura hung in the air, and Lirin couldn't shake the feeling that they were dealing with a powerful, malignant force.
…..
Amara continued updating her map, meticulously marking areas with the heaviest concentrations of mist. She moved methodically, her analytical mind processing every detail. Each area of corrupted mist added a new layer to the map, and as she pieced it together, a pattern began to emerge.
"Interesting…" she murmured, her eyes narrowing as she traced her finger along the locations on the Aetheris. It appeared that the mist was more concentrated near the center of the forest, radiating outward in distinct waves. She quickly added notes, theorizing that whatever was responsible for this corruption might be at the heart of the forest grounds.
The implications were grave, but she kept her composure. If they could confirm the source, it might give them an advantage, something to work toward.
"Daelan," she murmured, glancing in the direction he had gone. She hoped he would return with information soon.
….
Daelan moved quickly, keeping his Aetheris set to detect any student mana signatures within range. The first blip on his screen came from a small cluster of signals not far from his current position. Pushing forward, he soon came across three students, huddled together and visibly shaken. Their faces were pale, their eyes wide with fear, and each bore some trace of the dark mist's influence—minor cuts that had turned black, patches of skin that looked sickly and thin.
He approached them slowly, crouching down to their level. "Are you all alright?"
One of the students, a girl with trembling hands, shook her head. "The mist… it burns when it touches us. We tried to shield ourselves with our mana, but it wasn't enough."
Daelan's expression softened, and he extended his hands, his own mana flowing outward to form a thin shield around them. "Stay close to me. I'll get you out of here and back to safety."
The students clung to him, visibly relieved by his presence, and he guided them through the forest, keeping an eye out for any signs of danger. With every step, he could feel the weight of their fear, and he vowed to protect them.
As they made their way toward the exit, he mentally cataloged the state they were in, planning to report every detail back to Amara and Lirin.
...
After a few hours, the three professors regrouped at a designated meeting point near the edge of the test grounds. Each was burdened by their discoveries, their expressions grim as they shared what they'd learned.
Lirin recounted the signs of intense corruption he had witnessed, the plants twisted into unnatural forms, the forest decaying from within. Amara presented her map, pointing out the pattern of concentrated mist radiating from the forest center. Daelan reported on the students he had rescued, emphasizing the dark mist's painful effects on those it touched.
Each of them understood the gravity of the situation. They would need to act quickly, but they couldn't do it alone.
Lirin glanced toward the academy buildings in the distance. "We'll need to contact Grandmaster Veridane. Whatever is causing this can't be left unchecked."
Amara nodded, her usually composed expression tinged with worry. "If this mist continues to spread, it may threaten more than just the forest."
Daelan placed a reassuring hand on his colleague's shoulder. "We'll get to the bottom of this. Together."