Amber unfurled a pocket-sized map, spreading it across her palm. "After walking northeast on this marked path for about two hours, we should reach the New Castle Outpost. From there, we move southeast, cross the Stinking River, and arrive at the Worm Outpost near the edge of Worm Cave."
Opposite her, Valen raised his hand. Mana gathered and coalesced into two small orbs crackling with electrical energy. Like hurling stones, he launched them at the Giant Wasps circling overhead—oversized insects the length of his forearm, waiting for an opening to strike and carry chunks of flesh back to their hives.
The first shot missed by a hand's width.
The second struck true. The wasp burst open, its green internal fluids boiling from the electrical discharge. The creature dropped from the air like a broken kite.
"Yes!" Valen allowed himself a small smile.
Amber whirled on him. "Stop zapping the insects. If you're not careful, their entire nest will descend on us."
"They've been following since we entered the forest."
"They won't pursue once we leave their territory." She turned and resumed walking, consulting her pocket watch—which included a small compass—and cross-referencing with the map. "Let's move. We need to reach the Worm Outpost before dark."
Confident, Valen observed, falling into step beside her. She's navigated wilderness before. This isn't her first expedition.
"Iris," he murmured under his breath, "we need to refine this spell. If we could combine the lightning properties with Air Bullet mechanics, it would function like—"
"A grenade launcher," Iris finished through their mental link. "I agree. The accuracy and shot efficiency need improvement. I'll develop the theoretical framework and share it when ready."
"Good. Actually, this outing was a sound idea. I'm identifying flaws in my combat spellcasting I wouldn't have noticed through practice alone."
"There's a saying from our old world: 'It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books.'"
"Precisely. Let's explore the Dawn Forest properly and eliminate Blight while we're at it."
When they'd departed that morning, dozens of other new students had been preparing for missions as well. The regular lecture series had concluded two days prior—instructors had finished their courses, leaving students to self-study until the Fundamentals Examination. Faculty remained available at the Tower for questions, but formal teaching had ended.
Valen had memorized the entire curriculum weeks ago through dream-learning. With an AI processing information in his consciousness, written examinations held little challenge.
Amber had studied with dedication these past weeks. From their conversations, Valen estimated she'd mastered perhaps ninety percent of the material. The remaining ten percent she could review over the coming days before the exam.
But has she practiced the spells properly? Valen wondered, watching her navigate the forest path with practiced ease.
"I can guide her during this mission," he decided. For him, this expedition was manageable—almost leisurely. With his spell collection and limitless mana reserves, nothing below Rank 4 posed genuine threat.
Through Iris, he'd also discovered an unexpected benefit: the continuous mana circulation through their Soul Channel functioned as a passive Mana Breathing exercise. Even without deliberate practice, his spirit was evolving, growing stronger daily.
At this rate, I'll breakthrough to Rank 2 before the Fundamentals Exam, Valen calculated. Faster than expected. If we manage to acquire more Chaos Crystals and absorb their essence, I can progress even faster.
The misty morning forest cleared his mind, inviting reflection on recent progress.
Massive trees with majestic canopies shrouded the entire forest in green shadow. Animal calls and birdsong reverberated through the undergrowth—alive, primal, untamed. Sun broke through storm clouds in scattered beams, god-rays illuminating both travelers as they walked side by side along the cleared path.
Wet wind caressed their hoods and cooled their faces. Valen took a sip from his flask—warm tea, still steaming—and passed it to Amber.
She accepted without comment, drinking deeply.
The New Castle Outpost rose from the forest like a castle growing from the earth itself.
Ancient stone walls emerged through morning mist, covered in climbing vines and moss. The structure felt old—remnant of some forgotten civilization, repurposed by the Academy for modern use. Other adventurers stood in small groups near the entrance, speaking in low voices that carried the weight of cautious experience.
Amber and Valen crossed the drawbridge—thick wooden planks that groaned beneath their boots—and passed through the iron-reinforced gate into the keep.
The courtyard bustled with merchants and adventurers, though the atmosphere remained subdued. Vendors offered supplies from wheeled carts: dried meat, healing salves, rope, torches, basic weapons. Students examined goods with the careful consideration of limited budgets.
These Outposts function as safe zones, Valen observed. Resupply points with basic medical facilities. Strategic positioning throughout the permitted zones.
"We have sufficient supplies and stamina," Amber said quietly. "We can keep moving."
