8. A new survival instructor - Erwin

THE NEXT MORNING

XAVIER'S POINT OF VIEW:

I was waiting for the new instructor to arrive. The students were talking amongst themselves, clearly nervous about the outdoor lesson we were about to have. Some of them were already adjusting their pristine uniforms, pulling at sleeves that were way too stiff for anything remotely practical. It was the first time most of them were going to be outside for anything other than a stroll, and it showed. A figure approached, tall and imposing, cutting through the chatter with his mere presence. The new teacher, I assumed, though he looked like he could be a war veteran more than a professor. His dark hair and piercing eyes immediately set him apart from the rest of the faculty.

He didn't greet anyone or even acknowledge us at first. Instead, he scanned the group, taking in the awkwardness and uncertainty. When his eyes locked on me, I didn't flinch. I knew this would be more than just another boring class. And I wasn't wrong. Without saying anything further, he raised his hand, signalling us to gather around.

"Alright, enough chit chat." He began, his voice sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. " I am instructor Erwin. Today's lesson is about survival, true survival. Not the kind where you hide behind walls and shiny armor. We're going into the forest. You'll have no fancy equipment, no clean clothes, and no backup. Just you and the wilderness. And if you can't handle that, well…"

I watched the students shift uncomfortably. Most of them looked like they wanted to turn around and run right back to the safety of the castle. I could tell they weren't used to this. They'd been taught that appearance mattered more than anything. Fancy boots, neat coats, perfectly combed hair. I could almost see their inner dialogue, how could they possibly survive out there in the woods with their soft clothes and delicate hands? The teacher's gaze swept over them, his lips curling into something like disdain. 

"You all look ridiculous." He said flatly. "Those clothes won't survive five minutes out there. You should have thought about that before you got all dressed up."

A couple of the girls looked like they were about to protest, but one look from the teacher silenced them.

"Out here, you're no one. You don't get to hide behind fancy titles or flashy outfits. You have to prove you can adapt. The wilds don't care who you are. They'll kill you just as quickly as they'd kill anyone else."Erwin said. He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in, before turning toward the path leading into the forest. "Follow me."

I could hear the murmurs behind me, but I ignored them. I'd spent enough time out in the woods before to know what this lesson was really about. This wasn't some gentle introduction to the outdoors. This was about survival. About testing us, seeing who had the guts to make it out of here alive and who would fold under pressure. As we walked toward the edge of the trees, I heard someone complain. 

"This is insane. I didn't sign up for this."A classmate whispered.

"None of us did." I muttered.

The teacher, of course, overheard. 

"Well, you should've thought about that before you chose to join this academy." He called back. "This is a warrior's school, not a beauty pageant. If you're not here to survive, you should turn back now."

I wasn't sure if anyone had the guts to do that, though. No one wanted to be seen as a coward. We stepped into the forest, and the smell of pine and damp earth hit me immediately. I could already hear the rustling of leaves overhead, the scurrying of small animals in the underbrush. It was a different world out here. A world where you couldn't afford to be distracted or unprepared. The teacher turned to us, his eyes scanning the group one by one.

 "This is where we'll learn." He said, voice low and serious. "You'll learn to track, to understand the land, and most importantly, how to listen. The forest speaks to those who know how to listen. So pay attention."

I watched as the students all looked around nervously, some adjusting their clothes for what felt like the hundredth time. There was no point in pretending to be something we weren't. We weren't ready. Most of us. Some of us, though, were more prepared than the others. The teacher smirked, clearly seeing the hesitation in their faces. 

"You'll need to be quicker than that if you want to survive here. Now, start paying attention. Don't wait for me to lead the way. Start learning now."He said.

The forest felt alive, the sounds sharp in the silence. I glanced around, already preparing for what we'd face. 

"Alright, let's get one thing clear. Out here, it's not about who's the strongest or who looks the prettiest in their uniform. It's about survival. You think you're prepared, but you have no idea what's out there."He said.

Some of the students exchanged nervous glances, already regretting their choice to step outside the walls of the academy. The teacher's eyes narrowed, and I could see a hint of a smile tug at his lips. 

"Let me guess." He continued, voice rising so everyone could hear. "Some of you think you'll be fine because you've got magic, right? Some spell that'll save you? Well, it won't. Magic isn't going to stop you from freezing to death if you don't know how to build a fire."

A tall, blonde student, one of the more arrogant ones, huffed. 

"We're warriors. We'll just-" He started.

"Stop right there." The teacher cut him off, his voice like ice. "You won't just 'do' anything. You're not even fit to be called warriors if you don't know the basics." He pointed toward the nearest tree. "There. Cut it down."

The student blinked, clearly thrown off by the direct order. 

"What? Now? With no tools?"He asked.

The teacher didn't answer, just stood there, waiting. The student's eyes flickered nervously, and finally, he turned to the rest of us. 

"Anyone else wanna try?"He asked again.

A few others fumbled nervously with their hands. I knew none of them had ever done anything like this before. It was too much for them to process.

 "Come on. You want to impress me? Show me you know what you're doing out here.

Otherwise, I'll have you running laps until your feet bleed."He said.

That silenced the group. They were used to being pampered, used to staying inside their safe little bubble where their looks, their titles, or their magic meant everything. But none of that mattered now. Not here. A voice broke the silence, quiet but determined. 

"I'll try."A voice said.

I turned to see one of the more serious students Jasper, if I remembered his name right step forward. He approached the tree with nothing but his bare hands, sizing it up.

"Not bad." The teacher said, nodding slightly. "But you're still missing something. Anyone else?"

There was no immediate response. Everyone hesitated.

"Fine." The teacher said, rolling his eyes. "Then I'll just show you how it's done."

He took a few steps toward a smaller tree nearby, and in one swift motion, his hand reached out and grabbed a thick branch. Without breaking a sweat, he twisted it off, leaving the tree behind with barely a mark. 

"I could have done that." Someone muttered under their breath.

The teacher's sharp eyes locked onto him instantly.

"Could you? Are you sure?"He asked.

Everyone stiffened at the challenge in his voice, but no one dared respond. The teacher turned his attention back to the group, his eyes scanning each of us like a hawk.

"We're going deeper." He finally said. "Prepare yourselves. You'll need to pay attention. I'm not here to babysit."

And with that, he began walking ahead, the rest of us trailing nervously behind him.

"Wait," One of the girls called out, her voice laced with concern. "We need our equipment!"

The teacher stopped and turned around, his expression hard. 

"Equipment? You want equipment?" He chuckled darkly. "You're here to survive, not play pretend. If you can't survive without your precious tools, then you're as good as dead out here."

There was an uncomfortable silence as the reality of the situation hit. The students shuffled, looking at one another, unsure of what to do next. I watched them, the nervousness in their eyes, the uncertainty. It was clear they weren't ready for what was coming. But they had no choice now.

"Don't just stand there like sheep." The teacher barked. "Start walking!"

I started moving, not wanting to be the last to follow. The rest reluctantly fell in line, still processing what they'd been thrown into.

"This is it, then." I muttered under my breath. "No turning back now."

The teacher heard me and smirked. 

"Exactly."He said.