Morning had arrived quietly, wrapped in a thick blanket of clouds that swallowed the sun whole. Not a single ray of light managed to pierce through the grey sky above the academy. A cool breeze drifted through the stone corridors, carrying with it a strange sense of anticipation.
Inside the classroom, the students sat in an unusual silence. There was no chatter, no mischief—only a shared feeling that something important was about to happen.
Then, the door opened.
Professor Sophia stepped in with her usual composed elegance, her sharp eyes scanning the room. Behind her walked Professor Jason, radiating energy as always, a bright and confident smile resting on his face.
"Good morning, students!" Jason greeted cheerfully.
"Good morning, Professor!" the class replied in unison.
Sophia wasted no time.
"Today," she began, her voice calm yet authoritative, "I will be assigning you a task. Your performance in this task will determine the points you earn."
The room fell completely silent.
"This will be a group assignment," she continued. "You will be required to locate and bring back specific items."
A faint murmur spread across the class, quickly dying down as she raised her hand.
"I will divide you into three groups. The first group will have four members, and the remaining two groups will have three each."
Excitement flickered across several faces.
The first group—Leo Black, Kio Mortis, Alex Ravenor, Nyra velmire
Leo's expression shifted slightly at the mention of Nyra, but he said nothing.
A ripple of confusion spread across the classroom.
"Nyra? She's not even here today…" one student whispered.
"Of course she isn't," another muttered. "She never shows up when it matters."
Leo's expression tightened slightly. He didn't say anything, but his gaze lowered for a moment, his thoughts shifting.
Why her… in my group?
Sophia remained completely unfazed by the reaction.
"She is still a student of this class," she said calmly."And she will participate."
The room fell silent again. No one dared to question her further.
"The second group—Alina Moonveil, Ray Moir, and Nico Vance."
"The third group—Noah Winter, Freya Collins, and Felix Ward."
Sophia stepped aside, gesturing toward Jason.
"He will explain the details."
Jason moved forward, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.
"Alright, students," he began, clasping his hands together, "your task may sound simple… but trust me, it won't be."
A few students exchanged uneasy glances.
"Each group will be assigned different objectives. You will not all be doing the same thing."
He raised a finger.
"First—magical herbal leaves. These are special plants containing healing magic ranging from fifteen to twenty-three percent. On their own, they are not very effective. However, when combined with a mage's healing ability, their potency can rise dramatically—to nearly ninety percent."
A few impressed whispers filled the room.
"Second—magic crystals. These are extremely valuable. They are used to forge weapons—swords, axes, arrows, and more."
His tone turned serious.
"The brighter the crystal glows, the stronger the weapon it can produce. If you bring back dull or non-glowing crystals… they will not be counted."
The room grew tense.
"And finally…" Jason paused for effect,"Goblin blood… or wolf fangs."
A few students visibly stiffened.
"These are used in potion-making. Both require not just skill… but courage."
He let that sink in before continuing.
"You will have one week to complete your assigned task. Tomorrow morning, you will be given a map to guide you."
Jason stepped back.
Sophia returned to the front.
"Your points will depend entirely on your group's performance. And…" she added, a faint smile appearing on her lips,"any group that scores above six points will accompany Professor Jason and me… to another continent."
For a moment—
The classroom exploded with excitement.
"Another continent?!"
Eyes sparkled, whispers turned into loud chatter.
But Sophia raised her hand again.
"We are not going there for leisure," she said firmly. "We will be conducting crystal studies."
Just like that…
The excitement faded into dull disappointment.
A few students groaned softly.
"That will be all for today," Sophia concluded. "Tomorrow, I will also appoint a captain for each group."
"The captain will be responsible for leading the team and ensuring coordination."
She turned toward the door.
"Prepare yourselves. You may leave."
The class slowly came to life again. Chairs scraped against the floor as students stood up, discussing strategies, worries, and possibilities.
Leo stepped out into the corridor, his mind already processing the challenge ahead.
As he walked past a large window, something caught his attention.
Outside—
A tall, old tree stood quietly against the cloudy sky.
And on one of its branches…
Sat Nyra Velmire.
She was completely absorbed in her book, her expression calm and distant, as if the world around her didn't exist.
Leo stopped for a moment, watching her.
Then—
Nyra lifted her gaze.
Their eyes met.
For a brief second, time seemed to pause.
But without a word, without a change in expression—
She looked away.
Returning to her book.
Ignoring him completely.
Leo exhaled softly, a faint, unreadable expression crossing his face.
Then he turned…
And walked away.