Avalon Boot Camp
Dawn broke over Avalon Forest with an unnatural stillness. The six officers awoke to find their bodies felt strangely hollow, as if something essential had been drained away during the night. Aurelia was the first to notice, attempting to summon a small light to check their supplies in the dim morning.
Nothing happened.
"My mana," she gasped, trying again with growing alarm. "It's gone."
The others quickly discovered the same. The familiar reservoir of magical energy that every Fae possessed from birth had vanished, leaving only a faint echo where that power should be.
"Not gone," came Father's voice as he emerged from the trees. "Suppressed."
They scrambled to attention, their movements sluggish without the subtle enhancement mana provided to Fae bodies.
"Week three begins now," Father announced, his expression grave. "In the Human Realm, there is no Mana Tree. The ambient mana you've taken for granted your entire lives doesn't exist there."
Leonidas frowned. "But our weapons, our armor..."
"Will be severely limited," Father finished for him. "Mana replenishes very slowly in the Human Realm. This is why the MR1 was created." He gestured, and Instructor Grimm approached, carrying a crate that he set down before them.
Inside were six MR1s, similar to Iris's weapon but with slight variations.
"The Magic Rifle One," Father explained, lifting one for demonstration. "It fires concentrated mana bullets. The weapon itself requires minimal mana to operate, conserving your limited reserves for combat."
Iris stepped forward, her expertise evident as she examined the weapons. "These are different from my model."
"Improved," Father nodded. "Dwarves can craft the casings while Elves form the bullets themselves. This symbiosis is how you will fight in the Human Realm, like humans but taking advantage of your natural Fae abilities in unique ways."
He handed each of them an MR1, along with ammunition belts. "For the next week, all direct magic use is banned from your training. You will learn to fight without the crutch of spells and enchantments. You will experience what it means to face an enemy on more equal terms."
Damian looked particularly stricken. The Dwelf had relied heavily on his superior mana control to compensate for his physical limitations. Without it, he appeared smaller, less confident.
"This isn't just about combat," Father continued. "It's about understanding. Humans have achieved remarkable things without magic. Their ingenuity, their determination, their will to survive; these are qualities you must respect if you hope to defeat them."
He signaled to Grimm, who distributed small devices to each officer.
"Mana meters," Father explained. "They will monitor any unconscious use of magic. Violations will result in... consequences."
The ominous pause hung in the air before Father continued.
"Today's exercise is simple: survive. You have your MR1s, basic supplies, and whatever physical skills you possess. Senior officers acting as human soldiers will hunt you throughout the forest. If captured, you will experience interrogation techniques used by humans in their wars."
A chill ran through the group at Father's words.
"Remember," Father said, his voice softening slightly, "this is still training. But the pain will be real. The fear will be real. Because in war, everything is real."
With that, he vanished into the forest, leaving them alone with their new weapons and the unsettling awareness of their magical vulnerability.
"We have ten minutes before they start hunting us," Aurelia said, checking her mana meter. "Suggestions?"
Julian immediately took charge of their tactical planning. "Without magic, we need to rely on terrain and stealth. Iris, can you give us a crash course on the MR1s?"
The Desert Dwarf nodded, quickly demonstrating the weapon's operation. "Aim, breathe, squeeze but do not pull the trigger. The recoil is minimal, but your accuracy will suffer beyond fifty yards without practice."
"What about ammunition?" Leonidas asked, examining the bullets with an inventor's curiosity.
"Limited," Iris replied. "Twenty rounds each. Use them wisely."
Lucius looked concernedly at Silver. The dire wolf seemed unaffected by the mana suppression, but without magical communication, their bond felt diminished. "Will Silver still understand commands?"
"He's intelligent," Julian assured him. "Magic enhanced your communication, but it didn't create it."
Aurelia checked her timepiece. "Five minutes. We need to move."
"Split up or stay together?" Damian asked, awkwardly adjusting his MR1's strap.
"Together," Aurelia decided. "We complement each other's strengths and weaknesses, especially now."
They moved out in a defensive formation, Julian taking point with Lucius and Silver flanking. Without mana-enhanced senses, they had to rely entirely on natural perception – a significant disadvantage for Fae accustomed to magical awareness.
