Chapter 33: Emerald Forest

The carriage continued along the forest road, its wheels producing a steady rhythm against the packed earth. Outside the window, the scenery had gradually changed. The academy grounds had disappeared behind them a long time ago, replaced by towering trees with thick trunks and enormous canopies that blocked most of the morning sunlight. The deeper they traveled into the Emerald Forest, the more isolated the road became.

Kael sat beside the carriage window and quietly watched the trees pass by. Most students were either checking their equipment for the third or fourth time, discussing possible strategies with their teammates, or staring nervously toward the forest. The atmosphere inside the carriage was unusually quiet.

Elias sat across from Kael, his bow resting against the side of his seat. He had been unusually quiet for the past several minutes, occasionally glancing toward the forest before checking his equipment again.

Eventually, he sighed.

"I keep thinking about what happens if we get eliminated early."

Kael turned toward him. "You mean during the first day?"

Elias nodded. "Exactly. Imagine coming all the way here, getting eliminated before sunset, and then having to walk back while everyone else is still taking the examination. That would be embarrassing."

Mira looked up from the supplies she was organizing. "I think everyone would be disappointed."

Darius crossed his arms. "Then we make sure it does not happen."

Elias gave a small smile. "That is the obvious answer. I am talking about embarrassment."

Kael considered that for a moment before looking back toward the forest.

"Being eliminated early would certainly be embarrassing," he admitted. "But I think worrying about how embarrassing it would be is probably the least useful thing we can do right now."

Elias raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because embarrassment is something we can deal with after the examination. Getting eliminated is the actual problem."

Elias thought about that for a moment.

Kael continued, "It is like worrying about how bad a failed exam will look before you have even taken it. You spend all your energy imagining the failure, then have less energy left to actually prepare for the test."

"That sounds like something you have experienced before," Elias said.

Kael looked at him. "Probably more than once."

Mira smiled faintly.

Kael glanced at the three of them. "Besides, none of us benefits from pretending we are guaranteed to succeed. We are not the strongest team here, and there are probably students who are better at wilderness survival than we are. That is simply the situation."

Darius nodded. "True."

"But that does not mean we should expect to lose," Kael continued. "We just need to focus on what we can control. We prepare properly, stay together, manage our resources, and avoid taking unnecessary risks. If we do those things well, then we give ourselves a better chance than if we spend the entire examination worrying about what everyone else thinks."

Elias was quiet for a moment before giving a small smile.

"You make it sound strangely simple."

"It usually is. People just have a habit of adding unnecessary complications."

Elias glanced toward the forest again. "So your advice is to stop worrying about looking stupid and concentrate on surviving?"

"That would be a good start."

Elias nodded slowly. "All right. I can work with that."

Kael smiled. "Good."

Darius looked between them. "Then we are settled."

Mira returned to checking the supplies, while Elias leaned back against his seat with a little less tension in his expression.

After a moment, he looked toward Kael again.

"Still, if we do get eliminated before sunset, I am blaming you for making me feel optimistic."

Kael gave him a sideways glance. "That seems unfair."

Elias smiled. "I thought you liked strange logic."

Kael shook his head with a faint smile and returned his attention to the passing forest.

For the first time since the carriage had departed, the tension within the group seemed slightly lighter.

The conversation settled after that, and the four returned to their preparations. Despite the tension surrounding the examination, the atmosphere within their small group was considerably more relaxed than it had been before.

Kael looked outside again as the trees grew denser around them.

This was not the first time he had seen this place, at least not in this life.

He remembered the Emerald Forest from Eclipse Hearts. The game had used this region during several early and mid-game quests. The eastern section contained relatively weak magical beasts, while stronger monsters inhabited the deeper regions. The academy’s examination area was supposed to be located in a relatively safe portion of the forest.

At least, that was how it had been in the game.

Kael quietly studied the landscape. The trees looked familiar, but their arrangement was not exactly the same. That alone did not mean anything because the game had never represented every tree, hill, and stretch of wilderness in perfect detail.

Even so, Kael kept the thought in the back of his mind.

