wonder
In the forest behind the House of Shadows, the atmosphere is serene, with the rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of birds providing a soothing background to our little gathering. I sit on a sturdy rock, Selene comfortably settled on my lap, her hair flowing gently in the breeze. The weight of Selene's serpent adds a certain heaviness to our combined presence, Hima, I glare at the white scaled snake, who seems to have a particular fondness for blocking my view whenever possible. She curls herself around Selene protectively, as if trying to shield her from the world. Unfortunately Hima seems to be a package deal, and she knows it, I glare at her once more.
Meanwhile, Raijin and Tenebris, our lively Serpents, are engaged in their favorite game of "catch the red head." Tama, with his striking red hair, is their unfortunate target today and every other day Tama is in the presence of those two.
He's darting around, trying his best to evade the over-a-meter-long black and dull purple scaled snakes. It's quite the sight, watching Tama dodge and weave through the trees, the Serpents hot on his heels. I can't help but chuckle at his predicament. There's clearly a history between them, one that Tama is tight lipped about.
On another side, Elizabeth is seated gracefully, getting her hair braided by Lani. It's a curious sight, the two of them engrossed in their task. Elizabeth's blonde locks contrast beautifully with Lani's red hair, and they seem to be enjoying each other's company.
As for me, I lean back against the rock, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
Six months have passed since our arrival in Tavill, and the transformation within me is undeniable. No longer am I a mere standard level 1 weapon user; now, I proudly hold the title of a standard tier 3 user. The moment I broke through, unleashing a powerful slash of my spear that flattened a significant area of the forest, was exhilarating. It wasn't easy to get there it involved grueling hours of training, meditation, and enduring the bald-headed twins' increasingly perilous "practical lessons." I often wonder if they're intentionally trying to push us to our limits, perhaps even beyond.
The first time I suspected their intentions was when they threw us into a nest of massive bats, each over 2 meters in size with menacing laser eyes. It was a harrowing experience, and If I wasn't certain that the instructors' wouldn't let us die, I would assumed that was attempted murder. But we would have faced serious injuries. Yet, injuries seem trivial here, where even a severed limb can be reattached within a given timeframe.
Elizabeth, with her dual wind and fire magic, emerged as our savior that day. Exhausting every ounce of her mana, she unleashed a devastating spell that incinerated 80% of the bats in a blaze of destruction. It was a breathtaking display of power and precision, and I found myself almost in awe of her prowess—if only my heart didn't already belong to Selene.
Since that fateful encounter, Elizabeth has remained a force to be reckoned with, specializing in long-range attacks alongside Lani. Selene, on the other hand, has delved into the realm of monster anatomy, utilizing their corpses for her healing and alchemical experiments. Damien, our 'space mage', fancy word for our portable storage space often accompanies her, dissecting the creatures for usable parts and serving as the unofficial "bag boy" for their findings.
Space magic is notoriously complex and challenging to master, so despite Damien only mastering space storage it was extremely impressive.
Our lifestyle in Tavill is a dangerous dance with the merits we earn. If we don't accumulate enough in the coming weeks, Selene and I will be forced to relinquish our room. The pressure is palpable, especially now that our contracted beasts have grown larger. With their increased size comes an increased appetite for mana crystals, a demand that strains our already limited resources.
Despite outward appearances, I am weighed down by stress. The responsibility of leading this group of teens, who have unwittingly grown dependent on us, is a burden. Hope they become useful soon.These teens may not have noticed it, but they have grown a certain dependant behavior on us, Damien inclusive despite how skittish he was in the beginning.
Suddenly, a figure in golden-colored robes comes sprinting toward us through the forest. As the figure draws nearer, we recognize the gloomy face behind the oversized glasses. Since he started eating better, he's transformed from a gauntly sicky skinny boy into someone surprisingly attractive, albeit in a psychopath with haunted eyes way.
However, his forward momentum is abruptly halted when he trips over a protruding branch, and the silent boulder that is Gregory swoops in to catch him before he hits the ground. It's a comical sight, seeing the small, portable Damien being carried from his waist like a piece of luggage. I can't help but chuckle, and even Selene's stifled laughter ripples through the air.
Once they reach us, Gregory sets Damien down not so gently, dropping him with a thud. Damien rights himself, shooting Gregory a playful glare before turning his attention to us.
"What's with you?" Tama manages to choke out, still being strangled by the snakes.
Damien, looking both excited and nervous, adjusts his oversized glasses before responding. "Something is happening in two days," he says cryptically.
We all turn to him, curiosity etched on our faces as we wait for him to elaborate.
"Haven't you guys noticed something?" Damien continues, his voice low but urgent. "Apart from the day we got into Tavill, and those two idiots Elizabeth's fiancé and brother, where the heck are the seniors? Tavill is a seven-year program, so why haven't we been seeing them around?"
His words hit me like a bolt of lightning. He's right. I hadn't even realized it until now, but the absence of the senior students has been glaringly obvious. The only time we saw them was during my duel with Selene, and they seemed to disappear afterward.
As I ponder this, a dull ache begins to form in my head, and I feel a wave of dizziness wash over me. Glancing around, I see Selene and the others experiencing the same symptoms.
"Stop thinking about it, it'll stop," Damien instructs, his voice cutting through the haze in my mind.
Following his advice, I try to push the thoughts out of my head, focusing on the immediate surroundings. Gradually, the headache begins to subside, and the dizziness fades.
Damien continues, his voice more serious now. "I know. Apparently, it's a spell. For the first half of the year for first years, they are set in a spell. In Tavill but not in Tavill, we're literally on the outskirts."
He goes on to explain further, detailing how the spell is meant to give us a chance to acclimate to Tavill before the true challenges begin. It's meant to create a sense of peace and stability, masking the underlying dangers and mysteries of the academy.
The headache fading away, I look forward to what Tavill actually has to offer, I feel a faint bolt of excitement too.
I feel a slippery, forked tongue lick my palm I pet my black snake and wonder what's going to happen.