There were multiple cabins scattered across the snowy landscape, resembling a quaint neighborhood. Our group was assigned to one of these cabins, and we quickly sought refuge from the biting winter chill. As the sun sank below the horizon, the cold air seemed to grow even colder, making the warmth and coziness of the cabin all the more enticing.

Inside, the cabin was small yet comfortable. It boasted a cozy fireplace, a compact kitchen area, and enough beds to accommodate all of us. We shed our heavy coats and boots, stowing our valuable beast shards in a secure location before settling in for the night.

Dinner became a collaborative effort, with Lina and me working together to prepare a hearty vegetable soup, while Lily skillfully roasted the meat she had brought along. The mouthwatering aroma of the food permeated the cabin, causing our stomachs to growl with anticipation. Gathered around the crackling fire, we savored our warm meal while discussing our plans for the upcoming day.

"I believe the key to maximizing our beast shard collection is to locate the area with the highest concentration of beasts," I voiced my thoughts, taking a succulent bite of the roasted meat.

Lily chimed in, fully in agreement. "I can approach the other cabins and talk to fellow adventurers from different classes. They might have valuable insights to share."

Lina nodded, her face reflecting agreement as she savored a spoonful of the steaming vegetable soup. "That's a fantastic idea."

Lily set off on our behalf, venturing to the neighboring cabins to gather information. After an hour, she returned with news to share.

"Guys, I spoke to numerous adventurers, and it seems there's a valley not far from here where the beasts are incredibly abundant. However, they warned that it's a perilous and challenging area to navigate. But if we can make it through, we'll have an excellent opportunity to collect a significant number of beast shards," Lily reported, excitement lacing her words.

"That sounds like an excellent plan," Lina exclaimed, her enthusiasm growing.

I interjected with a note of caution. "We must be cautious and thoroughly prepared. If it's a dangerous terrain, we need to equip ourselves accordingly."

"Agreed," Lily concurred, her nod emphasizing her agreement.

The rest of the night was spent devising strategies and making necessary preparations for our upcoming journey. We meticulously gathered our supplies, ensuring we had an ample stock of potions, weapons, and provisions. The goal was to set off as early as possible the next morning.

The following day, we awoke before dawn, quickly readying ourselves to embark on our expedition to the valley. It took us a couple of hours to navigate through the snowy landscape, as the region offered various pathways leading to different locations. The professors likely selected this vast area for the field trip due to its vastness and the relatively weaker beasts inhabiting it.

Finally reaching our destination, we were greeted by a breathtaking sight. Snow-covered mountains gradually transformed into snow-covered grass, converging at a glistening, crystal-clear river flowing through the heart of the valley. Herds of majestic snowmaws roamed the vicinity, quenching their thirst and basking in the warm sunlight.

To our surprise, we noticed two groups of adventurers stealthily making their way towards the water, trying to remain unnoticed by the snowmaws engrossed in their activities. Among them were Hanz and Tasha from our class, accompanied by an unfamiliar girl. The other group was led by Leiah, a fellow student from the High-Magic class, with two other boys at her side.

Lily and Lina immediately recognized them, and we found ourselves pondering our next move.

"We can't allow them to monopolize all the beast shards," Lily asserted determinedly.

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"I agree, but we hadn't anticipated this situation," Lina remarked, turning to me. "What should we do, Fal?"

After a moment of contemplation, I offered a solution. "Let's create a diversion."

Turning to Lily, I issued a command. "On my signal, shoot a flaming arrow. Make sure it creates a significant display of flames."

Lily raised her bow, acknowledging my instructions. As the arrow ignited into a blazing inferno, I utilized my wind manipulation abilities to propel it forward with enhanced speed and force.

The flaming arrow landed precisely between the snowmaws and the two rival groups, catching the attention of the beasts and causing them to retreat towards our direction.

"Alright, everyone, it's time to attack!" I declared, seizing the opportunity.

