After the hilariously chaotic entrance test, Reika, Zephyr, Sylas, and Isla were officially initiated as disciples of Springwood City. Today, their teacher, Corwin Brightforge, was leading them on a special tour to Eastwood City, giving the newbies a firsthand look at its ancient, mysterious structures and spiritual energy-packed atmosphere. It was also time for them to learn how to complete sect tasks—yep, their real training journey was about to begin.
Corwin Brightforge, with his long silver hair and sage-like demeanor, looked every bit the "immortal master." His calmness had an air of authority, the kind that made you shut up and listen. He rarely smiled, but his sharp gaze and half-masked face made him look like he could see through your soul with just one glance. The students could feel his silent but powerful presence whenever he spoke.
"Today," Corwin began, his voice flowing smoothly like a serene stream yet filled with undeniable authority, "I will show you the core of Eastwood City, where your training begins. Understand this—this is no playground. Every task you choose will shape your path. Today is your first step towards the inner sect."
Reika looked up at the towering city ahead of them. The grand buildings radiated spiritual energy, as if every brick and tile had absorbed centuries of power. Shops selling spiritual herbs, elixirs, and magical artifacts lined the streets, bustling with cultivators from every corner of the world.
"Wow, this place is incredible!" Reika's eyes sparkled in awe.
Zephyr, always ready to mess with her, smirked and patted her shoulder like an old pro. "First time seeing real magic, huh? Stick with me, newbie, I've been here so many times, I could give you a tour." He even flicked his sleeve dramatically, trying to look like the place's resident expert.
Reika rolled her eyes. "Show-off." But deep down, she couldn't help but admit that the place was indeed magical.
Corwin allowed himself a small smile before returning to his usual serious demeanor. "Next up is the famed Brightmoon Tower, also known as the Merit Pavilion. All of your future missions will come from here. Whether you're a new recruit, an inner disciple, or even a sect elder, all tasks originate from this tower. It's where you'll earn points and improve your skills."
He pointed ahead, and there it was—a majestic five-story tower stretching towards the sky, glowing with ancient power. The walls were inscribed with intricate runes, and the entire building radiated a sense of solemnity that made everyone hold their breath.
"Brightmoon Tower?" Sylas, ever the scholar, flipped through his notes, wide-eyed. "Does this mean we'll be coming here a lot?"
Corwin nodded. "Indeed. The sect's task system is extensive. By completing tasks, you'll earn points, which can be exchanged for magical items, elixirs, or even a spirit beast mount. But don't think the points will be easy to get. The road to mastery is filled with challenges."
"A spirit beast mount?" Reika's eyes lit up. "I need to get one that breathes fire! That way, I'll have a portable barbecue everywhere I go!"
Zephyr couldn't help himself, grinning as he chimed in, "Or maybe you should go for a beast that lays eggs, then you'll have spirit eggs for breakfast every morning."
Reika's face flushed red as she punched his arm lightly. "You're the spirit egg here!" Still, she secretly found their playful banter kind of comforting. It made this whole crazy journey feel... warmer.
Corwin, unbothered by their antics, continued, "Your goal is to complete at least ten points worth of tasks—this is the minimum requirement to become an inner disciple. Every task must be done personally, whether it's gathering spirit herbs or capturing spirit beasts. Prepare yourselves accordingly."
As the group debated what kind of tasks to choose, a cold voice cut through the conversation. "What a waste of time," said Zara Brightforge, her tone dripping with arrogance. As the heiress of the Brightforge family, Zara was always holier-than-thou, and her disdainful glare was aimed squarely at Reika. "How could someone like you—such a... rustic soul—handle these tasks?"
Reika's mood instantly soured. She didn't know why Zara had it out for her, but her snobby attitude grated on her nerves. Just as she was about to snap back, Corwin stepped forward, his piercing gaze landing on Zara. "Zara, this isn't your family's backyard. The rules of the sect apply to everyone. If you can't complete the tasks, don't even think about advancing to the inner sect."
