The Forest of Desire

Back in the testing grounds, the guide stood before the remaining recruits. Her crimson eyes swept across them with mild surprise.

"I'm genuinely surprised so many of you made it this far," she said. "But now it's time for the next test. Follow me."

She turned and walked through the same shimmering door she had entered from earlier. The contestants followed—and as they stepped through, the sterile white world of the library dissolved behind them. In its place: a dense forest stretching infinitely in every direction, veiled by morning mist. A single path cut through the trees, leading to distant mountains that scraped the sky.

"Your task is simple," the guide said. "Reach the top of the mountain you see in the distance. You have one week. Same rules as before: no mana, no sigils, no external tools."

She pulled a small vial from her pocket and shook it—tiny pills rattled inside.

"You won't need to hunt for food. One of these will keep your hunger at bay for an entire day. You each get a week's supply."

With a wave of her hand, a vial appeared in each contestant's palm.

"And one last thing," she added, her voice sharpening. "Do not leave the path. No matter what."

She stepped back through the doorway, which vanished behind her.

A heavy silence followed. Terra turned to Naemor.

"I'm guessing this test isn't as straightforward as it seems."

"No," he replied calmly. "For one, the mountain is much farther away than it appears—probably a spatial distortion. That's why we've been given a week. And this forest... it's off. I can't quite place it, but we'd be wise to follow the guide's advice. Stay on the path."

Rachel stepped forward, eyes fixed on the mountain's hazy silhouette.

"They say the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

And so they walked. Dozens of other contestants did the same—some rushing ahead, others lagging behind—but all stayed on the trail. The first hours passed in silence. There was nothing to do but move forward. Some jogged, some walked. Eventually, as dusk fell, groups began setting up camp along the path.

The trio stopped for the night. Terra gathered fallen sticks to make a small fire, even if they didn't need it for warmth. It brought comfort.

"Why are we stopping?" Rachel asked Naemor. "We've got the supplements. We can keep moving."

"It's not about physical energy," he said. "It's the mind. All day, we've done nothing but walk. Our legs may hold up—but repetition wears on the mind. Rest is mental armor."

Rachel frowned, thoughtful. "Have you noticed something strange since we got here?"

Naemor and Terra turned to her, alert.

"No birds. No insects. Not even a squirrel. It's like we're the only living things in this forest."

The moment she said it, the forest stirred.

They heard wings overhead. Then the low hoot of an owl. Then rustling—too close—in the nearby brush.

Terra's eyes widened in terror. "What... what's happening?"

Naemor paled slightly, then suddenly shouted, "I remember now. This is the Forest of Desire."

Rachel glared at him. "Did you really have to yell?"

He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry. It's just... this forest reacts to thoughts. The moment you spoke about the absence of life, it answered."

Rachel narrowed her eyes. "If it responds to desire, what makes this test dangerous?"

Naemor's tone turned grave.

"At first, the forest answers shallow, conscious thoughts. But the longer you remain within it, the deeper it reaches—into your subconscious. It shows you what you truly desire. And then... what you fear."

Terra trembled beside them, her voice shaking. "So this place can show us our dreams and our nightmares?"

Naemor nodded solemnly. "Exactly."

"Perfect," Rachel muttered, burying her face in her hands.

"Do we know if it's shared? Like, are the illusions personal... or do we all see the same thing?"

"No one knows. People use this forest for training, but the specifics are always kept secret."

Rachel looked up. "I guess we'll have to figure it out for ourselves."

She stretched out on the grass beside the trail and closed her eyes.

"Let's get some rest," she said. "We move at first light."

Day 2

The group awoke with the first gray light of morning bleeding through the trees. The mountain in the distance looked no closer than it had the day before—but they pressed on.

"Terra… Terra, honey. Come home."

Terra froze. The voice had floated gently from deep within the woods—familiar, warm, maternal.

Mom? No… it couldn't be. Why would she be here?She shook her head. It's the forest. Just the forest.

Rachel noticed her pause. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Terra said, forcing a shaky breath. "It's the forest. I just… I heard my best friend's voice. I know it's not real, but it felt like she was right there." She clenched her fists and started walking again. "Let's just keep moving."

