Morning light filtered through the academy windows, painting streaks of gold across the infirmary walls. Aren stirred awake, his muscles still aching from the forest trial. Sharu lay curled up at his feet, silver fur gleaming softly in the dawn light. For a moment, Aren just listened to the quiet—no distant roars, no rustling leaves. Just the calm, rhythmic breathing of his friends nearby.
Aric was already awake, leaning against the wall while his Fire Salamander snoozed at his side, small embers crackling gently. Dorian stretched from his cot, wincing slightly as his injured arm protested. Liora was seated at the edge of her bed, brushing Frost's fur, while Lyra remained half-asleep, her Shadow Falcon perched above her.
"Good morning," Aren mumbled, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
Aric grinned. "Morning? More like noon. You've been out for a while."
Aren blinked in surprise. "Noon?"
Dorian chuckled. "After what we went through, I'm surprised we didn't sleep through the whole day."
Liora, however, wasn't smiling. "We need to figure out what's happening with the corrupted beasts. I couldn't sleep well thinking about it."
Aren glanced at Sharu, who was now stretching lazily. The mysterious little beast had remained alert even after the battle, his instincts sharper than usual. It was as if he, too, sensed that the forest challenge had left more questions than answers.
"Did anyone hear anything new from the instructors?" Aren asked, looking around.
Lyra, now fully awake, shook her head. "Nothing concrete. Just more warnings to stay out of the forest."
"They're definitely hiding something," Dorian said with a frown. "If corrupted beasts are becoming more common, why aren't they being more upfront about it?"
Aric chimed in, his voice unusually serious. "Maybe they don't want to cause panic. But still, we can't just ignore what we saw. That beast wasn't normal."
Aren nodded in agreement. "And it wasn't just corrupted—it felt ancient. Like it was part of something much bigger."
Before they could speculate further, the infirmary door swung open. The judge's assistant entered, carrying a scroll. His gaze swept over the students before he began to read aloud.
"The results from the first trial have been posted on the central board. All students are to report to the training grounds for the next briefing."
The room buzzed with murmurs. Aren exchanged a glance with his friends, their curiosity piqued. Dorian, ever the energetic one, hopped off his cot despite his injuries.
"Finally! Let's see where we ranked," he said, already making his way to the door.
The group followed, Sharu trotting alongside Aren, ears perked with curiosity. As they approached the central board, a crowd had already gathered. Students were craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the rankings.
Lance Vermilion and Velia Rune stood near the front, their expressions unreadable. Kael Rin was there too, his Shadow Serpent draped lazily around his shoulders. Despite looking a bit battered, his eyes remained sharp, scanning the list.
Aric elbowed his way closer, then glanced back at Aren with a triumphant smile. "We made it! Top five!"
Relief washed over Aren. They hadn't just survived—they had excelled. But his satisfaction was tinged with worry when he saw Kael's team listed just above theirs, ranked third.
"They managed that even after Kael was injured?" Liora murmured, sounding impressed despite herself.
Lyra remained quiet, but her eyes fixed on the names carefully. "It's not just strength. It's strategy. Even with fewer members, Kael knows how to conserve energy and maximize his serpent's power."
Dorian scoffed lightly. "Yeah, well, we're right behind him. That's what counts."
The judge's voice boomed from the training grounds, cutting through the chatter. "All ranked teams, gather for the next challenge briefing!"
The students shuffled into position, forming neat rows. The judge stood tall on a platform, his wind hound at his side, its eyes gleaming with intelligence.
"Congratulations to those who made it past the first trial," the judge began. "Your ability to adapt and survive has proven your potential. But do not grow complacent. The forest trial was merely the beginning. Your next challenge will test not only your strength but your resolve."
He gestured behind him, where a large map was unveiled. Aren recognized the forest, but now the map extended to a region beyond it—rugged terrain marked with sharp cliffs and winding paths.
"This," the judge continued, "is the Whispering Ravine. Your objective is simple: retrieve a crystal fragment from the depths and return to the academy. The catch? Only one fragment per team. Competition is inevitable."
Murmurs erupted among the students. Aren swallowed hard, his mind racing. If it was a limited resource, the challenge would be even more intense.
"The ravine is unpredictable," the judge warned. "Beasts roam its corridors, and corrupted zones have been identified. Your goal is not only to secure a fragment but to do so without losing any teammates. Failure to return intact will result in disqualification."
Aren felt a shiver run down his spine. They had barely survived the forest, and now they were diving straight into a place teeming with danger.
Dorian cracked his knuckles. "Well, we wanted a challenge. Guess we got one."
Liora nodded, a determined glint in her eyes. "We'll have to be smart. Rushing in will only get us cornered."
Lyra spoke softly, her tone thoughtful. "We need a plan. Not just for the beasts—but for the other teams. If it's a competition for fragments, we might have to fight them too."
Aren's mind whirled. Could they really hold their own against the likes of Kael or Lance if it came down to it? Sharu nudged his leg, sensing his unease, and Aren gave his companion a reassuring scratch behind the ears.
"Then we'll focus on strategy," Aren said firmly. "Speed won't be enough. We need to predict the movements of other teams and use the terrain to our advantage."
The judge dismissed them, instructing everyone to prepare for departure the next morning. As the crowd dispersed, Aren couldn't help but catch Kael's piercing gaze from across the grounds. There was no taunt, no smirk—just a look that said he was already calculating their next move.
"We need to stay sharp," Aren whispered, his resolve hardening.
Sharu let out a low growl, sensing the tension. Aren couldn't help but agree. The Whispering Ravine awaited—and something told him it would be more treacherous than the forest.
As they headed back to their quarters to plan, Aren knew one thing for sure: the challenges ahead wouldn't just test their power—they would test their unity. And in a place where shadows whispered secrets and danger lurked at every turn, survival would depend on more than just strength.
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