The evening air was thick with tension.

  All around me, students murmured among themselves, exchanging last-minute strategies, nervous glances, and whispered concerns. Our teams had been formed. The trial was set. And tomorrow… we’d be thrown into a month-long survival challenge.

  As I stood among them, arms crossed, I felt a familiar presence approaching.

  Our homeroom teacher.

  He walked through the gathered students, his long coat billowing slightly. His sharp, piercing gaze swept over us all before he finally spoke.

  "I see you've all formed your groups."

  His voice was calm but held an unmistakable authority. The murmurs died down instantly.

  The teacher nodded, satisfied. "Good. I’ll see you all tomorrow morning at the west border of the city. Be prepared. That is all."

  Without another word, he turned and left, leaving behind an eerie silence.

  For a moment, no one spoke.

  Then, the tension exploded into hushed conversations.

  "Did you hear that? He didn’t explain anything yet!"

  "What kind of survival training is this? Are they really going to just drop us into some random forest?"

  "Man, I hope the food situation isn't bad. I’m no hunter…"

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  My own teammates stood nearby, exchanging nervous glances. I, however, remained silent.

  Because I already had a feeling… this wasn’t going to be just a simple training exercise.

  ---

  The Next Morning – West Border of the City

  The sun had barely risen when we arrived at the west border.

  The area was a massive clearing, just beyond the towering walls of the city. Beyond it stretched a dense, endless forest—the place we’d soon be calling home for the next month.

  Our teacher stood before us once again, his arms folded as he observed the gathered students. Beside him were a few other instructors, all of them carrying what looked like magic-infused scrolls.

  Once everyone had assembled, he finally spoke.

  "Listen carefully. I will now explain the details of your survival training."

  All eyes locked onto him, the weight of his words settling in.

  "First," he began, "you must understand that this is not a competition. This is a test of survival. You will not be fighting each other."

  Some students exchanged confused glances.

  "Second," he continued, "this trial will last one full month. At the end of it, every team must return here… alive."

  The way he emphasized that last word sent a shiver through some of the weaker students.

  "Third," he said, holding up three fingers, "there are 'S-grade' students among you. They are not here to compete but to observe. Some will act as guides if necessary. However, if they deem a situation too dangerous, they have permission to interfere."

  The moment he said that, my eyes flicked toward the stronger students in our class.

  S-grade mages were on an entirely different level. Their presence meant this trial wouldn’t be easy.

  "Fourth," the teacher continued, "you must send a signal every morning to confirm your team's survival. This can be done by activating the signal scrolls you will be given. If a team fails to send a signal for two consecutive days, an S-grade student will investigate."

  A few students gulped nervously.

  "Fifth," he said, unfolding a map, "the forest you will be surviving in has five rivers. Water is essential for survival. Your first priority should be to locate a river. However, be warned—dangerous creatures lurk near them."

  More whispers broke out.

  Monsters? So, this wasn’t just about finding food and shelter.

  "And finally," he said, his gaze sweeping over us, "you will be graded not just on survival, but also on how well you adapt, strategize, and work as a team. The goal is not just to endure but to grow."

  Then, he added with a sharp look—"Remember: You are not to attack other teams. This is not a battlefield."

  Some students scoffed at that, clearly not taking it seriously.

  I, however, knew why he was emphasizing it so much.

  There would always be students who ignored the rules. Who thought that eliminating the competition would make them look stronger.

  And for them, this survival trial would be an entirely different kind of test.

  The teacher snapped his fingers, and the scrolls beside him floated toward each team.

  "These are your survival scrolls. They contain maps, a communication function, and an emergency distress signal. Use them wisely."

  As the scroll landed in my hands, I felt the faint pulse of magic inside it.

  It was no ordinary parchment.

  The teacher let a moment of silence pass before delivering his final words.

  "Now then… begin."

  A massive gust of wind swept through the clearing as a magic barrier shattered, revealing the entrance to the forest of trials.

  I exhaled slowly.

  This was it.

  The month-long test of survival had begun.