Zara's expression shifted slightly, but she quickly masked her frustration with a cold huff. She shot one last venomous glance at Reika before storming off. "Dramatic much?" Reika thought to herself, rolling her eyes. She glanced over at Zephyr, who winked at her and made a "don't mind her" face, instantly making Reika feel better.
The group returned to their task planning. "Gathering spirit herbs is the safest bet. Two points per herb—just five different kinds, and we'll hit ten points easily," one student suggested.
"But capturing spirit beast eggs gives you five points per egg! We'd finish faster that way," another student countered.
Zephyr chuckled and offered a warning. "Just be careful with those eggs. Spirit beasts guard them with their lives. If you can't get the egg and end up being chased by a raging beast, well, you might lose more than just points."
The group burst into laughter, the tension easing a little. Reika nodded, still laughing. "Okay, maybe the herb thing is the safer route. I'd rather not get chased across the forest by some furious mother beast."
After some more discussion, the four of them agreed to go with the herb-gathering task. "Alright, let's go! To Moonlit Woods!" Reika declared, eyes shining with excitement.
But just as they were about to head out, Zara's voice rang out again. "It's pathetic how excited you all are over such lowly tasks. Typical peasants."
Reika's face flushed with irritation. She was about to fire back when Zara turned her attention to Zephyr, her tone suddenly dripping with honeyed sweetness. "Zephyr, darling, these trivial tasks are beneath someone like you. Come with me, and I'll show you a faster way to success."
Zephyr's response was immediate and filled with his usual sunshine charm. "Thanks for the offer, Zara, but completing tasks with my friends is part of the journey."
Zara's face darkened with frustration. She shot Reika one last death glare before storming off in a dramatic flurry of robes, muttering, "Ungrateful fool…"
Reika muttered under her breath, "Someone's got issues…" Then she turned to Zephyr with a grin. "C'mon, let's get going before Queen Zara ruins our vibe any more."
＊＊＊
The Moonlit Woods, located at the outskirts of Springwood City, were a mysterious forest where spiritual herbs and beasts coexisted. For Reika, Zephyr, Sylas, and Isla, who were tackling their first-ever sect task, the woods were filled with unknown challenges—and way too many unpredictable dangers.
Reika's eyes were practically sparkling as she scanned the area. "Wow, there are so many spiritual herbs and beasts here! Grabbing a spirit beast egg should be a piece of cake, right?"
Zephyr gave her a lazy smile, one eyebrow raised. "Don't get too excited just yet. If we go after those eggs, we might be on the menu instead of getting brunch."
Isla, always calm and collected, chimed in coolly, "Focus. Our task is to gather spirit herbs, not chase after beast eggs."
Meanwhile, Sylas, the group's walking encyclopedia, was already flipping through his trusty tome, The Coexistence of Spirit Herbs and Beasts, mumbling as he went. "According to this, most of the herbs here are protected by spirit beasts. We'll need to be extra careful…"
Reika, of course, waved off his concerns with a carefree grin. "Come on, where's the fun in that? A little danger never hurt anybody!"
The second those words left her mouth, a deafening roar echoed from the nearby bushes, shaking the trees and sending birds flying. A massive spirit bear emerged, its red eyes blazing as it charged straight at Reika.
"AHHH!" Reika screamed, spinning on her heel to run. But after just two steps, she managed to trip over a root and faceplant spectacularly onto the forest floor. "Help! I'm being eaten alive!"
Zephyr sighed, shaking his head with an amused grin. "Is it always this dramatic with you?" Even so, he quickly stepped between her and the bear, his sword flashing as he prepared to defend her.
Isla, meanwhile, observed the bear calmly, as if it were no more than a curious squirrel. "It's not here to fight. It's protecting its territory."
Sylas glanced up from his book, completely unfazed by the chaos. "Actually, the bear only attacks if someone steps on its precious spirit herb. Reika, you just happened to… well, trample it."
Reika's eyes widened in disbelief. "How was I supposed to know its precious herb was right under my feet?!"
Zephyr, trying and failing to suppress his laughter, chuckled. "At least it didn't make you its lunch."