After nearly two hours, the carriage finally began to slow. The students immediately became more alert, and Darius straightened his back.

"Looks like we are here," Darius said.

Elias looked through the window.

"It certainly feels like an examination now," Elias said.

Kael stood and adjusted his backpack.

"That usually means things are about to become complicated," Kael said.

Elias glanced at him.

"You really know how to encourage people," Elias said.

"I am trying to keep expectations realistic," Kael replied.

"That might be the strangest encouragement I have heard," Elias said.

Kael smiled and stepped out of the carriage. But the moment his feet landed on the ground, a puff sound rang, then Quinn materialized in thin air and landed perfectly on his head.

"Qiu!"

The white spider exclaimed as if announcing its arrival.

"Quinn, are you excited too?" Mira approached and asked.

"Qiu!"

Quinn raised a leg and replied.

"Quinn is a demonic beast after all, so forest such as this is one of its usual habitat. So it feel excited seeing the vegetation around after a while, right Quinn?" Elias said.

"Qiu."

It looked like Quinn agreed.

Looking around, the air was noticeably different from that around the academy. It was cooler beneath the trees, and the scent of damp soil filled the surroundings. Somewhere in the distance, birds called to one another while rustling leaves occasionally revealed movement hidden among the foliage.

Professor Vista stood ahead of the gathered students and waited until everyone had assembled.

"Listen carefully," Professor Vista said. "Before you enter the examination area, I will clarify the rules. I do not want anyone claiming ignorance after the examination begins."

The students immediately became quiet.

"This examination will last for five days," Professor Vista continued. "You will remain inside the designated examination area for the entire duration unless you are eliminated or require emergency extraction."

Several students exchanged surprised glances.

Professor Vista continued speaking.

"Your primary objective is survival. However, this is not simply a test of how long you can remain alive in the wilderness. This is a competition between teams."

The atmosphere immediately changed.

Kael’s expression became slightly more serious.

Professor Vista raised one hand.

"You are permitted to interfere with other teams. You may steal resources, disrupt another team’s campsite, force them to retreat, or engage them in combat."

A murmur spread through the students.

"But there is one absolute rule," Professor Vista said firmly. "You are not permitted to kill another student."

The murmuring immediately quieted.

"Any deliberate attempt to take a student’s life will result in immediate disqualification and severe disciplinary action," Professor Vista continued. "The academy’s instructors will be monitoring the examination area. Emergency signal crystals will also be issued to every team. If a student activates one, the nearest instructor will intervene."

Darius crossed his arms.

"So we are actually allowed to fight other teams?" Darius asked.

Professor Vista looked toward him.

"Yes. As long as you do not kill them," Professor Vista replied. "This examination is intended to test your ability to compete under pressure. Real heroes will not always operate in situations where everyone cooperates with them."

Darius nodded.

Professor Vista continued.

"However, do not misunderstand the purpose of the examination. You are not rewarded simply for defeating other teams. Your overall performance will be judged according to several factors."

She gestured toward a large magical display beside her.

"Survival, teamwork, combat performance, resource management, navigation, and the value of the resources you acquire will all contribute to your final evaluation."

The display changed, revealing several categories.

"The forest contains various resources. Some are common and useful for survival. Others are rare materials with considerable value. At the end of the five days, every team’s collected resources will be inspected and evaluated."

Several students immediately became interested.

Professor Vista looked across the gathered students.

"The teams that acquire the most valuable resources will receive additional rewards from the academy."

The atmosphere grew noticeably more competitive.

One student raised his hand.

"Professor, does that mean we can take resources from another team?"

"Yes," Professor Vista answered. "If you defeat another team without violating the rules, you may take their resources. Likewise, if another team defeats you, they may take yours."

The student lowered his hand.

Professor Vista continued.

"Remember that resources are not limited to food and water. Magical beast materials, medicinal herbs, ores, monster cores, and other valuable materials found within the examination area may all be submitted for evaluation."

Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly.

That changed things.

If valuable resources were part of the scoring system, the students would not simply be trying to survive. They would be competing over specific areas of the forest.

That meant conflicts between teams would be inevitable.

