Chương 16: The Field Trip

The masked thief had become a familiar subject at the academy. Leo noticed it before he even reached his seat. Two students near the windows were arguing over the latest newspaper. Another group had gathered around a desk, comparing different sketches of the same masked figure. Someone near the back claimed that the city guards had finally identified him. Someone else immediately disagreed. Leo walked past them without slowing down. He had heard enough about the thief over the past several days.

Every morning brought another rumor. Another report. Another story that was slightly different from the one before it. He had stopped paying attention. When he reached his desk, Amon, Alice, and Masha were already there. Amon was holding a folded newspaper. Leo placed his books on the desk.

"Are you still talking about him?" Amon looked up.

"Of course." He tapped the newspaper against his palm.

"This is his seventh theft this week." Leo paused.

"Seven?"

"Seven." Amon unfolded the newspaper and pointed at the headline.

"Seven incidents in seven days. He's practically the person of the week." Masha leaned against the edge of the desk.

"They've mentioned him seven days in a row."

"That's impressive," Leo said.

"That's concerning," Alice corrected. She had been reading another article.

"There are rumors that the city has already issued wanted posters with his face." Leo looked at her.

"Wanted posters? This quickly?" Alice nodded.

"Apparently." Amon grinned.

"They're taking him seriously now." Leo pulled his chair out.

"He stole Mana Stones, didn't he?"

"Small ones."

"Then why are the authorities making such a big deal out of it?" Amon shrugged.

"Because he's broken into seven different facilities without being caught." Leo sat down.

"Fair enough." Before the conversation could continue, the classroom door opened. Professor Gareth entered. The room immediately quieted. Gareth placed several sheets of paper on his desk and looked across the students.

"Everyone to your seats." Chairs moved. Conversations ended. Gareth folded his arms.

"Today we're doing something different." A few students exchanged glances.

"We're holding a practical assessment." A low murmur spread through the room.

"It will be a simple competition between two students. Your opponents will be selected randomly." Gareth pointed toward the training hall.

"You will fight under controlled conditions. No lethal attacks. No intentional attacks against the eyes, throat, or other vulnerable areas." His expression hardened.

"But don't mistake controlled for easy." Nobody laughed.

"If you enter that arena, fight seriously." He turned toward the door.

"Your grades will reflect your performance." The Training Hall The academy's training hall was large enough to hold several hundred students. Its floor was covered in reinforced stone. Magic barriers surrounded the combat area, designed to absorb stray attacks and prevent serious injuries. The students gathered around the outer boundary. Gareth stood in the center.

"First match." He unfolded the list.

"Leonard Voss against Daniel Ardent." Daniel stepped forward. He was a lean boy with dark brown hair and sharp green eyes. His expression remained calm as he entered the arena. Leo followed. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The two stood several meters apart. Daniel raised his hand.

"Good luck." Leo nodded.

"You too." Gareth stepped outside the boundary.

"Begin." Daniel moved first. Wind gathered around his feet. He disappeared forward. Leo shifted sideways. A blade of compressed air cut through the space where his shoulder had been. Daniel continued without stopping. Another slash. Then another. Leo moved between them. He did not waste motion. Daniel's eyes narrowed. He changed his rhythm. The next attack came low. Leo jumped. A gust struck beneath his feet and altered his balance in midair. He landed several steps away. The students began to murmur.

Daniel was faster than he had been during their previous training session. He had clearly improved. Wind wrapped around his right arm. The pressure increased. Daniel charged. Leo waited. The distance disappeared. Daniel swung. Leo blocked. The impact cracked through the hall. Leo's shoes slid backward across the stone. Daniel immediately followed with a second strike. Leo ducked. The wind blade passed above his head. He stepped inside Daniel's reach. Daniel reacted quickly and raised his arm.

Leo stopped his strike before it reached Daniel's chest. Daniel twisted. A burst of wind exploded between them. Leo was forced backward. He landed cleanly. Daniel breathed heavily. Leo's breathing remained steady. Gareth watched without speaking. Daniel wiped sweat from his cheek.

"You've gotten stronger."

"So have you." Daniel smiled faintly.

"Then let's see which one of us improved more." The wind around his body intensified. He rushed forward. This time, Leo didn't retreat. He stepped toward him. Daniel's eyes widened. Their attacks met in the center of the arena. Wind struck stone. Leo's counterattack forced Daniel to turn his body. Daniel recovered and launched another series of attacks. Leo blocked the first. Dodged the second. Deflected the third. Then he struck. One clean movement. Daniel was knocked backward. He caught himself before falling.

The arena became silent. Daniel looked at Leo. Then he laughed quietly.

"That was good." Gareth raised his hand.

"Enough." Daniel lowered his arms.

"Winner: Leo." The students applauded. Leo stepped out of the arena. Alice was waiting near the boundary.

"That looked close."

"It was."

"You weren't worried?"

"No." She stared at him.

"That wasn't what I asked." Leo looked at her for a moment. Then smiled slightly.

"I was." Alice smiled back.

"Better." The Second Match Gareth called the next names.

"Amon against Victor Hale." A broad-shouldered boy stepped into the arena. Victor had short black hair and a stocky build. His Earth affinity had already made him one of the stronger defensive students in the class. Amon walked opposite him. He rolled his shoulders.

"Let's make this interesting." Victor raised both hands. Stone rose beneath his feet. Gareth gave the signal. Victor attacked immediately. A slab of stone erupted from the ground. Amon jumped over it. Another followed. Amon twisted in the air and released a burst of fire. The flames struck the stone. Steam filled the arena. Victor emerged through it. His fist was coated in hardened earth. He struck Amon across the shoulder. Amon staggered. The spectators reacted. Victor didn't give him time. Another punch.

