"Your from the academy?" The old man asked.
"Yes, but I only started yesterday, so I'm not technically considered a freshman yet until... well, that's until I pass the exam."
Looking at Lars, the old man squinted his eyes as he looked Lars up and down.
Lars smiled warily, feeling a twinge of embarrassment as he scratched the back of his head.
"No, I am from the academy!"
"I-I just haven't been officially recognised," Lars mumbled those final words as he turned his head slightly.
The old man saw this, his expression unclear.
"What about you, senior? How did you get here?" a feminine voice asked curiously as she stared at the old man.
"That I don't know myself. All I remember was going out to the market with my friend when suddenly a blinding white light flashed."
"Then the next thing I knew, I was here," the old man replied as he lightly stroked his brown beard.
Turning his head, the old man looked at Lars attentively, asking, "You said you were from the academy, right? If so, do you know where we are and, if so, how to get back?"
Lars thought for a moment before giving his answer. "Well, based on what you said, it seems like what happened to you was that you got involved in a spatial rupture."
"A spatial rupture?" the man asked curiously.
"Yeah, it's a somewhat uncommon occurrence that randomly happens out of nowhere. I'm not sure on the specifics myself, but I do know that they're very dangerous."
"They appear out of nowhere and cause havoc for anybody nearby. If one opens near you, then you have a 50% chance of dying."
"F-fifty percent?" the old man gulped, some of his [fear] showing as he looked at Lars.
"Yup, when one of them opens, you're most likely to die. Since whatever comes out of there is usually an imperial-level creature or above."
"Either you get sucked in, being sent to a dangerous place where you're most likely to die, or a vile, treacherous creature from who knows where pops out."
Lars' eyes shrank to pinpricks as he said those last few words. Slowly turning his head towards his group, he looked at all four of them, who all had the same expression as they simultaneously looked at him.
Turning his head again, he looked at the old man, this time his voice slightly shaking.
"S-senior, y-you said that you found yourself here after coming in contact with a spatial rupture, right?"
"Yes, why? Is there something wrong?" the old man asked, his gaze seemingly not understanding what was going on.
His voice now trembling, Lars whispered, his voice barely audible. "H-harry, blow out the flames in the lanterns."
He said as he reached for his sword.
Ever since Lars confirmed where they were, Chloe, including all the others, had tensed up.
"Huh, wh-"
Smack
Just as the old man started talking, Lars quickly silenced him, covering the man's mouth with his palm.
"Shhhh," he gestured as he looked around.
Noticing the tense atmosphere, the old man didn't complain; rather, he just watched the others, following what the rest were doing.
"Lars! It's bad, th-the shard."
"It-its not working," Harry said anxiously as he started shaking it vigorously.
Gritting his teeth, Lars looked at Harry. "Dammit, didn't I say to blow out the lanterns?"
"If I blow them out, then how am I supposed to see? If I can't see, I won't be able to activate the return shard," Harry said, continuously injecting his elkris into the shard.
"Damn it, why of all people did this have to happen to us?" Lars thought inwardly, his grip on his sword increasing.
The tense atmosphere had affected him to the point where faint bits of sweat could be seen beginning to form on his forehead.
And the lantern, with the flame flickering, didn't help his racing heart.
"Damn it, Harry, just give the shard to Bella. She's a shadow user."
"Just give it to her to activate, that way we won't need to have the light on then," Chloe exclaimed, worsening the already distraught atmosphere.
Hearing this, another voice chimed in.
"Great idea, genius! But quick question, how are we going to see if something shows up?"
A new voice could be heard as a teen with dark orange skin lifted his spear, replying. The sarcasm practically oozing out of his mouth.
"Damn it, no one asked you, Jalkr!" Chloe retorted as she scowled at the youth.
"Both of you, be quiet!" an authoritative voice could be heard as the two, who were just about to start an argument, stopped before looking towards the person who had shouted.