NOW EVERYONE GET READY
GET SET
GO!!
Everyone sprints into the forest unaware of what challenges face them.
KAW KAW KAW
The crows scatter into the forest as well. The Crow's calls begin to echo throughout getting softer and softer the more they venture in.
"Crows?!" Vince says to himself.
Roxanne watches the birds as they fly over her head. "Wait a moment those are-"
"What a Royal Unit?!" Axelle shouts.
Ambrose runs beside Axelle. "A royal unit from what I know is a group set to protect the Emperor but I have never heard of one for the Royal families. "
"Your father should've given you books to read Ambrose. In the great old days, there was a moment when the Royal families did have Royal Units." Roxanne flaunts her knowledge.
"Thank you for the knowledge Roxanne that is good to know"Ambrose smiles.
Roxanne gives a scornful look.
Vince glides through the air using his magic "I sure don't wanna be here when that happens"
"Am afraid to upset you regardless of where you go wherever you are the wrath of that being is no match"
"I sure don't wanna be here when that happens"
"I suggest you reserve your mana. Am not too sure how long we'll be inside here" Roxanne comments.
"Alright alright," Vince stops using his magic and begins to run like everyone else. "What the plan"
"We all should run in a Diamond Position. I'll lead the group. The three of you may discuss amongst yourselves where it would be best for you"
"So" Axelle turns to Vince and Roxanne.
"I'll be on the rear," Roxanne says as she falls back running in the back of Vince and Axelle.
"I guess I'll take right"
"Yeah"
Axelle, Ambrose, Vince, and Roxanne run in a diamond position.
"Stick together!" Ambrose yells leading the group.
"Got it" Axelle shouts from the right side.
"Let's go!" Vince says from the left.
Roxanne follows from the rear forming little ice roses on every other tree.
"Be on guard everyone" Ambrose yells.
A group tree-like being that has human-like proportions, large yellow eyes, a flat nose, and a large mouth with velociraptor-like teeth. He has a large chest, four fingers on each hand and foot, and dark green skin that resembles the forest itself.
"Mandrakes?!" Vince says.
"We have to kill those things quickly. It'll suck to hear them scream your ears are going to be ringing for days" Axelle suggests.
"Am going to get-" Ambrose says as he prepares to take out his long sword.
"I got this" Roxanne says jumping over the three boys.
A magic circle surrounds the group of mandrakes.
{ICE CREATION MAGIC: FREEZE FLASH}
Roxanne then motions with her hands in an upward motion.
FLASH
CRACK
In mere seconds the mandrakes turn to solid ice.
"You've gotten quite skilled with your ice magic Roxanne" Ambrose compliments her. "I see your father taught you well"
"Ambrose please refrain from talking about my father. Cmon let's get moving who knows maybe a team already got there-"
"Hello hello" Sean's voice echoes throughout the forest as if he had a megaphone. "Hello, young mages just letting you know that a team has already captured the first spot for the royal units. Please don't be discouraged as seven more spots are remaining with four more Guardian Beasts to defeat. GOOD LUCK!"
"What!" Axelle says.
"I see that's what those crows were," Vince says with an irritated tone.
"Figured" Roxanne comments.
"That's a very helpful type of unique magic" Ambrose comments.
"What happened?" Axelle asks.
"The crows on the tree line that's why they were there," Vince says.
"They weren't crows" Roxanne comments. "They were ravens"
"Ravens are one of the most intelligent bird species. Also said to be associated with the dead and lost souls" Ambrose adds on.
"So that group was able to pass because of that"
"C'mon let's hurry," Roxanne says.
"Right!" the three boys say in unison.
-----
Center of the Aridan Forest Legendary Oak Tree
"Yes! We are the first group to pass the Exam! Dante that's one heck of a power you got there. Haha, I was glad I was able to smash some puny monsters along the way ahahaha" a young man with a muscular voice speaks. He's tall and muscular with long spiky black hair that is usually cut back to show his forehead. He has red eyes and a scar right above his right eyebrow. He wears a dark blue jacket with purplish blue inners, a white undershirt, held closed on the front by a line of huge buttons, loose slacks matching his jacket, held up by a simple belt, and traditional shoes, held in place by bands the same color as his jacket's inners.