Professor Vista then pointed toward the magical map.

"You must remain within the boundaries marked on your maps. Leaving the examination area is prohibited unless you are being extracted by an instructor."

She paused before adding one final warning.

"Do not assume the forest is safe simply because you are students of this academy. Magical beasts do not care about your ranking, your department, or your family name. If you encounter something beyond your ability to handle, retreat."

Her gaze swept across the students.

"Knowing when to fight and when to retreat is also part of the examination."

No one spoke.

Professor Vista lowered her hand.

"Those are the rules. Five days. Survive, compete, gather resources, and return without killing another student. If your team manages to do all four, you will have completed the examination."

"And one more thing..."

"You can remove your limiter this time."

All the students immediately looked excited. They could finally use their real strength. The students immediately began gathering with their assigned teams.

Kael was about to turn toward his teammates when a familiar voice came from behind him.

"Well, look at that."

Kael stopped.

Victor approached with several members of his team behind him. This time, his expression was complicated.

His gaze moved over Team 37’s equipment before settling on Kael.

Darius stepped forward slightly.

"Do you have something to say?" Darius asked.

Victor ignored him and continued looking at Kael.

"Your luck truly do you justice," Victor said while glancing at Kael’s huge backpack.

Darius immediately frowned.

Kael simply looked at Victor.

"I was under the impression that you’re somehow my secret fan," Kael replied.

Victor almost spat out a mouthful of blood when he heard it. A cross-shaped pulse appeared on his forehead.

"Fan my ass!" Victor glared at him. "Don’t get too cocky. Last time’s match I wasn’t considering it your win. Remember that with my real power now unsuppressed, you won’t last even a second against me."

"Yeah, sure. Think all you want just don’t overdo it or else we’ll assume you gone crazy." Kael’s reply made Elias failed to hold a laugh.

For him, Kael truly had a talent in making someone burn on their own fire. Before knowing Kael, Elias heard many bad rumors about him. However, after knowing Kael and spending some times with him, Elias came to realized that those rumors were not true. Kael was the most dedicated person in terms of wanting to get stronger. He was hardworking, and also, he was good at giving advice.

Victor’s face turned red.

He pointed a finger at Kael. "Let’s see if you can still act like that later on. Be sure to guard those supplies for me before I claim them."

Kael chuckled from Victor’s words. "I’ll thank you in advance then. I didn’t know you’re actually after our garbage. Sure, take them later all you want."

Victor raised an eyebrow.

"Confident, aren’t you?" Victor asked.

"Not particularly," Kael replied. "I simply do not think worrying about you will improve our chances."

One of Victor’s teammates snorted.

"You are still talking like that? You are a noble young master who barely passed the combat evaluation. This is not a classroom where you can hide behind your family name," the student said.

Darius’s expression hardened. Before he could respond, Kael spoke.

"I am aware of my combat evaluation. You don’t need to worry about it," Kael said.

Victor smiled.

"Your team has already been marked as one of the weakest. I would not get too comfortable if I were you," Victor said.

Darius tightened his grip around his sword.

"We will manage," Darius replied.

Victor gave him a dismissive glance.

"We will see," Victor said.

He stepped closer to Kael.

"I will make you a prediction," Victor said.

Kael waited.

"You will be one of the first teams eliminated," Victor said.

Then he pointed toward the forest.

"Maybe you will last until sunset if you are lucky. After that, I doubt your team will still be standing."

Kael looked at him for a few seconds before answering.

"Then I suppose we will find out," Kael replied.

Victor seemed disappointed by the lack of reaction.

"You really are irritating," Victor said.

Kael just shrugged his shoulders, clearly didn’t want to waste more time with dealing with Victor and his team.

Victor turned away.

"Enjoy the examination while it lasts," he left those words.

As Victor walked away with his team, Darius watched him with obvious irritation.

"That guy is asking for trouble," Darius said.

Kael adjusted his backpack.

"He is confident," Kael replied.

"He is arrogant," Darius corrected.

"Well, Victor built different. Those two things can coexist in him," Kael replied.

Elias quietly laughed.