The atmosphere in the observation hall was tense. The room, filled with large screens displaying the ongoing competition, buzzed with whispers and shocked gasps. Students and faculty alike had gathered to watch the second day of the survival event unfold, but the sudden appearance of monstrous creatures had shifted the mood. No one had anticipated such danger this early in the event.
The hall, designed to accommodate hundreds, was now filled with a hushed murmur as the images of battle flickered across the screens. Teams of students struggled against strange, powerful creatures. The most recent encounter had sent shockwaves through the audience: a beast unlike anything they'd seen before—faster, stronger, and more intelligent than typical wildlife—had torn through one of the competing groups.
"I can't believe this is part of the competition," one student muttered, eyes wide as they watched a group narrowly escape the attack.
"Those creatures are too dangerous!" another student whispered, fear evident in their voice. "This isn't what we signed up for. They're practically monsters."
In the front row, where the professors sat, the mood was no less grim. They spoke in low, serious tones, their faces pale with concern.
"That creature—it wasn't supposed to be this powerful," Professor Vardon said, his eyes fixed on the screen. He was an expert on the flora and fauna of the terrain, and nothing he'd studied had prepared him for what had appeared in the competition.
"That's not a normal guardian beast," Professor Maren added, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. "It's targeting the teams, as if it has some kind of intelligence. That's not natural behavior."
Professor Eloran, the head of the survival studies department, shook his head. "We should halt the competition immediately. The students could be in serious danger. If this creature has been tampered with, we need to investigate. We can't risk lives over a competition."
A ripple of agreement spread through the faculty section. Several professors nodded, already considering how best to stop the event and get the students to safety.
But before anyone could act, a voice cut through the tension.
"There's no need to panic," said Selwyn Malkorin, his tone calm but commanding.
The professors turned to look at him, surprised by his interjection. Selwyn, known for his reclusive nature, had rarely shown any interest in the Academy's competitions. Yet here he was, attending the event for the first time, and now, interrupting their discussion with an air of quiet authority.
"The students are not in real danger," Selwyn continued, his sharp eyes never leaving the screens. "This competition was designed to teach them about the risks they will face when exploring ruins or unknown territories. Guardians like the one you're seeing are part of that reality."
"But that creature—it's stronger than we expected," Professor Vardon said, frowning. "What if it's been tampered with? We can't just let the students face something like this without—"
"It's not been tampered with," Selwyn interrupted smoothly. "I've seen creatures like this before in my research. It's a guardian of the ruins, likely more ancient than anything we've cataloged. They're not inherently dangerous, but they respond to certain stimuli, particularly intruders. The students are simply facing a real test of their abilities. If we stop the competition now, we'll only be teaching them to retreat at the first sign of danger."
The room fell silent as Selwyn's words sank in. His reputation as a genius in the study of ancient civilizations and artifacts carried immense weight, and few dared to challenge him. Even Professor Eloran, who had been so adamant about stopping the competition, hesitated.
"But what about their safety?" Professor Miren asked, her voice softer now.
"The students are being monitored," Selwyn replied. "We have measures in place. If any of them are in real danger, the simulation can be ended immediately. But I assure you, this creature isn't as powerful as you think. It's a test, one they need to face."
The headmaster, who had been silently observing the exchange, finally spoke. "Selwyn is right. This competition is meant to prepare them for the real world. The ruins we explore aren't safe. If they can't handle this, they'll never survive out there."
The professors exchanged uneasy glances but ultimately nodded in agreement. The headmaster's decision was final.
Selwyn leaned back in his chair, his gaze returning to the screens. His expression was unreadable, but there was a glimmer of interest in his eyes as the images of the teams continued to flicker across the monitors. He focused particularly on one group—the Society of ACA—Caelan's group.
As the headmaster and professors resumed watching the competition, the scene shifted to the camp of Caelan and his companions, who were just now preparing to venture out again, unaware of the events being discussed in the observation hall.
In the dense thickets of the forest, several teams were not as fortunate as Caelan's group. Having barely escaped the creature's initial attack, many had found refuge in the relative safety of a secluded glade. The atmosphere was fraught with panic, and the tension among them was palpable.
"Did you see what it did to Drake's team?" one student exclaimed, their voice trembling. "They barely made it out alive!"
Another, shivering from the adrenaline of their close call, replied, "We can't stay here. We need to move! It could come back!"
In a corner of the glade, a group of four students huddled together, their faces pale. They had witnessed their teammates being torn apart in front of their eyes, and now they felt the weight of their survival pressing down on them like a vice.
"What are we going to do?" a girl whispered, her voice shaking. "We're not equipped to fight that thing. We should have just stuck to the safe paths!"
