The forest trail grew narrower as the group continued deeper into the Emerald Verge.
Roots twisted across the path like the bones of some ancient creature buried beneath the soil. The air had grown cooler beneath the dense canopy, and only thin shafts of sunlight reached the forest floor.
Takemi walked near the front of the group.
His attention moved constantly — from the ground, to the trees, to the faint sounds echoing in the distance.
"Tracks," he said suddenly.
The others gathered around.
In the damp soil beside the trail were several clawed footprints.
Smaller than the Ironfang Wolf.
But numerous.
Rauk crouched beside him.
"…Pack hunters."
Takemi nodded slowly.
"Probably."
The instructor stepped closer.
"Well observed."
He pointed toward the direction the tracks were heading.
"These belong to Ridgeback Lynxes."
Takemi looked up.
"Mid-tier?"
The instructor shook his head.
"Low-tier individually."
Then he added calmly:
"But they hunt in groups."
They followed the tracks for a short distance before stopping.
From a rocky rise overlooking a small valley, they could see movement below.
Three lynx-like creatures prowled through the tall grass.
Their bodies were sleek and muscular, with dark striped fur and raised ridges of bone running along their backs.
Ridgeback Lynxes.
Takemi crouched slightly behind a boulder.
"They're fast," he murmured.
The instructor nodded.
"Observe their behavior."
The students watched quietly.
One lynx circled through the grass.
Another climbed a fallen tree trunk to gain a better vantage point.
The third remained low, its eyes scanning the area.
Lira whispered from beside Takemi.
"They're coordinating."
Takemi smiled faintly.
"Smart animals."
He liked that.
Smart opponents were always more interesting.
The observation might have continued peacefully…
if not for one of the other students.
A nervous boy standing near the back accidentally stepped on a dry branch.
CRACK.
The sound echoed sharply through the clearing.
Every lynx head snapped toward them instantly.
"…Ah," Takemi muttered.
The creatures moved fast.
Too fast for hesitation.
Within seconds they were charging up the rocky slope.
The instructor sighed.
"Well."
He stepped back slightly.
"Field lesson."
The first lynx leapt toward the group.
Takemi already had a stone in his hand.
His arm moved in a smooth arc.
CRACK.
The projectile struck the creature mid-jump, knocking it sideways.
Rauk stepped forward immediately.
His blade swung in a wide arc that forced the other two lynxes to scatter.
Lira moved behind them, pulling a small vial from her pouch.
She hurled it toward the ground in front of the charging monsters.
The vial shattered.
A cloud of bright green smoke erupted across the grass.
One of the lynxes hissed sharply as the fumes reached its nose.
Takemi blinked.
"…Poison?"
Lira shook her head calmly.
"Repellent."
The creatures hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
Rauk lunged forward.
His sword struck the nearest lynx with a heavy blow, sending it tumbling across the ground.
The other two retreated quickly into the forest.
Silence returned once more.
Takemi exhaled slowly.
"…Well," he said.
"That could have gone worse."
The instructor nodded approvingly.
"You adapted well."
He glanced at the nervous student who had snapped the branch.
"And you learned an important lesson."
The boy nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, sir."
As the sun began to lower behind the trees, the forest changed again.
Long shadows stretched across the ground.
Birds returned to the branches.
The sounds of the forest slowly resumed.
The group made camp near a small clearing beside a stream.
A simple fire crackled between them.
Students prepared rations and recorded notes in their field journals.
Takemi sat with his back against a tree, watching sparks drift upward into the darkening sky.
Rauk sat nearby polishing his sword.
Lira carefully organized the materials she had gathered during the day.
Takemi glanced toward the forest beyond the firelight.
That strange feeling hadn't completely disappeared.
But the night was calm.
For now.