The sunlit clearing beside the pond offered a rare respite in the dark, oppressive forest, but tension still lingered. Lucian sat by the water, carefully tending to the fresh wounds Celeste had inflicted during their earlier squabble. His gloves, battered and torn from days of constant use, were on the verge of falling apart. Adjusting them, he winced slightly as he inspected his injured shoulder. The cursed forest had been relentless, and now, more than ever, Lucian knew they had to leave soon.
Nearby, Celeste leaned against a tree, her arms wrapped around her knees, looking hollow and worn. Her fiery red hair, now tangled and dirty, seemed to lack its usual luster. She stared into the distance as though her spirit had left her body.
"Are you okay?" Lucian asked, his voice softer than usual.
Celeste didn't bother turning to look at him. She grabbed a nearby rock and hurled it at him. Though Lucian could've easily dodged, he let it hit him.
"Shut up, you monster," she spat, her voice tinged with exhaustion.
Lucian ignored her outburst, instead leaning forward, his tone more serious. "Celeste, I'm not joking. Where do you think we are?"
Rolling her eyes, she replied, "It's obvious. We're in the cursed northern lands."
He nodded. "Right... but doesn't it feel strange? This forest doesn't seem as impossible to survive as the stories say."
Celeste sighed. "We haven't seen everything yet, Lucian. Don't tempt fate."
Lucian fell silent for a moment, staring at the treetops. "My sister is here," he finally said, his voice quiet.
Celeste's eyes widened in disbelief as she turned to Lucian. "Wait… your sister? Was she in the university too? A senior, maybe?"
Lucian shook his head, his expression unreadable. "No, she wasn't in the university. She's the same age as us. We're twins."
"Twins?" Celeste repeated, her voice tinged with surprise. "Then how…?"
"I don't know why," Lucian admitted, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "But supposedly, she came here. And I believe she's still alive."
Celeste hesitated before replying softly, "I hope so."
The conversation died, leaving only the sound of the faint wind rustling through the trees. Hours passed, and the clearing fell into darkness once more. Lucian, exhausted from the day, found a spot on softer ground and asked Celeste to keep watch while he took a nap.
Watching him toss and turn in his sleep, Celeste hesitated before moving closer. She summoned a small amount of mana, carefully warming him to keep him from shivering in the cold night air. She muttered under her breath, "You owe me for this, you idiot."
When Lucian suddenly jerked awake a few hours later, clutching his head in pain, Celeste jumped back. He was drenched in sweat, his eyes wide with panic. Catching his breath, he muttered, "The same nightmare… again."
The headaches were unbearable without the clear mind potions, but he forced himself to steady his breathing. "Your turn to rest," he said to Celeste. She didn't need to be told twice, slumping against a tree and passing out almost instantly.
Meanwhile, a short distance away, two pairs of eyes watched them intently from the cover of the trees. Cedric and Selina Veymar observed the scene in silence, their surroundings cloaked in darkness. Cedric's gauntlet emitted a faint glow, casting soft light over his sharp features as he maintained a vigilant mana sense around them. His mana spread like a fine net, carefully tracing the movements of the darkness-oozing monster that had been stalking them relentlessly. Despite the absence of light, the creature maintained its distance, seemingly wary of Cedric's presence and the faint glow of his light magic.
"It's Lucian Hale," Selina whispered, her tone barely audible.
Cedric's eyes narrowed as he assessed the boy from afar. "Doesn't seem that strong. Maybe a two-star mana core," he murmured.
Selina frowned. " what about the red haired morven girl? "
"You know who she is as well?" Cedric asked, clearly impressed by Selina's knowledge.
Selina nodded. "Yes. I've memorized most of the notable students and their capabilities."
Cedric smirked, though his focus didn't waver. "Good job. She seems to have a three-star mana core, just like us. But she's not in the S-class. Odd."
"Odd? She's clearly talented," Selina argued.
"Talent's one thing. Knowing how to use it is another," Cedric countered. He sighed, glancing back at the clearing. "Honestly, I'd rather we found the professors, seniors or another S-class student. But the girl... she could be an asset if guided properly."
"And the boy?" Selina asked pointedly.
Cedric hesitated, his expression hardening. "I don't like him. He's a liability. If it were just her, I'd say we approach right now."
Selina shot him a stern look. "We can't just group with one and not the other. They're together. Take it or leave it."
Cedric sighed, relenting. "Fine. We'll make contact when the sun rises again. Until then, we observe."
He cast another glance around the forest, his mana net still actively probing for threats. The monster that had been trailing them remained at a distance, a lurking menace that refused to come closer. Cedric's jaw tightened. Whatever it was, it wasn't done with them yet.
As sunlight poured into the clearing, Lucian splashed water on his face by the pond. His wounds throbbed, but he felt a fleeting sense of relief in the warmth of the rising sun. His reprieve was cut short when he sensed movement in the forest. Gripping his sword tightly, he shifted into a defensive stance.
Emerging from the treeline were two figures: a tall white haired boy and a white-haired girl. Lucian immediately recognized Selina Veymar, the princess he had met in the training grounds. The other figure, however, was unfamiliar. His posture, the way he carried himself—it was clear this boy was no ordinary student.
Celeste, now awake, looked at the approaching pair and whispered, "Drop the sword, Lucian. It's the prince and princess."
Lucian didn't lower his blade. His instincts screamed caution.
Selina raised her hands in a gesture of peace. "It's been a while, Lucian. We mean no harm. We want to group up and get out of this place."
Noticing Lucian's focus on Cedric, she added, "This is my brother, Cedric Veymar."
Lucian hesitated before finally lowering his sword and bowing. "Apologies for my caution, Your Highnesses."
But as Lucian's eyes lingered on Cedric, the boy's instincts remained on high alert. Something about the prince unsettled him—a sense that involving himself with the Veymars might lead to far more trouble than he was prepared for.