Gelin forest trial

"Today we'll be having our practicals in the Gelin forest but before that you'll all need to group up into teams of five.."

Elena White was the one doing the briefing, practicals played a large role in the net mark each student had at the end of the session. So, it was imperative that everyone did their best.

"Great weʼre five right here, how about it Dil what do you think?"

In all honesty, Dilbert did want to join my team but I wasn't aware and he didn't feel it fair to abandon his friends simply because he wanted to further his own choices.

He humbly nodded with a mild smile, it was a pleasant surprise to see the new him; he'd changed and in a good way.

A number of ladies surrounded Rosemarie, determined to have her on their team. They requested so many times that had she not been a nice and easygoing person then she'd certainly have had an outburst.

Instead, she shifted her sights to me, at the time seated alone with arms folded and a plain look. The plain look depicted my slight loss of interest of the surrounding area. The chatter wasn't nearly enough to gain my attention.

"So who's gonna be on our team!?"

Belitha, excited as expected, I hadn't even decided on what team I'd join but provided she was in it, I was sold. In respect to her question I stroked my chin multiple times ruminating.

"I'm definitely joining you guys team... I'm kind of surprised you wouldn't think we were team." said Alaric with his usual laid back tone. One of the few people who openly accepted me.

"Like I'd forget.." I returned a spoken response.

"Now, who else should we ask?" Alaric rubbed his chin running his eyes through the room. It seemed we shared the same idiosyncratic gesture whenever we were contemplating.

"Laia!" Belitha uttered emphatically, that was the next best choice.

I scanned the room looking for her only to discover she was isolated. She sat alone very similarly to me just a few minutes ago.

Her usual dull look which I did my best to try and soften the few times I encountered her. I hadn't even asked her how she was doing since exiting the clinic. Beltin indubitably did a number on her.

"Oh?" she noticed someone behind her, me to be precise.

"Hello Nyx.." said her gentle voice.

"Hey there.. you wanna join us?" it was best to go straight to the point, there was very few time provided for selecting a team.

Momentarily surprised, she drew in breath suddenly, as if in a labored manner.

For a short unspecified period of time she wanted to accept my offer but declined in the end. Stating she didn't want to be a burden, but appreciated the invite nonetheless.

Lifting her head by way of the chin, my face was in close proximity to hers. It did give her face a red glow, given her skin tone it was a colour between pink and cream, maybe as a result of my actions.

I lacked knowledge in things like these.

"As I've said before... you're one of the strongest people I know, so please join us... we need you."

The redness of her face intensified.

"Join our group already Laia.." Belitha stated.

"It'd be awesome to have you." Alaric mentioned prior to flexing the biceps of his right arm.

She abruptly freed herself from my light touch upon her chin, which made me believe it was her own way of declining.

But actually, she was just embarrassed to have had her face so close to mine, "Uh-huh sure, I'll join.." a particularly inaudible voice.

"Is that last spot still open?" said the attractive young lady with long, scarlet hair and brown eyes; Rosemarie Lunette.

She'd be a great asset to our team, why not have her? "Of course it is, I was hoping you'd ask.." although I tried my hardest to contain my shock, the others didn't seem to have that ability.

Neither did the other members of the class, they stood there flummoxed. Was this fortuitous or the real deal, the latter I hope.

Some minutes later...

The students were gathered just before the entry point to the Gelin forest, and there to address us was Miss Elena.

"Now that you are all here, the objective of this exercise is to reach the center of the forest... but keep in mind in order to do that you'll need to collect scrolls on your way. The number of scrolls you acquire will be totalled at the endpoint. The Gelin forest is overrun by a number of monsters that are fully adapted to the surroundings, but not so dangerous that they'd become an issue. But this dictates that struggles may come along the way. You've been provided with flares you may shoot should you choose to forfeit as result of imminent danger, but I'd advise against it as it will definitely affect your final grade."

For some, the information was a lot to process but I got the gist of it all. There were about five or six teams, mine included. It would make for a competitive drill.

"The exercise runs for a duration of twenty-four hours, you all are to wait at your designated points and make your move when you see the signal.. that is all."

We made our way to our designated point and waited for the signal. Our point was labeled C, but it didn't necessarily matter since it was selected at random.

"Geez, I'm so uncomfortable.." Laia was a bit squeamish at the time, it made sense. The practical played a big role in our total score for the session which meant if we performed poorly it would reflect the same on our grades.

But truth be told, our team had a better chance than any of the others and I didn't think this because I was on the team. We just had better odds of winning than anyone else.

No offense Dilbert.

"Don't worry, we'll do fine Laia.." Alaric assured her.

"You betcha!" Belitha mentioned with a sweet smile. It was almost like our problems with the Black Pendant guild was long gone.

I was quiet all through, until Rosemarie made a remark as to how calm and relaxed I was, to which I casually responded "That's because I am, I feel more excited if anything.." it wasn't me trying to act calm, I naturally was.

"Oh really?" Rosemarie uttered with a hint of disbelief.

"Yeah, actually I've spent a lot of time in the Arcadian dungeon I don't see how this could be any worse.."

She saw logic in what I said, aside from the fact that I casually spent a lot of time in the dungeons.

Our attire was very similar to tactical uniforms of a black colour. We had bags carrying only water and a cot; camp bed.

They didn't want us heading in with comfort so they handed us the bare essentials.

Most importantly, we were handed a sword of length 45 inches each, as we'd need some measure of defense excluding magic.

"Attention! The practical exercises are about to begin, brace yourselves.." from a bullhorn we could hear the woman speak.

It was loud enough to reach all corners of the forest that had groups of students awaiting the signal.

"You guys ready!?" Alaric was unsurprisingly psyched.

"Definitely!", "Here goes nothing!", "Uhm sure..", "Bring it on." Belitha, Rosemarie, Laia and I said in unison.

A type of pyrotechnic that produced a brilliant light without an explosion erupted in the sky above us, "Let the practicals begin!" that was the signal.

We didn't waste time, immediately we started advancing at a run.

Our boots stomped the ground like soldiers as we trampled any minute crawler unlucky to cross our path. We were surely ready for whatever would come our way.

The determination on Laiaʼs face said it all.

Gelin forest, it was unfortunate that such a dangerous place existed, where students had to test their survival and fighting skills in order to become mages.

The area was filled with a variety of flora and fauna, some of which were toxic or even of a giant size. The region was also home to a river, a more dense forest, and a tower located in the exact centre, with a radius of approximately fifteen kilometres.

It was situated to the south of the Larzack forest.

Whichever way we chose to approach the practicals may well determine how well we perform.

Even with a squad as capable as ours we decided not to depend solely on one person but instead pitch in whatever skills we possessed. That was the ideal setting.