Caleb stood just outside the town, watching the river as it flowed around the town, then curved out beyond the low grass and into the wider fields. It was later, the sun higher in the sky, illuminating everything in front of him clearly.

The temperature was nice too. A gentle breeze rolled over him, ruffling his hair, and glossing over his skin.

He continued to stare out at the endless fields at the distant mountain tops, but his focus was different now, instead on the magic all around them. It was beautiful to watch. The way it twisted and flowed, centred around all the living things. It moved in a soft rhythm in tandem with the birds in the sky, the plants on the ground, and the people.

Seeing it like this, feeling it like another sense, it really did feel magical.

His eyes drifted away from the landscape, down to himself. Like all the others he wore a set of mildly uncomfortable leather armour, a sheathed sword with a dim magic glow at his waist and spell bracelet on his wrist.

The chief had handed out the artifacts to all the chosen of the somewhat reluctantly and probably at order of Reinhard. Caleb felt pretty guilty about it, but he was pretty sure he’d need it more than the villagers. He felt good with the weapons, safer. Though the sleeve had been a lot more comfortable than a sword at his hip.

He adjusted the sheath’s belt as he looked up and turned back to the village, his gaze falling on the villagers. They moved with small carts, and wheelbarrows of luggage, likely filled with heirlooms as they made their way into the fields, led by Aima.

Many faces were grim, the mixture of anger, disappointment and uncertainty clear. These people were moving from their homes, maybe forever. From what he’d gathered, most had never even left the village before. He couldn’t blame the clear discontent they had with the situation.

He watched the inhabitants of Arrell exit down the main path for a few more moments, then frowned. He scanned the crowd over again, his confusion growing.

“Where are all the kids?” he mumbled.

[What?] Kana said from beside him.

“Kids. I mean it’s a whole town and there’s just… no children?”

“Yeah” Ryan said. “I thought that was just me”

“Wait… wow.” Sierra mumbled as she squinted. “That’s weird”

Caleb frowned, and glanced to Roeca, the chief, and Reinhard as they spoke. The chief had mentioned something about the last generation when he’d spoken to Cut. Now that he really thought about it, Cut, Aima and Rad had seemed like the youngest people from this world that they’d actually met.

Wait… no, it can’t be, he thought.

“It’s probably just this town” Caleb mumbled. “Maybe they send them all to some school in a different place”

“Maybe” Ryan muttered back. Caleb nodded, though his unease remained. He looked back to the chief, Reinhard and Cut as they spoke. The chief’s face looked grim as he nodded, before looking back to his villagers. Then he shook Reinhard and Cut’s hands.

With a final nod to the chief Reinhard turned to them, followed by Cut as they made their way over. Caleb watched the man, still slightly intimidated by his magical presence. A few of the others began to notice him too, turning to face him as Roeca stepped forward, dusting off her armour. Reinhard muttered a few things to her and she turned to face them.

[Alright!] she said loudly, everyone turning to her. [Before we set off, I need to know your abilities, so I can work out the most effective pairs]

“Pairs?”

[During this mission a few of us, might have to split up, it’s better to have effective pairs so we can split the group quickly]

Everyone glanced amongst themselves. There were ten chosen in total. Five pairs.

“Uh… I have Aura of Acceleration” Sierra said, looking to Roeca.

“I have Will of the Iron born” Ryan said.

[Protective Energy] Kana said.

“Mana Soul” Caleb answered.

“Telekinesis” Layla said.

[Hand of the Old Osslida] Markus said.

“Mana Battery” James said.

[Will of Action] Angelina responded.

[Beholder of Oqifketharfar’s shard] the girl whose name Caleb still didn’t know said.

[Sword of Soul] Eriana said last. Roeca looked over all of them, uncertain, then awkwardly looked to Reinhard and Cut.

[Well… they definitely all sound cool] Cut said.

[Not helping] Roeca said sternly, before turning to the rest of them. [Um… could you explain them?]

[We don’t have time. Come on, we’ll do pairs later] the captain said gruffly. [We’ve got our supplies. It’s time to head North]

-

Caleb and the others trudged along, behind Reinhard, Cut and Roeca, who walked slightly further ahead.

They’d gathered into groups, Caleb with Kana, Sierra, Ryan, Angelina with James – whose hair was starting to glow again, Eriana on her own, and Layla, Markus, and Olivia – whose name Caleb had finally heard in passing.

