Within an hour, Lorian and Violet had learned about a variety of flora that they could safely utilize as a food from the forest, thanks to Theo’s guidance.
Theo pointed out plants whose roots were similar to potatoes but significantly larger. They also harvested stems from wild plants bursting with sweet juices and gathered leafy greens that, while wild, were simply varieties of more common edible greens. Additionally, they found green mushrooms. Although some were poisonous, Theo instructed that extensive boiling would neutralize the toxins and cause the green hue to fade, rendering them safe to eat.
By the time they finished gathering, Violet was astounded by Theo's extensive botanical knowledge. Even Lorian was impressed, though neither of them voiced their surprise. Violet, who had earlier doubted Theo's capabilities, felt a twinge of embarrassment. She had underestimated him, and now she saw just how amazing Lorian’s brother was. Theo was like a walking encyclopedia, knowledgeable about most of the plants.
After storing their foraged goods in the storage tent, the trio considered their task completed for the day.
Meanwhile, other students who had ventured deeper into the forest began to return. Some carried berries, while others brought back entire plants.
As Felix approached with his group’s findings, he reported somewhat sheepishly, “We couldn’t find any meat, but will this much do?” He gestured toward the assortment of food his group had collected.
Violet knelt down to inspect the collection like an expert, while Felix and the others watched her intently, hoping for commendation. After a brief examination, she looked up with a grave expression. “Except for the mushrooms and these leaves, everything else is poisonous,” she gave her verdict, dashing their hopes instantly.
“How can you say that?” Felix challenged, his disbelief evident.
From the side, Lorian chimed in with a hint of sarcasm, “You could always try munching on one of these berries.”
Violet suppressed a giggle at Lorian's comment, choosing not to add fuel to the fire.
Felix, though he acknowledged Lorian's logic, wasn't prepared to test it by sampling potentially poisonous plants. The risk was too high, and he had no intention of endangering his life merely to prove a point. His disappointment was evident as he lamented, "Ah... If we had known, we wouldn’t have wasted our time gathering these poisonous items..." Frustration was etched across his face as he grappled with the realization that they lacked sufficient safe food for the day.
Just then, a commotion stirred among the other students.
"Hey, look there!"
"Who set this up?"
"Water with a trunk and coconut shells?"
Their curiosity peaked as they discovered the improvised water purification setup. Felix and the others turned to Violet, seeking an explanation.
"The food and water problems have been solved for today," Violet announced. "Just make sure to gather only the items you will be eating today, instead of the poisonous varieties you have brought."
As the food and water issues were resolved, a wave of celebration swept through the students, lifting spirits and easing the day's tensions.
Violet then turned to Felix. "Since Elara isn't here and I need to rest, you're in charge of distributing the food and water. Make sure everyone gets an equal share, and save some for those who haven't returned yet. We have enough food for two days, so manage it wisely," she instructed, her tone firm yet fatigued. Without waiting for a response, she turned and retreated to her tent for some much-needed rest.
Felix took up the task with enthusiasm, carefully distributing the provisions to his classmates.
As the sun dipped below the horizon and the sky filled with twinkling stars, Elara's group returned to camp. They looked thoroughly exhausted, as if they had been laboring for a week without reward. Despite their exhaustion, their spirits lifted when Felix greeted them with a beaming smile. "Worry not, my soldiers, we have water and food for all of you," he announced cheerfully. Relief spread across their weary faces as they were handed food and water.
Later, as the group gathered around the central area of the camp to relax, Garrick began to share their findings. "We found headquarter of Section C. It's four kilometers away from here, but we don't think they were the ones who attacked Section D last night."
Violet, her brow furrowed in interest, asked, "How did you come to that conclusion?"
"They were setting up their tents when we arrived, and all their members were accounted for. No one from the last night was there," Garrick explained.
"So, it was Section B..." Violet murmured, piecing together the information.
Elara nodded in agreement, then shared her strategy moving forward. "We also located their King. I’m planning to strike them first before Section B can get to them," she said, seeking Violet's approval on her aggressive strategy.
"That's good, but be careful," Violet responded, giving her cautious endorsement of the plan.
