Seasons had turned since my first bewildered days at the academy. The crisp air of early autumn now carried the scent of decaying leaves and woodsmoke, a sharp contrast to the humid weight of the summer when I had first confronted Cain on the training grounds. In the intervening months, a fragile routine had settled over our squad, one that now strangely included Cain's quiet presence.
On this particular morning, that routine was shattered. The entire student body stood assembled on the main parade ground, a sea of uniforms shifting restlessly under a pale, cloud-streaked sky. The air crackled with a mixture of anticipation and dread.
Headmaster Thorne stood before us on the raised dais, his steel-grey hair and severe posture casting a long shadow across the assembled students. "Silence," he commanded, and the field fell utterly still.
"Your assessment will take place in a controlled sector of the proving canyon," he began, his voice cutting through the morning air. "The mana density there is low; the most powerful beast you will encounter is Rank D." He paused, letting the classification hang in the air. "Do not let that fool you. A Rank D Clawstrider can still gut you. The terrain itself is your enemy."
His next words were delivered with chilling precision. "I want you all to know that death is a possibility. We are building adventurers and guardians to protect our home against the wild beasts that spawn from the very mana that gives you power. This assessment is your first taste of that truth."
As Headmaster Thorne continued his grim briefing, a familiar golden script burned in my vision:
[New Quest: 'The First Proving'
Objective: Survive 48 hours in Whispering Woods and retrieve squad token]
[Success Rewards: 400 EXP, 5 Star Points, New Skill]
[Bonus Objective: First squad to retrieve token]
[Bonus Reward: 100 Additional EXP]
My breath caught. Four hundred EXP. That was more than I'd earned in three months of training. At Level 5 with 125/600 EXP, this was my chance - not just to pass the assessment, but to actually level up. To grow stronger. To maybe, just maybe, reach for that Dragon King's legacy waiting at Level 10.
I glanced at my squad - Kael's sharp eyes already scanning for threats, Lira's coiled readiness, Wren's barely-contained energy, Raven's calculating gaze, and Cain's grim determination. They saw this as a test. I saw it as a grinding spot.
The woods were dangerous, yes. But controlled. The beasts were Rank D at strongest - manageable with our team. This was the perfect environment to push my limits, to test my skills in real combat where the stakes were survival itself.
I wouldn't just survive this assessment. I would dominate it. Every beast we encountered would be EXP. Every challenge would be a chance to improve. That 400 EXP would push me well into Level 6, maybe even to Level 7 if I could secure the bonus.
This wasn't just about passing a test anymore. This was about securing my new life, about growing strong enough that nothing - not beasts, not nobles, not even my own past - could take it from me.
As Headmaster Thorne dismissed us to prepare, I felt the Dragon Soul Ignition pulse warmly in my chest. It wasn't just acknowledging the quest - it was hungry for the challenge to come.
"Alright team," I said, turning to face them. "Let's make this count."