The night air was cool, tinged with a palpable sense of anticipation, perhaps created by us cadets. We had gathered at the main gate in groups of four, forming a nervous horde.
Naturally, I found myself alongside Caspian, Jonas, and Eliza.
As we approached the gate, Thorne emerged from the shadows, his muscles gleaming in the moonlight. He eyed us briefly before letting out an impressive bellow, "You'll all be joining respected adventurer groups. We expect you all to impress them. Do us proud."
Thorne quickly began to distribute a sealed scroll to all of us, "This scroll contains the details of the groups you each will be working with. They'll be expecting you."
We nodded in acknowledgment, our anticipation building. Caspian broke the seal, revealing the contents of the scroll. On it, we found the name of our assigned group: "Dawn's Champions."
The scroll also held a location and a time. According to the instructions, we were to meet Dawn's Champions in an hour at the nearby tavern, "The Wandering Blade," a popular gathering spot for adventurers. Ugh. Of course Thorne would only give us a one-hour notice.
Putting aside our frustration, we quickly made our way to the tavern, eager to meet our mentors.
Stretching beyond us were the familiar streets of Dawnhaven. Indeed, over the past year, we had come to know Dawnhaven's many streets - we had slipped out of the Academy many times via the secret route we had discovered, granting us the opportunity to finally explore the city we lived in.
Before us, the soft glow of lanterns illuminated the night, casting flickering shadows across the cobblestone streets of Dawnhaven.
Soon, we found ourselves standing in front of a charming, rustic tavern, its structure seemingly assembled from an assortment of mismatched wooden planks, giving it an endearing, haphazard appearance.
Despite its haphazard nature, it was as though each piece of timber had been carefully chosen for its character, resulting in a place that exuded warmth and character rather than polished grandeur.
Upon entering the warm tavern, our eyes scanned the room, searching for any signs of the Dawn's Champions. I was so nervous; these were the first real adventurers I had met. Well, besides Kael, I suppose.
Brushing aside the twinge of sadness that awoke within me as I thought of the friend I had left behind, I refocused on the room. What kind of adventurers would they be? Would they like us?
Then, in the corner, we spotted them.
Sitting at a table were four individuals who exuded an air of confidence and camaraderie. Blazed upon their clothing was a badge with the adventurer's insignia and a label - Rank C.
The group was composed of three women and one man, each of them possessing an intimidating aura of confidence.
Their leader, Celest, was a tall and imposing figure with a regal air about her. Her long, silver hair cascaded down her back, and her piercing blue eyes held a hint of mirth. She acknowledged our arrival with a nod and a warm smile. She seemed kind.
Arthur, the only man, had a rugged appearance that hinted at countless adventures. His dark hair was slightly disheveled, and his forest-green eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint, reminding me slightly of Kael.
Aria and Selene, the two remaining women in the group, were equally striking. Aria had fiery red hair that matched her fiery spirit, while Selene possessed an ethereal beauty that seemed to defy explanation, with her blonde hair making her look like an angel of sorts.
Were all adventurers this hot?
The four of them welcomed us with open arms, inviting us to join them at the table. Celest spoke first, her voice filled with warmth. "You must be the Class A rookies joining our group. I'm Celest, and this is Arthur, Aria, and Selene. We're the Dawn's Champions, a Rank C adventuring team."
"Hi there," I began, extending my hand to Celest. "I'm Alex, and these are my companions, Jonas, Eliza, and Caspian. It's a pleasure to meet you all."
Aria grinned warmly, her red eyes sparkling. "The pleasure's all ours. Don't worry by the way; I know you guys are nervous. I was nervous when I began as well. It's normal and we're not here to judge. We were all young adventurers once."
Me and Jonas quickly exchanged glances - woah she seemed kind; her words juxtaposed her fiery expression, which reminded me of Thorne.
Putting aside our thoughts, we sat down around the table and Eliza leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "So, Celest, what can you tell us about this mission? We're realllyyyyy excited to get started."
Celest nodded, her eyes colored by mirth as she began to outline the plan. "Alright, let's get down to business. The Forgotten Forest can be a tricky place, but with my experience and the skills I've heard you all possess, we should be fine."
While discussing the mission details, we couldn't help but notice a subtle dynamic within Dawn's Champions. Aria and Selene seemed particularly interested in Arthur, who remained blissfully oblivious to their advances.
Aria leaned closer to Arthur, her voice lowering as she teased, "Arthur, do you think we'll find any rare herbs in the forest, while we're out there? Maybe something... magical?"
Selene joined in, trying to upshow her friend. "Oh, definitely, Aria. Arthur has a knack for whipping out the most extraordinary things, don't you, Arthur?"
Arthur, deeply engrossed in our discussion, nodded blissfully. "Yes, I'm sure we can find unique flora which we can sell. Perhaps we can make extra money during the mission. We should definitely keep an eye out for anything unusual."
Caspian and I exchanged jealous glances, subtly amused and shocked by the competition unfolding right before our eyes.
When would I find someone who eyed me like that? And Arthur had managed to find two of them. Ugh.
In hushed tones, the two women exchanged glances and giggled, their eyes continuing to frequently drift to Arthur. Throughout our discussion, they constantly found excuses to sit closer to him, engage him in conversation, and occasionally brush against him, all while he remained blissfully unaware.
Arthur, for his part, was engrossed in discussing mission details with us, unaware of the small rivalry surrounding him. Eliza and I also looked at one another, exchanging amused glances, silently acknowledging the unspoken competition.
"We'll depart at dawn with all the other groups," Celest explained with a grin, ignoring the redhead and blonde. "Our main objective is to locate the bandits' hideout, assess their numbers and defenses, and then defeat them if we can. However, we need to be prepared for anything. If necessary, we may need to retreat if the bandits are too strong."
As we absorbed the mission details and strategized, it became clear that we had found ourselves in capable hands. Celest, Arthur, Aria, and Selene, despite their love triangle, were not only skilled adventurers but also effective communicators and leaders.
With the night growing late, we finished our discussions and headed to our respective accommodations to rest before the mission. The following day would mark the beginning of our journey into the Forgotten Forest, where danger and adventure awaited.
As we lay in our beds, the events of the evening replayed in our minds, including the unspoken rivalry for Arthur's attention. I was so jealous.
Pushing those thoughts from my mind, I soon drifted into a deep sleep.
We were ready to face whatever challenges awaited us in the heart of the Forgotten Forest.