The days went by quickly, the rhythm of classes and training coalesced together into a ceaseless cycle of day and night. Other than tonight—Or, more like this morning.

It was past the latest hours of the night, reaching the freshly forming hours of the early day. The moon hung high overhead, shining its half-circle shape down upon me as I walked alongside Tulip out to the courtyard.

“Why do we have to leave so early?…” I asked through a yawn that was quickly shared by the barely awake Kitsune resting upon my shoulders.

“Quite simple,” Sanders spoke confidently. “We’re leaving so early in the morning because it is when we are the closest to the Infernus Ranges, once we land on the ground we will rest for the remainder of the evening and begin our expedition proper.” Sanders didn’t reflect any of the exhaustion that the students gathered around him did.

Tulip’s eyes held heavy, exhausted bags underneath them. Erick looked awake at a glance but the way he stared off into space left me assuming he was ready to pass out—Lucia was the only one in the gathered group that didn’t look utterly exhausted, and it was only because of the daggers she glared at me.

The trio of students that I still didn’t know the names of were quietly joking around, one shoving the other while the three pup-like wolves that followed them ran around each other to play.

Lastly, I saw Anestesia. She stood off to the side, shifting her leg around anxiously while the shadowy beast that chose her seemed asleep around her shoulders.

“And we have to leave when we’re close to the mountains why?...” I found myself asking once my gaze settled upon Sanders again.

“The villages we’re investigating are close to the foot of the ranges. It cuts down on the amount of time we would have to otherwise spend walking,” Sanders answered courtley. His emerald gaze began a slow, intaking sweep across the eight gathered students. Once he was satisfied with his count he turned, waving a hand through the air. “Come on, the sooner we land the sooner you all can rest.”

A collective silence filled the group under the promise of rest—It left the walk to rather quickly turn away from the feeling of eight students going on a journey to change, now it felt like a walk of shame for everyone to approach their executions.

Everyone other than the trio of names boys—They joked, hollered and guffawed at each other playing and shoving playfully as we walked.

“Hendrick, Flanders, Justin, that’s enough!” Sanders called out, causing the trio to quickly snap into silence. The occasional awkward or apologetic mutter escaped from them, but otherwise it was nothing but silence filling the night air now.

The walk to the edge of the island didn’t take particularly long—It in fact only took a few minutes to reach the twin pillars at the foremost edge of the island, whipping racing winds pierced through between them as the open night sky was free to assault us with all of its icy wrath.

My gaze was pulled away from the winds as a soft rumbling shook its way free from the dirt just a few paces away from the paved road. The dirt shifted and tore, spreading itself open until a large leaf could form and lift itself free of the soil.

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The edges of the leaf folded up and around until it became an enclosed space, only the front end—The side facing us—Remained open.

“Come on in, once you’re inside sit down and remain still. It won’t be the most stable structure in the world, so be mindful.” Sanders spoke calmly as he walked into the structure, waiting for the rest of us to get up and follow behind him.

I stepped cautiously once I was atop the floor of greenery, I could feel the veins of the leaf giving and rolling underneath the gentle pressure of my steps—Staying just firm enough to hold their shape together as I settled myself onto the floor, folding one leg over the top of another.

“You’ll catch me if this fails… right?” I asked as Tulip sat down next to me.

“You’re that scared of falling?” Lucia mused, overhearing my words despite my lowered town.

“You are the one who’s shaking, Lucia,” Tulip commented with a slight sidelong glance towards the girl. “And yes, if this falls apart I’ll catch you.” She finished with a gentle sigh, leaning back to rest upon her outstretched arms.

“Have a little more faith in me, would you?” Sanders mused with a small grin across his face. “I may be a rather poor fighter, but I am still an Archmage.” Sanders continued before falling silent as the leaves began to rustle.

There was a slow lurching motion that began at first—Howling wind began screaming through the still open front of the chamber of leaves, yet despite the frigid air bashing against my eyes I couldn’t tear my gaze away.

I could see the island, in its full glory like a grandiose painting framed by the emerald tinge of leaves. Vines crawled their way along this frame, thickening the edges to reinforce them before they could peel away further.

The school hung in the sky like an inverted mountain, their crystalline peaks shimmered with overwhelming power washing across the horizon like an aurora wherever it went. Clouds split apart throughout the sky—Giving way to an open abyss that appeared like a carpet of starlight in the school's path.

The island itself hung decorated the sky like its own, overwhelming star. Brighter than even the moon as it cast its near twilight gaze to the sparse forests below, illuminating the ground under its azure crystalline light.

“Woah…” The words escaped my lips against my will. It hadn’t been too long ago when I first saw the school, hovering above the city of Avernus. But here, over the open wilds of Berinia it stood as a monument rivaled only by the mountains themselves.

I could hear similar murmuring reactions from the others in the small chamber of leaves around me, their voices filled with the same awe I felt.

“I’ve never seen it from this close…” Tulip whispered next to me—Her tone so low that I wasn’t certain she even intended for me to hear her words.

My eyes remained locked on the framed spectacle for as long as they could—But, eventually the box of leaves drifted down so low that I could no longer observe anything more than the azure glow cast by the grand crystals underneath the mountain.

“Now! Let’s set up a small camp and rest for a little more, once the sun begins to rise we shall set out,” Sanders commanded as the leaves spread themselves out, growing and contorting into a pair of small tents. “Boys there, girls there, get some rest while you can.” Sanders spoke as he pointed at the respective tents. He didn’t remain outside for long, retiring himself away into the latter of the two structures nearly as quickly as we landed.

I glanced at the others, all acquiescing to the demand for rest while I felt restless. I turned my head, watching the school drifting away ever so slowly—Turning my gaze to the opposite direction, I could see jagged peaks cresting the horizon… they were all outlined with the faintest tinges of black smoke.