The morning air was sharp with the bite of winter as the first-year students gathered at the edge of the forest. A strange tension hung in the air, thick with anticipation and excitement. Today was the day of the first-year hunt, a tradition at Veylin Academy to assess each student's combat skills, teamwork, and adaptability.
The groupings were random, each class of students assigned to a hunting party that would venture into the wilds and hunt a designated creature. The creatures were varied—ranging from enchanted beasts to magical monstrosities that roamed the dense forests surrounding the academy. It wasn't supposed to be a death match, but accidents could—and did—happen.
I stood at the back of the gathered students, distant from the others. I didn't need to participate in this farce. The hunt was just another opportunity for the academy to assess those with potential, to determine the rank of each student based on their performance. Most of the first-years would be assigned to hunting parties with the usual suspects—those destined for greatness, the ones with true power.
Of course, I wasn't supposed to be part of that group.
"Kael," a voice broke through my thoughts. It was Ilya Ferros, her sharp green eyes already studying me, waiting for me to react.
I glanced at her, nonchalantly raising an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"You're with me," she said, motioning to the group that had already gathered. "We're hunting together."
I raised an eyebrow at her. Ilya Ferros, the silent archer with an uncanny precision, the one who could probably hit a target dead center from a hundred yards away. It made sense for her to be in charge of a group, though I hadn't expected to be included.
"I'm sure there's some mistake," I said, giving her a neutral look. "I'm not part of your team."
"I'm sure there isn't," she replied, unfazed. "Headmaster Aldric specifically assigned you to our group. Apparently, you're the wild card."
The wild card. I had expected to be placed with the students who would fade into the background, those with little talent, so that I could remain unnoticed. But instead, I was in a group with someone like Ilya. It was a subtle shift in the narrative, and I wasn't sure if it was good or bad. Either way, it was too late to protest.
I looked over at the rest of the group. Reynard Vale stood at the front, his jaw set in determination. Behind him were Dain Ashford, a large, imposing figure who always looked as though he were ready to crush someone, and a few other first-years I recognized. The rest of the group seemed to be a mixture of nobles and commoners alike, but their gazes were all fixed on me now.
"So," Ilya spoke again, her eyes sharp. "We're heading into the forest to hunt a Razorclaw Beast. It's fast, tough, and has thick hide, so make sure you stay alert."
"Noted," I replied simply. It wasn't like I needed a lesson in how to fight, but I wasn't going to waste words on it. I had my gun, and that was enough.
The group moved quickly, the students falling into their respective roles. Ilya and Reynard led, Dain was at the rear, and I brought up the middle. As we entered the dense forest, the trees towered above us, their branches intertwining to form a canopy that filtered the sunlight into fractured beams.
The Razorclaw Beast wasn't hard to find. Its tracks were large, and the unmistakable scent of its fur hung in the air. We moved with silent precision, the group forming a loose perimeter as we neared the creature's lair. It was a wild beast, aggressive, and dangerous, but I wasn't concerned. The moment we saw it, I'd deal with it. The rest could play their part if they felt inclined.
Then, we saw it—massive, with dark fur and claws that seemed to gleam in the dim light of the forest. It hissed, its sharp eyes locking onto our group as it growled low, sensing the intrusion.
Reynard immediately stepped forward, his sword drawn, but I stayed back, eyes narrowing, assessing the situation. Ilya was already preparing her bow, calculating the distance, while Dain hefted his massive hammer, preparing to charge in.
But I wasn't like them. I didn't need to charge in recklessly.
With a slow, deliberate movement, I activated my ability. The world around me slowed to a crawl, the Razorclaw's movements reduced to sluggish motions as time stretched like a thin film. My eyes, still locked on the creature, tracked every subtle shift in its posture.
I took a breath and, in that brief moment, I knew my aim would be perfect. I focused on the space between the beast's ribs—the weak spot that would bring it down with one shot.
And I fired.
The sound of the shot was deafening, and the beast collapsed, its massive body crumpling to the ground with a thunderous thud.
Time snapped back to its normal pace as the group stood in stunned silence. They hadn't even seen me move. The Razorclaw had barely shifted before it fell, the bullet passing through it with a deadly precision that left no room for error.
Reynard, who had been preparing for a clash, blinked in surprise. "That was… too easy," he muttered under his breath.
I watched the fallen beast, my gaze cold and unwavering. "I told you," I said, my voice calm. "I don't need to get involved in your fight."
The others slowly closed in, taking in the sight of the beast. Ilya, for the first time, looked at me with something resembling curiosity.
"You didn't just kill it," she said softly, as if coming to a realization. "You anticipated its every move."
I didn't respond. I wasn't here to impress anyone, nor did I need their admiration. I simply acted out of necessity.
Fate had its course, but I would walk it on my own terms.