At first they’d all tried to talk amongst themselves, but the atmosphere had grown sombre when Olivia had mentioned how much her friends would’ve liked the view of the mountains. Now they walked mostly in silence, only Markus and Olivia occasionally sharing the odd comment.

Caleb wasn’t enjoying the quiet. Usually when it was only him, the soft sounds of the wind and the tweets of distant birds, he’d feel calm. At peace.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Being out in nature like this reminded him of the good times with his mom and dad, allowed him to switch his mind off somewhat.

But not here. Here he felt up to his neck in anxiety, the tension slowly choking his thoughts to death. Being on constant alert wasn’t good for him, especially with the lack of sleep. He rubbed at his eyes.

At least, in some twisted way it was better that they weren’t talking. If they had been, then he’d feel even more anxious about not hearing something coming.

Is this how cavemen felt? he thought. Constantly on the run. Constantly worrying about survival?

It felt nightmarish. He looked up at the others. He was overthinking things. Maybe it’d be better to talk, to try and relieve some of his worry. And if something did appear, it was probably better to die ignorant than aware and completely unable to stop it.

He looked forward, eyes falling to Reinhard, Roeca, and Cut. He watched them scanning the fields for a moment, then frowned.

“It’s kind of weird, isn’t it?” he muttered suddenly.

“What?” Ryan asked.

“How these brigadier guys have magic” he said, pointing forward. “I was just thinking about it”

“What do you mean?” Sierra asked.

“Their powers”

[Well, the people back in the village had it. The spell bracelets and some of the swords]

“No, I meant like actual magic” Sierra said. Kana furrowed her brow in confusion.

“I think Sierra means that they’re using magic. Not artifacts” Caleb said. “They have artifacts as well, but Cut’s teleport thing is just him. Weight changes and everything. The others magic looks closer to ours than the regular villages too. I guess because of Cut I’m just assuming they have skills”

[You can tell that?]

“Yeah”

“What in the world is this magic sense of yours?” Sierra asked.

“I don’t know” Caleb said. “I’m starting to realise that it’s a bit more special than I first assumed”

“Wait, why wouldn’t the Brigadiers have magic?” Ryan asked.

“Well, I just assumed no one but us could use it” Caleb said.

“Why?” Sierra asked.

“Seer Nessaiea just made it seem really special. She got all excited about the record, and I think she literally said that magic was something holy. I guess they had artifacts and magic tech so… I don’t know. The brigadiers seem special and maybe they are? It’s weird”

[Do you think they recruited us because we’re like them?] Kana asked.

“Maybe”

“Then they should’ve gone through the trial too then?” Ryan said. “Or at least some version of it”

“Maybe” Caleb mumbled.

“That’s a lot of maybes” Ryan said glancing to Caleb.

“Well, I mean we don’t know how any of this works” Caleb said. “A million and one things could be possible. These guys could have records like us. What if they’re doing the trial?”

[I doubt it. They seem familiar with this place] Kana said. [They feel somewhat safe here]

“Well maybe they’ve just been stuck in the trial for years? The system said the average if we get back to was three months, but who knows how long we could be here?”

[It’s ok Caleb. I don’t think they’ve been doing the trial for that long] Kana said. [I don’t think they’re even in the trial]

“But the point is that we don’t know for sure” Ryan mumbled. “I mean, crap, what if they are in the trial and they’ve roped us into some kind of incompletable mission. I mean how long have they been doing this? What if we get stuck here?”

“Don’t say that” Sierra said, suddenly. “Seriously, I puke”

[They wouldn’t have done that] Kana said. [They seem nice]

“Maybe. I don’t think that’s enough to go off of” Caleb mumbled, wiping his hands against his trousers as his breathing grew unsteady. “We have to assume there’s a lot we don’t know we don’t know, and don’t know how we’d figure it out”

[You could just ask them] Markus mumbled. The four glanced to him then back to each other. The boy glanced away sheepishly, fiddling with his armband, then the straps of his armour.

“That’s a fair point” Sierra said. Caleb bit at his lip, then glanced forwards to Reinhard’s magical weight again.

“…I don’t know” he muttered.

[Oh quit being wimps] Eriana said, suddenly marching forwards. [Hey! You three!]

