"Before we begin," the Headmistress said firmly, her voice rising above the nervous chatter of the students, "let me remind you of one very important rule. The use of Dark or Curse magic is absolutely forbidden within this Academy. Any student caught using these forbidden magics—or even in possession of a cursed or dark item—will be expelled immediately. No second chances."
Her words made the Grand Hall fall silent. Everyone stopped talking. Some students looked uneasy, while others just nodded, already aware of the rule.
"This Trial will test your ability to work as a team," she continued, pacing slowly in front of the gathered students. "There are 49 of you here today. You will be divided into 7 groups, each with 7 members. Every group will face a series of dangerous challenges deep within the Forbidden Woods."
A few students gasped. Everyone knew the Forbidden Woods was no ordinary forest—it was filled with powerful monsters, strange illusions, and mysterious magic that could confuse even skilled Adventurers.
"You must form your own teams," the Headmistress instructed. "Choose your teammates wisely—and select a leader. You'll need someone to guide you when things get difficult. You have five minutes. Begin!"
In an instant, the Grand Hall burst into motion. Students rushed toward their friends, calling out names, waving their arms, and scrambling to form teams. No one wanted to be left behind. Everyone wanted to be on a strong team.
I turned to Hebrew, who was already looking at me. We nodded—of course we would be on the same team. Without wasting a second, Hebrew called over two of his closest companions—mages he had met on the way to the Academy earlier. They joined us quickly.
"That makes four," I said, counting.
We scanned the crowd again, searching for the final members to complete our group. That's when we saw her—the Headmistress's daughter. She walked toward us with a calm, confident expression. Behind her followed a quiet swordsman and a priestess dressed in elegant robes.
The Headmistress's daughter gave us a slight nod. "Mind if we join your group?" she asked.
Hebrew looked at me. I nodded without hesitation. Of course we would say yes—having her on our side could only strengthen our chances.
With her, the swordsman, and the priestess, we now had seven members in total.
Our group was complete.
"Each group will receive one of these supply bags," the Headmistress announced, gesturing toward a long table where essential items were neatly arranged—compact tents, bundles of food, flasks of water, and two healing potions per group. Assistant Brook stood beside the table, holding the prepared bags, ready to distribute them. "Group leaders, please come forward to collect your supplies."
Hebrew raised his hand, about to speak, but before he could say a word, the Headmistress's daughter stepped forward.
"Can I be the team leader?" she asked confidently, her voice calm but firm.
Hebrew pouted slightly in disappointment, but none of us objected. We exchanged glances and nodded in agreement—it was clear she was ready to take charge.
With quiet assurance, she walked up to the front and collected our group's supply bag from Assistant Brook. A cold stare displayed in her eyes as she turned and returned to us, the bag slung over her shoulder like it belonged there.
"Now that every group has their supplies," the Headmistress continued, her voice echoing slightly through the Grand Hall, "you will each be deployed to a different location within the Kingdom's Forbidden Woods. Once there, your task is simple—survive the night in the forest. Work together, stay alert, and above all… stay alive."
A ripple of nervous murmurs spread through the hall.
"Survive the night?" one student whispered, eyes wide.
"In the Forbidden Woods?" another said, their voice trembling slightly.
"Isn't that… dangerous?" a third muttered, glancing nervously at their teammates.
I could hear whispers all around me—some frightened, others just confused. I swallowed hard. This was no ordinary test.
"Quiet now," the Headmistress announced sharply, silencing the room at once. Her eyes swept over the students, calm but commanding.
"There is no turning back. The Trial begins… now."
"You have been chosen to become Adventurers. Adventurers face many dangerous and deadly challenges—not just in training, but in the real world beyond these walls. This night will test your courage, your teamwork, and your will to survive."
A tense silence fell over the hall as students clutched their bags and prepared for the challenges to come.
"Master Genesis, will you perform the teleportations?" the Headmistress asked.
