The day of the trip finally came.
I was in a foul mood from the start—mainly because Ryen, convinced I'd try to skip out, dragged me out of bed and hauled me to the academy at an ungodly hour.
"Hey, everyone. We already met briefly at orientation, but let me properly introduce myself this time. I'm Aric Aakala, head of the travel club Horizon Walkers. I'm a third-year, majoring in swordsmanship."
After a short wait, the senior stepped forward. He had a solid build and a confident air that immediately drew attention.
"Some of you freshmen might be worried about this trip, especially since it's right before midterms," he said with a grin. "But honestly, written exams aren't that big of a deal here. So instead of stressing, just treat this like a day with no homework. Relax and have fun."
A few chuckles spread through the crowd. He clearly knew how to handle gatherings like this, casually tossing out jokes that cut through the morning stiffness.
