The dust settled, and the figure stepped fully into view. A girl stood confidently, her hands on her hips.
Her crimson hair was short and slightly tousled, and her amber eyes glowed faintly. Behind her, a sleek dragon-like tail swayed lazily, the faint shimmer of mana rippling off her form.
She smirked down at the two of them, her presence commanding and unapologetic. "Name's Rose Drakthorn." she said, her voice casual but carrying a tone that demanded attention. "Don't worry about those guys, they'll probably land in a tree somewhere. Eventually."
Hugo blinked, still processing what had just happened. "Uh… thanks?"
Rose grinned. "No problem. Just doing my civic duty to keep morons out of the academy."
Her fiery gaze shifted to the silver-haired boy, who was still clutching his injured side. "You okay, kid?"
He nodded shakily, trying to stand but wincing as he put weight on his leg. "Yeah… thanks to you and this guy here."
Rose shrugged, as if blasting people into the sky was just another Tuesday for her. "You're welcome. But maybe next time, don't trust strangers so easily, huh?"
The boy's face flushed red, and he muttered something under his breath.
Rose turned back to Hugo, eyeing the gauntlets on his hands. "And you? What's your deal? You didn't look like you needed saving back there, blue boy."
Hugo frowned, his pride stung. "I was handling it. Also, the name Hugo Icelandra, not blue boy."
"Sure you were, ice boy." Rose teased, tilting her head with a playful grin. "But let's be real, a little help never hurts."
Hugo crossed his arms, unwilling to argue further. Something about her smug attitude told him she wouldn't back down easily.
Rose's tail flicked behind her as she looked around the clearing. "So, what's the plan, guys? Stick together, or are we playing lone wolves here?"
Hugo hesitated, glancing at the injured boy. He wasn't thrilled about teaming up with someone like Rose, but leaving the boy alone wasn't an option either.
The silver-haired boy coughed lightly, drawing their attention. "I'm Shine Skylight, by the way.." he said weakly, his cyan eyes flicking between them. "And… I could use a hand, if you don't mind."
Rose smirked, already moving to help him stand. "Shine Skylight, huh? You're lucky I'm feeling generous today."
Hugo glancing at the horizon where the bullies had vanished. This trial was turning out to be far more chaotic than he'd anticipated.
Then Hugo let out a deep sigh as he adjusted Shine's weight on his back. The silver-haired boy was lighter than he expected, but carrying someone through a forest while staying alert wasn't exactly easy.
Rose walked beside him, her arms crossed and her tail swishing lazily as if the entire situation was nothing more than an amusing stroll.
"Fine." Hugo muttered, his tone gruff. "I'll go along with this, but don't expect me to play nice."
Rose smirked, clearly enjoying his reluctance. "Oh, don't worry. I'm not looking for a best friend. I just need someone who can keep up."
Shine, leaning his chin on Hugo's shoulder, gave a weak chuckle. "Thanks… for helping. I didn't think someone like you would—"
"Don't make it a big deal." Hugo cut him off sharply. "You're injured, and I'm not heartless. That's all."
Rose snorted. "Not heartless, huh? Could've fooled me with all that brooding and glaring."
Hugo shot her a sidelong glance but chose to ignore the comment. "If we're doing this, let's move. The longer we stand around, the more likely we'll run into trouble."
"Agreed." Rose replied, her smirk softening slightly. "Let's just hope your legs can keep up. You're not exactly built like a tank."
The trio began walking, the sounds of the forest filling the silence between them. The occasional rustle of leaves or distant cry of some unknown creature kept everyone on edge, but Rose seemed entirely unbothered, her eyes scanning their surroundings lazily.
After a while, she broke the silence. "So, Hugo, what's your deal? A guy with no powers, no race traits, trying to get into Hunter High Academy? Sounds like you've got something up your sleeve."
Hugo didn't answer immediately, his grip tightening on Shine's legs as he carried him.
"None of your business.." he finally muttered, his tone leaving no room for further questions.
Rose raised an eyebrow, her curiosity only growing. "Oh, come on. I saw how you handled those three back there. That wasn't beginner's luck. And that gauntlet of yours? Definitely not standard equipment."
Hugo's jaw tightened, his sharp blue eyes fixed on the path ahead.
Sensing the tension, Shine tried to deflect the conversation. "Uh… Rose, what about you? You're a half-dragon, right? That gravity thing you did was incredible."
Rose grinned, clearly pleased with the compliment. "Yeah, half-dragon. Gravity manipulation's my specialty. Comes with the territory like field where I could pull any enemy or object to me."
Shine nodded, his expression a mix of awe and curiosity. "Is it… hard to control?"
Rose shrugged, her grin turning into a thoughtful smile. "At first, sure. It's like having an extra limb you don't know how to use. But once you figure it out, it's just… natural. Plus, it's great for dealing with jerks like those three."
Shine managed a small smile. "You make it sound so easy."
Rose winked. "It's all about confidence. Speaking of which, you've got a pretty unique vibe yourself. What's your deal?"
