The forest buzzed with murmurs.
The sun was halfway down as drops of water trickled through the canopy of the Eastern Forest, dappling the open field below with flecks of gold and green.
The earth was soft with dew and fallen leaves, and the morning breeze carried with it the faint scent of pine and something else—uncertainty.
Clusters of students began arriving, one after another, drawn to the field by the glowing pulse from their magical bracelets—each one having flashed earlier with a message from the instructors, summoning them for an urgent announcement.
No reason had been given.
And so, naturally, whispers turned to questions.
Questions turned to theories.
And theories soon turned into accusations.
"Why would they call us all the way out here?" one student muttered.
"Did something happen? Another monster attack maybe?"
"I heard someone failed the exam already..."
Amid the hum of voices and nervous speculation, two boys stood out.
Their tones weren't hushed.
