The air in the Academy buzzed with anticipation. News had spread that Leon Hartwright was forming a specialized team, and speculation ran rampant about who would make the cut. Elias, however, was less thrilled. He'd spent the morning avoiding curious stares and whispers as he prepared for what Leon had called "an introductory mission."
Why did I agree to this? Elias thought, pulling on his uniform. His reflection in the mirror looked as unimpressive as ever—messy blond hair and tired eyes that betrayed his lack of enthusiasm. Despite the system's assurances, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was a mistake.
A soft knock at the door snapped him out of his thoughts. He opened it to find Aria Valford leaning casually against the doorframe, her fiery red hair catching the morning sunlight.
"Ready, Elgard?" she asked, a smirk playing on her lips.
Elias sighed. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Aria raised an eyebrow. "Try to sound a little more enthusiastic. Leon's putting his reputation on the line for this team."
And dragging me along for the ride, Elias thought bitterly but said nothing. He followed Aria down the hallway, where they met up with the rest of the group in the Academy's central courtyard.
Leon stood at the center, exuding his usual confidence. Beside him was a tall, quiet boy with dark glasses—Nathaniel, a prodigy in defensive magic—and a petite girl with silvery hair named Lila, who specialized in healing arts. Elias couldn't help but feel out of place among such talented individuals.
"Good, everyone's here," Leon said, his sharp blue eyes scanning the group. "Let's get started."
He gestured to a map laid out on the stone table in front of him. "Our mission is simple: investigate reports of unusual magical activity in the forest outside the Academy. It's likely just stray mana, but we need to ensure it's nothing more dangerous."
"Sounds easy enough," Aria said, cracking her knuckles.
Elias wasn't so sure. Missions that started with "it's probably nothing" rarely ended well. But before he could voice his concerns, Leon rolled up the map and led the group out of the courtyard.
The forest was dense and eerily quiet, the usual sounds of wildlife conspicuously absent. Elias felt a chill run down his spine as they ventured deeper, the towering trees casting long shadows that seemed to stretch endlessly. The system interface flickered to life in the corner of his vision.
Mission Update:
Objective: Assist the team in investigating the magical disturbance.
Reward: +50 Survival Points.
Penalty: Exposure to a major threat.
Great, Elias thought, his nerves tightening. He glanced at the others. Leon and Aria moved with confidence, while Nathaniel and Lila seemed focused but calm. Elias, on the other hand, felt like a bundle of nerves.
After about an hour of trekking, the group arrived at a clearing where the air felt thick with magic. The ground was scorched in places, and faint traces of glowing blue mana lingered in the air.
"Stay alert," Leon warned, drawing his sword.
Aria unsheathed her own blade, her eyes scanning the clearing. "This doesn't look like stray mana to me."
Nathaniel stepped forward, raising a hand to cast a detection spell. A faint golden light spread out in a circle, revealing hidden runes etched into the ground.
"It's a trap," Nathaniel said sharply, his voice laced with urgency. "Everyone, back—"
Before he could finish, the runes flared to life, and a burst of energy exploded from the ground. Elias barely had time to raise his hand and activate Shadow Veil, blending into the shadows just as a wave of heat surged past him.
When the light faded, Elias emerged from the shadows to find the group scattered but unharmed. Standing in the center of the clearing was a hulking, shadowy creature with glowing red eyes. Its form was unstable, flickering like a flame, but its presence radiated pure malice.
"What the hell is that?" Aria muttered, tightening her grip on her sword.
"A manifestation of corrupted mana," Nathaniel said, his voice grim. "We need to contain it before it spreads."
Leon stepped forward, his blade gleaming as he infused it with magic. "Elias, you cover Nathaniel and Lila. Aria, you're with me."
Elias swallowed hard but nodded. As much as he wanted to disappear, he couldn't afford to falter now. He positioned himself near Nathaniel and Lila, who began preparing defensive and healing spells.
The creature roared, charging at Leon and Aria. They met its attack head-on, their movements synchronized and precise. Sparks flew as their blades clashed against the creature's shadowy limbs.
Elias focused on keeping the creature's stray attacks from reaching Nathaniel and Lila. He activated Basic Barrier Creation, forming shimmering shields to deflect the creature's flailing strikes. Each barrier drained his energy, but the system chimed in encouragement:
Skill Progression: Basic Barrier Creation (Proficiency: 30%).
"Keep it up!" Nathaniel shouted as he launched a binding spell, golden chains wrapping around the creature. Lila followed up with a purifying spell, the silvery light causing the creature to writhe in pain.
"Almost there!" Leon called out, driving his sword into the creature's core. Aria delivered a final, devastating slash, and the creature let out a deafening roar before disintegrating into wisps of black smoke.
The clearing fell silent. The only sound was the group's heavy breathing as they processed what had just happened.
"Not bad," Leon said, sheathing his sword. He glanced at Elias with a faint smile. "You held your ground, Elgard. Maybe you're tougher than you look."
Elias managed a weak smile, though his legs felt like jelly. The system chimed softly:
Mission Complete!
Reward: +50 Survival Points.
Bonus: +10 Skill Points (for effective use of Shadow Veil and Basic Barrier Creation).
As the group made their way back to the Academy, Elias couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The story was pulling him in deeper, and he was running out of ways to stay on the sidelines.
If this is how it's going to be, he thought, then I need to be ready for whatever comes next.