A Year Later
"Listen up, everyone!" Derek's voice thundered across the auditorium through the voice transducer. The chatter of twenty first-year students died instantly. He stood tall at the front of the hall, gaze sharp as he swept it across the sea of young faces.
"Today, all of you will embark on your first expedition — the monster hunt! This will be your very first field test, and your performance will be evaluated by the seniors assigned to you."
The announcement drew immediate cheers.
"Yeah!"
"This is going to be fun!"
"I can't wait to fight some monsters!"
"I'm not finished!" Derek snapped, and the excitement collapsed into silence again. His eyes hardened. "Since the teachers won't waste their time babysitting you, the responsibility of guiding and scoring you will fall to your seniors. Work with them. Learn from them. Don't get yourselves killed."
Five figures stepped up beside him. "These are the ones in charge of you. First — Blade. Second, Jack. Third, Alex. Fourth, Raphael. And finally, Betty. They'll explain everything else. Good luck."
Without another word, Derek handed the transducer to Blade and walked off.
Blade, tall with striking purple hair, lifted the device and addressed the group. "I'm Blade, a third-year. Here's how this will work: our destination is the outskirts of Willow Town, specifically the forest that surrounds it. The place is crawling with monsters, but we will not go too deep. High-rank monsters lurk in the inner regions — that is forbidden territory. Stay sharp, follow instructions, and avoid unnecessary trouble. Make sure you've got your weapons and supplies ready. We leave immediately."
The seniors led the first-years out through the main gate, where a long black bus waited with the engine idling.
"It'll be a four-hour journey," Blade warned. "Settle in."
One by one the first-years climbed aboard, murmuring with excitement. The five seniors took the back row, while the younger students filled the front. Soon the bus rumbled onto the road, and the chatter began again.
"Man, I can't wait to slay some monsters!" one boy shouted.
"Same here, Mark," his friend laughed. "But remember, it's the seniors who'll grade us. Think they'll be strict?"
Mark shrugged. "We'll be fine."
"I heard the one with the black hair doesn't talk to anyone except his friend," the boy muttered, glancing back toward Alex.
"You mean Senior Alex?" Mark asked. "Why would that be a problem?"
The boy opened his mouth to answer, then sighed and let it go. "Forget it."
"Don't listen to Jezz," another student, Peter, chimed in. "He's just being paranoid."
Mark frowned, then stole a glance at Alex, who sat by the window, face unreadable, eyes fixed outside. 'He doesn't seem so bad,' Mark thought.
At the back, Betty nudged Alex. "Hey. You're the talk of the bus," she teased. "Those kids up front can't stop whispering about you."
Alex didn't move his gaze from the window.
Betty pouted. "You're no fun. Loosen up a little."
"He's always like this," Jack cut in, his tone sharp. His eyes narrowed at Alex's back. "Ever since Klein died. And it was his fault Klein died in the first place, so of course he mopes around."
Betty's expression hardened. "Jack, shut it. Don't talk nonsense."
"Why pretend everything's fine when it's not?" Jack snapped back. His voice was low but carried venom. "Klein was one of us. He should have been sitting here with us now — but because of him—" He jabbed a finger at Alex. "—he died. I'll never forgive that."
"That's enough," Blade's voice cut through, firm and commanding. Jack glared but said nothing more. Blade's gaze flicked toward Alex, who hadn't moved an inch. "What's done is done. No one is to blame Klein's death on anyone here. It's been a year — let the past rest."
Silence hung heavy over the back row. Only the drone of the bus filled the air.
Up front, Mark had overheard enough to sense the weight of the story. His eyes lingered on Alex, who still stared out the window as if none of it touched him. Mark couldn't look away for the rest of the journey.
