Von, Helen, Robin, the Priest, and Maya spent the rest of the night in the cave.
They are the remaining survivors out of the original one hundred expeditionists.
The group was exhausted. Their bodies were sore from the long walk through the forest, and their minds were still shaken from the monster they had fought earlier. It had taken all of their strength to survive, and now, they were finally able to rest, at least for a while.
Von thought to himself, "I've lost everything—my comrades, my friends, and my future. The chance to compete for the Academy is gone. This was supposed to be my final year as a senior, but now representing Robert's Magic Academy feels impossible. It will badly affect my chances of becoming a Mage at Robert's Tower. I've failed as a squad leader."
He closed his eyes slowly, the weight of guilt pressing down on him. And so, Von fell asleep, still holding his staff, haunted by his mistakes and failures.