A boy, his hands trembling, glanced at the others. "We can't just give up. We need to regroup. If we stick together, maybe we can find a way out of this place. But we need a plan."
"First, we have to know where we are," a second girl chimed in, trying to keep her voice steady despite the fear creeping in. She pulled out a map, her hands quaking as she unfolded it. "If we can get to the river, we might find safety. But we have to make it there without being seen."
"But how do we know that creature isn't waiting for us to move?" the first boy interjected, his voice thick with panic.
"We have to risk it. Sitting here isn't going to save us," the second girl insisted. "We can't just let ourselves be picked off one by one. We need to move now, before it finds us again."
After some hesitation, they all nodded in agreement. They would wait until the sun began to rise higher, casting more light into the glade. The creature could strike again at any moment, and they needed to be prepared.
As they crouched low, they could hear distant shouts and the sounds of struggle from other teams scattered throughout the forest. It seemed many were facing similar fates. On the screens in the observation hall, the monitors flickered as more groups were reported missing or incapacitated.
One team, the Rovers of the Ruin, was shown navigating through the brambles when the beast emerged again, its silhouette striking fear into the hearts of viewers. They barely managed to escape, sprinting toward a nearby cliffside for cover.
In the shadows of their hiding places, the students felt a surge of hopelessness. They were all in the same predicament, and there was little they could do but wait and hope.
Back in Caelan's camp, the group had barely slept the previous night, constantly on edge after the attack. Now, with the sun climbing higher into the sky, they were ready to move out. Their plan was simple: find the ruins that the creature seemed to be guarding and uncover the mystery behind its attack.
Lysandra had been running analysis on the beast for hours, piecing together fragments of information from her drones and her knowledge of ancient guardians. Her theories were wild, but none of them had any better ideas.
"We need to move quickly," Dorian said. "That thing could still be out there, and I don't want to face it again without a plan."
Caelan nodded in agreement. "Lysandra, do you have any idea what we might be dealing with?"
Lysandra pushed her glasses up her nose, her eyes scanning the small console in her hand. "Based on what I've been able to gather, it's not a natural creature. It's a guardian, possibly tied to one of the ancient ruins in this region. It seems to be reacting to intruders—us, and the other teams—because we've entered its territory."
Aldric, who was sharpening his sword nearby, frowned. "So, what's the plan? We can't just avoid it forever."
Before Lysandra could answer, Elena, who had been quiet for most of the journey, suddenly spoke up.
"Wait."
Everyone turned to look at her, surprised by her interruption. Elena had always been the quiet one, often lost in thought, but there was a new intensity in her voice now.
"I've been thinking," she said, standing up slowly. "That creature... I've read about something like it before."
"You have?" Caelan asked, his interest piqued.
Elena nodded; her expression serious. "It's a guardian beast. I wasn't sure at first, but after hearing what Lysandra said, I'm almost certain. It's one of the guardian beasts of this terrain."
The group fell silent, waiting for her to continue.
"When I was younger, I read about the guardians in an old book. They're ancient creatures, created to protect the ruins from intruders. They're not just mindless beasts—they're intelligent, and they follow specific patterns. I couldn't remember much at first, but after seeing the way it attacked last night, I think it's the same creature."
Lysandra's eyes widened. "If that's true, then we're dealing with something far more complex than just a wild animal."
"Exactly," Elena said. "The guardian beasts are tied to the ruins they protect. If we can find the ruins, we might be able to figure out how to stop it—or at least understand why it's attacking us."
"So, what's its name?" Seraphine asked, her voice calm but curious.
Elena hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "I believe it's called Vorlith, the Guardian of the Veil."
The name hung in the air, heavy with significance.
"Vorlith," Caelan repeated, testing the weight of the word. "If that's its name, then we need to understand it better. If it's tied to the ruins, that's our next destination."
The group exchanged determined looks. This new information changed everything. They weren't just fighting a random creature—they were dealing with something ancient, something with purpose. And now, they had a name.
"We'll move out in fifteen minutes," Caelan said, his voice steady. "Everyone, get ready. We're going to find those ruins and end this."
As they prepared to leave, the weight of the task ahead settled over them. The competition had taken a dangerous turn, but they were ready. They had faced the guardian once, and now, with Elena's knowledge and Lysandra's technology, they had a plan.
The journey ahead would be difficult, but they were no longer stumbling in the dark. They had a name, a target, and a purpose.
As the sun climbed higher, casting long shadows through the trees, the group set out once again, determined to uncover the secrets of Vorlith and the ruins it guarded.
The real challenge was just beginning.