The halls of the academy were alive with excitement and tension as the final moments of the first event unfolded. Spectators—students and faculty alike—watched eagerly, their eyes glued to the monitors that displayed live footage of the surviving teams. It was the 4th and final day of the survival event, and Caelan's group had just pulled off a seemingly impossible victory. Not only had they successfully shut down the ruins' energy source, neutralizing the guardian beast Vorlith, but they had also managed to fend off attacks from two rival clubs.
The screen showed Caelan's group standing victorious, their faces weary but determined, as the defeated teams were dragged back to their camps. In the spectator hall, cheers erupted. The students couldn't contain their excitement as they celebrated the triumph of the underdogs, who had faced impossible odds and emerged victorious. Some of the younger students even looked on with awe, as if witnessing the feats of legendary heroes from the tales they had grown up reading.
"They did it! They actually stopped the guardian!"
"Did you see how they took out that other club? I thought they were done for!"
"I didn't think anyone could survive a creature like Vorlith. Unbelievable!"
In the professor's observation room, the mood was more measured, though there was no denying the sense of astonishment that lingered in the air. Large screens were displaying multiple views of the teams, their progress, and the remaining few minutes of the event.
Headmaster Elwyn Varis sat at the head of the room, his sharp eyes scanning the monitors with an expression of quiet satisfaction. Beside him were other high-ranking faculty members, including those responsible for the safety and oversight of the competition. Professor Selwyn Malkorin sat with a calm, collected demeanor, his arms crossed as he watched the events unfold.
One of the senior professors, Professor Daren Vardon, leaned forward, his brow furrowed in concern. "That guardian—Vorlith—it wasn't supposed to be that powerful. Something felt wrong with its behavior. It targeted the students like a predator, but these creatures should be mere sentinels. They shouldn't have such aggression or intelligence."
"I agree," Professor Lyna Rylan added. "This was meant to be a controlled simulation. Vorlith's actions were too specific, too focused. Could it have been tampered with?"
Another faculty member, Professor Orin Althar, Caelan's uncle, spoke up. "It's possible. But who would have the knowledge and ability to manipulate such ancient technology? These ruins predate even our deepest understanding of mana and artifacts. A breach like this could have serious implications for future events."
The murmurs of agreement grew louder, and a few professors exchanged uneasy glances.
Headmaster Varis, however, remained silent, his gaze shifting momentarily to Selwyn Malkorin, who seemed unperturbed by the discussion.
"It's clear that there are questions to be answered," Varis said finally, his voice cutting through the room. "But we mustn't alarm the students or the academy. We'll investigate this thoroughly, but for now, the competition must proceed. The students have earned their victory today, and we should recognize that."
Professor Vardon opened his mouth to protest, but Selwyn raised a hand, his voice calm yet commanding. "There's no need to panic. The situation is under control. The guardian was dangerous, yes, but no one was killed, and that is what matters. The purpose of this event is to prepare the students for real dangers they may face in the future. Vorlith was a simulation, yes, but so are the threats they will encounter in the ruins beyond our academy. If they can't handle this now, they won't survive what's to come."
The room fell silent at Selwyn's words, his logic cutting through the remaining doubts. Headmaster Varis nodded in agreement.
"We'll proceed as planned," Varis said decisively. "Send out teams to investigate the ruins and see if any tampering has occurred. But for now, let's not ruin the students' hard-earned victory."
As the bell rang to signal the end of the event, the screen switched to an overhead view of the battlefield. The students on the ground, exhausted but triumphant, began to pack up their camps. Medical teams and event staff descended onto the grounds, ready to transport the injured to the infirmary and clear out the remains of the competition.
The Aftermath
Back on the battlefield, Caelan's group sat in a circle, catching their breath. Caelan, still slightly pale from the overuse of his mana to stop the energy flow, leaned back against a boulder while Dorian and Aldric distributed what remained of their food supplies. Seraphine kept watch over the group, while Elena and Lysandra quietly discussed what had just transpired.
"We did it," Aldric said, his voice a mixture of disbelief and pride. "We actually did it."
Caelan smiled weakly, shaking his head. "Barely. If it weren't for everyone pulling together, we wouldn't have made it out."
Lysandra, wiping sweat from her brow, looked thoughtful. "We'll need to keep an eye on things. The ruins were more dangerous than expected, and I doubt we've seen the last of those kinds of threats."
