Chương 18: The First Day in the Mist Forest

Morning came quietly. The camp was already awake when the sun rose above the trees. The smell of burning wood drifted through the cold air. Students moved between the tents, preparing breakfast and checking their equipment. Some were still struggling to wake up. Amon was one of them. He sat beside the fire with his hair slightly disheveled, staring at a cup of tea as though it had personally offended him.

"I hate mornings." Masha placed a piece of bread on her plate.

"You were awake before everyone yesterday."

"Yesterday was different."

"How?"

"I didn't know what time it was." Leo sat across from them.

"You slept through three alarms." Amon looked at him.

"That's a lie."

"I was there." Amon frowned.

"Then I hate mornings even more." Alice laughed softly. She had already packed most of her belongings. Unlike Amon, she looked completely prepared. Her long white hair fell over her shoulders as she tightened the straps of her bag.

"Are you ready, Leo?"

"Almost." He checked the equipment provided by the academy. Rope. A small first-aid kit. Mana crystals for emergency communication. A knife for cutting through vegetation. And a basic magical lantern. Nothing particularly impressive. That was intentional. The expedition was meant to teach them how to survive without relying entirely on the academy's facilities. Professor Gareth soon called everyone together.

"Listen carefully." The conversations stopped.

"You will be divided into groups of eight. Each group will contain students from both academies." He pointed toward the forest.

"Your first assignment is simple. Follow the marked route, locate three designated points, and return before sunset." A student raised his hand.

"What about magical beasts?"

"You are allowed to fight beasts that fall within your assigned threat level." Gareth's expression hardened.

"Anything stronger must be reported immediately." Another student asked,"What happens if we encounter something stronger?"

"Run." A few students laughed. Gareth did not.

"I am serious." The laughter disappeared.

"You are students. Not soldiers." His eyes moved across the group.

"Knowing when to fight is part of becoming strong." He paused.

"Knowing when not to fight is more important." Leo's group was assigned to the eastern route. There were four students from the Magic Academy. Leo. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Alice. Amon. Masha. And four students from the Royal Knights Academy. Adrian Vale was among them. The other three were a tall brown-haired boy named Marcus Reed, a quiet girl named Elena Hart, and a muscular red-haired student named Rowan Blake. Marcus carried a long spear.

Elena had a short sword at her waist. Rowan carried a heavy shield. Adrian carried a finely crafted sword. Amon looked at the group.

"At least we're evenly matched." Rowan laughed.

"You think so?" Amon grinned.

"I hope so." Marcus shook his head.

"Try not to turn the expedition into a tournament."

"No promises." Masha sighed.

"This is going to be a long day." Alice smiled.

"Probably." Adrian stepped beside her.

"I'll make sure you remain safe." Alice looked at him.

"I'm capable of protecting myself."

"Of course." He nodded seriously.

"I would never doubt your ability." Amon glanced at Leo. Leo said nothing. He simply started walking. The forest swallowed the group within minutes. The temperature dropped beneath the canopy. The sounds of the camp disappeared behind them. Branches crossed overhead, blocking most of the sunlight. Mist drifted between the trees. It wasn't thick enough to obstruct their vision yet. But it gave the forest a strange appearance. Every tree seemed to continue farther than it actually did.

Every distant sound felt closer than it was. Elena checked the map.

"The first marker should be ahead." Marcus looked around.

"Stay close." Rowan nodded. They continued. For the first hour, nothing happened. They crossed a shallow stream. Climbed over fallen trees. Passed several patches of strange blue flowers. Masha stopped beside one.

"Those are beautiful." Elena immediately stepped closer.

"Don't touch them." Masha withdrew her hand.

"Why?"

"They release spores when disturbed." Amon looked at the flowers.

"Are they poisonous?"

"Not exactly." Elena pointed toward the center of one flower.

"They make you sleep." Amon stepped backward.

"Then I definitely don't want to touch them." Leo continued walking. The forest was quiet. Too quiet for a place supposedly filled with magical beasts. But that thought never became a warning. It was simply something he noticed. The first beast appeared shortly afterward. A low growl came from behind the trees. Everyone stopped. Rowan lowered his shield. Marcus raised his spear. Adrian placed one hand on his sword. Amon's fingers began to glow faintly with fire. Masha moved closer to Alice. Leaves shifted.

