"Velatha, Liscura," Breknir found us during breakfast, "Alea told me she will come to see you in a few hours to give you details about your trial."

The morning was almost unbearably slow. I split my time between reading and brewing more potions. The slow and methodical process of alchemy helped calm my nerves. I set aside a part of each batch I was brewing for Vel and I to take with us during the trial. The highest quality anti-poison I could produce; concentrated recovery potions for health, stamina, and mana; a disinfectant cream; and some broad spectrum antibiotics.

I managed to fit everything into two large potion cases.

"I wish all my scouts were as obsessed with preparation as you were."

I jumped in fright when I heard Alea speak from right behind me. I had a death grip on the work bench which groaned in protest. My heart was thumping loudly in my ears.

"Wow," she said, "didn't expect such a reaction."

"Sorry," I took a few breaths to calm down, "I was … focused."

"I saw that," she said with a chuckle.

"I guess you're here about the trial?"

"I am, let's go fetch your girlfriend and I can tell you everything."

"She's in the gardens," I said.

Before leaving, I latched the two potion cases and placed them on a shelf. Alea followed me to the greenhouses where we found Vel. She was sitting in the middle of a ring of plants, a greenish aura seemed to emanate from around her. I watched as several of the small cuttings started to grow and take root, going from a simple stick planted in the ground to a small sapling.

"Plant mages," Alea said, "always fascinating to see them work."

I hummed in ascent.

"Lis, Alea," Vel waved at me. I waved back.

She gave me a peck on the cheek as she walked to wash her dirt stained hands.

"You have our trial mission?" She asked the scout.

"I have the details in my office," Alea said.

"Let's go then," Vel grabbed me by the hand and practically dragged me away. I saw Alea stifle a chuckle behind us.

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Alea handed us a packet with our mission on it. I leafed through it quickly. It was an exploration and retrieval job, we would need to explore some nearby ruins and bring back an item. I was a bit surprised, I had expected a gathering missions.

"From your looks of surprise, I guess you were expecting something else?"

"A gathering mission," Vel said.

"It was one of the options discussed," Alea said, "however we felt like it would play too much to your respective strengths. A trial is also a test of improvisation, how you overcome the unknown."

"Makes sense," I said.

"The mission should take around six days. The ruins are two days away and the item is located deep within the structure. You shouldn't have too much trouble with the local fauna if you are careful. You have six hours to prepare yourselves, the departure is scheduled before the evening meal. I've already had two sets of standard scout equipment put aside for you by the quartermaster."

"Good luck, and may Gaia watch over you," she finished.

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We went to Renyn, the scout quartermaster. We found him waiting for us.

"Let's see what he has prepared for us," Vel said.

"Ah, our two lovebirds, inseparable as always," Renyn said with a big smile. "Come in, I've prepared everything." She waved us in.

I followed, my face slightly red. Vel, for her part, giggled. Some days, it seemed like half the village had known Vel and I were an item before we even got together. Maybe we had been that obvious, and oblivious.

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The interior of the storeroom was packed from floor to ceiling with shelves, filled with equipment of all sorts. Not only weapons and armors but traveling supplies as well. Crates of various sizes were stacked against the walls. I spotted a table near the entrance with two well organized piles of equipment.

"Standard scout gear," Renyn said, "a full set of light armor with silk padding, a backpack and pouches with expansion enchantments, a portable shelter each, water skins, fire stones, a collapsible shovel and axe. That should be everything since you both already have weapons and a proper belt. And I think you know better than me where to get potions."

I ran my hand against the armor. It had a few superficial scratches and some signs of repair, despite this it looked in good condition. The backpack and pouches were the most interesting.

[Handy Haversack (Durability, Space Expansion, Weight Reduction)]

[Secret Pouch (Durability, Space Expansion, Weight Reduction)]

I checked inside the pack and the interior was roughly three times the size. It easily held the entire armor and the rest of the equipment. For the pouches, I quickly removed the ones on my belt and stored them inside the expanded ones. I would sort through the equipment afterwards.

"The belt pouches are yours but try to bring everything else back in one piece."

