The group traveled deeper into the forest, following a narrow trail that wound between enormous trees. Mushrooms the size of small houses sprouted from the trunks of dead trees with massive caps that glowed with a blue light. Vines with translucent leaves hung from branches showing something intricate networks of veins that didn't seem natural. Itlooked more like a delicate glass artwork than natural plant life.
Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy in thin, golden streams, creating patches of warm light that danced across the forest floor.
"This place is incredible," Mina said. She reached out and touched a flower that rung like tiny bells when her fingers brushed against it. "I've never seen plants like these before in my life."
Ferris watched her, Irritated. "It's not natural," he replied. "These forests must have been exposed to intense magical energies for centuries to evolve this way. I don't think you should touch it so casually if you want to live."
Mina pulled her hand back and opened her mouth to argue, but Pell, who had been scouting ahead, suddenly dropped into a crouch. He did it so quickly that the rest of the group immediately went silent.
"Someone's coming," he said. "A large group, moving fast."
They immediately took cover behind a fallen log covered in colorful fungi. Through gaps in the undergrowth, they could see movement about fifty yards ahead—at least a dozen people moving through the forest with military precision.
"Are those... knights?" Charlotte whispered.
Indeed, the approaching group moved with a discipline that spoke of extensive training.
At their head strode a tall young man with golden hair. His armor was expensive-looking though he carried no visible weapon. Instead, he wore a set of ornate rings on each hand with even two on some fingers, each one looking like it could be worth more than most people's annual income combined.
Around him all the other well-equipped apprentices maintained a protective formation. They looked like a vicious pack, every member alert and ready to rip apart anything that came in their way.
"Nobles," Ferris said. "See their insignias? Those are all from prominent magical families."
Pell studied the leader closely. "I know him," he realized. "From the orientation. That's Garven de Rathane."
Mina's eyes widened. "The Rathanes? They're one of the seven great houses, outscaled only by the Eltor's. They practically own the northern territories."
As they watched, hidden and barely breathing, Garven's group surrounded something—or someone—hidden from view. Garven raised his hand, and a ring glowed with a sinister red light.
"Please," came a desperate voice from within the circle. "We'll give you our crystals! Just let us go!"
Garven's laugh was cold. "And why would I do that? The fewer apprentices who reach the meeting point, the better my chances." His hand descended in a quick move.
A scream erupted, high and terrified, and then was abruptly silenced. Dead. Two crystal balls floated upward from within the circle.
"Add them to the collection," Garven instructed one of his followers, a severe-looking girl with cropped black hair. Her face was cold and emotionless. "How many does that make now?"
"Twenty-three, my lord," she replied, her voice devoid of emotion. "But we still have none from the beasts."
"We'll find them," Garven said, his voice full of arrogance. "The weak apprentices are easier targets for now. Speaking of which..." He turned, looking directly toward where Ralth and his group were hiding. "We have company."
The group was shocked, Charlotte even had to stifle a gasp.
"Run," Ralth whispered urgently. "Now!"
They burst from their hiding place just as a bolt of red energy struck the log where they'd been concealed, easily splintering it with the explosive force. The group scattered, dashing between trees as shouts echoed from behind them.
"After them!" Garven shouted. "Five crystals to whoever brings me their heads!"
Ralth caught a glimpse of Charlotte ahead of him. She had her robes snagged on thorny bush but she quickly ripped it off tearing a huge patch as she ran. Mina and Ferris had turned left as they disappeared into a dense bush. Pell, despite his injured leg was keeping up pace with the rest of the group remarkably well.
A spell flashed past Ralth's ear and he immediately ducked behind a massive tree trunk.
Those noble apprentices are quickly gaining on us. He thought.
"This way!" Pell shouted, gesturing toward a ravine filled with vegetation.
They quickly ran to it, plunging down the steep slope at a fast speed. They were actually sliding more than they were running, they quickly began grabbing at roots and vines to control their descent. Behind them, pursuit slowed as the nobles reached the edge of the ravine.
At the bottom of the ravine there was a stream of clear water that flowed by. It was beautiful, the water glowed faintly with what appeared to be luminous fish swimming inside.
"Let's follow the stream," Ralth said. "It'll provide us a safe path to follow. We'll probably reach a beach at the end."
"What if they decide to do that as well." Pell said pointing upwards.
"It's not like we can just sit here doing nothing, if we can reach down here so can they," Ralth said "besides, they have other apprentices to worry about."
The group began moving, splashing through the ankle-deep water. They couldn't afford to slow down a group of apprentice killers wouldn't give up so easily, Garven's group wouldn't give up easily.
After what felt like hours of wading through the stream, the ravine widened, revealing a large clearing. In the center of the clearing stood some ancient stone structure like crumbling pillars, half-collapsed walls, and steps that didn't go anywhere.
"What is this place?" Charlotte wondered aloud.
"We should rest here," Ferris suggested, examining a partly intact building with walls on three sides. "It's defensible, and those noble bastards seemed reluctant to follow us down the ravine."
"I don't like it," Mina said. "This place just feels... off, I guess."
"Yeah, it does." Ralth had to agree. Something about the ruins made his skin crawl but they needed the rest, and the structure would provide cover.
"We'll stay here for a short while," he decided. "We'll take turns keeping watch so nothing happens, everyone agree?"
The group nodded.
They quickly settled down and Charlotte finally voiced the question they'd all been avoiding. "How many crystals do we need to pass the exam?"
"The examiner said each person needs at least two so at least fourteen for our group," Pell replied. "But if there are ten monsters with crystals, and thousands of apprentices..."
"We need as many as we can get," Ralth said. "We have two now. That's a start, right,?"
Ferris laughed bitterly and said. "A start? Did you hear how many Garven's group had? Twenty-three. They're systematically hunting down every apprentice they can find."
"We can't compete with that," Charlotte said. "We'd have to become just like them—murderers."
"We're not murderers," Pell insisted. "We're survivors. There's a difference."
"Is there?" Charlotte said. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks pretty similar."
Before Ralth could say something, a sound from deeper in the ruins silenced them all talking. It was a scraping sound followed by a soft thump.
"What the hell was that?" Mina said, eyes wide.
"I'll check," Pell offered.
"No," Ralth stopped him. "We go together. No one separates. Not in this place."
The group entered the structure and began to look around. Suddenly, the scraping sound came again, louder this time, from a circular chamber ahead. The group paused at the entrance of it and peered into the dimly lit place.
In the center of the chamber was a stone altar. Surrounding it were seven pillars arranged in a perfect circle, each carved with the same symbols as the walls. But what caught their attention was the floor as a large section appeared to have moved.
A square stone slab, easily ten feet across, had shifted aside to reveal a dark passage leading down into the earth. From this opening wafted a cold draft that caused the group to shiver.
"We should leave," Charlotte said. "Right now."
"Agreed," Ferris said. He had already started backing away.
But Ralth began to move forward. A message echoing in his head:
---
[FELSAN CUBE]
- Energy Reserve: 13%
- Alert: Significant Mana source detected below
---
"Ralth?" Mina called nervously. "What are you doing? Are you crazy?"
"There's something down there, I need to check on" he replied.
Ralth took another step forward.
From the darkness of the opening, a voice sounded.
"Come to me, Bearer of the Cube."
The group exchanged looks of alarm and confusion.
"What the hell is that?" Ferris asked.
"I have no idea, I think we should leave." Mina replied.
But Ralth was in his own head. How on earth could anything know about the cube?
"What do we do?" Charlotte asked.
Ralth stared into the darkness below, thinking about everything. Finally, he turned to his companions.
"I have to head down there, guys" he said. "Please don't follow me."