The sun had climbed overhead, marking midday. "Right. Let's eat those steamed buns in that stall for lunch. We can preserve our proper provisions for later."
After a quick meal purchased from a vendor—still warm, filled with spiced pork—they departed through the southern gate and turned southeast.
No cleared paths existed beyond the New Castle Outpost. Only raw, untamed wilderness.
This is where it becomes interesting, Valen thought.
They navigated through dense undergrowth, hopping from massive exposed tree roots to moss-covered stones. The forest grew wilder with each step—less maintained, more primeval. Amber moved with practiced agility, never hesitating on foot placement.
She's done this before, Valen confirmed. Wilderness training, likely during childhood. Probably with her father's retainers.
The forest canopy thickened, blocking sunlight and plunging the path into perpetual twilight. Valen caught movement in the distant mist—shadows flitting between trees.
Other adventurers, most likely. Or forest creatures observing from safe distance.
He maintained Spirit Ward around both himself and Amber like invisible cloaks, preventing ghost-type entities from approaching undetected. The three Iris constructs roamed ahead, mapping terrain and scanning for threats with mechanical efficiency and preternatural awareness.
An hour later, they rested in a small enclave beside a wide creek.
Clear water burbled over smooth stones, the sound peaceful after hours of rustling leaves and snapping twigs. Amber removed her cloak and boots, kneeling at the centre of the creek to wash dust and sweat from her face and arms.
Valen gathered dry wood and kindled a small fire. While it grew, he waded into the creek and caught two fish with simple water manipulation—stunning them momentarily, then scooping them into his hands. He gutted and cleaned them efficiently, skewering them on green branches to roast over the flames.
The storm clouds had dispersed. Afternoon sun broke through the canopy, illuminating the creek in golden light. It caught Amber's unbraided hair—golden blonde flowing in the gentle breeze, damp from washing, catching light like spun metal.
She noticed his gaze. "What are you daydreaming about? Come wash up."
"Someone needs to watch the fish or they'll burn."
She rolled her eyes. "Then I'll watch them. You smell like you've been traveling for days."
"We've been traveling for five hours."
"Exactly." She stood, water dripping from her hands. "Go."
Valen washed quickly in the cold creek water, grateful for its refreshing bite. When he returned, Amber had rotated the fish properly, preventing the skin from charring.
Half an hour later, they sat on a fallen log near the fire, eating roasted fish seasoned with salt and herbs from Valen's supplies.
The meal was simple but satisfying—crisp skin, tender white flesh, faint smoke flavor. Around them, the forest hummed with afternoon life. Light dappled through leaves. The creek sang its endless song.
Amber slowed her eating, staring into the fire with distant eyes.
She's relaxing, Valen observed. The wilderness puts her at ease.
"Maybe I was overthinking things," Amber murmured, almost to herself. She took another bite of fish, chewing slowly. "This isn't bad."
Not bad at all, she thought, watching flames dance. When was the last time...? Without expectations, without watching every word, without calculating who's an ally and who's waiting for me to fail?
Out here, there were no royal cousins to compete against. No marriage arrangements to dodge. No royals evaluating her worthiness.
Just forest, and fire, and surprisingly decent company.
Valen suddenly tensed, head tilting slightly. "Large bears in this area. We should leave."
Amber blinked, pulled from her reverie. "How do you detect monsters so quickly? Throughout our entire journey, we've barely encountered anything."
Either he's extraordinarily perceptive, or he has detection magic I haven't seen.
She stood, brushing off her trousers and reaching for her boots. "Don't worry. We'll have our share of battles." Valen smiled mysteriously, already packing salt and spice containers back into his pack.
Amber glanced at his bag. "Don't tell me you only brought food."
"Hahaha." Valen's soft laugh held genuine amusement. He started walking. "Let's go. The bears will arrive any moment."
They followed the creek downstream with swift, purposeful steps. Waterproof boots kept them dry as they splashed through shallows and leaped across stones.
Amber heard rustling in the forest behind them.
The ground trembled—subtle at first, then pronounced. Heavy footfalls. Multiple creatures.
More than one bear, Valen noted through Iris's expanded sensory network. A mated pair, probably. We're near their territory.
Without warning, rock spikes erupted from the forest to their right.
Five jagged stone projectiles—each the size of a forearm—hurtled toward them with lethal speed.