Master Genesis stepped forward, his long robe brushing the marble floor as he approached. The Headmistress offered the students a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry," she said kindly. "You will all be teleported back here precisely at seven o'clock in the morning. Good luck—and may you return safely."
Master Genesis raised his Scepter and addressed the hall in a firm voice. "My teleportation spell is limited and drains a great deal of magical energy," he warned.
"You must enter the spatial vortex immediately after I summon it. Do not hesitate!"
Master Genesis, eyes narrowed in fierce concentration, a vibrant light aura blazing around him, his scepter pulsing with inner light. As she focused, 7 small sparks emerged, creating a swirling vortex in front of us.
"O Light of the Heavens, answer my call. Bend space to your will—let your radiance guide me to the chosen place."
"Divine Magic: Heaven's Leap!"
As the vortex opened before us, each group stepped in without hesitation.
The moment we passed through, a new location unfolded before our eyes—we were now in the heart of a dense forest. Tall trees loomed above us, their leaves whispering with the wind. I couldn't help but wonder what kinds of creatures or monsters awaited us here.
Our team was made up of seven members: one Marksman specializing in archery—our confident leader, Raven Chariot; an Earth Mage, Hebrew; two Mages specializing in Fire and Wind magic; one Priestess; a Swordsman with a Berserker specialty who wielded a heavy scythe; and finally, myself—a Psychic gifted with Mental Enhancement abilities.
"Hey, Earth boy, can you hold our supplies?" Raven called out playfully, tossing the bag through the air.
Hebrew caught it, shot Raven a side-eye, and pouted like a kid.
"We should find a resting spot to spend the night," Raven said, her eyes scanning the trees. "The sun's dipping below the horizon."
We all looked up. The sky had turned a deep orange, and shadows were beginning to stretch across the forest floor. Night was coming fast.
No one argued. We knew we couldn't walk forever—especially not in the Forbidden Woods. We needed to find a safe place to stop before darkness fully settled in.
As we walked beneath the thick canopy, I quietly opened my tome.The pages glowed faintly with magical runes. It was filled with spells, descriptions, and strange incantations—many focused on Mental Enhancements, a branch of magic I still didn't fully understand.
Some pages described abilities I hadn't yet learned. Others showed techniques that felt far beyond my current skill. But I kept reading. I wanted to grow stronger. I had to.
Suddenly, a sharp rustling sound came from the bushes to our right.
Leaves trembled.
Before anyone could speak, Raven held out her arm, stopping us in our tracks. Her eyes narrowed as she signaled us to stay still. Everyone froze.
"Shhh," she whispered, barely audible. Her hand moved slowly toward her bow.
The forest fell silent—eerily silent. Even the birds had stopped singing. I held my breath, fingers gripping the edges of my tome, unsure if we were about to face a wild beast… or something far worse.
Then—something moved. A rustle, a blur—and out from the bushes bounced a small, pink blob.
We all stared in surprise.
It was a slime. A little one. Its jelly-like body shimmered in the fading light, and it made a soft blop sound as it wobbled forward. It didn't look dangerous at all.
"It's just a slime!" the Fire Mage exclaimed, letting out a sigh of relief.
We all relaxed. For a moment, we had expected something terrifying—a monster with claws or fangs, not a tiny, squishy creature that looked more like a jelly dessert than a threat.
A few chuckles rippled through the group, and the tension in the air began to fade.
Hebrew stepped forward, lowering his guard. "Look at this little thing," he said with a grin, holding out his hand like he was going to pat it. "You're not so scary, huh?"
But before his fingers could touch the slime—
BLOOP!
The ground beneath the bushes exploded with movement. A huge, massive pink slime erupted from the undergrowth with a squelch, sending leaves and dirt flying in all directions.
We gasped and stumbled back in shock.
It was massive—at least ten times the size of the little one—and its surface rippled like thick syrup. It wobbled menacingly, blocking our path with a deep, wet blorp that echoed through the trees.
The little slime had been a decoy.
Our hearts pounded.
The laughter was gone.
We were face-to-face with a real threat now.