[Novice Rank Mage: Reign Bencore]
"I believe we all did a part in making our way to the center here, wouldn't you agree Britt?" a young girl says in a sweet voice as she puts her hands together. She is average height and has short, rose gold hair that twists outwards, however, the locks on one or the other side of her face twist inwards, short straight bangs that are split to the right, with happy pink eyes, and pupils that resemble cherry blossoms. She dressed in a pink shirt, shirt knotted around her neck with buttons along the front, as well as a frilled white and green skirt.
[Novice Rank Mage: Kara Hershel]
"Yes, I agree with your statement Kara. All our magics complement each other so well. Thank you again, Dante" a young girl smiles with thanks. The girl wears silver cross-shaped earrings, and silver bracelets on both wrists that have little inscription in them and has her silver hair in a bob with bangs cut above her brown eyes. Her outfit is a sleeveless, ankle-length grey dress with a pleated skirt.
[Novice Rank Mage: Britt Holden ]
"I am no need of your thanks. You all did your part. If I had to be frank if you were to team with anyone here you guys would have found this place too. But fate gave us three magic users that are good at tracking. What a twisted fate." the young man speaks in a mysterious and serious tone as he sits on a tree stump with a raven closely watching him. He is a medium-sized, slender man with unruly, spiky black hair that frames his face. His eyelashes are notably lengthy, and his eyes are brown. He wears an all-black attire with a black long-sleeve shirt, black pants, and black boots wearing a silver moon pendant that stands out when since he's wearing all black.
[Novice Rank Mage: Dante Scroggins]
"C'mon Dante lighten up a little you don't have to be so serious all the time" Kara smiles at him.
"You should take credit for it too" Britt joins Karas's side.
"O-okay fine" Dante stands looking in the other direction hiding his face because it turned blush red.
KAW
SMACK
Reign smacks Dante in the back nearly knocking him over. "Ahaha you did well enjoy the moment as we now wait for the others to come by"
"Okay," Dante responds.
------
Ardian Forest
As the group continues to venture more into the forest, the forest's noises become clearer. The forest was ancient, thick, and stretched far. The yew, hemlock, and ash competed for its canopy, and plenty of apertures allowed enough dancing beams of light to nourish a torrent of mushrooms on the sloping and slanting ground below. Calm limbs dangled from every tree, and various flowers, each claiming a glimmer of light, threw color onto the otherwise bland lower level. A mixture of beastly noises, belonging largely to foraging creatures, lighted up the woodland, and drowned out the odd sounds of birds of prey gliding in the air.
"Nature sure is something," Axelle says looking around the forest.
hELP
"What" Axelle hears a faint noise. "A voice?"
HELP
Axelle changes directions and breaks from his group.
"Axelle where are you heading to?" Ambrose says.
"I'll be right back there's a voice calling for help," Axelle says running off in a different direction. "That voice there's no mistaking it"
The rest of the group stops in their tracks.
"What should we follow him or" Vince wonders.
"No he'll come back" Ambrose responds.
"Hey don't break the formation remember this forest-" Roxanne warns Axelle as she spots something off.
"What is it, Roxanne?" Ambrose asks.
"We were running in circles" Roxanne states as she points at one of the trees. "See that there I placed those Ice Roses at every other tree we went to. Judging by the condition of the rose this was not that long ago"
"One of those loops," Ambrose says.
"How the hell was he able to escape then" Vince asks.
"Most likely when he heard that voice he escaped at that point," Roxanne says.
"The best thing I believe that we should do is retrace our steps."
"Roxanne there's just one problem which is our footsteps?"
"What is this"
The tracks of their feet appear to have gone backward to where they ran.
"Curupira's" Vince says.
"Should have known there are all kinds of creatures in this forest. Or could it be possible to the damn exam instructor" Roxanne comments.
"Well, no time pondering when this happened. All we have to do is find this mischievous creature and defeat it" Ambrose says.
"Then where is this creature Sir Ambrose" Roxanne says with a joking manner with her arms crossed.
"That am not so sure of"
RUSTLE RUSTLE
"There" Vince yells.
