A wave of murmurs erupted instantly.
Professor Mo raised a hand and the class quieted, though unease lingered in the air like smoke.
"Initially" she said. "This test was to be undertaken in pairs. However, adjustment have been made. It is now a Tri-team examination. Three members, not two"
The uproar was instant. Some students protested aloud, others groaned, and a few looked outright betrayed. Formed duo stared at each other in confusion, knowing their careful pans had just been shattered.
Professor Mo ignored their distress.
"The rules are simple. You and your teammates will enter an open dungeon. The forestry dungeon. Each of you will be given a crystal.
Within two hours, you must find one of the hidden machines scattered across the terrain and deposit all three crystals inside. After doing this you must ensure your crystals remain there until the 2 hours are over. If even one is missing, your entire team fails. And failure...."
She let the pause hang cruelly.
".... means Expulsion"
The room turned to ice.
Expulsion.
Successfully Graduating from the academy means you are set for life. You can join any faction or guild, leave a comfortable life.
To be expelled meant more than shame.. it meant doors closing forever, future burned to ash.
Damian leaned back in his chair, eyes half- lidded. From pairs to trios.
Just like that.
Failure result in expulsion.
Just like that.
He needed no further proof. This was orchestrated. Not for fairness, not for strength, but a hidden motive.
And he knew exactly whose strings were being pulled.
Clark.
The professor dismissed them with her usual indifference, though her final words dug deep.
"You may think this is a test of strength. It isn't. It a test of judgement. Choose poorly and you will vanish from this place by nightfall, so if you already have a teammate I suggest you look for a third"
"Partner?"
The voice pulled Damian from his thought. Abby stood near his desk, she smiled.
"Hey" he said
"We'll need a last teammate though"
"You're a noble, I'm sure a lot of people are dieing to be on the same team as you, so it shouldn't be hard"
"Uh...c...can I... Can I join you two?"
Damian's gaze shifted. A boy stood there, fidgeting with the strap to his satchel, avoiding eye contact. His face was pale, his posture weak. Damian recognized him from last night, he had approached them last night, asking to be his partner but Damian dismissed the idea even before Abby spoke.
Now here he was again, trembling and asking.
"No" Damian recusal was immediately, sharp as a blade "you'll only slow us down"
The boy's lips quivered. He hesitated, then .... before Damian could understand what's going on, he thrust his wrist forward.
The glowing academy issued watch on his arm clicked against damian's. The system registered the 3 as a team.
Team Registration: Damian Quin, Abby Solvane, Ren Barrow.
For a moment, silence reigned. The Damian's hand twitched, his yes narrowing like a storm closing in.
"You" he said coldly, his tone low enough to make the boy flinch "just signed your name to our team without our consent"
"I...I'm sorry, I won't be a burden. Please .... Just go...give me a chance."
Damains silence was more terrifying than anger but then he calmed down.
"N...no one was going to let me in their team"
"Alright" Abby said "I mean you're in now, so we'll have to make it work"
Damian didn't say anything and just watched.Teams where formed all around the class.
Ahead, the dungeon gate loomed, a colossal arch carved of black stone, etched with glowing runes. The symbols pulsed like a heartbeat, each thrum sending ripples through the air.
The gates, seemed different from the usual portal that would spawn out of nowhere, this one feels different almost artificial. Stepping in a surge of cold nethera energy, the forest beyond stirred awake--wn endless expanse of shadows, whispering leaves, and unseen dangers.
Professor Mo's voice rang out one last time.
"You won't be given an clues to were each machine will be placed. Step forward. Enter. Prove you still belong here or be cast aside"
'hmm' Damian thought as he gazed around. There were no students form the other class. Are they not taking the same test as we're? Or they not taking a test at all?. He wondered.
'Either way, it's obvious Clark is involved. I just have to finger out how to pass this test as quickly as possible'
Damian's hand brushed briefly against his pendant at his chest his eyes never leaving the dark forest beyond.
"These are the rules of the special test" Mo's voice rang out "you have 2 hours, 1 crystal will be given to each team member. There are hidden core machines around in the forest, find them. When all three crystals are placed in, it will have activated, ensure your crystals stay inside the machine for the 2 hour duration and just like that you are saved. Note that: no clues will be given, meaning you will have to search the forest for it. Failure to do so will result in expulsion. If for some reason your crystal breaks, you've failed already, even the slightest scratch on it could get you expelled. If only two 2 crystals are placed in,you'll be expelled and by you I mean the whole team, you'll be expelled as a team. "
Silence again.
"Note that this core machines give off faint densed nethera energy which may attract beasts but don't worry, they are weaker beast that you all should be able to handle. You can trust me on that"
....
Yeah, no one trusted her.. why would they?
'i'm sorry for forcefully registering in your team, just that, no one will team up with me." Ren said to Damian who was just focused on what Clark must be plotting.
"Look I understand, you don't have to keep apologizing, like Abby said, you're in already. We have to work together to avoid expulsion "
"Thank you for not getting mad at me, also I can be very useful in this test too, I have a detection ability, so I can easily detect the direction of the hidden machines through the nethera coming off it"
"That's awesome, this test should be a breeze then"
I don't know.
"With that being said let the First years special test begin"
All the students entered the portal and were teleported