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Finally, the bus arrived at the outskirts of Willow Town—a place where the air felt heavier, where the forest stretched endlessly, filled with dry grasses and trees that looked lifeless yet refused to shed their leaves. The bus halted at the entrance, and one by one, the students alighted. The first-years looked around in awe at the eerie beauty: the pale colors of the trees, the strangely vibrant sky, and the haunting chorus of unseen birds.
"Let's get going," Blade ordered, leading the group into the forest. After walking for some time, they reached a clearer area that seemed safer than the rest. Blade halted. "We'll stay here. It's getting dark, so no activities until morning. Betty, Jack—get the tents ready."
Betty nodded without protest, but Jack scowled. "What about Alex? Don't tell me he gets to sit and do nothing."
Blade's expression hardened. "Don't challenge my orders unless you're ready for severe punishment." Without another word, he turned and strode toward the first-year students.
"Damn it," Jack muttered under his breath, reluctantly joining Betty. Everyone knew Blade was the acting leader on missions like this—defying him meant punishment, sometimes from Blade himself, other times from the Dean. Jack hated his methods, but even more than that, he hated having no choice but to obey.
"Feeling bitter again?" Betty asked casually as she pitched one of the tents.
Jack clicked his tongue, ignoring her.
"You just have to get along with the kid. He's not as bad as you think," she teased, her eyes flicking toward Alex.
"That'll be over my dead body," Jack snapped, moving away.
Betty smirked faintly. "Well then, I hope you don't die anytime soon," she murmured, returning to her work.
---
Meanwhile, Alex and Raphael stood at a distance, quietly watching the others.
"Hey, what's the matter? You don't look good," Raphael asked softly.
"It's nothing," Alex replied flatly, his gaze distant.
"Jack's always getting on your nerves. I'm starting to dislike him myself," Raphael muttered, his eyes narrowing toward Jack.
"I couldn't care less. Let him be," Alex said without emotion.
Raphael sighed and dropped the subject.
"They're done with our tent," Alex said after a moment. "Let's put our stuff inside."
They went in, unpacked quickly, and soon stepped out again to wander around the forest.
"This place is quite safe," Raphael observed.
"I'd say it's awfully quiet," Alex countered, eyes sharp.
"Isn't that good? No monsters around to cause trouble."
"That's what you think. I hope you're right," Alex muttered, turning back toward the camp.
When they returned, everyone was gathered around a fire, some preparing dinner. Alex walked over to Blade, who sat alone, while Raphael joined the cooks.
"Want some?" Blade asked, holding out a small bottle.
Alex took it. "What is this?"
"Alcohol. You're eighteen—you're old enough."
Alex hesitated, then opened the bottle and sniffed it. The scent was sharp but oddly pleasant. He took a sip.
"Well?" Blade asked, watching closely.
"It's… nice. I like it," Alex admitted, taking another sip.
For the first time in a while, Blade smiled. "I've got more if you want it."
Alex studied him for a moment. "Why are you being nice to me?"
Blade met his gaze steadily. "Because you need to stop blaming yourself for the past. It's time to move on. I'm sure he'd want that."
Alex looked away and drank in silence.
They spoke no further until dinner was served. After eating, everyone retreated to their tents for the night.
.
.
.
The camp fell into silence—until a faint, eerie cry pierced the air. Then another. Soon, multiple cries echoed across the forest, thin and haunting, like human babies wailing in the dark. Students stirred but none dared to leave their tents.
Inside his tent, Raphael sat up. "Hey, do you hear that?"
"Yes," Alex replied.
"It sounds like… a baby crying," Raphael whispered uneasily.
"True. I'll check it out," Alex said, starting to rise.
"Don't. It could be dangerous," Raphael warned, grabbing his arm. "And you're drunk. Look at you—your face is red."
"I'm fine," Alex said, pulling away. "Stay here. Don't follow me."
He stepped out. The cries stopped immediately, as if silenced by his presence. Alex scanned the shadows, but he saw nothing. With a hiss of annoyance, he turned to go back—only to sense something rushing at him. In a flash, he spun and caught it.