The forest grew quiet after the battle.
Too quiet.
Ray stood up slowly. "…That thing was way above our level."
Rin nodded. "It shouldn't have been here."
The instructor didn't reply immediately.
His eyes were on the dead beast.
"…You're right," he said.
Leo watched silently.
Not the beast—
The surroundings.
"…Something pushed it here," he said.
The instructor glanced at him.
"…Explain."
Leo pointed slightly.
"…Mana flow is disturbed. Not natural."
Rin's expression changed. "…You mean?"
"…It didn't come here on its own," Leo finished.
A short silence followed.
Then—
A faint sound.
Very light.
From deeper in the forest.
---
Everyone froze.
---
"…We're being watched," Ray whispered.
---
The instructor stepped forward.
His presence changed instantly.
Serious.
Dangerous.
---
"Stay behind me," he said.
---
But Leo didn't move back.
His eyes were fixed ahead.
---
"…There," he said quietly.
---
A shadow moved between the trees.
Fast.
Almost invisible.
---
Then—
It stopped.
---
A figure appeared.
Covered in a dark cloak.
Face hidden.
---
Rin immediately raised her hand.
"…Who are you?"
---
No answer.
---
The figure tilted its head slightly.
Then—
Looked straight at Leo.
---
A strange pressure filled the air.
Different from the beast.
Sharper.
More controlled.
---
"…Interesting," a low voice came out.
---
Ray frowned. "Yeah, I don't like this."
---
The instructor stepped forward.
"You shouldn't be here," he said coldly.
---
The figure chuckled.
"…And yet, I am."
---
For a moment—
No one moved.
---
Then—
The figure lifted a hand.
---
A spell formed instantly.
Complex.
Unfamiliar.
---
Leo's eyes widened slightly.
---
"…That structure…"
---
Before he could finish—
The instructor moved.
---
A powerful barrier appeared.
The attack hit—
And exploded.
---
Wind and dust filled the area.
---
"Stay back!" the instructor ordered.
---
Rin clenched her fist.
"…That wasn't normal magic."
---
Leo nodded slowly.
"…It was modified."
---
The dust cleared.
---
The figure was gone.
---
Only silence remained.
---
Ray looked around. "…He just… left?"
---
The instructor's expression was serious.
"…No."
---
He looked at Leo.
---
"…He got what he wanted."
---
Rin frowned. "…What does that mean?"
---
The instructor didn't answer.
---
Leo spoke instead.
---
"…He was observing."
---
A pause.
---
"…Us."
---
Rin's eyes narrowed.
"…Why?"
---
Leo looked toward the trees where the figure disappeared.
---
"…Because something is changing."
---
A cold wind passed through the forest.
---
For the first time—
This wasn't just training anymore.
---
Something bigger had begun.
---
And someone—
Was watching from the shadows...