Princess Selene stepped forward, letting her gaze sweep slowly across the summoned still standing in the field. Her posture was serene, but her voice carried a firmness that brooked no argument.
"Listen carefully," she began, commanding the group's full attention. "First of all, as previously stated, only those who have reached a level 3 mana core will be allowed to participate in the admission trial. If you do not meet this requirement, step aside and form a line."
A heavy silence fell over the group as her words resonated.
"Those who fail to meet the criteria will receive one gold coin and enough supplies to last a week. From this point on, you will no longer have any connection to the kingdom. You are free to live your lives as you wish, but you will not be part of the Academy."
The murmurs began to grow among the summoned who knew they hadn't met the required level. Some voiced their frustration aloud, while others hurled insults at the princess and the soldiers.
"This is unfair!" someone shouted from the back. "You brought us here, and now you're throwing us away!"
The princess maintained her calm expression, but one of the soldiers swiftly stepped forward toward the group of complainers, his gaze severe. "Silence!" he barked, his voice echoing across the field. "Follow the orders, or you'll be escorted out by force."
The summoned who had failed to reach level 3 were forced to form a line. Some stared at the ground, defeated, while others held their heads high, defiant. Those who remained in the field, the ones eligible for the trial, watched in silence as the first group was equipped with their supplies and sent away from the camp. The atmosphere grew heavy with discomfort and tension.
Once the process was complete, the princess resumed speaking, her voice slicing through the air like a blade. "Now that the unqualified have departed, let us proceed with the explanation of the final trial."
Everyone who remained stood straighter, expectant. The princess paused briefly before continuing.
"The trial will be individual," she announced, prompting an immediate murmur among the summoned. "Each of you will be sent into the forest. There, you must survive and collect magic stones for an entire day. You will need to return to the designated meeting point tomorrow morning with the stones you have gathered. The quantity and quality of the stones will determine your ranking."
The princess gestured toward one of the soldiers, who unfurled a map of the forest and placed it on a stand for everyone to see.
"In the forest, you will encounter a variety of monsters that you must hunt to earn points. Points are obtained by collecting the magic stones found in the corpses of monsters. Each type of monster awards a different number of stones, depending on its difficulty and power level."
Selene paused to ensure everyone was following along before continuing. "Additionally, magic stones can be stolen from other participants. This means you must not only worry about the monsters but also protect what you collect. However," she added, her tone growing more serious, "it is strictly forbidden to harm other participants. Any attempt to do so will result in immediate disqualification."
The silence that followed her words was absolute. Luther noticed some of the summoned exchanging tense glances, already calculating their strategies.
"Any questions?" Selene asked, her gaze sweeping across the summoned.
A young man timidly raised his hand. "What happens if we don't return to the meeting point on time?"
"If you fail to return on time, you will be automatically disqualified," the princess replied coldly. "There will be no exceptions."
Another summoned raised his hand. "How dangerous are the monsters in the forest?"
Selene nodded slightly. "There will be a mix of levels. Some will be manageable for novice summoners, while others will be a considerable challenge. Your success will depend on your ability to assess threats and act accordingly."
"However," she added, pausing as her gaze moved among the summoned, "I'll give you a small hint: the deeper you go into the forest, the stronger the monsters you'll encounter. Consequently, they'll drop more magic stones upon death. Those who take the greatest risks may reap the greatest rewards."
"Oh… and I almost forgot," Selene said with a faint smile. "Only the top 10 participants with the most points will pass the trial. Any more questions?"
No one else raised their hand. The princess stepped back and nodded. "If there are no further questions, each of you will be escorted to a different starting point within the forest. There will be no contact with other participants until the trial officially begins. Prepare yourselves. This trial evaluates not only your strength but also your ingenuity, survival skills, and ability to make decisions under pressure. Good luck to all."
As the soldiers began organizing the summoned, Luther scanned the group for Elise. He spotted her not far away, adjusting her gear with a determined yet nervous expression. He decided to approach her, aware this might be their last chance to talk before the trial began.
"Well, I guess this is where we part ways," Luther said, trying to sound more relaxed than he felt.
Elise looked up, and a soft smile lit her face as she noticed him. "Yeah, I guess so. But you know you'll do great, right?"
Luther nodded, though a pang of uncertainty gnawed at him inside. "You too, Elise. You're strong. I'm sure you'll make it."
They exchanged a look heavy with unspoken emotions. Elise lowered her gaze slightly, fidgeting nervously with one of her belt straps. Finally, she looked back up, a mix of sweetness and determination in her expression. "Take care of yourself, okay? Don't do anything reckless… though I know you probably will."
Luther chuckled softly. "I'll try to stay out of trouble… haha."
The sound of soldiers calling the summoned to their starting points interrupted the moment. Luther stepped back, ready to join his escort. "See you at the meeting point," he said with a small smile.
"Yeah…" Elise replied, her voice quieter than usual. Luther nodded and turned to leave with the escorts.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps behind him made him stop. Before he could react, Elise ran up to him, positioning herself directly in front of him. Without a word, she leaned in and stole a kiss. It was quick but full of emotion. Luther, stunned, froze as his face turned bright red.
Equally flushed, Elise stepped back, avoiding his gaze. "G-good luck," she stammered before turning and running toward her escort, leaving Luther rooted in place.
When he finally snapped out of it, a small smile spread across his face. His heart pounded in his chest, but it wasn't just from nerves… or at least not entirely. "Thank you," he murmured to himself before continuing toward the forest.
The trial hadn't begun yet, but for Luther, Elise's gesture gave him renewed strength to face what lay ahead.
When Luther arrived at his starting point, a soldier instructed him to wait there until the horn sounded. The forest before him was dense and dark, with towering trees that blocked much of the light. Although the sun still shone, inside the forest, it seemed much later in the day.
"A full day," Luther thought, adjusting his gear and taking a deep breath. "This is gonna be rough, huh…"
The horn finally sounded in the distance, signaling the start of the trial. Luther clenched his fists, took one last deep breath, and stepped into the forest, fully aware that every decision he made in the next 24 hours could determine not only his place in the Academy… but also his survival.