Before they could delve further into the implications of the event, a group of academy officials arrived, helping those who were injured and escorting the exhausted students back to the academy. The survivors from other clubs, some badly injured, were already being carried away to the infirmary.
Victory Announcement
Later that night, after the students had rested and recovered from their ordeal, the entire academy gathered in the grand hall for the announcement of the event's results. The headmaster stood on a raised platform at the front of the room, his presence commanding as always.
"Today," Headmaster Varis began, his voice carrying throughout the hall, "you have all witnessed a true test of resilience, intelligence, and courage. The survival event is one of the most challenging aspects of this competition, designed to push you beyond your limits. And, as we have seen, some of you have risen to the challenge."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the students, who waited in anticipation.
"I am pleased to announce that the victors of this event, having not only survived but triumphed over both the challenges of the ruins and their rivals, are Caelan Althar, Dorian Valen, Aldric Calder, Seraphine Valen, Elena Fillworth, club: The Society for the Study of Ancient Civilizations and Artifacts."
Cheers erupted from the crowd, with Caelan's group receiving a wave of applause and admiration. The students around them congratulated them, some in awe of their performance, while others whispered in envy or disbelief.
Caelan and his group stepped forward, accepting the recognition with humility. They knew how hard they had fought, not just against their enemies, but against the very land itself. And yet, they also knew that their journey was far from over.
Event 2: The Relic Hunt
A few days passed after the first event, giving the students time to rest and recover. However, the academy had little time for complacency. The second event, known as The Relic Hunt, was about to begin, and this time it was not a test of survival or combat, but one of intelligence and problem-solving.
The announcement of the new event came with a different kind of excitement. This was a test of mental prowess, something that would challenge not only the students' knowledge but their ability to work as a team to solve ancient puzzles and decipher cryptic texts.
The rules of the event were straightforward. Teams would be given a series of ancient texts to decipher, with each decoded message leading them to a hidden relic somewhere on the academy grounds. The relics were scattered across the vast campus, hidden in places steeped in history and magic.
Caelan's group gathered in their clubroom to prepare for the challenge ahead. Lysandra, who had the most experience with ancient texts, led the discussion.
"This will be different from the last event," she explained. "We're not just fighting monsters or surviving. This is about deciphering clues and finding the relics before the other teams."
Dorian leaned back in his chair; arms crossed. "So, we'll need to know a lot of history and ancient languages, right? Good thing we've got Elena and you."
Lysandra nodded. "Yes, but it's not just about that. We'll also need to be quick on our feet. The clues could lead anywhere on the academy grounds, and we'll need to split up to cover more ground."
Elena, who had been quietly studying a stack of old books, spoke up. "I've been going through some of the academy's archives. If we can figure out which areas of the grounds are tied to certain historical events or figures, it might give us an advantage."
Caelan, sitting across from Elena, looked thoughtful. "This event is going to require more planning than the last one. We'll need to be careful not to make any mistakes."
Seraphine, agreed. "We should make sure we're prepared for anything. The other teams will be just as determined to win, and we can't afford to underestimate them."
The Hunt Begins
When the day of the relic hunt finally arrived, the academy grounds were filled with anticipation. The headmaster once again stood before the students, explaining the rules in detail.
"The relics are hidden in various locations across the academy," he said. "Each team will be given a set of ancient texts that contain clues leading to these relics. You will need to decipher the texts, follow the clues, and retrieve as many relics as you can. The team with the most relics at the end of the event will be declared the winner."
The students nodded, their minds already racing with thoughts of where the relics might be hidden.
As the event began, Caelan's group wasted no time. Lysandra and Elena immediately set to work decoding the first text, while the others prepared to split up and search the grounds. The clues were cryptic, referencing ancient figures, long-forgotten buildings, and hidden chambers within the academy itself.
Their first clue led them to an old library tower, where they found the first relic hidden beneath a stack of ancient scrolls.
The competition was fierce, with other teams hot on their heels, but Caelan's group remained focused, using their knowledge and teamwork to stay one step ahead.
The Relic Hunt proved to be a different kind of challenge altogether. It was less about physical endurance and more about intellect, strategy, and quick thinking. But as the event unfolded, one thing became clear—this was just the beginning of an even greater test of their abilities.