Amber's eyes widened—
Both figures vanished.
The spikes struck empty air where they'd stood a heartbeat before, embedding in creek bank mud with dull thuds.
The Ironback Bear emerged from undergrowth like a mountain deciding to walk.
Massive. Easily three meters tall on hind legs. Metallic-grey fur along its spine caught filtered sunlight like burnished steel. Its eyes—red and disturbingly intelligent—fixed on the space where its prey had disappeared.
It roared. Trees seemed to lean away from the sound.
From above, Amber descended like a striking hawk.
She'd used the moment of displacement to leap into tree branches. Now she dropped, saber drawn, lightning crackling along the blade's length in pale blue-white fury.
The strike aimed for the bear's neck—exposed and vulnerable.
The bear's metallic fur rippled.
Individual hairs locked together, forming seamless armor across its entire body. The racial ability Ironhide activated in the span of a breath.
Amber's lightning-enhanced saber struck the reinforced neck and skidded, deflected by muscle and magical defense working in concert.
The bear twisted with shocking speed for its size, massive paw sweeping toward her in a backhand that could shatter bones.
On cue, Valen thought.
Compressed lightning spheres—smaller than before, denser, faster—struck the bear's face in rapid succession.
Crack. Crack. Crack.
Electricity discharged across its muzzle and eyes. The bear's muscles convulsed involuntarily, the attack disrupting its counter-swing.
Amber didn't waste the opening.
She rolled beneath the stalled paw and slashed at the bear's knee joint—one of the few areas the Ironhide armor couldn't fully cover due to mobility requirements.
Her blade bit deep. Blood sprayed. The bear stumbled, roaring in pain and fury.
As Amber retreated beyond counter-attack range, the bear slammed its uninjured forepaw into the earth.
The ground erupted.
A shockwave tore through the forest floor like a miniature earthquake, earth rippling in concentric circles. Amber was flung backward, losing her footing mid-retreat.
The bear's eyes tracked her airborne form.
Its maw opened. Rock spikes began forming in the air before it—
A translucent hand materialized and grabbed the bear's hind leg.
The construct yanked hard. The bear crashed face-first into the dirt, its Rock Spike spell disrupted mid-formation.
It tried to rise, shaking its massive head—
A concentrated Force Rune slammed into its skull like an invisible sledgehammer.
BOOM.
The bear's head snapped to the side. Dazed, it tried to orient—
Another strike. And another. Methodical. Precise. Targeting the same point on its skull repeatedly.
The skull will fracture likely after the fifth hit, Valen calculated coldly, maintaining the barrage. But the Ironhide is reinforcing even its cranium. Need sustained pressure.
The bear roared—not in pain, but defiance.
The sound wave blast rippled outward with physical force, disrupting Valen's concentration and forcing him to halt the assault. A spirit attack!
The bear struggled to its feet, unsteady, blood streaming from its injured leg and muzzle.
Then Amber struck from behind.
She'd circled during the distraction. Her saber—still crackling with lightning—slashed through the tendon of its other hind leg.
The bear collapsed.
A final Force Rune, compressed to maximum density, struck between its eyes.
The Ironback Bear shuddered once and went still.
Valen jumped down from a branch, breathing normally despite the sustained spell use.
Amber kicked the bear's flank, confirming death, then rolled it onto its belly. "Ironback Bear. Peak Rank 2, from the size and mana density."
"You did well," Valen said honestly. "The timing was impeccable. Coordinated attacks without verbal communication."
Amber turned to him with mock confusion. "Where did your usual sarcasm disappear to?"
Valen knelt beside the bear's carcass, channeling mana to quickly extract the Core Crystal—a metallic-grey sphere the size of a walnut, still warm. "You deserve genuine praise."
He stood, scanning the forest with eyes that saw more than they should. "Let's leave quickly. The blood will attract scavengers. And its mate is nearby—I can sense another similar mana signature approaching."
"Your illusion spell was beautiful," Amber said without looking up. She had already severed one of the bear's paws at the joint, and was wrapping it in oiled cloth and storing it in her pack. "We will have this for dinner."
"We still have to cross the Stinky River," she said, consulting her compass. "We can reach the Worm Outpost before nightfall."
They left the bear's corpse behind and plunged deeper into the forest.
Behind them, something massive moved through the undergrowth—following the scent of blood and death.
But by then, they were gone.