The next morning, we gathered in the academy courtyard before being quietly led to the edge of the forest that bordered the grounds. As we walked beneath the trees, I couldn’t help but feel captivated by the untamed beauty of the place.
Eventually, we reached a large clearing where our guide, Elise, motioned for us to gather around. The serious expression on her face made it clear that what was coming was no small matter.
"Listen carefully," she began, her voice carrying over the murmur of the crowd. "Today, you will take part in an exercise that will test your skills in a real-world situation."
She gestured broadly at the trees surrounding us. "Beyond this forest lies an ancient dungeon, crawling with dangerous creatures. Your objective is to enter it as a team and make your way to the end."
A ripple of excitement swept through the group, and I felt a wave of anticipation rise within me. Finally, a chance to put everything I’d been training for to the test!
"However," Elise continued, her tone growing sharper, "this dungeon is no playground. The dangers are very real, and you will need to exercise extreme caution."
Her gaze swept across the group, lingering on each of us. "That’s why you’ll be divided into teams of four, with each team comprising members of different classes. Your success will depend on your ability to complement one another."
She turned and pointed to a board behind her, where four distinct icons were displayed. "Mages, Warriors, Priests, and Archaeologists. Each class has a critical role to play."
As she outlined the responsibilities of each role, I listened intently. Having teammates with diverse skills would be a major advantage—and likely the key to survival.
"Now, I will assign the teams," Elise announced. "Pay attention, as you won’t be able to choose your partners."
Glancing at the list in her hand, she began reading out names.
[Team 1]:
Griffith : Mage Level : 67/Rank: B+ Seraphina : Priestess mage Level : 27/Rank: C+ Liam : Battle mage Level : 20/Rank: C+ Kenzo : Archaelogist Level : 10/Rank: D-
I flinched slightly at hearing my name and glanced around curiously. My new teammates were eyeing me with varying degrees of curiosity and apprehension.
Among them, my attention was immediately drawn to a girl with jet-black hair—Seraphina. I’d noticed her the day before, and once again, I found her presence strangely magnetic.
Our eyes met briefly, and a faint warmth crept into my cheeks. Quickly looking away, I forced myself to focus on Elise’s instructions.
"Now that the teams are set," she continued, "let me explain how this exercise will proceed."
Her voice rang out clearly across the clearing. "Each team will enter the dungeon one at a time, at regular intervals. Your goal is to reach the final chamber, overcoming any threats that stand in your way."
She paused for effect, her tone growing grave. "Be extremely careful. Your lives are truly at stake in this dungeon. Trust your teammates and stick together—that will be your best chance of making it through alive."
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A shiver of both excitement and unease ran through the group. The stakes were high, and the challenge ahead felt all too real.
Elise gestured toward a section of the forest. "The dungeon entrance is over there. Team 1, you will be the first to enter. Head to your starting position now."
Turning to face my teammates, I saw a mix of expressions. Kenzo, the boy with brown hair, looked calm and composed, while Liam, the rebellious-looking one, seemed more tense.
As for Seraphina, her face showed intense focus, tempered by a flicker of nervousness. When our eyes met again, I gave her a reassuring smile.
"Alright, let’s do this," I said cheerfully. "Stick together, and we’ll crush this challenge!"
Liam snorted, unimpressed. "Yeah, we’ll see how confident you are once we’re inside."
I simply gave him an amused look, refusing to be rattled by his attitude. Seraphina offered me a small, appreciative smile, while Kenzo nodded with quiet determination.
Together, we made our way to the starting point and stepped into the shadowy depths of the forest. I couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement for the adventure ahead.
As we moved cautiously through the trees, I found myself constantly glancing around, captivated by the forest’s eerie beauty. The dense canopy overhead muted the daylight, and the humid air felt almost alive.
A sudden crack startled us, and our hands instinctively flew to our weapons. After a tense moment, we realized it was just a small animal scurrying away.
"Stay sharp," Kenzo murmured. "We have no idea what we’ll face in there."
Seraphina nodded solemnly. "Yes, appearances can be deceiving. We need to keep our senses on high alert."
Liam rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Yeah, yeah, we get it. No need to make a big deal out of it."
I shot him a disapproving look, but he ignored me completely. It seemed this guy was determined to play the rebel no matter what.
Finally, we reached a massive cavern opening in the rock, leading deep into the earth. An aura of danger and mystery radiated from it, filling me with both excitement and trepidation.
"This must be the dungeon entrance," Kenzo said gravely. "Stay sharp, everyone."
Nodding, I stepped forward, leading the way into the shadows that slowly swallowed us whole. My teammates followed close behind, their footsteps echoing softly in the oppressive silence.
As we were engulfed by the darkness, a sudden burst of light blinded me momentarily. Squinting, I made out a massive, glowing screen floating in mid-air, exuding an almost mystical energy.
"This will be the system you’ll rely on," said a familiar voice.
I turned to see Elise standing behind us, a faintly enigmatic smile on her face.
"As I explained earlier, each class has a specific role to fulfill," she continued. "Mages handle offensive magic, Warriors provide physical protection, Priests manage healing and recovery, and Archaeologists solve puzzles and uncover hidden paths."
She gestured toward the glowing screen. "Your task is to work together to overcome the challenges ahead. Only by combining your strengths will you be able to survive."
Seraphina nodded with determination. "Understood. We’ll give it our all."
Elise gave her an approving nod before vanishing in a sudden flash of light, leaving us alone to face the unknown.
Liam snorted. "Alright, let’s get this over with. Try not to die, alright?"
I couldn’t help but grin at his sarcasm. "Don’t worry, buddy. With a team like ours, we’ve got this in the bag!"
He rolled his eyes but didn’t argue, and I thought I caught a glimmer of reluctant hope in his expression. Kenzo and Seraphina gave me small nods, and together, we ventured deeper into the dungeon’s shadowy corridors.
As we moved cautiously, the air grew colder, and the silence became almost deafening. My pulse quickened, and I felt a surge of adrenaline.
Who knew what kind of horrors waited for us in the depths of this ancient place?
No matter. With my teammates by my side, I was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. Nothing would stop us from conquering this trial!