* Date: September 28, 1173

* Time: 8:05 AM

* Location: Dimond Forest

''Alright, children, settle down. Now that we're about to enter the Diamond Forest, do you still remember what Mister Jean has thought of all of you?''

Joan and her classmates, brimming with excitement, nodded in response as they reached the forest entrance. Before them stood several magical wards designed to deter creatures from wandering too far from the forest. After hearing their teacher's question, Joan eagerly raised her hand to answer.

''Never separate from the group, never run away from the group, and lastly, never interact with the creatures of the forest.''

''Excellent, Joan!''

Her classmates then gave a round of applause and returned to her best friend's side. Having been praised by her teacher, Joan smiled as she saw her classmates cheer for her answer. Stepping back to Elise's side, she joyfully awaited their teacher's word to begin their field trip into the forest.

''It seems that all of you are eager to start our field trip?''

''Yes, teacher!''

''Well, let us be off.''

As the class stepped into the forest, they were greeted by the visage of blooming flowers. Various insects flew above the plants and trees, capturing the student's fascination with the beautiful scene. Joan noticed Elise and Claude holding hands and smiled, glad to see her best friend finally making a move on her crush. At the front of the group was their advisor, Jacques, while two village guards flanked the children with bows at the ready. It wouldn't be long until they reached their first destination as their teacher would raise his hand to stop.

''Okay, class, here we are. Now, please open your books and head to the bestiary page.''

The students did so, opening their books and heading over to the bestiary page. Joan saw many animals depicted in the book. To the smallest bird, from the grazing cattle to the peaceful fish. Many texts were related to their anatomy, life cycle, and their nature within their habitat. However, there was also a group of animals that Joan despised, dragons. Shaking her head, she immediately focused on her teacher, pointing at the nearby lake.

''As you see, we are currently on a lake, and if you look to your left, we see the noble elks drinking from it.''

''Whoa!''

''Now, could someone tell me the importance of an elk?''

Elise immediately raised her hand, catching the teacher's attention. With a nod, the teacher signaled for her to stand up. Taking a deep breath, rose to her feet, glancing briefly at her classmates before turning to face the teacher.

"Elks are crucial ecologically and can serve as indicators of how well habitats are functioning. They have a direct role on vegetation through herbivory and seed dispersal.''

"Nicely done, Elise! Elks are one of the key indicators of the Diamond Forest's thriving ecosystem. Their presence suggests a safe habitat for the various creatures within the forest and indicates an absence of large predators."

The students listened in awe to Elise's explanation when suddenly. One of the elk emerged from the trees. This one was smaller than the others—a young, curious juvenile who stepped cautiously toward them. Its large, dark eyes observed the group with interest, ears twitching at every sound. The students held their breath, captivated by the sight. As it ventured closer, they could see its soft, brown coat and the antler buds just beginning to grow. Jacques motioned for the group to stay still, allowing the elk to approach. The forest seemed to hold its breath with them, embracing this gentle moment of connection between the students and the forest's life.

''Teacher!''

''Settle down, children, settle down. It's just curious about us as we are to it.''

The juvenile elk looks at each of the students and spots Joan. As she walked past the other students, the elk fixed its gaze on Joan. Coming face to face with the elk, Joan closed her eyes, anticipating something.

'Please don't eat me!'

Joan screamed in her mind, a mix of shock and delight washing over her as the elk's moist tongue brushed against her hair. Laughter bubbled up nervously as the other students looked on in amazement, some stifling giggles while others whispered in disbelief.

''What the. Hey, cut it!''

Her classmates chuckle at the situation Joan finds herself in. She then pats the elk on the head, and the elk returns the gesture by appreciating the head pats. In the background, Jacques approaches Joan as she pats the elk's head.

''It seems he sees you as a friend, Joan.''

''Do they do this all the time?''

''Not really, but I guess this young elk is different.''

Jacques gently patted the elk's head, and to everyone's delight, the young creature leaned in, presenting its head for more affection. Joan watched in awe as her teacher interacted with her new friend. The elk nuzzled against Jacques's hand, its dark eyes shining with trust and curiosity. However, it wouldn't be long until the elk's mother called out to her calf from the opposite side of the lake. The young elk immediately returned to the other side of the lake. Kicking up dust along the way while Joan and the rest of the class watched.

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''Wait!''

