Central City

Arwen finally found himself relaxing when he was talking with Maria.

"East China has been taken over by the magisterium after the attack of the magical beasts, but we set blockages to prevent wandering beasts to enter the safe zone.

"Take note, don't go near the blockages unless you want to jeopardize your mission because mages are stationed there, they watch out both in the days and nights. You have to stay as far as in the woods but down there in the woods, you should be careful of the magical beasts".

Maria scoffed.

Arwen saw a sign of mockery on her face, "Never underestimate a magical beast".

He continued, "The practical test will only take three days. So you have only three good days to complete your mission and I suggest you go on a stealth mode so that you won't be noticed".

Later that day........

Wind bustled through the branches of the trees, making the leaves howl in their symphony. A group of men each of them with a bag pack and armed were walking along the gravel path in the wood. Twigs cracks under their foot which could make one detects that someone was coming.

A phone rang.

"Hello, Detective",

Maria seems to be the leader of the heist. After meeting up with Arwen, Maria met with detective Doylestown. At first, Doylestown was shocked, everyone thought that Maria died that night they tried to abduct Kai.

Her look wasn't an exception when she met up with her group. Roman couldn't bear to see the woman he loved looking like her soul was ripped out of her. Maria hardly noticed him, she was different. Her heart has been covered with chaos.

"I've got Kai". She told Doylestown because she knew both of them has the same objective and he would agree to any terms, but Maria's objective wasn't just to get Kai, this time around she wanted to kill him. Doylestown aided some men to her to go to east China where the mission will take place.

Maria took Arwen's advice by avoiding the blockages.

"How is it in East China?".

"Not bad for some chase", Maria said as she took the binoculars hanging around her neck, she looked into it sighting the blockages. She was able to see the mages walking around it.

"Seems like the doctor was sincere after all".

"Be careful, we have already secured an evacuation point for you guys, all you have to do is to bring Kai with you. Make it two days, if we stay longer than that, we will be easily spotted out".

"It's fine" Maria opt the call. Bringing kai back alive is what she wouldn't do. She turned towards the men behind her, "We camp here tonight, next morning we straighten things up".

********

The arrival at the central city of east China was successful. All of the students filed out of the bus, they dispersed but not too far from where they'll camp. They were enjoying the look of the abandoned central city.

Most of the magisterium teachers also came, they were there to protect the students from any danger. Not very long, commander Bu Chen arrived, and he came with a chopper.

"Commander" The mages that came out to meet him him saluted.

"Gather round the students I want to talk to them" His voice was almost drowned in the noise of the rotating blades of the chopper.

"I just want to pass a little information to you", Commander Bu Chen cleared his throat. By that time the chopper has gone.

"I know most of you would start asking how about the water to take your baths, especially the girls".

The students laughed, mostly the boys. It was truly surprising that a strict-looking middle-aged man like him could even joke like that, especially considering how he was a military officer.

"Well, we have a canal near this central city and I've checked the water and it's good. Well, you can ask a water magician to help you with that. We have our teachers here with us. Anyway, we will gather here once more tomorrow morning. And you'll need to camp out here since you're not allowed to go back unless there's an emergency. Good luck and disperse. You can ask your teachers where to get your tents".

After that, the students immediately ran toward their teachers. Miss Sanae, only pointed out her finger to a spot. "You need to set up your tent. One tent is enough for three people. So I bet y'all should set it up together as a group.

When they heard that, the students were dumbfounded. A lot of them were complaining especially those who came from rich family backgrounds and also love their comfort zone. Not all of them were like that, few of them grabbed their tents immediately. They asked their teammates to help them set it up together.

Ollie was one of those people. He didn't complain or anything. He asked Kai and Kyung Mi to set it up together and they nodded but there was some odd behaviour as they set the tent.

"Whoa!, That was tiring, am going to sleep all night" Ollie turned to Kai and Kyung Mi. "Guys it's up, what are you waiting for?".

Kai and Kyung Mi looked at each other for the first time making eye contact, and that was where the odd behaviour manifested. Were they ever going to stay in the same tent together?.