Nico, Leon, and Henry shared a silent glance. They didn't quite know how to feel now that their time in the Camp was about to end. After all, they had spent closer to a month in this place.
They had built up certain routines and habits, like waking up early for morning inspection… or tempering their bodies after breakfast in the Cafeteria. Now faced with the prospect that they wouldn't be experiencing that anymore, left them feeling strange.
'Is this what it feels like to grow up?'' Nico mused.
He had another look at his two companions, before softly shaking his head. He did not want to start another round of deep, philosophical pondering.
With bright smiles on their faces, as well as a touch of melancholy, the trainees from the third hut packed their things and made sure not to leave anything behind. An hour passed quickly in the blink of an eye.
The trainees lined up at the entrance of the Camp, facing the imposing metal gates. William stood at the front, with Phantom bringing up the rear - and Nix in the middle.
The Head instructor allowed himself a moment to gaze at his students. They were lined up in the order of their huts… the first few huts at the front, and so and so forth.
His students seemed to experience a mixture of anticipation and fear. On the one hand, the opportunity to try something new and further their lives excited them. On the other, more worrying hand, however, they couldn't help but feel that they wouldn't be able to pass the hurdles still yet to come.
As he gazed at their youthful faces, it made him reminisce on his own time as a trainee.
'Damn fools, almost making me feel sappy.' William scowled.
He swept his gaze to the rear of the formation and locked eyes with a blue-eyed, bearded man. William nodded to Phantom, imparting the news that they were ready to depart.
The man with the eyepatch sent a subtle nod in return, his expression sombre and solemn.
The responsibility of protecting the forty-nine youths fell on his and his former squadmate's shoulders. He was determined not to make a repeat of what happened with Sally.
William's visage was similarly solemn. Perhaps even more so than Phantom.
He returned his gaze back toward his students, before his voice resounded far and wide, "Listen up! A few rules you must follow while we're in the Wilderness. Firstly, at no point, are you to wander off from the main group. Secondly, no talking. I want you to be as silent as possible, this includes when you're walking - please do try to not step on any branches."
The white-haired man paused, his eyes boring into the youngsters with the utmost seriousness, "Thirdly, and most importantly, I want you to constantly scan your surroundings. Me, Phantom, and Nix have decided to take advantage of a shortcut and get you to our destination faster. Unfortunately, however, it means cutting through the territory of a few territorial beasts. Keep your guard up and inform us if anything suspicious or untoward happens."
William ended his instructions with a brief nod, before turning around and walking to the gates.
The time for them to depart the Camp had arrived.
***
Within the East Leaf Wilderness, a procession of youngsters could be seen trekking forward. Silence enshrouded the whole group as the black-clad trainees did their best not to crunch on any fallen branches or detritus that littered the moss-covered earth.
Occasionally, the crackle of a branch would ring out, signifying a particular teen's inability to tread silently. Every time that happened, William had to suppress his annoyance.
He had to remind himself that his students were still young and hadn't been trained in the arts of stealth.
That didn't stop him from feeling like the noises would attract a sudden beast, however.
The white-haired man continued leading his students further into the Wilderness.
Nico, Henry, and Leon, who were near the forefront of the youthful 'convoy', calmly followed behind. Or, at least did their best to do so.
Each of the trio from the hut had varying reactions… Leon was as silent and unflinching as usual, Henry's face remained perpetually pale, his eyes darting across his surroundings vigilantly.
And, finally Nico. The one who had the most intense reaction by far. Beads of sweat dripped down his face onto the earth below. One would assume the perspiration came from the exertion of the walk.
Only Nico knew the entire truth.
Sure, the journey made him perspire a little, but not to the degree he was currently showing. No, what made him feel so clammy lay in his phobia and ever-present unease every time he entered the forest.
This unease… this anxiousness… Nico swore it had become stronger since Sally's death. Which was not a very reassuring sign. At all.
Pushing away any unhelpful thoughts, Nico focused on where he placed his feet. He did not want to be like some of his peers who failed to do as their instructor told them.
Minutes passed by in this manner.
Suddenly, the trainees saw William raise his hand. The procession came to a halt.
The white-haired man scanned the brush, his eyes dissecting every inch of its thick expanse.
Nico noticed Willam's posture stiffen, before returning to normal a moment later.
'Am I hallucinating?' the brown-haired boy shook his head a few times to test if he still had his wits about him.
Nico threw the strange occurrence to the back of his mind. He observed with curiosity as William turned round and sent a signal - which involved cupping his ears and jerking his head in a certain direction - towards Phantom.
Nico cast a furtive glance backward and saw the bearded man close his eyes.
No doubt Phantom was tapping into the wind.
'Hopefully, this is just a false alarm.' Nico tensed at the idea.
Just as he wondered if it was indeed a false alarm, he saw the Spear instructor's expression turn grim.
He paled slightly.
William, who received an affirmative that what he heard was not wrong, scowled. His scar twinged, reflecting his inner annoyance. He turned toward Nix who stood in the middle of the formation and beckoned him over.
The white-haired man quietly conversed with the former soldier. None of the trainees could glean any information on what they discussed, the volume of their instructor's voice too low for their ears to register a thing.
Finally, just as the two older men stopped speaking, a low humming noise streamed into the youngsters' ears. As their brain processed the sudden stimulus, it rose in volume with every passing second, until Nico was sure that it would turn into a deafening roar at any moment.
"Be on your guard. A beast horde is coming!" William addressed his students urgently above the loud noise. Seeing their alarmed expressions, he hurriedly placated them. "Don't worry, me and Nix will divert them away from here. Phantom will be the one in charge, in the interim. Make sure you listen to him."
The trainees had no time to process the white-haired man's words as the drumming sound became louder and louder.
William shared a quick glance with Nix, quickly unsheathed his sword, and dashed in a certain direction. Once he reached a sufficient distance from the group, he sliced his forearm open.
Blood trickled from the wound.
The Head instructor hoped to attract the horde in his direction using the fresh blood. The scarred man glanced at his students and observed that they had retreated a fair bit away into the brush.
'Good.'
Now, all he had to do was make sure that none of the approaching beasts neared any of his students.
William clutched the swords in his hands tighter and gritted his teeth.
'Come at me, you unintelligible bastards!'