''It seems that his mother was calling him Joan.''

''Will I see him again?''

''That, I am not sure, but maybe in the future.''

Jacques noticed his student's fascination as the young elk trotted back to join the herd. She watched intently as the group prepared to journey across the Diamond Forest. A sense of sadness filled her heart, knowing that her new friend had to leave. Sighing. The young elve would return her gaze to her teacher as he prepared to announce their next heading.

''Now that we have learned what we can. Let us proceed to our next destination.''

As they moved along on their field trip, Joan took one last look at the elk she had befriended before continuing. However, as soon as they left, the atmosphere of the forest began to shift. Unnaturally strong winds whipped around them, and birds took flight, heading in the opposite direction.

''What's happening?''

''There wasn't a storm when we left.''

''Claude, I'm scared.''

One of the village guards, Noel, raised his right hand, leaving the children confused about what was happening and why they had stopped. Both village guards then assumed shooting positions, pulling back their bows with arrows at the ready. Suddenly, an elk burst out of the foliage, followed closely by an entire herd. Immediately, Jacques cast levitation magic on the students while the guards sought cover.

''Teacher!''

''What's going on?''

''Hold me!''

The stampede of elk continues to pass through until their numbers slowly lower in intensity. Joan and her classmates were then lowered to the ground. The village guards emerged from their cover and approached Jacques.

''What's going on?''

''Something must've chased or scared those elks away...''

''...We need to go back now!''

''Very well.''

Jacques looks at his scared, confused, and terrified students. He needs to calm their emotions first before they leave. Lying to them about what has happened wouldn't do much good. Maybe a half-truth would satisfy them.

"Children, I understand what happened was unusual, and for your safety, we will be returning to the village."

''Are the monsters coming to eat us?''

Hugo, frightened by the implications of what had just happened, asked a question. His classmates, in turn, began to panic, fearing that what he had said might be true. Sensing their distress, Jacques stepped in to provide a reassuring explanation to alleviate their fears.

''No, no, no, Hugo. The monsters aren't here to eat us. We're just leaving because of the random behavior of the wildlife in the forest. Nothing too drastic.''

After providing a partially truthful explanation for their return to the village, they proceeded to move. Unbeknownst to them, a creature had been stalking them in the shadows. Emerging from the foliage was a wyvern. The village guards immediately pulled their bows and fired at the beast. Meanwhile, the children were traumatized by the sight of the winged reptilian.

"Get the children to safety! We'll hold the beast off! Go!"

Jean shouted as he and his partner opened fire on the lone wyvern with their bows. The arrows flew and struck the reptile, but they caused no damage whatsoever. Immediately, the wyvern unleashed a stream of flames at the guards. Jacques promptly summoned a magical barrier in front of the village guards, shielding them from the fiery assault of the wyvern. Soon after, the village guards returned the gesture by distracting the wyvern away from the fleeing students.

''Don't panic, children! Just run! Don't look back!''

Jacques encouraged them, but suddenly, a shadowy silhouette loomed over the students. Right above them was another wyvern flying. The children screamed in fear as the wyvern decided to try to eat one of them, specifically Hugo the dark elve.

''No!''

Jacques then casts a magic barrier on Hugo before the wyvern swoops in. The wyvern roared in annoyance as a barrier manifested between him and his prey. Staring at Jacques, the wyvern glared at him with a burning hatred.

''You will not harm my students!''

The wyvern roared in return, as Jacques cast telekenisis magic. He unrooted the two trees beside him and used them as a makeshift weapon. Joan watched as her teacher battled the wyvern. Jacques attacked first by slamming the trees at the wyvern. He proceeds to club, bash, and smash the wyvern with all the magic in his body. As the wyvern endured the elve's magic, it wouldn't be long until the beast had enough. The wyvern then released a stream of flame at the elve. Jacques, in turn, utilizes the trees at his disposal to shield himself. But unfortunately, the trees burn down to a crisp. The wyvern then dashed forward, catching Jaques off guard. Its mouth opens and bites the elve's mid-section as blood starts to gush out.

''Teacher!''

Joan screams, seeing their teacher on the wyvern's jaws as it bites further onto his body. Jacques, in turn, screamed in pain as he endured the agonizing bite of the wyvern. And with what little strength he had, he would utter a single word before succumbing to death.

''Run!''