"Thank you Renyn," I said, "I'll take good care of it."

"Hmmmm, I bet you look great in armor," Vel said from behind me. I playfully chased her away.

The rest of the preparations for the trial didn't take all that long. We stocked up on travel rations at the kitchens, it was expected that we would hunt and forage during the mission but there were always unlucky days. We also passed by the clinic grabbed the potion cases I had set aside.

After the fight of the previous day, I had an idea. Since Magic Strike worked in projectiles, I could use small throwing needles to set up traps at range. It would avoid the waste of an arrow. We passed by the blacksmith and Eroan was happy to give me several bundle of small needles. I passed by the leatherworker to have a small magazine made to hold a few on my arm guard for quick drawing.

What took me some time was the need to shuffle around the equipment in my belt. The expanded space was a boon to pack more equipment closer at hand. I quickly sewed a series of small compartments in the front pouches to hold potion phials. It was possible since there was a cloth lining inside the pouch that shielded the expanded space.

In total, I had five pouches, two on each side and one larger at the back. Some people preferred a larger amount of smaller and more specialized containers but I was happy with them for the moment.

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Once everything was ready, we went back to my house to get dressed. Vel was right, I did look good in scout gear. I flexed all my joints to test the movement and it almost felt like I was not wearing any armor.

The armor itself was composed of a long dark green coat with a hood that went down to my knees. Below, I had a plain dark brown shirt with a leather breastplate on top, dark brown pants, and knee-high leather boots with shin guards. Finally, reinforced arm guards completed the outfit.

I had attached my belt with its pouches on top of the coat for ease of access. My quiver had to share space with the backpack but the arrangement was surprisingly unobtrusive, likely by design.

"You look good in armor too," I said to my girlfriend.

Her curves were hidden below the armor but it seemed to enhance her charm. She sashayed towards me and I pulled her closer into a long passionate kiss. I always had a thing for women in uniform.

"We'll have to be careful not to get distracted, out there in the jungle," she said, "surrounded by monsters."

"That's going to be the real trial," I said with a smirk.

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We went back to the scout's headquarter where Alea was waiting for us. Two other groups were already there and three more arrived afterwards. As the time to leave got closer, a small crowd started to form near the village gates. I spotted my parents, my sister, and grandmothers at the front. Everyone had come to see me take a step towards adulthood. Next to them were Vel's parents. It looked like both groups were engaged in some light discussion.

I reluctantly let go of my girlfriend and let my mother take me into a bone crushing hug.

"My little Lili," she said with a bright smile, "all grown up now."

"Mom," I said with a blush, "everyone is watching …"

She let me go but I was immediately pulled into another one armed hug by my father.

"I'm proud of you Lili," he said, "now go show them what you can do."

"Show them what you're made of," my sister winked.

Lythiene and Lorathana simply gave me a hug but their knowing air was encouragement enough.

"Go big sis!" I heard Lusha shout from the crowd. I gave her a smile and a small wave.

"You made an impression," Vel whispered.

We both stepped in the center where Alea was waiting for all of us.

"Are you all ready for your trial?" she asked in a solemn voice.

"Yes," we all answered with a salute.

"You have your missions, prove to the world you are ready!"

The small crowd cheered and we sprinted out of the village.

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The first part of the journey was to get to the edge of the outer barrier. We mostly avoided any monsters we came across. The populations inside the barrier were managed by the scouts for training and we didn't want to step on their toes. It took around half an hour at a light jog. Once at the edge, the barrier was incredibly obvious to my mana perception.

The dome was large enough that the curvature was mostly invisible from up close. I tried to press a hand against it but stumbled. It had offered no resistance whatsoever, only an electric tingle along my arm. I couldn't find any spells on the surface of the bubble, I suspected that I would have to find the anchors for that.

"How does it look?" Vel asked.

"Like a giant soap bubble," I said, "pretty boring."

I stepped through the barrier and the electric feeling washed all over me.

"It tingles," Vel said as she stepped through behind me.

"I have a feeling that any monster that touches this isn't going to like it," I said.