The forest, once a familiar training ground, now seemed alien and threatening. Every shadow might hide an attacker, every sound a potential ambush. They moved slowly, deliberately, conserving energy and maintaining vigilance.
By midday, they had successfully evaded three patrols, using terrain and natural camouflage rather than illusion magic. The physical strain was becoming evident; without mana to sustain them, fatigue set in more quickly, muscles ached more persistently.
"We need water," Damian said, his voice raspy. The Dwelf was struggling most visibly, his hybrid physiology particularly dependent on mana for optimal function.
Julian led them to a small stream he had noted earlier. As they refilled canteens, a twig snapped nearby.
"Down!" Iris hissed, dropping to a prone position and raising her MR1 in one fluid motion.
The others followed suit just as three "human soldiers" emerged from the underbrush, their own weapons raised. For a moment, both sides froze in mutual surprise.
Then chaos erupted.
Iris fired first, her bullet striking one attacker in the shoulder. The impact released a burst of blue energy that temporarily paralyzed the target, non-lethal but effective. The other two soldiers returned fire, forcing the officers to scatter for cover.
Leonidas rolled behind a fallen log, squeezing off two shots that went wide. "These things aren't like Dwarven crossbows!" he shouted in frustration.
"Steady your breathing!" Iris called back, demonstrating remarkable calm as she lined up another shot.
Aurelia found herself pinned down behind a boulder, unable to maneuver. Without her magic, the graceful combat style she had perfected over years of training was severely compromised. She had to think differently, adapt.
Observing the pattern of enemy fire, she waited for a brief pause, then signaled to Julian across the clearing. He nodded in understanding, preparing to provide covering fire.
"Three, two, one," she counted down silently, then burst from cover as Julian and Iris fired simultaneously, drawing the attackers' attention.
Aurelia sprinted not away from the danger but toward it, closing the distance before the surprised soldier could adjust his aim. She struck with the butt of her MR1, a solid blow to the solar plexus that doubled the man over. A second strike to the back of his neck dropped him unconscious.
"Clear!" she called, securing the fallen soldier's weapon.
The skirmish had lasted less than a minute, but the officers were breathing heavily, adrenaline surging through their bodies. This was different from Dungeon battles or even the previous week's exercises. Without magic, combat felt raw, immediate, and terrifyingly personal.
"We should move," Julian urged, already scanning for signs of reinforcements. "That gunfire will attract others."
They retreated deeper into the forest, moving with renewed urgency. The encounter had shaken them, but also provided valuable lessons. They began to adjust their tactics, relying more on physical skills and environmental advantages.
Lucius discovered that Silver's acute senses were invaluable for detecting approaching patrols. The dire wolf would alert them with subtle changes in body language rather than the magical signals they had previously relied upon.
Leonidas, stripped of his magical enhancements, focused on applying mechanical principles to their defense, creating simple traps from natural materials; trip wires, pitfalls, and alarm systems that required no magic to function.
As dusk approached, they established a defensible position in a small cave, concealing the entrance with branches and foliage. Exhaustion had settled deep into their bones, a new experience for Fae accustomed to mana-refreshed bodies.
"How do humans live like this?" Damian wondered aloud, massaging his aching legs. "Everything hurts."
"They're used to it," Julian replied. "They've evolved without magic, so their bodies and minds are adapted to these limitations."
"It's more than that," Aurelia said thoughtfully. "Without magic as a shortcut, they've had to develop different kinds of strength. Ingenuity. Resilience."
Iris nodded, field-stripping her MR1 with practiced movements. "The MR1 itself is proof of that. It's a Dwarven design inspired by human firearms, adapted to use mana instead of chemical propellants."
"Speaking of which," Leonidas interjected, "ammunition check. How are we all doing?"
The inventory was concerning. Between the skirmish and a few warning shots fired during close calls throughout the day, they had each used nearly half their ammunition. At this rate, they would be defenseless by the following evening.
"We need to be more selective with our shots," Aurelia decided. "And develop alternative tactics for when ammunition runs out."
