The students and teacher soon passed through town and into the forest. The hike was long and the pace was kept steady but brisk. At times they were able to follow trails but often they had to walk in the wilderness. As the sun continued to rise higher they walked up and down hills and through the thicket.

Peter Leaf used earth magic to open ways though the brushes “if you're finding it difficult to walk though this forest just use your magic in the difficult spots to open a path. Everything but fire magic should be fine.”

Many of the students looked worn out but none requested a break. The only one of his students who didn’t look worn out at all was River. In fact he looked perfectly normal, as if this wasn’t difficult work for him at all. Leaf thought “he does seem to be use to doing phyical activies.”

They took a short break about half way to their destination.“We're making good time my dear students. I think we will be there by mid sun.”

David Rain could no long stand all this useless walking about inthe woods.  “This is all ridiculous! Here we are, hiking in the woods instead of learning magic. It's all such a waste of time!”

Peter turned to him.  "Well, what if you go to war and get separated from your troops in the forest due to the fighting? Do you plan to just sit and wait for someone to get you?” Rain said nothing to this.

Clover was worried by his comment about going to war.  “D-do you think we'll go to war anytime soon?”

Leaf saw her worried face and tried to calm here.  “I doubt it, the provinces are competitive with each other and some squabbles happen from time to time, but no one appears eager to want to fight. When it comes to the demons we have heard nothing from them either since the last great war. I don’t think those are things you should worry about dear.”

The way the last line was said left a question in the air.Sky wanted to know what it was Mr. Leaf thought was of concern.  “So then you think there are things we should worry about?”

“Well, I would say the greatest threat right now is rogue wizards. As you know Mr. Sky, main houses tend to keep most of the wealth and power in a family. Famous and powerful houses have many branches and though they share the glory of a great name most of their work goes to the betterment of the main house.”

David Rain hated the way Peter talked about Main house like they were doing something wrong.  “Those houses are proud to serve the main house! Yes, they must tribute to the main house to keep it strong but it's for the good of everyone. We can’t be strong if we divide resources to each person equally. The Branch houses of the Rain family live happily, given respect by all they pass. No one would dear cross anyone in the Rain house, even a branch member.

Leaf nodded.  “It's true the branch families have certain benefits and they certainly are rich compared to a commoner. However, some of those branch families see it as a form of highly prestigious servitude. They'll never get to advance beyond a certain rank and must bow to the head house in all things or risk being cast out and losing their name. I can understand their frustration.”

So what does this have to do with rogue wizards?” River thought this was something definitrly worth knowing.

“Rogue wizards are usually commoners who felt stepped on by nobles or noble wizards from branch houses who are fed up with the system. They often cause trouble in the continent with their magic. Sometimes by destruction and sometimes by theft; some have even been known to murder other wizards who cross them.

Mary talked for the first time all morning.  “A true wizard should have the power to deal with any rogue scum that comes along. Usually they are nothing but 3rd and 2nd rate wizards anyway; if they lose to such trash then shame on them for being poor wizards in the first place."

Leaf gave her a sideways look.  He was concerned she didn't take this kidn of threat seriously enough.  “Usually they tend to be 3rd and 2nd rate, usually…”

The break ended and thet got up to continue on their walk. Just as the sun was about to reach mid height in the sky they came to their destination. Leaf was proud of his students.  “Good job reaching this place before noon! Now then, since we are here you lot should all look to set up camp and get some food. Of course, you'll need to set up my camp and get my food as well, getting my own food is one of my dislikes!”

With that he sat on a log and waited to see what the students would do.  He gave no further instruction and just observed. Sky walked in front of the students “well, I guess we should all divide duties between ourselves to get things done more quickly. First I’d ask if anyone has any task they’d like to do over others?”

David stood in front of him “So you think you are good enough to be our leader? Obviously it should be a noble from a great house like me or at least Ms. Cloud!”

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Mary sat down on a log “stop interrupting him. This is wasting time and I’m hungry.” She shot him a very mean look and he growled a bit only to sit down on a log.

Sky continued once he saw this spat as over. “I guess we should look for food as well as build shelters and fires. As for water we can just make that ourselves but food will be the problem.”

River stood up “If it's food I have a few suggestions. I think some of you should go into the woods to hunt and see what you can find. As for myself, I'll go towards that mountain” he pointed to a mountain away in the distance that had a large waterfall. "I could check to see if there are fish and if so, I could bring a few back."

Sky looked in the direction River motioned to.  “That seems a long ways off. Maybe someone should go with you?”