They moved in silence. The sun drifted lazily across the sky—but something was wrong. Naemor stopped suddenly.

"What is it?" Rachel asked.

"We haven't seen another contestant in hours. I bet if we stopped right here, no one would pass us."

"What does that mean?"

"It means the forest has sunk its roots deeper into our minds. The illusions are evolving. Stronger. Harder to separate from reality." He frowned. "Either most of the others failed… or they've reached the mountain already."

Rachel's expression grew tight. "We both know which one's more likely."

"But if the illusions are that advanced," Terra said slowly, "why did they start with me?"

Naemor looked at her with a soft sigh. "Because you're the weakest. The forest is a predator. It preys on the vulnerable first... then moves up the chain."

"Ouch," Terra muttered, crossing her arms. "True… but still ouch."

"We don't have any options," he said. "Just keep going."

And so they did.

By late afternoon, a single snowflake drifted down, landing on Terra's hand.

"…Snow?" she whispered. "But it's barely fall."

More flakes followed, until the air thickened with white. The snowfall grew heavier with every step, crunching beneath their boots as the temperature began to plummet. The air bit at their skin like needles.

Rachel hugged herself, teeth chattering. "Naemor… how are you not freezing?"

"The exam restricts mana use," he said, brushing snow from his shoulder, "but not training. My body's been tempered. This cold doesn't affect me."

He paused. "Now, if it were about ten degrees colder, then I'd be freezing like you."

And almost immediately, the sunlight dimmed, and the cold deepened—sharp enough to make their breath feel like ice in their lungs.

Rachel gave him a deadpan look. "You just had to say that."

"Hey, you're the one who asked."

The cold soon became unbearable. Terra stumbled and hugged herself tightly. "We have to stop. If we keep pushing like this, we'll freeze to death."

They quickly gathered what sticks they could find near the path—barely enough for a small fire. Huddled close together for warmth, they lit a flickering flame and slowly dozed off, clinging to what heat they could share.

Midnight

Rachel's eyes fluttered open.

A weight was moving over her—hands, creeping, deliberate.

She gasped.

Naemor's voice. "Well now, Rachel… didn't know you were hiding such curves."

Her body stiffened. "What the hell are you—!" she cried, shoving him off and scrambling backward.

Terra stirred awake, alarmed. "Rachel? What's wrong?"

"He was touching me—groping me in his sleep!"

Terra turned toward Naemor's form, still sound asleep by the fire. Unmoving.

"He's… still asleep," she said softly. "He hasn't moved."

Rachel blinked, confused. "What…? But… I saw him. I felt him."

"You're being targeted," Terra said. "It's the forest, Rachel. That wasn't real."

"No, no—" Rachel looked down at her trembling hands. "It felt real. It was real…"

"RACHEL!" Terra shouted.

Rachel stopped.

One foot was off the path. She had nearly stepped into the forest.

A shadow whipped through the treetops like a whip—grabbing her ankle and yanking her into the snow with a violent snap.

"RACHEL!" Terra screamed and lunged after her—but a strong hand caught her wrist.

"Where are you going?" Naemor's voice was firm.

She turned, wild-eyed. "Rachel—something took her! I saw it drag her into the woods!"

Naemor narrowed his eyes. "She's peeing behind that tree. When she got up, it woke me."

"No… I saw her dragged away. I swear it, Naemor—I heard her screaming!"

"You heard an illusion," he said, tightening his grip. "That's the forest. It's trying to pull you off the path. None of it is real."

Terra looked over again. Rachel was indeed stepping out from behind the tree, adjusting her coat. Fine. Untouched.

Terra's knees gave out. She stared down at the snow, breath shaking. "It felt so real. How do I know this is real?"

"You don't," Naemor said gently. "But I'll ask you this—has the path changed? Even once?"

Terra glanced down at the dirt beneath her boots. Straight. Clear. Unbroken.

"No…"

"Then trust it. If nothing else, trust the path."

Terra nodded, still pale, and looked back at Rachel, who returned with a confused glance.

"We need to get out of this forest," Terra whispered. "Soon."