Amon blocked. The impact forced him backward.

"He's stronger than I thought," Masha said. Alice nodded.

"His defense is excellent." Amon wiped the corner of his mouth. Then he smiled.

"Okay." Fire spread across his arms. He drove his foot into the ground. Flames erupted forward. Victor raised a wall. The fire wrapped around it. Amon rushed through the heat. Victor swung. Amon ducked. He struck Victor in the ribs. Victor grunted. But he remained standing. He grabbed Amon's arm. The ground beneath Amon's feet hardened around his legs. Amon's expression changed. Victor pulled. Amon nearly fell. He reacted by releasing a burst of fire directly between them. Victor let go. Amon stumbled backward.

Both boys were breathing heavily. The next exchange lasted only a few seconds. Fire. Stone. Impact. Silence. Victor's final wall broke beneath Amon's attack. Amon dropped to one knee. Victor fell backward at nearly the same time. Gareth raised his hand.

"Amon wins." Amon remained on one knee for several seconds. Then he stood.

"That was way too close." Victor laughed.

"You nearly lost."

"I know."

"Then stop smiling."

"I can't." The Third Match"Alice Verdan against Clara Weiss." A girl with short silver hair entered the arena. Clara's Light affinity was weaker than Alice's, but she had excellent control. Alice stepped forward. Gareth gave the signal. Clara immediately created three blades of light. They flew toward Alice. Alice raised her hand. A barrier appeared. The blades shattered against it. Alice countered. A narrow beam of light crossed the arena. Clara twisted away. The beam struck the ground. Stone cracked.

Clara responded with another attack. Alice moved. Neither girl gave the other room. Light filled the arena. One attack after another. Alice's movements were controlled, precise, and economical. Clara relied on speed. Alice relied on accuracy. Neither could establish a decisive advantage. The fight continued for several minutes. Eventually, both girls stopped. They were standing opposite each other, breathing hard. Gareth looked at them.

"Enough." Neither moved. Gareth raised his hand.

"Draw." Alice lowered her arm. Clara smiled.

"That was fun." Alice returned the smile.

"Yes." The Fourth Match"Masha Bell against Irene Falk." Masha stepped into the arena. Her opponent was a tall girl with auburn hair and a serious expression.

"Irene Falk," she introduced herself.

"Masha." Gareth gave the signal. Masha immediately touched the ground. A wall of earth rose between them. Irene didn't attack it. Instead, she moved around it. Masha turned. Another wall. Irene changed direction again. Masha was forced to keep defending. Her control was good. Her timing was not. Irene finally found an opening. A concentrated magical strike hit Masha's shoulder. Masha stumbled. She recovered quickly and sent several stone spikes across the floor. Irene jumped over them. Masha raised both hands.

The ground beneath Irene's feet shifted. Irene lost her balance. Masha seized the opportunity. A massive stone pillar rose beneath Irene. But Irene reacted quickly. She landed on the side of the pillar and launched herself forward. Masha raised her arms. Too late. The impact knocked her backward. She hit the protective barrier. Gareth raised his hand.

"Enough." Masha lowered her arms.

"Winner: Irene Falk." Masha sighed.

"That was close." Irene extended her hand.

"You almost had me." Masha accepted it.

"Almost doesn't count."

"No." Irene smiled.

"But it gets you closer." Masha nodded.

"Next time." The students returned to their seats after the matches. The atmosphere had changed. Some were excited. Others were disappointed. A few had already begun discussing what they needed to improve. Gareth waited until everyone was seated.

"There is one more matter." The room quieted. He placed a document on the desk.

"Tomorrow morning, your class will participate in a field expedition." The room immediately became louder. Gareth raised one hand. Silence returned.

"The expedition will be conducted jointly with the Royal Knights Academy." Several students exchanged surprised looks.

"The destination is the Mist Forest." The room became completely silent. Even Amon stopped smiling. Masha frowned.

"The Mist Forest?" Gareth nodded.

"Yes." He walked toward the board. The name was written across it. MIST FOREST"The forest is one of the more dangerous regions within traveling distance of the kingdom. Visibility can change without warning, the terrain is difficult, and magical beasts are common." He looked at the class.

"This is not a sightseeing trip." Nobody spoke.

"You will travel with instructors from both academies. You will be given equipment and assigned groups." Gareth continued.

"You will follow orders." His gaze moved from one student to another.

"Do not wander away."

"Do not attempt to fight a magical beast beyond your ability."

"And do not assume that because you're academy students, the forest will treat you differently." Amon leaned toward Leo.

"This suddenly sounds less fun." Leo looked at him.

"You were the one who wanted something interesting."

"I take it back." Masha quietly laughed. Alice, however, was looking at the board.

"The Mist Forest…" Leo noticed her expression.

"You know something about it?"

"My father mentioned it once."

"And?"

"He said people who underestimate it usually regret it." Leo nodded. That sounded reasonable. Gareth picked up the document.

"You have the rest of today to prepare." He looked directly at the class.

"We leave tomorrow." A wave of excitement and nervousness spread through the room. Students began discussing weapons, supplies, possible magical beasts, and which academy students they might meet. Leo remained seated. The academy suddenly felt smaller. Tomorrow, they would leave its walls. For the first time since arriving at the academy, the lessons would not take place on a training field or inside a classroom. They would enter the forest.

And unlike a classroom, the forest would not stop a fight when someone crossed a line. Leo looked toward the window. Beyond the academy walls, the distant mountains were barely visible beneath the afternoon haze. The Mist Forest lay somewhere beyond them. Tomorrow, he would see it for himself. End of Chapter 16.