“Shit” Sierra said. The three brigadiers glanced back to the group of chosen, then to each other before coming to a stop. The group slowed slightly, but continued forwards Eriana at the head.

[These guys have a few questions for you] she said, gesturing to Caleb and the others.

[About what?] Roeca asked.

“Uh… well, we’re a bit confused about everything” Sierra said. “Like why you can use magic? Is it rare?”

[Ah right] Roeca said. [We thought you’d be aware given your station, but I guess our bloodlines have diminished to the point that they’re unrecognisable. We’re the descendants of your kind. Before the great sever]

[Great sever?]

[Our people angered the gods many generations ago, and they reclaimed their divinity from us. There are still remnants, traces of the old age scattered throughout the world but for the most part they’re gone]

“Remnants? Like what?”

[Like us. Enchantments, artifacts, and the Great wonders. Like the whispers of Mont Friar, The forest of death, and more. Even as remnants of divinity, they do incredible wonders for our world]

[Don’t forget the bad stuff too] Cut said, glancing back. [It’s why we’re out in this dump in the first place]

[You shouldn’t be so disrespectful to your birth-grounds Cut] Roeca said, looking to him.

[Whatever] the blonde mumbled. Reinhard gave him a harsh look.

[Sorry] he said, glancing back to Roeca. [I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful]

[It’s fine] Roeca said, before turning back to them. [Right, where was I? Yes, old age. Cut is right of course, there are remnants of the old age that’re good, and remnants that’re bad too. Calamities, magic plagues, and… another matter. Though that’s a controversial topic]

“Magic plagues?!” Ryan said.

[Yes. Though they’re mostly in the Far North]

“That’s… a lot to take in” Caleb muttered.

“Yeah… wait, circling back real quick, you guys are descendants of people with records?” Sierra said.

[Records?]

“Uh… what did you call it…”

[Blessings?] Kana said.

“Yeah, blessings”

[Yes] Roeca said nodding, before she furrowed her brow. [It’s most confusing. Meeting demigods who seem to know very little about gods and their blessings. You also… um… how can I say this?]

“Don’t seem that strong?” Caleb proposed.

[Y-yes] she said, somewhat sheepish. She and Reinhard both glanced to Cut.

[Oh, come on. I was telling the truth. I saw them using blessings. Well, these four at least] he said, gesturing to Layla, Sierra, Ryan and Eriana. [And plus, they’re all younger than me. They’re demigods sent here by their divine parents. No doubt]

“Wait, younger than you? Why would that be important?” James said. The three shared another look between themselves. Caleb watched their gazes, some of his unease from earlier returning.

[Well, it’s a difficult matter to-]

[Warning – Your location is currently under attack]

The roar came as soon as the message did. Instantly Caleb felt it, from above him and behind something falling out of the sky towards the ground. His shield appeared in hand, and he spun around, pulling his sword out of its sheath.

A large half goat half pterodactyl screeched at them, clacking together sharp blood-stained teeth as it descended through the air. Its eyes were red, crazed almost and its head twitched strangely atop it’s malformed body.

Instantly, he felt the magic landscape around him shift instantly, the others all preparing to fight.

But before they could do anything, a gust of wind cut its wing in two. He glanced back, watching as Roeca slashed through the air again and again, projecting sudden and sharp blasts of wind from the edge of her blade, pushed forth into the world with her magic.

The monster screeched from above as it flailed uselessly, unable to avoid the next two slices of air with its wing gone. Its cries ended quickly, its body crashing to the ground in a heap of flesh and blood.

The group went silent, everyone staring at the beast, before jumping back as it lurched suddenly. It went still again. Eriana stepped forward and tapped its wing gently with a foot, but the creature remained frozen this time.

“Holy shit” James mumbled. The others all stepped back, the tension dying down as they looked around at the now empty sky.

[Where do you think it came from?] Roeca said, putting her sword back on her back.

[Errell’s in that direction] Cut said, frowning as he stared off into the distance. [One of the two towns beyond the death forest]

Roeca’s face grew stiff, but Reinhard only nodded.

[Send Aima a warning pulse. We’ve likely got monsters behind us, either from the forest or the anomalies. She’ll need to move faster. And we will too. Quickly everyone, we’ll have to jog to reach the village before nightfall]