With adrenaline coursing through our veins, we charged towards the snowmaws, brandishing our weapons and unleashing our magical abilities. The beasts were momentarily taken aback by our sudden onslaught but quickly regrouped, launching a fierce counterattack.

The battle ensued with relentless intensity. We fought valiantly, taking down snowmaws one by one through a combination of well-executed strikes, spells, and coordinated teamwork. Our determination to claim our fair share of beast shards fueled our resilience.

Amidst the chaos, I couldn't help but notice that the rival groups seemed to vanish from sight. I speculated whether they had withdrawn or were merely biding their time, waiting for an opportune moment to strike.

However, my musings were interrupted as a colossal snowmaw charged at me. Reacting swiftly, I evaded its ferocious assault and retaliated with a powerful blast of ice magic. The frigid spell engulfed the beast, freezing it instantaneously. The snowmaw collapsed defeated onto the ground.

The battle continued for what felt like an eternity, but eventually, we emerged as the victorious party.

Just as we were about to regroup and assess our accomplishments, I sensed a presence behind me. Without a second thought, I executed a swift shadow step, nimbly dodging an attack. I turned around to face my assailant—a boy around my age, with strikingly white hair and piercing light blue eyes.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he bellowed, his anger evident in his voice.

Lina swiftly intervened, approaching us to defuse the situation. "What's happening here? Wait, Renz? Why did you attack my teammate?"

"This fool left us with no beast shards," Renz retorted. Leiah and the unnamed boy from his group joined him.

"That's still no reason—" Lina began, attempting to defend me, but I interjected.

"I simply outplayed you," I calmly stated. "If you were truly capable, you would have found a way to adapt and overcome."

A scowl deepened on Renz's face. "What's your name?"

"Falyn Elway," I replied.

Upon hearing my name, Renz's eyes widened, and a grin slowly spread across his face. "Ah, so you're the kid who scored higher than me. It all makes sense now."

Shortly afterward, Hanz and Tasha's group arrived at the scene, having caught up with the commotion.

"So, that was you, Fal? Impressive move," Hanz acknowledged, slightly out of breath as his whole party finally reached us.

"Did we really have to sprint, Hanz?" Tasha inquired, slightly exasperated. "The battle was already over."

"She's right, you know," the girl accompanying Hanz chimed in.

Renz directed his attention to Hanz. "You know him?"

"Yeah, Fal and I are familiar," Hanz confirmed. "We've honed our skills together."

Leiah, who had remained silent until now, added her own insight. "I mentioned him on the first day of class—the guy who wields ice magic like you, Renz."

Renz let out a sigh, surveying the fallen snowmaws. "Well, the damage is done now. We'll find another hunting ground." With that, he turned away, his group following suit. "If we encounter you again, I can't guarantee your safety."

As Hanz's group walked away, Hanz himself spoke up. "He's just bluffing."

"Even if he isn't, it wouldn't matter," I laughed, brushing off the threat.

"I suppose you're right," Hanz admitted, sharing my sentiment.

Lina, concerned about potential conflicts with Renz, approached me. "Fal, I don't think you should involve yourself too deeply with Renz. I know his family, and I believe it's best to avoid unnecessary complications."

"It's fine, Lina. I understand the dynamics and won't get too entangled in noble affairs," I reassured her.

"It seems like you guys have everything under control," Hanz remarked, turning back toward us. "But remember, luck might not favor you tomorrow." With those parting words, he and his group walked away.

Tomorrow marked the official competition, and although the details remained unclear, I was determined to do whatever it took to emerge victorious. My competitive spirit burned bright, urging me to give my all.

"We should start collecting the shards and head back," Lily suggested, redirecting our focus to the task at hand.

Surveying the vast number of fallen snowmaws, I nodded in agreement. "Yes, you're right. We have a lot of work ahead of us."

Together, we began the arduous process of gathering the beast shards strewn across the snowy expanse, fully aware of the challenging endeavor that awaited us.