When Ian and Ralph turned around, they realized the voice belonged to a noble girl—none other than the one Ralph had clashed with before.
It was strange, almost suspicious, that a noble would ask to join their team.
Ian, his brows furrowing, asked cautiously,
"Are you sure you want to team up with me and Ralph?"
Girl No. 28 answered with clenched teeth and a voice on the verge of breaking,
"Of course I don't want to be with a bunch of useless peasants. But ever since what that boy did to me on the first day, the other nobles have been avoiding me. They think I brought shame to them, that I'm weak. No one will take me into their team. Now he has to take responsibility for that and help me pass this test."
Ralph, without a second of hesitation, snapped back,
"The only reason you're in this mess is your own weakness. It's got nothing to do with me. Go convince those nobles instead, because these 'useless peasants' don't want you either."
The surrounding trainees began to gather, their laughter cutting deeper than any blade.
"Wow, even the peasants won't take her!" one mocked.
Her hands trembled. No matter how hard she tried, her eyes filled with tears.
Ian's gaze softened.
"Ralph, don't be such a jerk. Let her join. Besides, we don't have any other options. If she doesn't come with us, we'll have to enter the caves with just the two of us. That's way too dangerous."
Ralph clicked his tongue but didn't argue. He stepped aside, signaling his reluctant agreement.
Ian turned back to the girl.
"Alright then, looks like we're a team now. Let's have each other's backs. I'm Ian, and this grumpy guy here is Ralph. What's your name?"
She straightened her back despite her watery eyes.
"Fine. I'm Asha Cross, from the border-guarding House of Baron Cross."
"Good. Now that we've formed a team, we should talk about our skills so we can coordinate better," Ian suggested. "I'll start—I'm decent at swordsmanship, so I can take the front line."
Ralph went next, arms crossed.
"I'm good at close combat and fighting bare-handed."
Asha's turn came.
"I'm skilled with the spear, trained in my family's spear arts. I also have a one-star aura with the water element."
Ian tilted his head.
"One-star aura? With the water element? What does that even mean?"
Asha blinked, almost offended.
"You really don't know? Fine, I'll explain once, so listen carefully. Aura is ranked in seven levels, represented by stars. Seven stars is the highest, one star is the lowest. We just awakened our aura, so we're at one star—this is only the beginning. And when someone awakens their aura, they also awaken an element that they're most attuned to. Mine is water—calm, versatile, and adaptable."
Ian absorbed the information, realizing just how far he had to go.
Before they could discuss tactics further, Roger's booming voice echoed across the hall,
"Time's up! Now that your groups are registered, approach the door one team at a time. This is a high-grade magical device—it will teleport each group to a different cave. Move!"
Ian's group waited for their turn. When they stepped through the glowing archway, the world around them instantly shifted.
The air turned damp and cold, the light faded, and the stone walls closed in. Looking back, there was no door—only endless darkness.
They had entered the Caves of Dread.
Before they could gather their bearings, a sound reached them—low, guttural, and steadily growing louder.
Ian's instincts flared.
"Get ready! Combat stance!"
The noise grew until a shape emerged from the shadows—a massive black wolf, its crimson eyes burning with murderous intent.
Ian's father was a hunter, and Ian had seen wolves before… but never one this big.
Asha froze in place, spear trembling in her hands.
"Ralph, flank right! I'll take the left and draw its attention! Asha, snap out of it—when it's distracted, go for the neck. No matter how big it is, it's still just a wolf!" Ian barked.
Ralph charged in from the right while Ian slashed in from the left, forcing the beast to turn its head between them.
Seizing the moment, Asha leapt high and aimed a precise strike at its neck—but her spear barely scratched the surface.
"What…?!" Asha gasped, stunned.
The wolf lunged at her. She froze again, unable to process that her attack had failed—until Ian shouted,
"Use your aura!"
Snapping back to reality, Asha poured her one-star water aura into her spear, thrusting it forward just as the wolf pounced. The spear pierced its shoulder, drawing a howl of rage, but the beast didn't fall. With a swipe of its massive claws, it sent Asha flying, blood trailing in the air.
The wolf went in for the kill—only for Ralph to leap onto its back.
"Die!" he roared, driving a devastating punch into its skull. Bone shattered, and the monster collapsed, lifeless.
Lowering his blood-stained fists, Ralph glanced at Asha.
"You're weak… but not useless."
Ian rushed to Asha's side, tending to her wound with Ralph's help. After a brief rest, Ian stood.
"Let's move. This trial's far from over."
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