Drake leaned back against the weathered wood of the abandoned cabin, his eyes flicking between the group as he asked, "So, what class do you think you'll get?"

Ash, always restless, let out a deep groan, poking at the fire with a stick. His red hair seemed to glow with the light of the flames, matching the irritation in his emerald eyes. "Hell if I know," he muttered, "Probably something like a herbalist or some crap. I'll end up randomizing it anyway."

"What's so bad about herbalists?" Sivley teased, raising an eyebrow as her green hair shimmered in the firelight. There was a slight smirk on her lips, but her tone carried a little bite. "You're scared of picking flowers now?"

Ash shot her an irritated look, the fire reflecting in his eyes. "Not scared, just not interested. I want to burn things, not make tea."

Before their banter could escalate, Collin stepped in with a grin, always quick to ease the tension. "Alright, before you two start a war, how about we play a game instead? Two guesses per person. Let's see who can figure out what class everyone's gonna get."

Ash groaned again, but there was a spark of curiosity in his expression. He shifted a little closer to the fire, interested despite himself.

Collin leaned in, eyes flicking around the circle. "We'll start with Ash. Sivley, what do you think?"

Sivley didn't even hesitate. She gave Ash a once-over, sizing him up with a knowing look. "Fire-spearman or maybe some kind of fire-warrior. You're way too impatient to do anything else."

Ash snorted, shaking his head. "You act like I'm about to run through the woods with a spear. But fine, I'll take fire-warrior over tea-brewer any day."

Collin raised his hand, eyes sparkling with mischief. "All in favor?"

"Aye," the group echoed, almost in unison, drawing out a reluctant smile from Ash.

"You all suck," Ash muttered, though the amusement in his voice betrayed his words.

Collin grinned wider, sensing the mood had lightened. He glanced over at Jalen, who had been quiet, watching the fire with that deep, thoughtful gaze of his. "Alright, what about Jalen? You're built like your dad, so it's got to be something physical. Maybe a warrior?"

Jalen shifted slightly, clearly not as comfortable with the attention. "If I don't end up a warrior, my dad will probably lose his mind." He smiled faintly, but there was a hint of something heavier beneath it. "My oldest brother's a metal mage, and he took off years ago. My other brother's a mana forger, and Dad's proud, but… I think he's still holding out for someone to take up his combat techniques."

There was a pause as Jalen stared into the fire. "But honestly? I've always thought summoning was more exciting. Warriors can't ride into battle with mythical creatures at their side."

Ash raised an eyebrow. "Summoners, huh? I didn't take you for the 'tame a dragon' type."

Jalen chuckled softly. "Maybe not tame. But fight beside one? I'd be up for that."

While they talked, Emma's gaze lingered on Jalen. She smiled softly, not saying much but clearly caught up in watching him. The way he carried himself, his quiet confidence—there was something about Jalen that always seemed to pull her in.

And Collin noticed. He always noticed. The subtle glances Emma gave Jalen weren't lost on him. He leaned back, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he tried to shrug it off, focusing instead on the game. It wasn't like Emma and Jalen were a thing; they just had this unspoken connection, and for whatever reason, it bugged him more than he liked to admit. He always chalked it up as her crush on his father manifested with Jalen as well.

Not that Collin wasn't distracted by someone else himself. There was no denying the casual admiration he had for Jalen's dad, Drake. It wasn't just the man's strength, though that was part of it—Drake had this effortless, rugged confidence that made everyone around him feel like they could handle anything. Collin wasn't blind to it, and he knew Emma wasn't either. They both admired him, in that distant way where you know it's a crush, but you don't let it get too serious.

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Ash, oblivious to the undercurrent of glances and emotions running through the group, leaned forward. "Alright, let's get back on track. Who's next? Collin?"

Emma's eyes lit up as she gave Collin an appreciative look, trying to get the attention off of Jalen. "Collin's probably going to get something like an earth-brawler, right? Strong, stubborn, and good at smashing things." Her tone was playful, but there was warmth there, a soft attraction that she wasn't quite ready to acknowledge yet. It wasn't like her quiet interest in Jalen—this felt lighter, easier.

