The forested slopes ahead were thick and green, the air damp with the scent of pine and dew. Clouds clung low to the hills, and the trees moved gently in the mountain breeze.
Valerick led the unit in his black robes trimmed with faint purplish threads. Behind him strode the other instructors, Ravnar in deep red, Ethan in yellow-white ceremonial robes, and Mason in his familiar black cloak. He was somewhat taller than the other three, who were of average build.
Larsen felt something off about the place. The warmth he had sensed in Devarth Hollow was slowly draining away with every step they took toward Moran's Reach.
"The atmosphere here…" Larsen muttered, inching slightly closer to Fiona.
"It's a little... off."
He couldn't point to a specific thing, no shadow in the trees, no strange sound in the wind. Just a growing weight in his chest, as if the land itself was holding its breath
"You're just overthinking it," Fiona said with a soft smile, walking beside him. "It's the same as earlier."
"If you say so," Larsen mumbled, but his face said otherwise
***
Valerick stopped beside a large boulder, and those under his command fell into place around him without a word. He unrolled the field map.
"Ravnar, scout ahead. Take the map. Look for any changes or unnatural patterns."
"On it," Ravnar nodded, his cloak swaying as he moved into the trees.
Ravnar was a Third-Form Air Mage, able to sense currents more than normal humans. It allowed him to feel minute shifts in pressure, the breath of movement, even silence too perfect to be natural.
Back at the post, the others waited.
"We still don't know who they worship," Mason muttered in his thick, stern voice.
Different worshipers have different abilities depending on the god they worship.
"I can go check if needed," Aren offered, a student with air affinity.
"No," Valerick said firmly. "If they recognise you're from the Academy, things will get difficult for us."
Twenty minutes later, Ravnar returned.
He came to the map and pointed to an area with a look of concern.
"The area's quiet, but…" he tapped the map, "this zone feels strange. I came closer to it, but there was nothing."
"Mark it," Valerick said. "We'll avoid it for now."
"What do you suggest for forward posts?" he asked Ravnar.
"For a basic strategy with elevation and surround potential, these two ridges," Ravnar pointed out, "would give us the best coverage."
Valerick nodded. "We'll divide our long-range mages equally between the posts."
But Ethan stepped forward, frowning. "That's close to the suspicious area."
He wasn't having any of it. Unlike the others, he was always suspicious of things.
"It'll be fine," Ravnar replied.
Ravnar was the more carefree one
"We don't overlook suspicions. That's the first rule of fighting Holmen," Ethan said sharply.
"They aren't Holmen," Ravnar reminded him.
"They're the same. Twisted minds and twisted ends," Ethan muttered.
Valerick sighed. "Alright. Let's check this area first."
He turned to the cadets, who stood just behind, not in perfect order, but listening nonetheless.
"Cadets, protect the students at all costs. Nothing will happen, but if it does, follow Kael's command without question."
Kael was of average height, and his armour looked expensive. He didn't seem very serious, but not too carefree either, just somewhere in the middle.
***
Valerick and other instructors moved carefully, up and over the grassy hills. It was lush and almost quiet. Birds fluttered, but their songs were distant.
At first, they looked around but didn't find anything. Then, Valerick suddenly stopped.
"There. Something moved."
Among the trees stood a girl no more than ten. Thin and barefoot, her clothes torn. Her hair was dishevelled, as if she'd just woken up. She was looking at the sky, smiling, murmuring something.
"Hey, kiddo," Valerick called softly.
She didn't respond.
"Hey!" he repeated, louder.
Still nothing.
Ethan's face darkened. "I told you."
"Calm down," Ravnar muttered.
"Hey... kid!" Valerick said again, louder, stepping closer.
The girl looked up and stared at Valerick.
"You aren't from here. Are you?"
Valerick stepped forward, raising his voice. "We're travellers. Just passing through. Leaving tomorrow."
"What are you doing here?" Valerick added.
The girl tilted her head but said nothing.
"She hears less, probably," Ravnar added.
"I'm going back to check on the kids," Ethan grumbled. He was frustrated at them. So he decided to turn towards the place where they left the cadets.
When he reached the place where cadets and students were supposed to be waiting for them, he found no one there. He panicked.
"Where are the kids?"
His eyes widened.
"Ravnar! Valerick! It's a distraction!"
Valerick and the others weren't too far; the voice could easily reach them.
They immediately turned. Mason grabbed the girl by the arm.
"Let me go!" she screamed. "Where are you taking me?!"
When they got there, the cadets and students were nowhere to be seen, but then a voice called out from beyond the thick bushes
"We're here!" Rowan shouted as the cadets and students burst from the distant trees.
"Where were you? You should have told us before moving." Ravnar shouted.
"Larsen brought us," Rowan answered. "He felt something off."
"You should come and check this too.", Kael added.
The instructors followed him.
"Look." He pointed. Faint runes beneath their feet.
"These are…" he trailed off.
"Battle formations. For traps," Mason confirmed. "The enemy predicted our move?" He was confused.
"But this one's much older, probably several months... and I don't think it's even active anymore"
***
"What do we do with the girl?" Ravnar asked.
She was struggling to wrench herself free from Mason's grip.
Valerick glanced at her, then nodded. "Let her go."
"She's scared of you, Mason. And why would you leave a little kid with him?" Ravnar said, half jokingly.
Ethan, however, looked genuinely concerned. "She's seen us," he growled
"She's just a kid," Ravnar argued. "They'll know we're not monsters if we let her walk."
"She's innocent," Valerick affirmed, giving Ethan a small nod of reassurance.
They released her. She hesitated, then walked away, disappearing into the thick forest.