Dawn broke crisp and cold over the Academy's southern gate.
A small caravan of armored wagons, scouts, and instructors waited quietly beneath the rising sun. Students—those selected for their first field mission—gathered one by one, most still groggy from lack of sleep but burning with nervous anticipation.
Eryon arrived early.
His cloak swayed in the wind, and his sword rested at his hip. He exchanged nods with Kael and Ryn, both of whom had been assigned different missions. Their goodbyes were short, but heavy with meaning.
Alice arrived second.
Her hair was tied back into a high braid, her posture perfect, her eyes focused and unreadable. She didn't look at Eryon as she joined the small group of students forming around the lead wagon.
Eryon, for his part, didn't know whether to say something or not. He had barely seen her since the final day of the tournament.
Before he could decide, a grizzled instructor wearing a dark crimson mantle stepped forward.
"Listen up!" he barked. "I'm Instructor Braedon. You'll be under my command for this mission. We're headed to the western border of the Dawnridge Province. There have been reports of increasing beast activity near a settlement called Thalden's Hollow. Your job is to protect the caravan, assist the locals, and survive."
He paced slowly in front of them.
"Make no mistake—this is not training. Out there, failure has consequences."
The students stiffened.
Braedon gestured to the group. "Ten of you. No more. No less. One team. You rise together or you fall together."
Eryon glanced at Alice. She was watching Braedon intently, her expression hard.
A strange tightness pulled in his chest.
I need to talk to her, he thought. Before something happens and it's too late.
The group mounted the wagons. The journey would take several days.
The road out of the capital was wide and well-guarded at first. Forests lined either side, peaceful and undisturbed. But as hours passed, the signs of the frontier crept in: cracked stone roads, trees with claw marks, an eerie silence deeper than any fog.
Around the campfire that night, conversation was minimal. Most were too tired—or too tense—to speak freely.
Eryon sat alone with his thoughts until Alice suddenly walked past and paused.
She didn't say anything. Just sat across from him, arms folded.
"You really going to mope the entire trip?" she asked flatly.
Eryon blinked. "You're talking to me?"
"I'm not blind. You're acting like a kicked puppy. And it's annoying."
He looked down at the fire. "I didn't want to fight you because I respect you."
"That's not how this world works," she replied, her voice sharp. "Next time, fight me. Win or lose. Just don't humiliate both of us again."
She stood and walked away, leaving Eryon staring at the fire, speechless.