Head instructor

With the arrival of the head instructor, all discussions came to an abrupt halt. The figure stepped onto the high-standing platform, his presence commanding the attention of the entire crowd.

"Is he someone important?" Seth asked, his voice low but laced with genuine curiosity. His eyes flicked to the crowd, noting the expressions of awe on everyone's faces, Emily included.

Emily blinked at the question, momentarily surprised. But then, remembering Seth hadn't been outside the outer area walls before, she promptly explained.

"That's Sir Vince Sinclair," she began, her voice brimming with admiration. "He's one of the commanders of the Blackthorn clan, away from the forefronts he is in charge of overseeing security and intelligence but even more importantly, he's a knight. It's rare to see someone of his status here, they're usually only at the core area."

Seth nodded seemingly understanding, but his face remained neutral, as though unimpressed. "Oh, I see…"

Emily's lips twitched in mild frustration at his indifference, but she held her tongue, her admiration for Sir Sinclair undiminished.

From the platform, Vince surveyed the crowd with a stern gaze, his authoritative presence palpable as he prepared to speak.

Vince stood tall on the platform, his sharp gaze sweeping over the gathered children of the Blackthorn clan. Surprisingly, despite his status as a knight, he wore no armor. Instead, a simple tunic covered his slight frame, paired with black leather pants and a plain belt that held a scabbard containing a longsword.

His eyes were steady, filled with the weight of his authority. When he finally spoke, his voice was deep and commanding, effortlessly capturing the attention of everyone present.

"Children of Blackthorn, you stand on the brink of your greatest challenge."

His words hung in the air, allowing them to sink in.

"For the next couple of weeks, I will see to it that you are trained, pushed to your physical, and mental limits. But nothing you will face will compare to the Blackthorn Trial of Blood and Iron."

He paused, letting the gravity of his statement settle in. the silence in the training grounds was absolute.

"These trials are not merely test of skill or strength. They are a measure of your worth, your ability to survive when every force in the world conspires against you." His eyes narrowed as he scanned the crowd, as though evaluating each individual. His gaze briefly landed on Seth. Vince's voice dropped, the tone growing even more severe.

"The world beyond this place is unforgiving. Our enemies will show you no mercy, and neither will these trials. But if you prove yourself… if you emerge victorious, you will earn your place among the elite of this clan. You will walk with your head held high, knowing you have passed through the fire of the Bloodline and emerged forged in steel." 

"Remember… power is nothing without control. Strength is nothing without purpose. You are Blackthorn, and it is our legacy and purpose to endure, to overcome… prove you are worthy, or be forgotten." 

After delivering his final command, Vince stepped back, allowing another instructor to step forward and address the group about their upcoming training regimen.

Seth had a lot to think about after Vince's speech. Being the bookworm he was, he had read extensively about the 'Blackthorn Trial of Blood and iron' right before coming here. It was a test conducted every three years by the clan, designed to separate the truly gifted from the ordinary.

And how did the extremist group known as the Blackthorn clan achieved this? Instead of a simple aptitude test, they chose the most brutal method possible: a deadly trial in the Thornspire forest, a vast expanse of wilderness within the clan's territory. The deeper one ventured, the more dangerous the dangers lurking in it became. 

Unfortunately for those born with the clan's bloodline, this trial was mandatory, much like being drafted into the military. However, that wasn't the case for children of common descent. For them, passing the trial meant a better life, access to resources improved living conditions, and in rare cases, sponsorship from the clan. 

But most especially, passing the test meant a chance to knighthood. So, every year, despite the dangers, a significant number of commoner children entered the trials, hoping for a chance to improve their lives… only for less than half to make it out alive.

'What a bunch of unfortunate fools,' Seth thought with a scowl, watching their inspired, determined expressions in response to Vince's over the top speech.

Although Seth might not have been as foolish, he was without a doubt the most unfortunate of them all. As a carrier of the clan's Bloodline, he had no choice but to participate, despite his damaged meridians and fragile physique. 

Worst of it all, the only other method of defending himself in the trials- magic, was only going to be taught to them a few weeks before the trials which wasn't nearly enough time to learn a powerful spell, that was if he even had an affinity for magic. This all but guaranteed that his chances of surviving the brutal forest were reduced to zero. 

"Starting tomorrow, your training will begin in full swing, multiple regimens packed into each day." The ordinary looking instructor announced.

"There will be a variety of classes to choose from, ranging from combat assessment and physical training to practical knowledge and survival courses."

'Practical knowledge?' Seth's ears perked up at the mention of that.

"In a few days, you will be tested for your magic aptitude and essence affinity." 

The instructor revealed causing a few excited murmurs amongst the youngsters mostly from the common folk.

After a few more minutes of explanation, the instructor dismissed the youngsters to return to their homes. 

A large crowd of them walked together in groups, but since most lived in the inner area, and the only few who lived at the outer area avoided them, only two figures remained in the streets heading toward the inner area exit.

Since the training had ended at dusk with the sun already setting, by the time Seth and Emily reached the gates, it was completely dark, reducing visibility to a minimum.

While Emily could barely see and relied on the torches hung on some parts of the street, Seth had no trouble navigating the darkness; he could see as clearly as if it was day. His mother, a half-reptilian beast-woman, had obviously passed down some of her traits to him. Along with his pale skin and cold-blooded nature, Seth had inherited the ability to see clearly in the dark and even detect heat signatures from living creatures.

Thanks to this, he spotted a distant figure in their path, arms folded, standing alone in the shadowy veil of the starless night.

As they closed the distance, Seth instantly recognized the familiar face. The figure was of average height, with dark hair and even darker eyes, his expression one of aloofness as he stood with arms folded.

'Vince' Seth recognized him immediately, his expression growing grim as he realized the head instructor was most likely waiting for them.