The liquid glass, forming the portal, rippled and flowed, a slight dim covering it as clouds might the sky. Stare hard and long enough and the other side, the vile sewers, became apparent. It began closing when the last person stepped through, the liquid slowly creeping towards the stone rim, as if hundreds of caterpillars slowly pushed against each edge.

Rast figured that they must have come deep underground since the walls radiated with warmth instead of cold. They were close to the source of volcanoes. He didn’t know much about whatever it was, but that it must be dangerous. A creature able to send lava flying at the clouds must rival the gods.

There were rumours of the creature's form, a popular topic for debate. Some thought it the legendary salamander, others a worm. Rast had always had the sneaking suspicion that it was a gigantic anteater, that’s sneezes created volcanoes.

Around him were the type of people that immediately caught your eye if they walked into a room. They all stared at Rast’s party, trying to figure out why they, the only team in here that lost against the golem, passed. Rast felt his neck burn up.

But, It wasn’t as if he stood still staring at the ground, no, he stared everywhere and everyone, taking in the sights. Currently, his attention was piqued on a large, red headed man, carrying a bow much larger than usual. The bow reached from the top of this head, to the lower side of his thighs. He gave off a terrifying presence.

But there was a terrifying presence all over the room. You’d think it would become too much for Rast to breathe, but the opposite happened, the pressures pushing him from all directions worked against each other, increasing his focus. Suddenly, the thoughts were interrupted by a sharp voice.

“Let us start this affair with three declarations,” the black haired headed man said, “You will be here the entire summer. Two, only one party will leave. Three, I am the complete authority here.”

There was silence, and Rast could feel everyone grow unseasy. He himself grew uneasy, only one party would leave? That… shouldn’t be legal. But then again, this entire thing felt off.

“Hahaha,” a deep voice broke out from the back, Rast looked back to see a giant man with no hair laughing, “I don’t see that man from before. What stops us from simply killing you?”

“You’re welcome to try.”

“Oh well…” The large man rushed in, “YOUR FAULT!”

The man sprinted past the still crowd of adventurers, leaping towards the black haired man. Rast sweated, if their organizer died, as he surely would, there would be no way out. He’d be left here to die, and worse, lose his adventurer’s tag.

Rast saw the veins on the bald man’s arm turn black, followed by his entire arm turning into coal. A transmutor. The punch flew out and slammed into the black haired man’s temple hard enough to make the entire room shake.

When Rast’s attention came back to the scene, he was completely shocked by the sight. The black haired man hadn’t budged an inch but instead stood still, and now stared right at the bald man. Could he secretly be a really strong warrior?

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Then the black haired man’s hands turned into a blur and golden shackles appeared in the air, they grabbed the bald boy and flipped him upside down. A mage? The black haired man’s hands struck with the speed of lightning, cutting a line through the bald man’s chin. A rogue? And then healed the wound with the snap of his fingers. A healer? What the hell is happening.

“That will be the only time I allow such hubris,” the black haired man said. “My name is Skill, and this is the Adventurer’s training camp.”

There was a pause, filled with complete silence and stillness.

“Umm, that’s cool and all, but why did you hide your strength?” A girl with a staff in the back asked.

“That is a retarded question. The answer is obvious.”

Skill faded, and the six parties were left alone. The room was showered in a multitude of colours. Six small balls of light floated down from the roof, spinning around, when the green one slowly flew towards the bird party.

“Hello, beautiful creatures!” the little light said in a squeeky, mouse voice, “My name is Elven, and I will be your guide. Please follow me!”

“Sure!” Marie said, happy, she’d always wanted to see a fairy, but they were tricky to spot, and even trickier to find, living in the most dangerous parts of the forest.

A portal, and now, fairies, and an insanely strong instructor, this isn’t adding up.

Elven flew towards a tunnel, and they followed. Walking through the tight tunnel, as they left the other parties walking into their own tunnels.

“Fairy, where do you come from?” Marie asked, a bright smile on her face.

“I come from the lowlands,” the fairy said, flying a circle around Marie, “I left my family and friends to come teach you young prodigies.”

“The lowlands?” Marie said shocked, “but that’s so far away.”

“Yes it is, dear one, but isn’t that a necessary step of life, leaving your safe place and going into the wilderness.”

“I guess so,” Marie said. “Can you do any magic?”

“Of course child, look!”

A thick cloud spaced out over Marie, small drops of water falling down. Marie shrieked and ran towards Annie, hugging her. The fairy giggled, flying circles around Marie.

“That’s not nice,” Marie said.

“Hihihi;” Elven laughed.

“Can you do that famous fairy spell where you create a floating beautiful flower?”

“...” Elven was silent, “not right now.”

They’d walked so far that the only thing lighting the tunnel up was Elven’s light. Rast didn’t know why, but he thought fairies didn’t shine. They’d been walking for a good time now, and Rast wondered when the tunnel would end. He began to feel dizzy.

It did end, eventually, and they found themselves in a small complex with many corridors. It was furnished and well built. It looked a lot like a noble's mansion. Would this be where they’d stay?