The little small creature around 2 feet with red hair and green skin with his feet backward runs away from Ambrose, Vince, and Roxanne.
"Get it!"
{ICE CREATION MAGIC: FROZEN LAND}
Roxanne hits the ground with her hand as the entire land becomes frozen solid.
SLIP SLIP
WHOOOSH
"Hey make sure to catch us in it" Vince complains as he uses his magic to levitate off the ground.
"I got it now" Ambrose calls out as he unsheats his sword. He turns the hilt of the blade into a wind symbol.
{STANCE CHANGE: SPEED}
A green magic circle encapsulates Ambrose's feet as his speed increases.
HA
He slices the monster in half.
The illusion then disappears.
"Was that wind magic?" Vince asks.
"Yes my sword allows me to conjure up 4 elemental magics one of them being wind for speed"
"So what if I were to take that sword away?" Roxanne asks.
"Then am dead" Ambrose's expression becomes serious.
The three stand there in a moment of silence.
"Just kidding of course I have a backup plan. I can't always rely on this piece of steel to protect me. Now let's find Axelle"
FWOOSH
A large flame appears.
"There he is," Vince says.
------
Moments before.
Axelle continues to run in the direction of the voice. "It sounds so familiar. It has to be"
A light can be shown showing an open area within the forest. There he saw her. A girl that made his heart skip a beat. The one he wished to see again.
"Bri?"
Bri lay on the ground deferences all bruised and injured.
"Bri?!" Axelle runs over to her.
"Are you okay?"
"Ugh"
"Its me Axelle from Rupta village"
"Axelle?"
"Yes"
"How long has it been" Bri asks.
"10 years"
"Yeah it's been a long time"
"Yes it has I've been thinking about this moment for a long time" Axelle embraces Bri.
He looks down at her legs.
"That bag"
"Oh this"
"You kept it"
"Y-yes I did"
"Your hair grew too. With teal at the end"
"Was it not before?"
"No, it was black but never mind that. It's great to see you. And your scar is gone too"
"Uhh yeah, it is," Bri says with a hesitant tone.
"How did it disappear? Did you heal it yourself? Has your healing magic improved that much?" Axelle asks.
"Uhh y-yes it has?"
SNAP
A tree branch snaps nearby.
"Dammit Blamore now!" Bri? yells out loud with a manly voice.
"What the hell!"
CLINK
Axelle steps on a magic circle that begins to glow.
BOOM
Axelle evades the trap. "The entire ground is a trap," he thinks to himself.
VRMM
BOOM
Axelle continues to evade the traps as he jumps up in the air.
VOOSH
KICK
Sienna then appears from out of nowhere kicking Axelle back to the ground as he blocks it with his blade.
He lands back on the ground as she prepares for an over-the-head kick which Axelle blocks. The ground around them begins to crumble.
The kicks continue as Axelle blocks them with his sword.
"She fast"
"Shit"
Axelle pushes her back with his blade. Sienna then summersaults backward. A green magic circle appears on her boots.
"Magic on her boots?" Axelle questions.
{WIND CREATION MAGIC: SCYTHE KICK}
Sienna kicks the air as a large scythe-like sonic blast comes hurling at Axelle.
"She an Enhance Mage" Axelle says as he does a straight slash downwards.
{FIRE CREATION MAGIC: FIRE BLAST}
A large flame shoots out of the blade shooting a continuous fire.
BOOM
A collision of the sonic blast and fire.
Axelle takes a step back.
VRMM
Another magic circle appears under him.
"Damn
"DOWN"
Axelle gets pressed to the ground by an unknown force.
"What is"
"I told you the scar would be important" Zyla comments.
"Uh, what's done is done. I still had another 2 minutes left." Ezra's imitation comes off as Bris's face melts away showing his real face. "But I was right someone did fall for the trick"
"Wait a minute I know who this is?" Sienna says. "This is the Prince of the Primordial Flame Axelle Alekzander"
"We managed to outsmart a Heavenly Mage Candidate" Ezra
"We got you good man Blamore says in a lax voice.
"W-what is this ma-gic?" Axelle asks.