The teacher shouted to his students before being swallowed whole by the wyvern. The students were frozen in fear, stunned by the sudden loss of Jacques, their teacher. Tears started to flow on the student's faces. However, they didn't have time to mourn as they heeded their advisor's advice and ran.

''Let's go!''

Claude said to his classmates. Joan could see tears falling from his cheeks, similar to hers. Hedding their teacher's last request, they flee as fast as their legs can. Behind them, the wyvern chases the fleeing elves. However, it was unable to take flight, probably because of the beating done by their deceased teacher. The horror intensified as another wyvern flew past them and landed in front, blocking their path back to the lake.

''Oh no!''

''We're trapped!''

''What should we do?''

As the wyvern landed, the children noticed an arrow lodged in its eye and another in its body. This was the first wyvern they had encountered—the one that had battled the village guards, Jean and Noel. This meant the guards had lost to the creature and had likely been eaten. Suddenly, the two wyverns converged on the children, each snatching one in their jaws. Joan's classmates, the twin brothers Paul and Pierre, were taken away by the beasts. Blood began to drip from the wyvern's mouth as Claude's best friends were devoured.

''You'll pay for this!''

Claude screamed, witnessing his friends into mush in the wyvern's jaws. Desiring to confront the wyverns, he was halted by Elise's hand. Their eyes locked with each other. It was clear Elise didn't want him to go.

''We have to go, Claude!''

She said to Claude as she cried heavily with what had happened in a short amount of time. The remaining four quickly ran away while the wyvern ate their two friends. Reaching the lake, Joan was devastated; the elks that peacefully drank its water were gone. Instead, they beheld a colossal wyvern larger than the first two they had encountered. On the wyvern's jaws was the elk she made friends with.

''What is that?''

Joan asked a question, but no one dared to reply as the massive wyvern eyed them. Behind them, the two wyverns slowly approached their position. The colossal wyvern spread its bloodied wings, stunning the children with fear. Meanwhile, Elise and Claude held hands tightly together.

'Why is this happening? Did we do something wrong to deserve this?'

Joan thought, was this her punishment? More tears erupted from her eyes, seeing the massive wyvern in the distance. The only thing that kept the young elve from cracking under pressure is due to her friends. However, she may lose another as Claude steps forward.

''You guys go! I'll distract it!''

''Claude, no! You no match for that thing.''

''There's no other way you have to- Hugo, look out!''

Suddenly, the limping wyvern snatched Hugo, a dark elf, in its jaws, biting deeply into his torso. His screams echoed as he struggled in vain, the wyvern crushing his torso with its powerful bite. The massive wyvern roared at Hugo's assailant, asserting its dominance, and the smaller wyvern submitted. Changing its focus. The wyvern bit into Hugo's lower half while still in the other wyvern's jaws. The two beasts competed to see which would consume the dark elf whole, and soon Hugo's lifeless body was torn in two, his blood and intestines spilling out as both wyverns devoured their portions of him.

''Hugo!''

Joan shouted as the two wyverns snacked on her friend's body. The massive wyvern then releases a stream of flame at them. But luckily, they were able to dodge the wyverns attack. However, it created an obstruction that split them into two; dividing them was a wall of fire. Claude and Elise were on the other side with the wyverns, while Joan was on the side where they entered the lake.

''Elise! Claude!''

''Joan! Are you okay?''

''I'm alright, but you need to find a way to me so we can get out of here...''

''...Elise?''

Getting up, Joan witnessed Elise's and Claude's torsos entwined in the massive wyvern's jaws. More tears started flowing down her cheeks at the horror of seeing her best friend and her crush dead. This scene alone would traumatize her for life. The massive wyvern roared at Joan, and turning her back, she did what she could. Run.

'They're all gone. All of them...'

'...Mister Jean, Noel, Jaques, Paul, Pierre, Hugo, Claude, and Elise.'

Guilt pierced her young mind, helplessly watching as all she cared about was taken away. She felt hopeless, losing everything and the inability to stand up. But none of that mattered for her right now: Joan still clung to a shred of hope.

'I have to return home!'

Exiting out of the diamond forest. What greeted her was the sight of a single wyvern impaled with arrows burning her home. She could see many of the village guards face the wyvern and die a fiery death. Screams of despair echoed. The sight of her home burning wouldn't deter the young elve as she ran.

'Mother, I need you.'

To Be Continued.