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After the instructions were given by Rector Yunen, Rinn let out a discouraged sigh.
Judging by the complexity of the details and instructions given during those minutes he spent in the room, that expedition would likely take a few months.
— Can we leave already? I don't want to waste any more time on explanations I already know.
The boy in the pink dress next to Rinn made a slight gesture, delicately placing his hand in front of his face.
— Yes, you may go, Meilong. The portal ahead is activated and will take you to the entrance of the Dead Forest. You will have to walk to the city of N'Lanor.
The Rector Yunen answered firmly.
Upon hearing her words, Meilong clicked his tongue.
The last thing he wanted was to walk, and judging by the map he had seen, it would be a long journey.
For heaven's sake, I'm going to get completely dehydrated.
He thought to himself, and without further concern, with an elegant movement, he tossed his hair back and gracefully walked toward the portal, stepping through it.
In an instant, his figure disappeared from the room.
— I'll be going too, thank you for the explanations, Rector.
The man who had been in the corner of the room responded, extinguishing his cigar and tossing it to the floor. He walked toward the portal and quickly crossed it.
After him, the other two mages also followed, stepping through the portal.
— Will this portal stay active? Can I return once I finish?
The Rector let out a discreet laugh before looking directly at Rinn's face and replying:
— Oh? Certainly not. Just keeping this portal open for a limited time consumes an enormous amount of magical fuel.
— And how are we supposed to get back?
Rinn asked, a little anxious, but received no direct answer. Instead, he was met with a smile. It wasn't a warm or friendly smile, but rather an ironic one, as if to say without words: "You'll find a way back, don't worry."
Rinn clenched his hands silently and walked toward the portal. However, before stepping through, he heard the Rector's voice one last time.
— Rinn.
— Yes? — He turned back.
— It's nothing.
She answered calmly before turning and slowly walking in the opposite direction.
— ?
Rinn didn't understand what she meant, but with a slight frown, he pressed forward and stepped into the portal.
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After his vision went dark for a brief moment and returned, Rinn felt a wave of nausea sweep through his body, accompanied by a slight sense of weakness. It was as if he had been hit by a basketball, and he struggled to stay on his feet.
When he finally opened his eyes, he realized the environment around him had changed completely. He was now in a dark, lifeless forest, with trees in an advanced state of decay, all dead. The ground beneath his feet was a mixture of green and brown, colors that indicated infertile terrain.
The sky was dark, putrid.
There was no life anywhere, everything was a trail of death and decay.
What happened here?
Why is everything dead?
Those were the thoughts running through his mind, but before he could try to find an answer, he heard a voice.
— Are you alright, kid?
The mage beside him, the one carrying a sword at his waist, approached and helped Rinn steady himself. He placed a hand on Rinn's shoulder, helping him regain balance.
— Thank you, senior. It's my first time going through a portal.
— Normally, people crossing a portal for the first time end up vomiting. You're pretty resilient — the mage replied, releasing Rinn's shoulder.
— Hey, what are you doing? Why are you straying from everyone, Yilon?
Sabrina, who was further ahead, asked in a raised voice.
Rinn and the man beside him turned their attention to the scene ahead.
— No one said we have to stick together. I prefer to do things alone — Yilon, the boy with the cross earrings, replied, unconcerned with the academy's instructions. He seemed determined to act on his own, without caring about the others' proximity.
Because of that, Yilon was already ahead of the group when he sighed and, noticing the others' discomfort, spoke:
— I'll scout ahead. I'll see what's up ahead and, if there's any problem, I'll come back to report. Sound good?
None of them seemed truly comfortable with the situation, especially given the need to form a group when no one knew each other well.
The most they knew about each other were names and some rumors — nothing more. That made the moment even more uncomfortable.
— Yes, go ahead, my angel. Let's not yell right now, it's so unnecessary. We're still at the edge of the Dead Forest, and it's going to take quite some time to reach the city. And honestly... I don't want to hear shouting, so stop arguing, my darlings.
Meilong's voice, carrying a slight irony, echoed among the mages.
He seemed impatient, but his tone indicated he preferred to keep the situation under control, avoiding further agitation.
With his intervention, a heavy silence fell over the area.
Yilon didn't care and moved on quickly, running ahead without worrying about the group.
— It's settled then, let's move.
Meilong said at last, walking alongside Sabrina, who didn't seem very pleased with the situation but remained silent.
— Senior, what's your name? I heard everyone else's name but yours.
Rinn asked as he walked alongside the man nearby who looked more like a mercenary than a mage.
Strangely, he smiled at the question.
His expression was that of a kind person, and he was the only one in the group who remained calm, showing no strange or restless behavior.
— My name is Devos, a pleasure to meet you. Your name is Rinn, correct? — he asked, and the boy just nodded. — A pleasure to meet you then, Rinn.
As soon as he introduced himself, Sabrina and Meilong, who were a few steps ahead, clicked their tongues upon hearing his name.
For some reason, they didn't seem to be in a good mood, and Sabrina, muttering, said:
— Disgusting.
Meilong, standing beside her, simply agreed, glancing briefly at Devos before turning his attention back to the road ahead.
— My name is Sabrina, rookie. What did you do to get your first ascension test in an expedition like this? Broke some rule? Well, if you had, you'd already be dead... Such bad luck.
She said, slightly raising her hands in a questioning gesture but unable to hide a discreet laugh.
— I didn't break any rules, and I don't know why I'm here for my first test. My friends' tasks are infinitely easier — Rinn replied, a hint of distrust in his voice.
— Let me guess, darling. The Blackboard, right? Oh, it's always the same story. That Blackboard chooses who survives and who gets discarded. Looks like you're the second option, what a pity.
Meilong commented, his voice carrying an ambiguous and feminine tone, making it hard to tell whether he was a man or a woman.
— Wrong.
Devos intervened, cutting off the conversation.
— You're with me and the other mages. You won't fail.
— Tsk...
Sabrina frowned, clearly annoyed.
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