The sky was just starting to lighten when Instructor Seraphina corralled us into formation, her expression hovering somewhere between "You'll thank me later" and "This is going to be hilarious... for me." She radiated the smug energy of someone who already knew which of us was going to cry first—and was totally looking forward to it.
Around me, the students shuffled into place, a mess of excitement, nerves, and last-minute gear checks. It was the kind of buzz that said "Yeah, this is going to be fun!" but also "Please don't let me die."
Predictably, Claire was already sharpening her sword like someone preparing for a boss fight. Leon was stretching like he was about to break the world record in Looking Too Cool, and Dorian—our resident ray of human sunshine—was bouncing around, chatting with everyone within a ten-foot radius. It was like the guy ran on coffee and motivational posters.
Seraphina raised a hand for silence, her ice-blue eyes sweeping over us. "Alright, students!" she called, her voice ringing with that infuriating mix of calm authority and mild sadism. "You'll spend the next few days honing your survival skills in the Arcadia Forest. Your tasks will challenge your ability to work as a team—or, for some of you brave souls, as individuals."
Her gaze slid over me for half a second, her lips quirking just enough to send a chill crawling down my spine. Did she know? Nah. Probably just my paranoia kicking in... Hopefully.
She let that sly smile linger for just a beat too long. "Stick with your groups—or don't," she added, almost cheerfully. "The forest doesn't care either way."
Translation: The forest is going to eat you alive. Good luck!
The second she dismissed us to gather supplies, I knew I had to act fast. The system had slapped a big, fat 'Solo Edition' label on this event for me, so teaming up was out of the question. Not that I had anything against friends and teamwork—except for how much I hated both.
Worse, if I didn't move now, Dorian would sniff me out and drag me into his merry band of overachievers. Knowing him, he'd probably find a loophole in reality itself to "team up" with me—even if it meant summoning me from another dimension.
While the others were fussing over backpacks and potions, I slipped to the back of the crowd, hiding myself with my dark element. Nothing fancy—just enough to make me blend in with the chaos like a shadow at a rave. The real challenge wasn't going unnoticed by everyone. No, the challenge was avoiding Claire, who had the observational skills of a sniper and the persistence of a debt collector.
From my hiding spot—strategically chosen behind a cart stacked with way too much camping gear—I surveyed the battlefield.
Claire and Leon were huddled together, already in serious strategy mode. Claire's expression said "We win or we die trying," while Leon's casual grin suggested "I just look this good naturally."
Selene stood off to the side, quietly polishing her staff like it was some sacred ritual. No doubt she was already calculating five different ways to complete the event without breaking a sweat. Lucas, on the other hand, just stood there, looking like someone who'd been tricked into attending a party and was already planning his escape.
And then there was Dorian, the literal embodiment of a motivational speech. His grin was so bright I was halfway convinced it could be used as a flashlight.
"This is it, guys!" Dorian clapped Leon on the back with enough force to start an avalanche. "Top of the leaderboard, here we come! We've got this!"
We. Not me.
Yeah, no. I wasn't about to get sucked into that circus. The guy probably wakes up every morning to theme music and a five-step plan to make the world a better place. Meanwhile, my five-step plan involved not dying and definitely not dealing with Dorian.
The groups were starting to shape up.
Aldric and Carl Vergain stood off to one side, fist-bumping like they were about to drop the hottest mixtape of the year. Aldric's long black coat fluttered dramatically in the breeze—because of course it did. If brooding were an Olympic event, Aldric would walk away with gold every time, without breaking a sweat. Next to him, Carl grinned, probably already mapping out the perfect route through the forest, the kind of guy who made "wingman for life" his personal motto.
Meanwhile, Kain? Oh, Kain was deep in the five stages of rejection grief. He'd spent a solid ten minutes trying to convince Fiona to team up with him, looking about one "please?" away from getting on his knees. Unfortunately for him, Fiona had chosen to stand with Dorian's merry band of chaos enthusiasts. Whether it was because she felt safer with them or just liked the background noise, who knew? All I knew was Kain's pride took a visible hit.