A creature emerged. It was roughly the size of a large dog. Its body was covered in dark green scales. Two small horns curved backward from its forehead. A Thornback Hound. A low-level magical beast. Rowan smiled.

"That's it?" Marcus shook his head.

"Don't underestimate it." The creature growled. Then charged. Rowan stepped forward. The beast slammed into his shield. The impact pushed him several meters backward.

"Strong!" Marcus moved. His spear struck the creature's side. The beast twisted and snapped at him. Marcus pulled the weapon away just in time. Amon raised his hand.

"Move!" Flames burst from his palm. The beast jumped aside. The fire struck the ground. Masha followed immediately. The earth beneath the beast rose. A stone ridge caught its hind legs. The creature stumbled. Alice formed a narrow blade of light. She released it. The spell struck the beast's shoulder. It fell. Silence returned. Amon lowered his hand.

"That was easier than I expected." Rowan looked at the creature.

"You nearly burned me."

"Nearly."

"That's not comforting." Alice smiled.

"At least everyone worked together." Marcus nodded.

"Good coordination." He looked toward Leo.

"You barely moved." Leo looked at him.

"I didn't need to." Marcus raised an eyebrow. Then smiled.

"Fair enough." The group continued. By noon, they reached the first marker. It was a stone pillar covered in moss. Marcus checked the map.

"One." He marked the location.

"We need two more." They continued deeper. The forest became denser. The mist increased. The trees were larger here. Their trunks were thick enough that three people could barely wrap their arms around them. Amon looked upward.

"How old are these trees?" Elena answered,"Some are believed to be several hundred years old."

"That's insane." Masha looked around.

"It feels like another world." Leo glanced at the surrounding forest. In some ways, it was. The landscape was completely different from the countryside surrounding the academy. Different plants. Different creatures. Different magical density. The world beyond the academy was beginning to reveal itself. Their second encounter was less peaceful. Three Stonehide Boars emerged from the mist. Unlike the Thornback Hound, these creatures were heavier and more aggressive. The first charged directly at Rowan.

He planted his shield into the ground. The impact shook his arms. The second rushed toward Elena. Marcus intercepted it. His spear struck the beast's forehead. The weapon bounced away.

"Hard!" Masha slammed both hands into the ground. A wall rose between the boar and Elena. The creature crashed through it. Elena rolled away. Amon released a wave of fire. The boar turned toward him.

"Come on!" It charged. Amon waited until the last second. Then jumped. The beast passed beneath him. He landed behind it and drove a concentrated burst of flame into its back. The creature collapsed. Alice handled the third. Light gathered around her hand. She created several small blades. They struck the ground around the boar, trapping its movement. Rowan took advantage of the opening. He charged. His shield struck the beast's side. The boar fell. Marcus finished the first. The battle ended quickly.

But this time everyone was breathing harder. Rowan lowered his shield.

"Those things are stronger." Marcus nodded.

"They're still within the expected range." Amon looked at the unconscious creatures.

"Then I don't want to know what's outside the expected range." Nobody answered. They found the second marker shortly after. Then the third. By then, the sun had begun to descend. Marcus checked the map.

"We should return." Everyone agreed. They turned back toward camp. The journey home was quieter. The students were tired. Even Amon had stopped talking. Leo walked near the middle of the group. Alice remained beside him. After several minutes, she spoke quietly.

"You're unusually quiet."

"I'm listening."

"To what?" Leo looked toward the trees.

"The forest." Alice followed his gaze.

"What do you hear?"

"Nothing unusual." She smiled.

"That sounds reassuring."

"It is." They continued walking. The mist drifted between the trees. A distant bird called once. Then disappeared into silence. Nobody noticed the faint metallic sound that came from somewhere far beyond the marked route. A small sound. Almost impossible to hear. Like metal striking stone. Then nothing. The group continued toward camp. The first day had been successful. Three markers found. Two types of magical beasts defeated. No injuries. No serious problems. For the students, it had been a good expedition.

For the instructors, it was exactly what they had expected. The Mist Forest had shown them its harmless side. For now. End of Chapter 18.