They established a watch rotation and tried to rest, though sleep came fitfully in the unfamiliar silence of their mana-suppressed bodies. Each of them felt strangely vulnerable, as if a protective layer had been stripped away.
Dawn brought new challenges. A heavy fog had settled over the forest, limiting visibility to mere yards. They moved cautiously, staying close to avoid separation.
"Something's wrong," Lucius whispered suddenly. "Silver's acting strange."
The dire wolf was growling softly, hackles raised, but his attention wasn't focused outward toward potential threats. Instead, he was staring at Damian.
The Dwelf had fallen slightly behind, his movements sluggish. As they watched, he stumbled, catching himself against a tree trunk.
Julian reached him first. "You're burning up," he said, pressing a hand to Damian's forehead.
"I'm fine," Damian insisted weakly. "Just tired."
Aurelia examined him more closely. "This isn't normal fatigue. Something's wrong."
Leonidas noticed it first – the mana meter at Damian's belt was flashing red. "He's in mana withdrawal."
"That's impossible," Iris argued. "We're all mana-suppressed, but none of us are showing symptoms like this."
"His hybrid physiology," Leonidas realized. "Dwelves must require a constant mana flow to maintain biological balance. Without it..."
"He's dying," Aurelia concluded grimly. "We need to get him to Father or Grimm immediately."
The mission parameters suddenly seemed irrelevant compared to their comrade's life. They fashioned a stretcher from branches and cloaks, taking turns carrying Damian as they headed toward the central command post where Father would likely be monitoring the exercise.
Their direct approach made them easy targets. Within an hour, they encountered a major patrol; at least ten "human soldiers" blocking their path.
"We need medical assistance!" Aurelia called out, hoping the severity of the situation would pause the exercise.
The patrol leader assessed them coldly. "Surrender your weapons and we'll consider it."
"This isn't part of the exercise," Leonidas protested. "He needs real help!"
"In war, soldiers fall ill. Enemies rarely call truces for medical evacuations," the leader replied. "Surrender or retreat."
The six officers exchanged glances, a silent communication born from weeks of training together. Without words, they reached a consensus.
"Cover me," Aurelia said quietly, handing her MR1 to Julian.
Before anyone could stop her, she stepped forward into the open, hands raised. "I surrender myself as a prisoner. In exchange, you allow my squad to evacuate our wounded."
The patrol leader considered this, then nodded. "Acceptable. You come with us; they can proceed with their casualty."
Julian started to protest, but Aurelia silenced him with a look. "Get Damian to safety. That's an order."
As the others reluctantly continued toward the command post with Damian, Aurelia was bound and blindfolded by the patrol. They marched her through the forest for what seemed like hours before arriving at a small clearing where a tent had been erected.
Inside, she was secured to a chair and the blindfold removed. Instructor Grimm sat across from her, his expression unreadable.
"Prisoner secured for interrogation, sir," reported the patrol leader before exiting the tent.
"Do you know why you're here, Cadet Pendragon?" Grimm asked, his voice unnervingly calm.
"To experience human interrogation techniques," Aurelia replied steadily.
Grimm nodded. "Correct. But more importantly, to understand the choices war forces upon you." He leaned forward. "You sacrificed yourself for your squad. Noble, but now you possess information that could endanger them if extracted."
Aurelia's mouth went dry as she realized the implications. "I don't have any information worth extracting."
"Don't you?" Grimm smiled thinly. "You know their numbers, their remaining ammunition, their condition, their heading. All valuable intelligence to an enemy."
For the next several hours, Grimm demonstrated various interrogation methods; sleep deprivation, psychological manipulation, simulated drowning. Though carefully controlled to prevent permanent harm, the techniques were terrifyingly effective. Aurelia resisted as long as she could, drawing on her training and inner strength.
But without mana to fortify her mind and body, her defenses eventually crumbled. By nightfall, she had revealed everything Grimm wanted to know.
When it was over, she sat trembling; not from physical pain, but from the shame of betrayal.
"Don't judge yourself too harshly," Grimm said, his voice gentler than she had ever heard it. "Even the strongest humans break under these conditions. What matters is what you learn from this experience."
Meanwhile, the remaining officers had reached the command post with Damian, whose condition had deteriorated rapidly. Father immediately suspended the mana suppression field around the Dwelf, allowing healing magic to be administered.