As night deepened, Elara and her group set out on their mission, while Violet and the others stayed back to safeguard Lorian.
The ambient sounds of crickets chirping and trees rustling filled the night air, adding a sense of calm amidst the tension.
All the remaining students were on high alert, much more so than the previous night, especially after witnessing how Class 1-B had attacked another section. Everyone was keenly aware of the need for vigilance, prepared to react to any threat that might arise.
As always, Theo was absent from the group once again. Violet noticed his absence, but this time she chose not to voice her displeasure. Instead, she remained silent, maintaining a composed demeanor alongside Lorian. Felix and the others showed no concern, focused instead on guarding their king against any potential attacks.
As dawn began to break over the camp, Elara's team staggered back, their appearance telling a tale of a night filled with conflict. Their clothes were torn and smudged with dirt, each crease and rip hinting at close encounters of violent engagements. Some bore minor cuts and singed marks indicative of both sword clashes and magical confrontations.
Even Elara, who seemed in better condition than most, had her lime-colored dress stained with dirt across her shoulder, and her expression was one of sheer exhaustion.
Only Garrick remained behind to report to the awaiting group, while Elara and the rest of her team retreated to their tents, too spent to engage further. The signs of their ordeal were evident; fatigue pulled at their shoulders, and their steps were heavy as they moved away from the group.
In the camp, the elven girl from the guardian team, who was surprisingly a healer, was already moving from tent to tent. She attended to the injured members of Elara's team, administering her skills to those who needed it most.
Garrick, looking slightly better but still worn, began to share the details of their encounter with those gathered. "It was an intense fight. We managed to give them a good challenge, thanks to Her Highness's leadership and our collective strength. We eliminated several of their students from the expedition," he explained. "Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to secure the sovereign emblem, so we had to retreat."
"Ah… If only the sun hadn't risen, our class could've claimed a sovereign emblem today," Kevin lamented, his voice heavy with disappointment.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Felix, Violet, and Lorian turned sharply towards him, their glares piercing like daggers. Kevin shifted uneasily under the intensity of their stares.
Recognizing the need to shift focus from what could have been to what needed to be done, Violet addressed Garrick, who stood quietly awaiting her directive. "You guys have done more than enough for today. We can always make another attempt later. For now, you should go and get some rest," she instructed with an appreciative tone.
Garrick gave a slight nod, appreciating her recognition of their efforts, and retreated into his tent to recuperate from the night’s exertions. Felix followed suit, trailing behind Garrick, likely to discuss the night’s events further in private.
***
The following night, before the sunrise, the camp was stirred by unsettling news.
"They have disappeared," Garrick reported, his tone grave as he delivered the information to the Guardian team.
Violet's brow furrowed deeply. "Who have?" she questioned.
"Both Section C and D... We didn’t find any trace of them at their respective home territories," Elara elaborated, her voice tinged with confusion.
"Did they get disqualified or something?" Felix asked in puzzlement.
Garrick met Felix’s question with a serious look. "We are not sure about that yet," he admitted, suggesting the situation was more complex than a simple disqualification.
Sensing the rising tension and confusion among the group, Violet took charge. "We need to conduct a thorough search. There’s a chance they may have been disqualified, but we cannot ignore the possibility that they might be hiding or planning something against us. It could be a strategy. We need to be vigilant and careful," she instructed, laying out a clear plan of action.
The students nodded in agreement with Violet's commands, their minds buzzing with the implications of the mysterious disappearances. Conversations erupted as they speculated on various scenarios, each person trying to make sense of the situation.
Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, Violet pulled Garrick aside to accompany her to check the headquarters of the missing sections herself, hoping to find some clue as to their whereabouts. However, she returned empty-handed.
A week passed with no leads on the whereabouts of Sections D and C. It seemed as though they had vanished from the island entirely. Ultimately, the students came to the reluctant conclusion that these sections had been eliminated, but the reason why Section A was still allowed to remain was a mystery.
During this time, Theo remained absent for the most part, his whereabouts and activities unclear. On the positive side, Class 1-A was able to secure enough food and water to last them a month, ensuring their survival as they continued to unravel the enigma surrounding the other sections.