With a sigh, Isla began playing her flute, the soothing melody filling the air. The spirit bear blinked, its aggressive stance softening as it swayed to the music. Before long, it turned and lumbered back into the forest, leaving the group in peace.
Reika exhaled a huge sigh of relief, patting the dirt off her clothes. "I wasn't in trouble, obviously. I was just… testing the reflexes of this forest. It's, uh, pretty responsive."
Zephyr burst out laughing, shoulders shaking. "Yeah, and you tested it by tripping over thin air. Maybe next time, try the non-falling method?"
Reika shot him a glare but couldn't help feeling her tension melt away. The group regrouped and began carefully searching for their target—Celestial Heart Grass. According to Sylas, it only grew in damp, shadowy areas, so they combed through the forest's darker corners.
"Let's just hope nothing else crazy happens," Reika muttered under her breath, still a bit shaken from her run-in with the bear.
"Crazy? You're practically a magnet for it," Zephyr said, smirking. "If this keeps up, the spirit beasts will start charging admission to watch your antics."
Reika stuck out her tongue in response but stopped when her eyes lit up. "Hey, I think I found it!" She sprinted toward a clump of plants that looked vaguely like the description from Sylas's book, quickly yanking one out of the ground.
"Wait, Reika, that's not—" Zephyr began, but it was too late. As soon as Reika plucked the plant, it withered in her hands, crumbling into dust.
Reika blushed, her grin sheepish. "Oops… uh, just testing to see if it was a fake. Yep, that's it. Testing."
Zephyr shook his head, laughing. "Your tests are legendary, honestly. I'm sure every spirit beast in the forest knows about them now."
Sylas, completely unfazed, added in his serious tone, "The real Celestial Heart Grass glows with a soft light, and its leaves are translucent."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it. Thanks, Professor Buzzkill!" Reika rolled her eyes but silently cursed her luck.
After what felt like forever, they finally found the real Celestial Heart Grass hidden in a dark corner of the forest. This time, Reika handled it with extreme caution, as if it might explode at any moment. Success! No explosions, no angry spirit bears, no embarrassing falls.
"This time, I've got it! Finally, some peace!" Reika grinned, feeling victorious as she tucked the herb away.
But, of course, peace wasn't on the agenda today. Just as she pocketed the herb, the ground beneath them began to shake. Zephyr narrowed his eyes. "Oh no, not again…"
The earth cracked beneath them, and with a loud whoosh, Sylas, standing a bit too close to the edge of the fissure, disappeared into a deep pit.
"Help!" his voice echoed from the bottom of the hole.
Zephyr doubled over, laughing so hard he could barely speak. "Looks like it's your turn to test the terrain, Sylas!"
Reika, still giggling, reached out to pull him up. "I thought I was the only one who set off traps, but I guess we're all in this together, huh?"
Sylas emerged from the pit, thoroughly disgruntled. "There was nothing in the book about surprise sinkholes."
Zephyr gave him a mockingly sympathetic look. "That's the problem with trusting books too much, buddy. Sometimes, you just gotta wing it."
But their laughter quickly died down as a sudden, heavy presence settled over the forest. The air grew thick with tension, and the lighthearted atmosphere vanished.
"Something's coming," Isla murmured, her eyes narrowing like a hawk's as she scanned the forest.
The rustling of the trees stopped. The usual sounds of the spirit beasts had faded to an eerie silence. Reika felt a chill run down her spine, and though she tried to keep calm, her voice wavered as she whispered, "Why did it just get so quiet?"
Suddenly, a dark shadow dropped from the sky, its sword gleaming as it slashed toward Reika with terrifying speed. She froze, unable to move, as if her body was sealed in place.
"Ambush!" Zephyr shouted, his reflexes kicking in. In a flash, his sword was out, blocking the strike just in time. Sparks flew as the blades collided, and the attacker was momentarily pushed back.
"Stay alert!" Zephyr barked, his usual relaxed expression replaced with one of sharp focus. This was no ordinary enemy.
Reika's heart pounded in her chest. Whoever—or whatever—this was, it wasn't going to let them off easily…