River shook his head. “I think I would move faster on my own. With my wind magic it would be easy to get around anything in my way.. I can be back within an hour probably.”  No one seemed to object, so River decided to put down anything unneeded and head towards the mountain.

“Make sure not to quit this time and turn back half way. You should be careful not to break your leg too; you might not be found for a while and be in agony." Mary gave him a dirty look that indicated she would very much like to get a broken leg."

River just smiled  “thank you for the warning Ms. Cloud” and left. She was enraged. Why is that bastard always smiling and being polite? Did he not care if he offended her? Was he not worried she may use the influence of her house on him?

She shook her head. No, she wouldn’t use the influence of her house. She would absolutely crush him and bring him to heel with her own power and ability. She would simply continue to be the best in her class and laugh at him when he failed to pass the first year and was forced to leave.

They all started setting up camp. Sky used his earth magic to create shelters for everyone. He made sure they were sturdy but had a reasonable amount of privacy and comfort. He ended up making one for each student and the teacher.

David Rain used his lightning magic to split trees open and to break them down into smaller logs. They could be used to make chairs or fire wood. Mary used wind on the ground to push away all the loose brush and make the area more open.

Amanda Clover used fire magic to set up a few small fires and a main one in the center of camp. The rest of the students scouted the area to see if they could find something to hunt but only managed to bring back a few vegetables.

***

The 3 men were in the forest hidden having just seen all the other students come back “I counted them again but we are still one student short.  Do you know where he is?"

“I saw him go towards that mountain over there some time ago. He is just a commoner anyway. Not worth bothering over. All the other students are here including ones we want. I see no point waiting."

“Yes, the longer we wait the more chances we're seen or some other teacher may even come along to check on them. We should move now!”

***

Peter Leaf was sitting on the same log leaning against a tree. He turned his head slightly towards the forest, only to again lean back against the tree and assumed an even more relaxed pose. Suddenly to all the students shock he cast powerful water magic into the forest. It blasted many trees over and the students froze in their boots. “Whose there?” Peter yelled “There should be no other wizards in this area!”

“Hahaha, so you were able to find us? No less from a wizard at the zero province academy!” 3 men walked out from the woods slowly in black cloaks with mask covering their faces. Two wore a white mask and one of the men wore a golden mask.

“Why are you here and what do you want?” Leaf walked in front of his students.

The one in the golden mask spoke “Well, we came here just because these kids are so cute. We're looking to adopt a few of them. We decided on the Cloud, Sky and Rain students. As for the rest of you, please don’t feel too disappointed."

All the students but particularly the ones he named were standing on pins and needles. Mary spoke up first “I already have a family, be gone unless you wish to be put in the ground today.”

The one in the gold mask dropped his polite tone. “Silence brat, I 'm very strict and don’t take back talk. If you want to stay in one piece you will learn to keep your mouth shut when told. This can be easy or hard for you. Don’t be foolish.”

Peter Leaf motioned the students to back up. “Come now, no need to make threats. How about this? Walk away right now and I’ll let you go. It isn’t too late for you to not be the ones to make a foolish mistake here.” Peter talked big but he was honestly concerned. The 2 in the white mask he could tell knew how to handle themselves fairly well. They were good enough he couldn't completely ignore them,  He felt a very different pressure from the one in the gold mask. He was going to be difficult.

He took a moment to take stock of the situation. One of his students wasn't here. Clearly they only wanted the high born nobles; probably for ransom. He hated it but he couldn’t risk the lives of the rest of his students for just 1. He knew Rivers had a good head and most importantly they were most likely not interested in him. He could make his way back on his own. For now he had to focus on the students he could do something about.

Peter turned his head slightly to his students and whispered so the 3 men couldn’t hear “I want all of you to go back to the school as fast as you can. Just focus on getting there. Use fire magic or anything else you want. Make sure to stay together, do not separate.  They will count on you to run and panic. Together you are strong, especially you 3” he looked to Mary, Sky and Rain.

“Fight together and keep each other safe and you’ll be okay. I doubt I can hold all 3 here so expect to be pursued. As soon as I attack run as fast as you can” he turned back to the 3 and said nothing else to the students. He would just need to hope they would not hesitate and do as he said.

The one in the gold mask chuckled “all done saying your goodbyes to them? It won’t matter in the end. The moment you decided not to meekly give them up you were a dead man.”

Peter said nothing back to him. He cast wind magic in one hand and fire magic in the other.

“Duel casting different elements?” One of the white masked men turned to the gold masked one. “It seems these teachers live up to their reputations.”

Peter yelled “Run now and don’t look back!” as he cast both magics at once and made a powerful flame that flew towards the 3 men.

One of the men in the white mask smiled “time to start the hunt!”