Left out in the cold, Kain begrudgingly teamed up with Zephyr and some other unfortunate souls, wearing the exasperated expression of a man forced to split his dessert with an annoying younger sibling. He shot occasional glares in Dorian's direction, like a cat watching someone steal its sunbeam.
And then there were the villains.
Draven Vortigern and Knox Gallahan. The dynamic duo of smug hostility and barely-concealed rage. Standing near the back of the group, they radiated bad vibes like a pair of magical antennas tuned to "All Hate, All Day." They didn't even bother hiding their scowls when their eyes locked on me.
I couldn't really blame them. Ever since the undead attack by Corvin, my name had become the unofficial trending topic of the academy. Saving students, going toe-to-toe with a rogue instructor, and just generally not dying had earned me a lot of unwanted attention.
Apparently, being the guy who helps prevent a massacre makes people talk. And not everyone likes hearing the same name over and over.
Take Draven and Knox, for example. They weren't exactly thrilled that I'd become the flavor of the month, hogging the spotlight like a magician who forgot to pull the rabbit out of the hat—except everyone still clapped anyway.
As Draven walked by, he leaned in just close enough to make sure I caught the threat in his voice.
"Better hope you don't run into me in the forest, Lucius."
Ah, subtle. A true masterclass in villainy.
I gave him my best grin—the kind of smile that says 'I'll win, but let's both pretend you have a chance.'
"Oh, I'm counting on it," I replied, just loud enough to make sure he knew I wasn't intimidated. Note to self: Avoid Draven and Knox like they're allergic to deodorant.
Seraphina gathered us into a loose circle, twirling her staff like she was conducting an orchestra. With a quick flick, she conjured a shimmering portal, swirling with hues of violet and green. "Alright, kiddos. In you go. Welcome to Valaria Forest. Try not to get eaten."
No sooner had she finished than the students started filing through like this was just another field trip. Me? I made sure I wasn't anywhere near the front. Portals are always sketchy—nothing good ever comes from being the first guinea pig.
When my turn came, I stepped in, bracing for the magical equivalent of being flushed down a cosmic toilet. The swirl of colors swallowed me whole, and then—bam.
I stumbled into Arcadia Forest, where trees stretched high enough to give me a complex, and glowing flora pulsed with faint mana hums. It smelled like pine needles and poor life choices.
But sightseeing? Yeah, not on my to-do list.
The moment I landed, I bolted. No glowing mushrooms, no "ooh, pretty flowers" moment—just straight into stealth mode. If anyone even thought about asking me to join their team, I'd vanish so fast they'd think I was a cryptid.
As I snuck deeper into the forest, the sounds of other students filtering through the portal echoed behind me. And, of course, Dorian's overly enthusiastic voice carried above the rest:
"Alright, team! Let's go for the top of the leaderboard!"
Oh, good. They'd probably finish half the challenges before I even had breakfast.
I was halfway through congratulating myself on my brilliant escape when the villain squad made their entrance. Draven Vortigern and Knox Gallahan—two guys who looked like they'd bench-press a grudge if it meant they could hold it longer—stepped out of the portal with matching scowls.
I dove into a nearby bush, holding my breath as they stalked past. Their whispered conversation wasn't exactly subtle.
"Everyone won't shut up about him—like he's some prodigy or something," Knox muttered, his words thick with annoyance.
Draven's eyes narrowed, his whole demeanor practically oozing malicious intent. "We'll see how long that lasts out here."
Perfect. Now, not only was I dodging my overzealous friends, but I also had to survive two guys whose hobbies included holding grudges and ruining lives.
This was going to be a blast.
Once I was sure the coast was clear, I leaned against a tree, catching my breath. That's when I spotted a task scroll lazily drifting down from the canopy like a feather in the wind.
"Perfect," I whispered, snatching it mid-air before anyone—or anything—else could. The scroll unfurled itself in my hand, glowing faintly as the task revealed itself:
[Task Scroll: Collect 10 Mana-Infused Herbs. Optional: Avoid Detection for Bonus Points.]
Right. Back to work.
I slipped deeper into the forest, moving like a shadow with trust issues. The herbs weren't hard to find—they lit up like Christmas lights—but getting to them first? That was the real battle. Out here, everything was competition: students, wildlife, and probably even the trees if they could move.