Shine hesitated, glancing at Hugo for reassurance. Hugo sighed. "Just tell her. She's not going to let it go."
Shine took a deep breath. "I'm… not great at physical combat. My ability's better for long-range attacks. I can infuse my mana into an weapons to make them stronger. But…" He paused, his voice dropping. "I guess I trusted the wrong people this time."
Rose's expression darkened briefly, her tail flicking in irritation. "Yeah, trust is a tricky thing. But you're lucky we showed up when we did. Stick with us for now, and at least you'll know who's on your side."
Shine's eyes widened slightly, and he managed a faint smile. "Thanks… both of you."
Hugo grunted in response. "Just focus on not falling off. I'm not carrying you if you pass out."
The trio continued through the forest, the atmosphere gradually shifting from tense to strangely comfortable. Despite Hugo's reluctance, there was an unspoken understanding forming between them.
After a while, Rose glanced at Hugo again, her curiosity still burning. "So, are you ever going to tell me about that fancy gadget of yours? Or is it some big secret?"
Hugo didn't look at her, his voice calm but firm. "It's personal."
Rose smirked. "Fair enough. But don't think I'm letting it slide forever. You're full of surprises, Hugo, and I intend to figure out every one of them."
Hugo sighed, adjusting Shine's weight again as they approached a denser part of the forest. The trees loomed overhead, casting long shadows across their path.
As they pressed on, Hugo couldn't shake the feeling that this unlikely partnership, however temporary, was going to change things.
Whether for better or worse, he didn't know. But for now, he had a goal get Shine to safety and figure out what lay ahead.
As the trio trudged through the dense forest, the sudden crackle of a loudspeaker echoed from seemingly nowhere. The booming voice of Instructor Everhart filled the air, carrying an air of amusement.
"One hour remaining, candidates. If you haven't found a badge yet, I'd suggest you hurry. Remember, no badge means no passing!"
Hugo froze mid-step, his eyes widening. "One hour?!"
Rose stifled a laugh, watching as panic overtook Hugo's usually composed demeanor. "What's wrong, Mr. Tough Guy? Don't tell me you haven't found one yet?"
"I've been a little busy not dying!" Hugo snapped, his sharp blue eyes darting around as if a badge would miraculously appear on the ground.
Rose leaned against a nearby tree, a smug grin spreading across her face. "That's a shame. What will you do now, Badge-less Hugo?"
"I don't see you holding one either." Hugo shot back, crossing his arms. "Or are you just bluffing?"
"Bluffing?" Rose chuckled, reaching into her pocket with deliberate slowness. "I don't need to bluff."
With a dramatic flourish, she pulled out a shiny golden badge, holding it up so it gleamed in the sunlight. "Ta-da!"
Hugo's jaw dropped. "W-What?! When did you— how did you?!"
Rose casually flipped the badge between her fingers, her smirk growing wider. "Oh, you know, just a little half-dragon magic."
"That's not even—ugh, nevermind!" Hugo groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "At least Shine doesn't have one yet either. Right, Shine?"
The silver-haired boy, still perched on Hugo's back, shifted awkwardly. "Um, actually…"
Hugo felt Shine's hand pat his shoulder. When he glanced over, he saw Shine sheepishly holding up his own golden badge.
Hugo stared at it, dumbfounded. "You too?! When did you even—?!"
Shine gave a nervous chuckle. "The bull-guy had it. I, uh, swiped it when Rose sent them flying."
"You mean you had a badge this whole time and didn't say anything?!" Hugo's voice cracked slightly, his frustration reaching its peak.
Shine shrugged. "I didn't think it was a big deal.."
Rose burst out laughing, her voice ringing through the forest. "Oh, this is too good! The guy who just took out three bullies doesn't even have a badge!"
Hugo's face flushed as he glared at her. "You're not helping!"
Rose wiped a tear from her eye, trying to catch her breath. "Relax, Hugo. There's still an hour left. I'm sure you'll stumble across one… eventually."
Hugo groaned, his eyes scanning the forest with renewed desperation. "Yeah, sure. I'll just magically find one lying around while you two gloat."
"Hey, don't worry." Rose said, her teasing tone softening slightly. "If you don't find one, I'm sure you'll ace the retake exam. Oh, wait! There isn't one!"
"Not funny!" Hugo barked, stomping ahead.
Rose grinned, following him at a leisurely pace. "Come on, Badge-less Hugo. Let's see if your luck turns around. I'm rooting for you!"
Shine gave a small smile, leaning his chin on Hugo's shoulder. "For what it's worth, I believe in you too."
Hugo sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Great. Just great. My team believes in me, and I'm still badge-less."
As the trio continued deeper into the forest, Hugo muttered to himself, his determination growing despite the odds. "One hour. I've got this. I'll find a badge, no matter what."
Rose and Shine exchanged amused glances behind him, their smiles hinting at a mix of camaraderie and mischief. The clock was ticking, and Hugo's real test was just beginning.
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