"Will he recover?" Julian asked anxiously as medics worked on their comrade.
"Yes," Father assured them. "Though this was an unexpected complication. Dwelf physiology is more dependent on ambient mana than I had realized."
As Damian stabilized, Leonidas confronted Father directly. "What about Aurelia? She sacrificed herself for us."
"She made a choice," Father replied. "As commanders often must."
"We need to rescue her," Lucius insisted, Silver growling in agreement beside him.
Father studied them thoughtfully. "Without magic? With limited ammunition? Against superior numbers?"
"Yes," Iris said firmly, checking her MR1's remaining rounds. "That's what humans would do for their comrades, isn't it?"
A faint smile crossed Father's face. "Some..." He gestured to a map spread across a table. "Her likely location is here. The choice to attempt rescue is yours, but be warned; this is still part of your training. There will be no special allowances."
The four officers gathered around the map, quickly formulating a plan. With Damian under medical care, they were further reduced in strength, but determination compensated for their disadvantage.
They moved out at midnight, using darkness as cover. Without mana-enhanced night vision, they relied on moonlight and Silver's guidance. Their approach to the interrogation camp was slow, methodical, and entirely physical; no magical shortcuts, no enhanced abilities.
Julian located the sentries' positions by observing subtle signs; disturbed foliage, footprints, the occasional glint of metal in moonlight. Iris positioned herself on a ridge overlooking the camp, her MR1 trained on key targets. Leonidas and Lucius, with Silver, prepared for close-quarters extraction once the guards were neutralized.
The rescue was neither elegant nor flashy, just careful planning and precise execution. When it was over, they retreated into the forest with Aurelia, who was physically unharmed but emotionally shaken by her interrogation experience.
"I told them everything," she confessed once they were safely away. "I couldn't hold out."
"None of us could have," Julian assured her. "That's the point of this exercise, to understand our limitations without magic."
As dawn broke on the fourth day of week three, they returned to the command post. Father was waiting for them, his expression solemn but approving.
"You've begun to understand," he said. "Without magic, war becomes a test of more fundamental qualities; courage, loyalty, adaptability. Humans have refined these qualities through centuries of conflict."
He gestured for them to sit as medics checked their condition. Damian had recovered enough to join them, though he remained weak.
"The Human Realm will strip you of advantages you've taken for granted your entire lives," Father continued. "But it will not leave you helpless. Your Fae nature provides strengths that humans don't possess, longer lifespans for accumulated knowledge, naturally enhanced physical attributes, and the ability to use what little mana exists there more efficiently."
He picked up one of their MR1s, examining it thoughtfully. "This weapon represents the future of Fae warfare, a blend of human ingenuity and Fae capability. Dwarves craft the vessel, Elves provide the power. Together, you create something neither could achieve alone."
Father set the weapon down and looked at each of them in turn. "Week three has tested your hearts by forcing you to confront vulnerability, sacrifice, and the raw nature of combat without magical enhancement. You've experienced a fraction of what humans have endured throughout their history."
His voice grew softer, almost sad. "And perhaps now you understand why they became what they are, both their brutality and their remarkable resilience."
As the officers absorbed Father's words, they realized how profoundly the week had changed them. Without magic, they had discovered different kinds of strength within themselves and each other. They had experienced fear, pain, and limitation in ways no Dungeon simulation could replicate.
"Rest today," Father instructed. "Week four begins tomorrow, and it will build upon everything you've learned so far."
That night, as they recovered in the relative comfort of the command post, the six officers spoke little. Each was processing their experiences differently. Aurelia coming to terms with her vulnerability during interrogation, Damian confronting his physiological dependence on mana, the others reconciling their new understanding of warfare without magic.
But one thing had become clear to all of them: the coming conflict with Alexander's humans would not be the glorious, magic-enhanced battle they had imagined during their Academy days. It would be brutal, personal, and fought as much with will and ingenuity as with weapons and tactics.
As they drifted into exhausted sleep, each wondered what new challenges week four would bring, and whether they were truly becoming the officers Father needed them to be for the war that loomed on the horizon.