The following weeks of classes went by without incident, and I was relieved to find that I didn't have any more uncomfortable run-ins with Kent. In class, he seemed to keep to himself, never speaking a word or making eye contact with me. In the hallways, he would walk by me as if I were invisible, never acknowledging my presence.
Despite my curiosity, I ultimately decided to let the matter be. I didn't want to cause any unnecessary drama or make things complicated around the school. So, I tried my best to ignore Kent's behavior and focus on my studies. Even though it wasn't an ideal situation, it was better than the alternative.
I was seated in my Mana Beast Combat class, with Lina by my side. The entire class was eagerly listening to the professor, waiting for the upcoming news. It was evident that each student was excited and looking forward to the announcement.
In the past few weeks, we had been training in the school's Bloakcade, where we fought small mana beasts and learned various tactics for fighting as a team. It was a grueling process, but we were all determined to emerge victorious and meet the professor's expectations.
As the professor began to speak, the room fell silent. Everyone was on the edge of their seats, waiting to hear what he had to say. The tension in the air was palpable.
"I have some exciting news to share with all of you," the professor began, a smile spreading across his face. "I spoke with the other professors, and we have decided to hold a field trip to the Dwarven Mountains in three days."
A collective gasp went up from the class, and a wave of excitement washed over me. We had been waiting for this moment for weeks, and finally, it was here. I could feel my heart pounding with anticipation.
The professor continued, "This time, the stakes are higher than ever. The competition is going to be tougher, and the mana beasts will be stronger. But I have faith in all of you. You've been training hard, and I know you have what it takes to come out on top."
I leaned over to Lina and nudged her arm, "Are you excited?"
"Yes, of course. This is my first time actually going out and fighting."
"But keep in mind," Professor Rinehall continued, "the competition will take place in the high mountains, and it will be cold. So, make sure you pack warm clothes and blankets. Also, bring whatever provisions you may need to stay comfortable during the trip."
"How long will the trip last, Professor?" someone asked.
The professor replied, "The trip will last for three days. Keep in mind that three other classes will be attending with us, and on the last day, we will hold some sort of competitions. You will have the rest of the time to explore the mountains and its surroundings. This is a chance for you to learn more about the world of Mana Beasts and grow as individuals."
The class was buzzing with excitement as the professor finished speaking. I knew that this was going to be a breeze for me, but challenges and an exciting adventure were always welcomed.
As the bell rang, I said goodbye to Lina and headed to find Hanz. I remembered that he had Mana Beast Combat with a different professor, so I assumed he would also be going on the field trip.
"You're going on the trip, right?" I asked as I approached him.
Hanz turned to face me and grinned, "Yeah, I am. And if I'm not mistaken, you are too. This field trip is going to be interesting, to say the least. Renz is in the other class that's participating, and apparently, that Leiah girl is too. Did your professor give you any details about the competition?"
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I nodded, "Yeah, he gave us some minor details."
Hanz chuckled, "Well, my class is going to destroy you guys."
I couldn't help but laugh, "We'll see about that."
***
The day of our field trip had finally arrived, and my entire class was waiting patiently for our professor to arrive. We all looked rather odd, dressed in layers of coats and furry scarves, even though the weather wasn't nearly cold enough to warrant them.
Excitement grew as we spotted our professor, flanked by two others, and a large group of students that could easily make up two classes. "We will lead the way to the warp gate, follow us," one of the professors instructed as he stepped in front of all the students.
As we made our way to the warp gate, Hanz appeared from the crowd, followed by Tasha, much to our surprise. "I didn't know she was in your class," I said to Hanz.
"Well, you never asked," Tasha replied with a hint of playfulness. She looked at Lina and smiled.
Without hesitation, I introduced them. "Selina, this is Tasha. Tasha, this is Selina."
"Like Princess Selina?" Tasha asked Selina, grinning.
"Yep, that's me," Selina replied, feeling a bit shy. "But please, just call me Selina. It's fine."
Finally, we reached the warp gate, and the professor addressed us once more. "We'll go one class at a time," he said, turning to Professor Rinehall. "Rinehall, would you like to go first?"
Rinehall shook his head, and we followed the professor onto the warp gate. "We'll meet you guys there," I said to my friends, Selina and Lina.
As we were transported through the warp gate, Professor Rinehall's voice boomed through the air, "Alright, class, this is it. Are you guys ready?"
"Yes, sir," we replied in unison, eager to explore the wonders of the dwarven mountains.
The warp gate led us to the dwarven mountains, and we found ourselves standing in front of a magnificent view. The mountains were steep and snow-covered, and the sun was shining brightly overhead. I could see the excitement on my classmates' faces as they looked around, taking in the beauty of our surroundings.
The professors wasted no time and quickly divided us into groups of three. Each group was assigned a different section of the mountain to explore and hunt for mana beasts. The competition would take place on the last day, so we had two days to explore the area and prepare ourselves.
My group consisted of myself, Lina, luckily enough, and a girl named Lily. I didn't know her well, but she seemed friendly enough. We were tasked with exploring the western side of the mountain range and hunting for any mana beasts we could find.
“After you feel you’ve done enough, meet back here. Each class has a cabin not far from here, so don’t worry, we won’t be camping out in the cold like this. The beasts you run into shouldn’t be too strong for you to handle. If you feel like they are, retreat quietly and inform me when you meet back here,” the professor instructed.
The entire class nodded in agreement, and by the time our group was ready to set off, the other classes had already received their instructions.
We walked through the snow, keeping our eyes peeled for any signs of movement. After an hour of searching, we stumbled upon a group of small mana beasts called Snowmaws. They were furry and white, with sharp teeth and claws.
Lina quickly cast a spell that created a protective barrier around us, ensuring the Snowmaws couldn't attack us. I conjured an icy spell that slowed down the Snowmaws, making them easier targets. Lily, who was apparently an archer, shot flaming arrows at the Snowmaws, taking them down one by one.
“You guys are pretty good,” Lily complimented as she strapped her bow back to her back.
“Thank you, Lily,” Lina replied.
Having someone who could use the fire element to such a degree was advantageous in this type of environment. With Lily on our team, we were able to keep going for about another hour, scoring beast after beast and collecting their shards as proof.
As the professor had said, none of the beasts were particularly strong, and it was relatively easy. When we felt as if we had done well enough, we headed back to the rendezvous point, with a great amount of beast shards in tow.
“There’s no way someone got as much as us, even in the other classes. Seriously, you guys are amazing,” Lily complimented once more. She seemed genuinely happy and excited.
“Our class, maybe, but I wouldn't be so sure about the other classes,” I said, and Lina nodded in agreement.
As we arrived back at the rendezvous point, we noticed that some of the other groups had already returned. Some had a decent amount of shards with them, while others only had a few. Our professor was waiting for us, and as he saw our successful hunt, he smiled.
“Good work, you three. I can see you've gathered quite a few shards. Keep up the good work, and don't forget to rest up for tomorrow. The cabins are straight ahead. Just keep going, and you’ll find it.”
Looking forward toward the slow-footed path, we nodded and began making our way to the cabin.