Within the forest, all was still. The restless chorus of insects and the occasional howl of wind threading through the trees made for such a peaceful night. The moon hung high in the sky, its light casting a shimmering reflection upon the surface of the nearby pond.
At the modest camp beside it, three students lay in uneasy slumber. While Caelus remained propped against the base of a tree outside, Kain and Rosalina rested in their tents. His eyes were shut, his breathing calm and steady... but he was not asleep.
A familiar voice slipped into his mind.
"Oi, Cael. You awake?"
As a sudden gust swept through the clearing, his hair stirred in messy strands. He exhaled a quiet sigh and opened his eyes.
"I'm here, Alune," he murmured. "What do you have?"
"Eavesdropped on a bunch of professors. Most of them spouting useless gossip, a couple airing dirty laundry — which I will be circling back to later — but one pair gave me something good."
"I'm listening."
"Turns out this whole mess was supposed to be a test. Just... not like this."
"Meaning?"
"Someone tampered with the teleportation circle. Whatever trial the college had planned for you first-years was replaced with a one-way ticket to Erinel Forest."
And the answer became clear. Caelus's brows knitted, finally understanding why he felt such familiarity.
"Madam World Tree," he muttered.
"Most likely."
"But why? Erinel is Wyrheim territory."
"Not sure, but it does get a little bit juicier. Again, this wasn't intended, and everyone's pointing their fingers at the headmistress herself."
"...What?"
"You heard me right. Don't know who she is, don't know what she's planning, but one thing's for sure. She's wrapped you guys up in a pretty dangerous situation."
Caelus didn't answer right away. Instead, he tilted his gaze toward the heavens.
Rhodeia College was prestigious, sure. A gathering place for the brightest talents, future heroes meant to safeguard the empire. But throwing first-years into the demon realm on their first day? It made no sense.
"Hey, Alune," he murmured. "Do you think Noir is still mad at me?"
"After you swiped his salmon rice and disappeared? A hundred percent."
"I figured."
"Wait— you're not thinking of asking him for help, are you?"
"...Maybe."
"Yeah, no. Don't even think about it for a second longer. He ranks higher than me in the Malevolence for a reason. The moment he sees you, he's gonna abandon all reason in search of his missing salmon rice."
Caelus groaned under his breath. Here, he was thinking that maybe he shouldn't have pulled such a dastardly heist before leaving Wyrheim.
"What do you suggest I do?" he asked. "We're at the doorsteps of Wyrheim. It wouldn't be far-fetched to say Lord Arkus has noticed a sudden influx of humans meddling around on his land. And if he takes it as a threat..."
Alune's voice was colored by her smirk.
"Why does it matter? Better for us if he does, right? Get rid of potential threats in the future. Let him cull the herd just a tiny bit."
"Alune."
"Kidding, kidding! Damn, you're scary when you're mad. Your sister's no different. Runs in the family, I guess. Anyway, I'll go inform Lord Arkus. Don't get yourself killed before I'm back."
The connection faded, leaving Caelus alone with the stillness of the forest and the questions gnawing at his mind.
"The Headmistress... Just what exactly are you planning?" he whispered.
As the sun rose from across the horizon, the wind gently brushed mist off the pond's surface in waves. Kain stumbled out of his tent, stretching with a groggy yawn and a contented sigh.
His spirits lifted — until the first thing his bleary eyes landed on was Rosalina, sitting by the pond, calmly brushing her hair with the water's reflection as her mirror.
"Tch. Of course the first thing I see when I wake up is you," he grumbled. "I should've stayed asleep."
"Feel free to crawl back into your tent," she replied without looking, her tone dry as the morning air.
"Would if I could, but your face's already cursed my dreams. No chance I'll sleep well now."
"No need to worry. Someone like you isn't capable of complex thought, let alone dreams."
"Witch."
"Miscreant."
The two traded glances sharp enough to cut steel. For a moment, it felt like blades might be drawn — until Kain gave up first with a defeated huff, plopping onto a log beside the unlit campfire.
"Oi, where's Caelus?" he asked, glancing around.
"Not sure. I woke up about twenty minutes ago, and he was already gone."
Kain's eyes widened in exaggerated panic.
"Wait... Don't tell me he ditched us! Left us alone in a demon-infested forest?!"
"Wouldn't blame him. After spending a day with a dull blade like you, I'd have left too."
"Eh?! But we made a good team! I was just starting to like the guy! And he cooks good food!"
Rosalina glanced away, murmuring under her breath.
"...He does make good food."
A mutual sigh escaped both of them at the same time.
Then, they heard it. The unmistakable crunch of footsteps in the underbrush.
Both of them tensed. Kain darted forward, his hand shooting to the hilt of his sheathed sword while Rosalina instinctively stepped behind him.
"If you're scared, just say so," Kain scoffed.
"Shut up," she muttered.
From the tree line, a figure emerged.
A young man, his robe torn and splattered with blackened blood. His hair clung in damp strands to his brow. The sight of him made them both falter.
"Ah. You're awake," Caelus said, his voice calm as if his appearance wasn't cause for alarm.
"Caelus~!" Kain bolted toward him, latching onto his knees like a lost child. "I thought you left me all alone with that witch! Don't do that again, man!"
"...Witch?"
He glanced at Rosalina, who responded with an indifferent shrug.
"Where did you go?" she asked. "And why are you... covered in blood?"
"I was hunting."
"Demons?"
"Yeah."
"Alone?"
"Yeah."
Rosalina's brow twitched.
"But—"
You're just a fallen noble.
She bit the words back before they could escape, but Caelus could guess what she was going to say. He didn't look like anyone special. Just another conscript thrown into this mess alongside them.
And yet, something gnawed at her.
Among the few names famous in the cesspool of high society was Kain Diadalin. A prodigy swordsman, hailed as one of the brightest of their generation. The kind of person who didn't waste his time with mediocrity. And yet, here he was, clinging to Caelus like a lifeline.
Rosalina wasn't sure what unsettled her more. Kain's trust, or her own creeping doubt.
"Anyway, we should keep moving," Caelus said, breaking the silence.
"Move? To where?" Kain asked, releasing his grip.
"Anywhere but here. Until we find a safe spot, or until we make it out of the forest. Doesn't matter which. We're making ourselves out to become targets if we linger for too long."
Still unconvinced of his claim, Rosalina simply watched with great curiosity. Even then, her doubts wouldn't bar her from seeing the bigger picture.
"I agree with Caelus. Besides, the faculty's probably watching us. We should at least act like we know what we're doing."
"Who said you were tagging along?!" Kain barked.
"Leave her be," Caelus sighed.
"Eh?! But what if she backstabs us?!"
"I could direct that question to you as well."
Kain was left speechless. He couldn't continue with his remarks because there was merit to Caelus's words. If he couldn't trust Rosalina, what made him think that Caelus would trust him?
So, he relented.
"Ugh... Fine."
"Don't think too much about it," Caelus said. "Based on what we saw last night, Rosalina can handle herself. It'd be idiotic to leave a capable blade behind, especially here."
"Man... You're making way too much sense right now, and I hate it when people make sense. But you're absolutely right. Leaving Rosalina alone is basically the same as sending her to her death, regardless of the fact that this is a test."
"Was that a jab at my skills?" she muttered.
"I said what I said."
Another withering stare passed between them, tension crackling like static.
Caelus sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. Something told him this would turn out to be quite the headache.