A year had passed since our return from the harrowing expedition to the mountains. In that time, we had recovered from our injuries, trained relentlessly, undertaken numerous missions, and risen through the ranks of the Academy.
We were now in Class A, along with twenty other talented cadets. Rowan - who we had begun to befriend - was also our classmate.
Despite our success, many cadets had failed. Indeed, the number of cadets had significantly dwindled over our first year at the Academy. We had gone from one hundred cadets to fifty-five in a year.
Given the diminishing size of the student base, the professors had made a joint decision to remove Class C; thus, now, there were only two classes - Class A and Class B.
Our accomplishments had not come easily. The scars of our previous trials had healed, but the memories remained, serving as a constant reminder of the dangers we would face as adventurers.
We had spent hours honing our combat skills, practicing with weapons, and perfecting our techniques. Eliza had become even more agile and precise with her daggers, Caspian had developed his precision and power, Jonas had turned into a formidable archer, and I had grown more adept at both swordsmanship and magic.
Ah yes. Magic.
Over the past year, all four of us had begun to manifest our latent potential. Learning to harness the mana channels that flowed through Wardenas had been a grueling process. However, with Orion's careful guidance all of us Class A students had succeeded in manifesting our wills.
Our magical abilities were diverse. The three of them had discovered magical affinities - methods by which they could most easily manifest their wills.
According to Orion, these were essentially like mana channels, however, instead, they served as clusters of mana channels that were similar to one another, making it easier for people to access.
Eliza had developed an affinity for shadow magic, allowing her to move stealthily and manipulate darkness. Caspian had tapped into earth-centric magic, granting him the power to control the very ground beneath his feet. Jonas had become a skilled pyromancer, able to conjure and control flames with precision.
As for me, I had no particular affinity; I could manifest my will in most things. This was both a plus and a minus - I could cast beyond my 'limitations' more easily than the others could. However, casting spells took me more effort than it would've if I were casting within my specialization.
Indeed, I was slower than Eliza at casting shadow-type magic. I was unable to manifest my will as powerfully in the Earth as Caspian did, nor was I able to control flames as precisely as Jonas could.
Despite that, I, on average, was the most capable magician.
....
One crisp morning, as the sun's first rays painted the Academy's spires in shades of gold, we gathered in the courtyard for our daily training session. Our uniforms, now adorned with Class A insignias, marked our ascent through the ranks. We stood side by side, our weapons at the ready, waiting for Thorne's arrival.
As he approached, his expression stern but proud.
Huh, that was weird. He was never serious. Was something different happening today?
Pausing, Thorne looked at us before addressing us with a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "You've come a long way since your first expedition. I've watched you grow from inexperienced cadets to skilled adventurers. However, there is still much for you to learn."
We exchanged glances, smiling to one another. Over the past year, we had witnessed our extreme growth personally; we had become sharper, faster, more capable.
We owed much of our progress to Thorne's unwavering belief in our potential.
Looking back at him, Thorne continued, "You've mastered the basics, but now it's time to see how you fare in the field alongside experienced adventurers. Consider this your first true test as Class A cadets."
His words hung in the air, a mixture of excitement and nervous anticipation bubbling within us. This was the moment we had been waiting for – a chance to prove ourselves in the real world, outside the protective confines of the Academy.
Thorne's eyes scanned the courtyard before he continued, "You will each be assigned to a team of seasoned adventurers. These are rank C adventurers, experienced and battle-hardened. You'll learn from them, follow their lead, and contribute your skills to the mission."
Our hearts raced at the prospect of working alongside seasoned veterans. It was an opportunity to gain invaluable experience and prove that our ascent to Class A had not been in vain.
Thorne's gaze fell upon each of us, his gruff exterior giving way to a hint of pride. "Your mission will take you to the outskirts of the Forgotten Forest, a place teeming with mysteries and dangers. Recently, a horde of bandits have taken root there, committing atrocities."
A shiver ran down my spine.
Havenwood was in the Forgotten Forest.
I pushed back my thoughts; I was sure everything would be alright. After all, my village was far in the depths of the forest and was extremely isolated. Additionally, Kael was protecting it.
"Your task," Thorne continued, "is to defeat the bandits. But be warned, the Forgotten Forest is no ordinary place. It's inhabited by many dangerous creatures. Additionally, facing other humans for the first time will be challenging. You all should be able to defeat them. However, be prepared to take another humans life."
Caspian, in a somber voice, asked, "And what about the experienced adventurers we'll be teamed up with? How do we know we can trust them?"
Thorne nodded, understanding our concerns. "The Academy has carefully selected adventurers who have a reputation for teamwork and reliability. You won't be alone out there, and you'll need to rely on each other to succeed."
With the mission details laid out before us, we nodded in understanding. This was the kind of challenge we had been training for, the chance to prove ourselves as true adventurers.
Thorne's expression turned serious once more. "This mission isn't just about defeating the bandits. It's a test of your adaptability, your resourcefulness, and your ability to work as a team. The most important thing is that you all survive. Please do not risk your lives more than necessary."
We listened intently, absorbing his words. The weight of our mission was not lost on us; we wouldn't have any instructors chaperoning us - this was our first real mission.
Thorne concluded, "Prepare yourselves, gather your gear, and meet your assigned teams at the main gate. You depart at dawn. This mission will test you in ways you can't imagine, but I have faith in each of you. Remember your training, trust in your abilities, and most importantly, trust in your team."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving us to prepare for the mission that would mark our transition from skilled cadets to true adventurers.
The Forgotten Forest awaited, with its mysteries and dangers, and we were ready to face them head-on, side by side with our newfound companions.