The next day, the class gathered outside the academy.
Not in a classroom.
Not in the training hall.
But at the edge of a forest.
Dark. Dense. Quiet.
"This is your first field exercise," the instructor said. "You will hunt low-level beasts."
Students tensed.
Some excited.
Some nervous.
"Form groups of three," he continued. "Do not act alone."
Ray immediately looked at Leo. "We're together."
Rin stepped forward. "I'm joining."
No one argued.
The group was decided instantly.
Leo, Rin, Ray.
---
They entered the forest.
The light dimmed as trees covered the sky.
Sounds of movement echoed from deeper inside.
"…Stay alert," Rin said.
Ray nodded. "Yeah, no kidding."
Leo walked slightly ahead.
His eyes scanning everything.
Ground.
Air.
Mana flow.
---
A sudden sound.
Rustling.
From the left.
---
"Something's there," Ray whispered.
---
A beast jumped out.
Wolf-like.
Sharp claws. Glowing eyes.
---
"Move!" Rin reacted instantly.
A light blade formed in her hand and shot forward.
Fast.
Precise.
---
The beast dodged.
Too fast.
---
Ray stepped in.
Wind burst from his side, pushing the beast back.
---
Leo didn't attack.
He watched.
Carefully.
---
"…Its movement is irregular," he said.
---
The beast lunged again.
This time—
Toward Leo.
---
"Leo!" Ray shouted.
---
Leo raised his hand.
A small barrier formed—
But not like before.
---
The moment the beast touched it—
Its force collapsed.
---
The beast stumbled mid-air.
---
Rin didn't hesitate.
"Now!"
---
Her attack followed instantly.
Clean strike.
---
The beast fell.
---
Silence.
---
"…That was smooth," Ray said.
---
Rin looked at Leo.
"…You stopped its movement."
Leo nodded.
"…I disrupted its balance."
---
Rin narrowed her eyes.
"…You didn't block it."
"…You changed the force."
---
Leo didn't reply.
---
They moved deeper.
---
More sounds.
More movement.
---
This time—
Two beasts appeared.
Faster.
More aggressive.
---
"Split," Rin said.
---
Ray took one.
Wind clashed with claws.
Fast exchanges.
---
Rin faced the other.
Her attacks sharp.
Controlled.
Precise.
---
Leo stayed in the middle.
Watching both sides.
---
Ray got pushed back.
"…It's stronger than before!"
---
Rin's opponent changed direction—
Suddenly targeting Leo again.
---
"…Predictable," Leo said quietly.
---
He stepped forward.
No panic.
No rush.
---
The beast attacked—
Leo moved slightly.
Raised his hand.
---
For a split second—
Everything slowed.
---
"…Now."
---
The beast's movement broke.
Its path shifted.
---
It exposed its side.
---
Rin's attack landed instantly.
---
Clean.
Final.
---
On the other side—
Ray struggled.
---
Leo turned.
"…Your angle is wrong," he said.
---
Ray adjusted instinctively.
Wind shifted direction.
---
The beast lost balance—
Just enough.
---
Ray's next attack hit.
---
Both beasts fell.
---
Heavy breathing.
---
"…Okay," Ray said, "that was intense."
---
Rin looked at Leo.
This time—
Different.
---
"…You're not just analyzing spells."
---
Leo looked at the fallen beasts.
---
"…Everything has a pattern."
---
Rin stepped closer.
"…Even fights?"
---
Leo nodded.
"…Especially fights."
---
A quiet moment passed.
---
Then—
A distant roar echoed through the forest.
---
Stronger.
Deeper.
---
All three froze.
---
"…That's not low-level," Ray said.
---
Rin's expression hardened.
"…Something's wrong."
---
Leo looked toward the sound.
His eyes sharpened.
---
"…We're not done yet."
---
To be continued…