After Emily and Jacob recovered from the shocking revelation of the Owlbear's presence in the forest, it was Jacob's turn to share his experiences before meeting the group.
"Well, what can I say? Unlike you all, I didn't have the fortune of encountering this forest's lovely inhabitants right away," he said with dry irony.
"After entering the forest, I wandered aimlessly for a few hours. Eventually, I stumbled upon a group of fellow trainees- an entire party made up of nobles, just like you and me," he said, glancing at Casper.
"They had just taken down a group of those rats, and since I was a noble myself, they immediately invited me to join their group. At the time, I thought I had lucked out- having allies in this place was a huge advantage, after all."
He paused, his voice growing heavier.
"At least, that's what I believed… until I saw them, no those animals murder an entire group of commoners." His tone darkened. "The commoners had managed to kill a beast and claim its badge albeit with several resulting injuries, but the nobles wanted it for themselves, naturally the commoners stood no chance. That's when I realized this wasn't the first time they'd done it. I knew I couldn't be a part of something like that, so the first chance I got, I ran. I spent the entire first night hiding, hoping they wouldn't find me."
A solemn silence settled over the group.
"You can guess the rest- I met Emily at the start of the second day." He finished, though his expression remained clouded with lingering unease. At least, that's what Seth assumed, being the only one who could see his face in the darkness.
'This place is filled with creatures, each as dreadful as the last… but in the end, the most terrifying monsters will always be the ones we call humans.'
Seth thought to himself as he lay down, exhaustion weighing on him. The desire to continue their conversation had long faded, replaced by a heavy silence. With nothing more to say, they each settled in for what little rest the night would allow.
*****
Seth's eyes snapped open as he jolted upright, his breath heavy, beads of sweat trickling down his face. He had experienced that same nightmare again- the one that haunted him relentlessly, yet still refused to make sense.
"Are you okay? You were mumbling in your sleep," Emily asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"I... I'm fine. Just a nightmare," he replied, his voice slightly unsteady as he rose to his feet.
Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recall what he had dreamt of this time. Still, a lingering sense of unease told him one thing- it had been even more intense than usual.
"Here." Casper's voice cut through the silence as he approached, handing Seth a piece of jerky and a waterskin.
"Eat up. That's the last of our rations, but since the trial ends at dawn, it won't be a problem," he explained.
Seth hesitated to take it, but before he could refuse, Casper sighed and pushed it into his hands.
"No offense, but you're not exactly the most durable among us," he added bluntly. "Still, you're invaluable because of your ability to see in this darkness. You'll need your strength for the final phase- I have a feeling things won't be as straightforward as we imagined."
Hearing Casper's reasoning, Seth reluctantly ate and drank. Still, that didn't stop him from feeling bad for taking the last of the food and water.
Jerky was one of the wilderness rations their instructors had recommended they bring, but by now, their supply had nearly run out- especially with nothing else to eat. After all, none of the trainees had the knowledge to properly prepare monster meat, and even if they did, starting a fire in this forest would be a death sentence.
Before long, the group resumed their movement through the forest. Staying in one place for too long was far too dangerous- it increased the chances of creatures with powerful senses, like the dire rats, tracking them down.
As they navigated the darkness, Emily and Jacob took up the rear while Seth and Casper led the way. Seth, with his enhanced vision, would be the first to spot anything unusual, while Casper, the fastest among them, was positioned to react in time. This formation was no coincidence- it was a strategy devised by Casper himself.
Unspoken yet undeniable, the three had come to recognize Casper as their leader. It wasn't just his skill or decisiveness that set him apart; he had a presence- something that made people naturally gravitate toward him, a quiet authority that commanded attention without force.
'Talented in swordsmanship, gifted with magic, and a natural-born leader? Might as well give him the ability to fly while we're at it…' Seth thought, a hint of jealousy creeping in.
"You're probably wondering why I asked you to join me, right? After all, I only learned about your ability to see in the dark after I invited you…" Casper suddenly spoke, misinterpreting the thoughtful look on Seth's face.
"Y-yeah…" Seth stammered in response, caught off guard.
Though Casper had completely misunderstood his expression, he wasn't entirely wrong- Seth had wondered why he was chosen to team up with him.
After all, they were stark opposites, almost in every sense.
Seth was weak and frail, while Casper was physically gifted and skilled with a sword. Seth was a commoner, at least by some standards- while Casper was nobility. Even their magic affinities were polar opposites; Seth wielded Umbra, the essence of shadows and darkness, while Casper's affinity was Solaris, the essence of fire and light.
Then, something struck him.
He hadn't seen Casper use magic at all since they met.
That realization gave Seth pause, and his brows furrowed slightly in thought.
"I can already imagine your thoughts- What would I need from a weak, frail, talentless commoner?" Casper said bluntly, as always unafraid to speak his mind.
'Ouch... no need to rub it in…' Seth grimaced at the soul-piercing words.
"But actually," Casper continued with a small smile, "Those are exactly the reasons I asked you to join me."
Seth couldn't hide his reaction this time. His face twisted in visible confusion, and Casper, seemingly amused by it, let out a quiet chuckle before continuing.
"Think about it," Casper continued, his voice steady. "Despite all these disadvantages, you've survived in a place where others stronger, faster, and more experienced have died. And on top of that, you're one of the few, like myself, with an affinity for magic… I'd be a fool not to team up with you."
He spoke with confidence, a small smile playing on his lips as he locked eyes with Seth's deep purple gaze.
For a brief moment, Casper's stare felt like it had pierced straight into his very soul. It was unsettling, but that wasn't what startled Seth the most.
'Talented in swordsmanship, gifted with magic, a natural-born leader, and now newly added to the list…' Seth thought to himself.
'…Extremely cunning, noted.'