Pressure.

Alec and his new team were en route to their first training objective together, At the moment, fatigue weighed heavily on them all.

"Why the hell would they ask us to do this?" Pale grumbled from behind, panting heavily.

The rest of the team exchanged surprised glances, hardly believing he would complain so vociferously.

The initial task outlined in the scroll required them to traverse the Gobi Desert while consciously suppressing their mana, Alec, having practiced with the arcane crown previously, found mana restraint second nature.

However, for the other mages, it was an unprecedented challenge, because since awakening their powers, they had never had to suppress their mana, let alone while navigating the harsh terrain of the Gobi Desert.

The ordeal was exacting a toll on everyone.