Collin's grin widened, enjoying the banter as he glanced back at Emma. He liked her, in a casual, flirtatious way that didn't take itself too seriously. She was tough, witty, and could hold her own in a fight. Even if things weren't serious, there was a mutual respect between them, and maybe a little more just beneath the surface.

"Earth-brawler, huh? I'll take that," Collin said, his smile playful. "Better than running around picking flowers."

Their teasing was cut short as a sudden gust of wind blew through the camp, causing the fire to flicker violently. The flames shrank down to small embers, and the air around them grew heavier, charged with something unnatural.

Emma instinctively gripped the hilt of her blade, her eyes scanning the treeline. "Did anyone else feel that?"

Jalen stood up, his senses on high alert. The ground trembled softly beneath them, a steady vibration that seemed to grow stronger by the second. "This doesn't feel right," he muttered, his eyes darting between the shadows. "It's like a mana surge, but different."

A low, ominous groan filled the air, and everyone's attention snapped toward the sky. A streak of light descended rapidly toward the forest nearby, crashing into the trees with a thunderous roar.

"What the hell was that?" Emma asked, her grip tightening on her blade.

Ash jumped to his feet, his usual bravado replaced by something closer to exhilaration. "It's happening, isn't it? The surge. The selection."

Collin's eyes were wide as he looked around at the others. "Already? It's only been ten years since the last one."

Jalen could feel the mana thickening in the air, pressing down on them like an invisible weight. His heart raced. This was it—the barrier between their world and the true universe was thinning. The surge was here.

Suddenly, the fire exploded into a towering column of flames, roaring upward into the sky. Jalen staggered back, shielding his face from the heat. The flames swirled chaotically around them, an uncontrollable force of pure energy.

Then, just as quickly, the flames vanished, leaving the camp in eerie silence.

The ground rumbled again, harder this time. From the shadows, a figure emerged—his armor shattered, his face smeared with soot, and his breath labored.

Jalen squinted through the darkness. "Dad?"

Drake, battered but still standing tall, trudged toward them, mud caked on his boots and parts of his breastplate missing. "The surge," he rasped. "It's different this time. Something's wrong."

Both Collin and Emma straightened at the sight of Jalen's father, admiration flashing across their faces. There was no denying Drake had a presence about him—a rugged, battle-hardened man who seemed to command attention without trying. Collin felt that familiar, casual admiration he'd always had for the man, while Emma's eyes lingered just a little longer than usual, betraying her own silent crush.

Drake glanced at Jalen, then at the others. "You need to be ready," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos. "Stick together, no matter what happens."

Before anyone could respond, the ground trembled again, and from the treeline, a shadow lunged toward Drake. He moved with lightning speed, decapitating the beast with one swift strike. The creature's body landed with a heavy thud near the fire—a twisted, scarred feline form.

Jalen rushed toward his father, panic rising in his chest. "Dad! Are you hurt? Did it get you?"

Drake wiped his blade clean, his face calm. "I'm fine, son. Don't worry about me."

Another beast leaped from the shadows, but Drake was ready, his blade flashing again as he cut it down. The body collapsed at his feet.

A loud roar echoed from the forest, and the group froze as a massive tree snapped in half, crashing to the ground. In the distance, through the flickering firelight, they could see a pair of glowing green eyes—feline and menacing—watching them from the shadows.

Everyone in the village knew those eyes. The beasts had truly awakened. The beast that appeared 10 years ago during the last surge and has been terrorizing the villagers every since. 

The campfire crackled weakly as the group stood frozen, staring into the dark forest where the menacing, green-eyed beast lurked. The air was thick with tension, each member of the group acutely aware that they were facing a danger they hadn't prepared for. The creature that had haunted the village for a decade was no ordinary beast; it was cunning, almost sentient, and the stories of its attacks were woven with frustration and fear. Every time help had been summoned, it would vanish, only to return when they were most vulnerable.

Jalen, though rattled by the sudden appearance of his father and the beasts, felt the weight of responsibility settling over his shoulders. The selection was upon them, the surge of mana that marked a time of awakening, when ordinary people might discover extraordinary power. But the surge hadn't brought only potential—it had also brought danger, embodied by this creature.