The white-robed man vanished, leaving only a flicker of light behind him. The glow dissolved into the breeze like morning mist, and silence fell once more over the students.
Confusion washed through the group like a wave.
"Who was that?"
"Did he say Elyndor?"
"What did he mean by 'a fragment of something ancient'?"
Amid the murmurs, one voice rose with unexpected calm.
"Everyone, come down here," said a boy from the back. His name was Riku Tanaka, the class representative. Known for his quiet resolve and calm logic, he stepped forward, his voice steady despite the panic surrounding him. "Let's get organized first."
Some students looked at him with teary eyes. Others followed slowly, still dazed.
"We need to stay together," Riku continued. "Panicking won't help. Let's figure this out. Maybe it's a dream. Maybe it's not. But whatever this is, we're in it together."
"Do you think we're in danger?" someone asked.
"I don't know," Riku replied. "But standing around won't change anything."
As they gathered near the riverbank, a rustling sound came from the trees.
Everyone froze.
From the edge of the forest, an old woman emerged.
She walked slowly, her back slightly hunched, a large woven basket hanging from one arm, filled with herbs and leaves that shimmered faintly in the sunlight. Her long white hair was braided down her back, and her robe was stitched with elegant runes that pulsed faintly.
A few students stepped back, startled.
"W-Who is she?"
The old woman approached calmly and looked over the group with eyes like ancient crystal. "So you're the ones he brought here," she said, her voice strong despite her age.
Kaito instinctively moved in front of Yuna, his body tense.
"Who are you?" Riku asked, stepping forward.
The old woman gave a dry chuckle. "I could ask you the same, boy."
She scanned their faces, noting the fear, the confusion. "Where is he?" she asked suddenly. "The man in white. Where did he go?"
"He disappeared," Kaito replied. "Just like that. Into thin air."
The woman sighed. "So soon… as always."
"I am Eira, guardian of the sacred boundary. And the man you saw was Master Arven, high mage of the ancient order. We are the ones assigned to prepare you."
"Prepare us?" Haruto asked. "For what?"
Eira looked out toward the mountains. "For what's coming. For what has already begun."
Riku stepped forward again. "Why us? What makes us so special?"
Eira turned toward him. "Each of you carries a spark — a trace of ancient energy — something long forgotten by your world. That spark is waking, and when it does, the veil between worlds grows weaker. You were summoned because you were chosen — not by us, but by the magic that still breathes in this land."
Akari raised her voice. "That's not fair. We didn't ask for this! We want to go home!"
Eira's expression darkened. "Then you should have never answered the call."
A hush swept over them like a cold wind.
"You were brought here not by accident, but by fate. You may want to return, but it is not possible… not yet."
Gasps erupted.
"What do you mean?"
"You can't just trap us here!"
"You're crazy!" someone cried.
Eira raised her hand, and suddenly the wind stopped.
"The laws of summoning are old," she said. "You can summon from your world, yes. But return? Only when your purpose is fulfilled — when your role in this world has been played."
Yuna looked down, her voice barely a whisper. "So… we're stuck here?"
"For now," Eira said. "This is not your world. This is mine. A world where spirits speak, where magic breathes through trees and rivers. Here, danger walks beneath the moonlight."
She gestured toward the forest. "The barrier that protects this area was cast to keep the wilds from swallowing it whole. Do not leave its bounds. The moment you do, you are prey."
The group fell silent.
A student sitting at the back murmured, "This is insane. I just wanted to pass midterms, not fight monsters."
"Tonight," Eira continued, "you must rest. You will need your strength. Tomorrow, I begin the tests to reveal your affinity. Only then can you begin to understand the powers buried within you."
She pointed toward a cave nestled against the base of the nearest mountain.
"That is where I reside. If you require aid, guidance, or anything else — you may find me there."
With that, she turned, her robe trailing behind her like a slow-moving wave, and disappeared into the dark mouth of the cave.
Silence lingered like smoke.
Riku turned toward the others. "Alright. First things first — shelter."
He clapped his hands. "Let's break into groups. We'll need food, fire, shelter, and a way to keep watch."
Some nodded, grateful for something to do. Others hesitated, their legs still trembling.
"I don't know how to build a tent," a girl said nervously, clutching her school bag.
"You'll be on the cooking team," Riku said. "Gather fruits and prepare food with others. Make sure it's edible. Haruto and I will work on the camps."
Another boy raised his hand. "I'll help collect firewood."
"I'll get a group for that too. Be careful. Don't go beyond the light trees. Stay within shouting range."
Soon the class was in motion. Girls formed a cooking station near the river, using stones to build a makeshift stove. Some students started collecting branches and leaves to craft shelters, using broken sticks and rope from their bags. Others sorted dry twigs for the fire. The smell of cut bark and fresh earth filled the air.
Kaito and Haruto were lashing branches together for tents. Yuna sat beside the cooking group, sorting fruits with her friend. Akari was alone, tying together leafy coverings for shelter with tense precision.
Despite the uncertainty, there was a sense of unity — of shared purpose. Even the smallest task gave them focus. Gave them hope.
Later that evening, the students gathered around a central fire. Smoke curled lazily into the sky as they ate their simple meal of boiled roots and roasted nuts. No one complained. They were too tired, too shaken. But for the first time, there was a flicker of resilience.
Kaito stared into the fire, the flames reflecting in his eyes. "This place… it feels real," he whispered.
Haruto, seated beside him, nodded. "Yeah. Too real to be a dream."
Yuna sat across from them, quiet. Her thoughts were distant, like the stars starting to peek through the darkening sky.
Someone laughed quietly. It sounded out of place but welcome. A moment of nervous relief.
"Do you think we'll all get magic?" a girl asked suddenly, eyes wide.
"Maybe we'll all turn into anime heroes," a boy joked, earning a few snorts.
Even in fear, they found the courage to smile.
But inside — everyone wondered the same thing:
What happens next?
End of Chapter 14