The Forest of Ordeals

Morning came swiftly, yet the heavy tension from the previous night lingered in the air. The applicants gathered in the grand courtyard, now standing in neat rows as they awaited further instructions. The third and final test was upon them—the Survival Trial.

‎Above them, the academy instructors stood on the high stone balcony, gazing down at the participants with sharp, measuring eyes. Grandmaster Aldric stepped forward, his presence alone silencing all murmurs.

‎"The final test will take place in the Forest of Ordeals, an ancient and untamed land that lies beyond the academy walls," Aldric declared. His deep voice resonated throughout the courtyard, carrying both authority and an unspoken warning.

‎"This is not a simple trial. Within the forest, you will find dangers lurking at every turn—feral beasts, treacherous terrain, and perhaps even the remnants of forgotten engravings from past centuries."

‎A flicker of unease passed through the crowd.

‎"Your task is simple," Instructor Reyna continued, stepping up beside Aldric. "Survive for five days."

‎A murmur rippled through the applicants.

‎Five days? In a deadly forest filled with beasts?

‎Some clenched their fists, while others swallowed nervously.

‎"There will be limited supplies scattered throughout the area," Reyna explained. "However, relying on them alone may not guarantee your survival. Strength, wit, and adaptability will determine whether you make it through this trial."

‎Then, with a faint smile, she added, "And, of course, you are free to compete with one another for resources."

‎That single sentence changed everything.

‎The weaker applicants paled in realization—this wasn't just a test of survival against nature. It was a battle against their fellow competitors.

‎The supervisors led the applicants toward the massive stone gates at the far end of the academy. Beyond them lay the Forest of Ordeals, an expanse of towering trees, twisted roots, and dense foliage that stretched for miles.

‎At the entrance, several large wooden crates were placed in an orderly manner.

‎"These contain your supplies," an instructor announced. "You may take only one."

‎The applicants rushed forward, each grabbing a crate at random. When Ryn pried his open, he found a basic survival kit—a dagger, a few dried rations, a waterskin, and a thin roll of cloth that could serve as makeshift bandages.

‎He frowned. This wasn't enough.

‎Veyran, standing beside him, glanced at his own supplies with indifference. He had expected this—after all, true survival didn't come from tools, but from experience.

‎Nearby, Elias examined his crate, his expression unreadable. Meanwhile, Seraphina merely sighed, clearly unimpressed by the academy's meager offerings.

‎The instructors gave a final nod. "Once you step through these gates, the trial begins. Survive until the fifth sunrise."

‎Then, with a deep, resounding creak, the gates swung open.

‎A gust of damp, earthy air rushed out from within. The towering trees loomed like silent sentinels, their dark canopies casting long shadows over the entrance.

‎No more hesitation.

‎The applicants stepped forward, entering the Forest of Ordeals—a place where the strong would thrive, and the weak… would fall.

‎* * *

As soon as the applicants crossed the threshold into the Forest of Ordeals, the academy's gates slammed shut behind them with a resounding boom. The sound echoed through the dense trees, sealing them inside.

‎A hush fell over the crowd. Some exchanged nervous glances, while others immediately scanned their surroundings, assessing the environment.

‎The forest was ancient and untamed. Towering trees twisted toward the sky, their gnarled branches intertwining to form a thick, suffocating canopy that allowed only slivers of sunlight to pierce through. The air was humid, heavy with the scent of damp earth and moss. Strange, unseen creatures chittered in the distance, their noises blending into the natural symphony of the wild.

‎Despite the instructors' warnings, a few applicants were careless. They strode forward confidently, unconcerned about the lurking dangers.

‎That was their first mistake.

‎Less than ten minutes in, a terrified scream split the air.

‎Everyone turned.

‎One of the applicants—a boy with dark hair—had wandered too close to a hollow tree. Without warning, a shadowy beast lunged from within, its elongated jaws clamping down on his shoulder.

‎"AHHHH!"

‎Blood splattered onto the leaves.

‎Before anyone could react, the beast dragged the boy back into the hollow, his cries growing fainter before being abruptly cut off.

‎Silence.

‎The remaining applicants stood frozen, their faces pale.

‎The trial had barely begun, and someone was already dead.

‎The Groups Begin to Form.

‎The moment the shock wore off, the smarter applicants began to move.

‎"Stick together if you want to survive," someone whispered.

‎Groups quickly formed—some out of camaraderie, others out of sheer necessity. Those who stood alone were either confident in their strength or too stubborn to accept help.

‎Elias, naturally, was at the center of a group composed of the strongest individuals. He radiated an aura of quiet authority, and even those who didn't like him subconsciously gravitated toward his leadership.

‎Seraphina, on the other hand, had only a handful of companions. Unlike Elias, she seemed unwilling to shoulder the burden of leading others. Instead, she preferred to observe, as if waiting for the right moment to make her move.

‎Meanwhile, Ryn and Veyran found themselves standing together.

‎"We should move," Veyran said calmly. "Staying near the entrance is asking for death."

‎Ryn nodded. His instincts told him the same thing—lingering here would only make them easy prey.

‎They weren't the only ones who thought so. The forest floor rustled as multiple groups vanished into the dense undergrowth, each choosing a different direction.

‎The Hunter and the Hunted

‎As they moved deeper into the woods, Ryn and Veyran kept their senses sharp.

‎The first few hours were relatively uneventful—until they came across the remains of another applicant.

‎His body was mangled, claw marks slashing deep into his torso. His eyes were wide open, frozen in a final expression of terror.

‎Ryn crouched beside the corpse, his brows furrowing. "Whatever killed him didn't eat the body."

‎"Which means it wasn't hunting for food," Veyran muttered.

‎A realization struck them at the same time.

‎Something in this forest is killing for sport.

‎A low growl echoed from the trees.

‎They weren't alone.