"Speech Magic" Zyla responds. "I simply said down" and it worked.
UMFFF
Axelle gets pushed into the ground more.
"My apologies I didn't mean to do that," Zyla says sarcastically.
"Now we copy your look and wait for your team" Ezra comments.
"F-"
"What was that?" Ezra asks.
"FL"
"What is he trying to say," Sienna asks.
Axelle's blade begins to glow an orange hue.
"Get back" Zyla speaks as Axelle is suddenly pushed away from them.
{FIRE CREATION MAGIC: FLAME VORTEX}
A Vortex of flames shoots up in the sky pushing higher than the surrounding trees around them.
"Such fierce flames" Blamore remarks.
Ezra, Blamore, Sienna, and Zyla look in amazement as they stand together.
Axelle emerges from the Flame Fortex unscathed from the flames as if they welcome him.
"That girl with silver hair is going to be a problem. Then keeping her on her toes will do the trick"
Axelle points his sword at Zyla.
{FIRE CREATION MAGIC: HONING FIRE}
More than a dozen shoots of fire shoot out of the blade as it focuses on Zyla.
"Ahh" Zyla screams.
{WIND CREATION MAGIC: SCYTHE KICK}
"That should stop em"
VOOSH
The flames don't disappear as they track down Zyla.
"AHHHHH" Zyla scrambles around the forest finding ways to avoid them while Sienna follows.
"Ezra! Help!" Sienna yells.
"She'll be fine, Trust me," Blamore says calmly.
"You're not going to help your teammates?" Axelle asks.
"No there fine. Blamore I got this"
"Alright go get 'em" Blamore pats on Ezras' shoulder as he walks and sits on the side. "Dont mind me am just watching"
"He's just going to be sitting there?" Axelle thinks.
"Hey your attention shouldn't be on him it should be on me," Ezra says.
{COPY MAGIC: FIRE BLAST}
"He copied my move" Axelle remarks.
{FIRE CREATION MAGIC: FIRE BLAST}
The battle of the fires begins.
"Hmm, something off about his flames." Axelle thinks as he adds more mana to his. "No am not mistaken his flames are weaker than mine.
"TCH" Ezra begins to sweat his eyes squinched as if the flames were burning them.
Axelle stands there with no problem"What's wrong too hot for you"
"Shut up!" Ezra yells.
"Regardless if your flames are real or not if you're not a true fire mage they won't go easy" Axelle remarks.
Ezra's clothes begin to slowly burn"SHIT!" he sidesteps as the flames shoot past him.
STEP STEP
"Come here" Axelle blitzed right up to Ezra's face.
{COPY MAGIC: SCYTHE KICK}
Axelle easily ducks the kick by simply kneeling.
"The one thing I realized about your magic is that it ain't as powerful as the original. Your imitation is right on point. I give you that"
Axelle prepares to strike Ezra.
DINK
"Huh"
Before the blade could even reach him a magic circle appeared before Ezra's body nearly inches before it made contact.
BOOM
Axelle gets blasted back a few feet as the of the attack gets bounced back at him. His blade falling a couple of feet away.
"What h-happened?" Axelle says staring at the sky on his back.
STEP
STEP
Blamore stands up and walks towards a fallen Axelle. "The force of your attack got bounced back on you" "It wasn't the slash that got you it was the force you put into the attack that repelled back at you.
"You were kinda getting you're ass handed to you there Ezra" Blamore comments.
"Shut up" Ezra struggles to catch his breath.
"You're right she was fine" Sienna comes back with Zyla following close behind her. "As soon as the flames got close to me. Peeww. They all get repelled back. That was thanks to you right Blamore"
"You're welcome.
"I guess we should capture him now"
The four mages attempt to jump Axelle.
"Shit, my sword is too far from me." Axelle reaches for his sword.
{WATER CREATION MAGIC: AQUA RING}
A blue spherical ring quickly appears creating a barrier. Pushing the mages back.
"This is"
"Axelle are you okay" a familiar voice says.
Axelle looks a few feet away from him"Bri"
She puts her arm out. "Axelle I got this just stay put and watch how much I've grown," Bri says with confidence.
"In this moment he didn't care about anything else. Just her."