Monsters in the Woods

"Dear contestants, welcome to the annual Grand Trial.. My name is Dr. Saito, and I will be your guide."

The sixty contestants stood forth, surrounded by curious eyes of hundreds of the Imperial Arcane Academy's goers. They were dressed in practical clothings. The girls in particular, have forgotten their long dresses and instead wear form fitting slacks. With their weapons secured at their leather belt, arms behind their back, their postures radiated confidence and pride. Being the chosen one, out of hundreds of other special students, gave them a sense of superiority.

It was not a surprise some of them cast a steel look at Eydis and her fellow commoners, face painting a stark contrast to the noble counterpart. She could sense tensions edged across their faces, arms shaken in fears. In the history of the tournaments, there had not been many casualties, however, there were records of students returning crippled. It was rare for a commoner to attend more than one tournament, for them always being the subject of such fate. They could not scream, or protest, as they did not have enough power to challenge the very system that was designed by the nobles and their God.

"Is that bad, huh?" Eydis whispered to the man beside her—a third-year student with brown skin and a military cut, his shirt clinging to his rippling muscles. Despite his imposing stature, obvious fear radiated from his eyes.

"It... was…," the senior replied, his voice slightly trembling. "But why are you here? You're only in your first year, and a commoner."

Eydis shrugged, casting a brief glance at the academia. Their smug expressions hinted at lingering grudges. While it wasn't unusual for a first-year to be selected, it was unprecedented for a first-year commoner with minimal knowledge of the mystical world. Musing, she twirled a tiny, iridescent crystal in her hand, its facets catching the sunlight like miniature rainbows.

A snicker came from her blue-haired nemesis. "Is that Ethereum? It's cute you think this silly invention could help you."

Disregarding her, Eydis carefully stowed the crystal as Doctor Saito briefed the group. He detailed the regulations for the forest trial: participants who opted out before daybreak would face disqualification. Each of them was equipped with a flare gun, reserved for emergencies. Should they decide to forfeit, assistance would arrive, marking their elimination from the trial.

The students were taken to a stable on the outskirts of the Capital, home to Terravale's sacred beasts—Bengal white tigers taller than Eydis. After a month of training, the contestants paired up to ride these mighty creatures. Natalia offered her hand to Eydis, signalling the brunette to ride with her after choosing a silver-eyed tiger.

While the sacred beasts were elegant, they served only as transportation. They were not allowed to intervene to ensure fairness—a bitter irony. As they reached Red Hill Forest, the contestants split up. The towering trees, their leaves changing to orange and yellow, created an enchanting but eerie atmosphere. Natalia reluctantly parted ways with Eydis, handing her a whistle.

"What are you, my puppy?" Eydis playfully asked.

"Eydis, it's not that I don't trust you, but if you're in danger, blow the whistle," Natalia said with unusual seriousness. "Please, don't do this alone. Trust me."

Trust.

The word echoed in Eydis's mind, reminiscent of a conversation with Princess Athena. The sincerity in Natalia's eyes warmed her. "I will," Eydis replied sincerely.

Blindfolded and scattered in the middle of the forest, Eydis walked through the eerie autumn landscape. Hours passed, and the forest transformed. Sun dipped below the horizon, painting the leaves in fiery hues. An unsettling silence replaced the chirping of birds.

"This is going to be fun."

 **

Golden light speared through the stained glass windows of the Imperial Arcane Academy, bathing the viewing room in an ethereal glow. A figure, shrouded in the humid air, stood on the balcony.

"Your Majesty, The Shining Sun of Alchymia Empire, may I be of service?" Dean Gidion Swans bowed as the figure turned, revealing a beautiful man with golden hair and hollow eyes.

"You may rise," the Emperor said. "The contest seems to be progressing according to plan, Gidion."

"Yes, Your Majesty. Lady Astra Clamor Elite has already dispatched two monsters on her own, while Lady Natalia Robin claimed one. Only two remains in the forest."

"The contest," the Emperor rasped, his voice as brittle as frost, "seems to be proceeding with...unacceptable swiftness."

Gidion's heart hammered against his ribs. "Your Majesty, the students-"

"Have exceeded expectations," the Emperor interjected, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "But expectations can be...adjusted. Release five more S-Class monsters."

A tremor of dread coursed through Gidion. The Emperor's obsession with challenges bordered on madness. ""Your Majesty, with all due respect, these beasts are meant for seasoned sorcerers, not-"

"Mere children?" the Emperor scoffed, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "Let them dance with death. See if their potential reaches its true flame. Do not question my judgement!"

Gidion startled, his mind racing. He couldn't disobey a direct order, but letting those beasts loose could mean disaster. "As you command, Your Majesty," he said, his voice laced with both steel and resignation.

"Very well."

Dean Gidion Swans turned, heading to the control centre. Each step on the timber flooring felt like a heavy burden. S-Class monsters posed a life-threatening challenge even to skilled sorcerers, let alone a group of students. Gritting his teeth, he calculated his next move, wary of the perilous turn the contest had taken.

** 

As the night descended, a cloaked figure perched on a high tree branch, diligently scanning for his mark. Duke Theomund had bestowed upon him a challenging mission, a task that accentuated his shortcomings. Though John hesitated to admit it, he found himself utterly, horribly lost.

He had a knack for losing his way, be it amidst bustling cities or within the confines of an empty castle. However, the woods were his most feared terrain, as every path seemed indistinguishably similar. How was he expected to protect Eydis when he couldn't navigate the labyrinth of trees? 

A twig snapped behind him, a sound like bone breaking ice. He whirled, blade flashing in the fading light. The creature that lunged at him was a mockery of humanity, a twisted patchwork of muscle and sinew, its skin perpetually peeling under the strain of its unnatural form. Blind eyes gaped in its skull-like face, a rancid stench assaulting John's senses.

He parried the creature's claw, the clang of steel against bone echoing through the silent woods. Its severed arm dissolved into slime before snapping back into place, reattached with a sickening slurp. John's heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat in the growing darkness. This was a dance of endless blades and regenerating flesh, a nightmare with no apparent escape.

The creature lunged, a blur of twisted limbs and dripping fangs. John ducked, feeling the wind of its claws as they grazed cloak. He rolled, using the momentum to sweep its legs from under it. It toppled with a sickening squelch, a tangle of boneless limbs flailing. John saw his chance. With a guttural yell, he leaped, blade arcing through the air.

But the creature wasn't finished. Just as the steel kissed its flesh, it pulsed with a sickly green light. The blade met resistance, not flesh, but bone-like growths erupting from within the wound. John's momentum carried him through, but the deflected swing left him off-balance.

He landed hard, scrambling to his feet. The creature rose, its form shifting grotesquely as it healed the gash in its chest. 

The fight would be long, the night endless. But John wouldn't give up.