I was plucking my third herb when I heard something rustling behind me. My pulse spiked. Was it Claire? Dorian? Or worse... Draven and Knox?
I froze, barely daring to breathe. If Draven found me, I could kiss my quiet solo run goodbye. But as the underbrush parted, I let out a groan.
It was the smug fox-creature from earlier.
"You again?" I muttered as the little menace cocked its head, eyes gleaming with pure mischief.
It gave me a look—something between "you're cute when you struggle" and "I live to make your life difficult." Before I could react, the fox darted forward, jaws snapping at the herb I'd just picked.
"Oh no, you don't!" I swatted at it, but it was faster than a bad idea. In one smooth motion, it snagged the herb and scampered off, leaving me standing there like a fool with my empty hand outstretched.
"Right. Great. Love the enthusiasm," I grumbled, watching it disappear into the undergrowth.
A soft chime echoed through the forest as I trudged onward. Above me, one of the glowing leaderboard panels shimmered into view, suspended high in the air like a glowing banner. These enchanted displays were scattered throughout the forest, ensuring every student could keep track of their points no matter where they were.
[Leaderboard Update]
Team Dorian: 70 points
Team Zephyr: 40 points
Draven & Knox: 30 points
...
Lucius: 5 points
"Five whole points. Look at me go," I muttered with all the enthusiasm of a tax audit.
At least it wasn't zero. Small victories, right?
Just as I was plucking my fifth herb—finally building a little momentum—I heard voices nearby. Familiar ones. Draven and Knox, the Academy's resident grudge collectors, were plotting something.
I ducked behind a tree, straining to hear them over the ambient hum of forest life.
"We should set a trap," Knox said, voice low and calculating. "If Lucius thinks he can solo this, let's make sure it bites him."
Draven's laugh was like nails on a chalkboard—sharp, unpleasant, and far too pleased with itself. "Yeah. Time to remind him why being alone in the forest is a bad idea."
Fantastic. Not only was I avoiding Dorian's well-meaning enthusiasm and Claire's "you-can't-hide-from-me" glare, now I had two petty jerks actively scheming against me.
I made a mental note: Avoid clearings. Check for traps. And stay the hell away from Draven and Knox. The last thing I needed was to end up dangling from a tree while they took selfies with my misfortune.
With a sigh, I stood up, brushing dirt off my clothes. The forest was officially a warzone now, and it was every mage for themselves.
"Okay," I muttered to myself, gripping the task scroll tighter. "Time to show them just how annoying I can be."
As I slinked further into the forest, trying to stay one step ahead of every enthusiastic classmate and plotting villain, my system pinged again.
[Mini-Event: Mana Tempest Approaching. Brace for Impact.]
I glanced up, and sure enough, the sky above the forest shimmered ominously—wild mana swirling like a neon hurricane, glowing tendrils crackling with unstable energy. It looked equal parts breathtaking and horrifying.
Somewhere in the distance, I heard Dorian's unmistakable voice ringing out with his usual cheer:
"Woo! Free mana boost, team! Let's milk this for all it's worth!"
I rolled my eyes so hard it was a miracle I didn't sprain something. Of course they were thrilled. Dorian probably thought it was some magical cheat code handed to him on a silver platter. Meanwhile, I had about thirty seconds to not get vaporized by the world's deadliest mana confetti.
"Perfect," I muttered. "This 'relaxing' camp keeps getting better."
A sudden flash of blue lightning cut across the sky, striking a tree not far from me. The trunk exploded in a shower of sparks and splinters, and the ground beneath me rumbled with the force.
"Yup. Time to run."
I took off without a second thought, weaving through the trees as the storm rolled in, each arc of wild mana getting closer. Just as I thought I'd found a good place to hunker down—a thick cluster of rocks—a flicker of movement caught my eye.
Out of the corner of my vision, I spotted two familiar figures lurking nearby. Draven and Knox. Their gazes locked onto me like predators sighting prey.
Before I could react, Knox grinned. "Looks like someone's all alone. Lucky us."
And just like that, a massive arc of mana surged overhead, illuminating the entire forest in a flash of blinding light.
Then everything went white.