NOVPUBIn a mountain where tall trees stretched high, where branches and green leaves tangles with each other forming a curtains over the narrow forest path, and even sunlight were barely able to pass through.
It was a place that stood far removed from the gleaming roads and digital pulse of the cities, a place where nature still ruled, where everything felt more primal.
Here, under that shaded, emerald veil, four women and one man were walking.
Two of the women, clearly more mature than the rest, led the way. Behind them followed two younger women, sticking closely to one another as they chatted in hushed tones, voices rising now and then in short laughter. And further at the side, just a few steps apart, was the only man in the group.
His eyes held a cold glint, sharp and silent. His expression unreadable.
By all accounts, he was in a position many would envy, surrounded by four stunning women, each beautiful in their own distinct way. And yet, the man seemed completely unaffected. As if none of it mattered.
As if his thoughts were locked onto something far more important.
The group continued walking like that for some time, their footsteps quiet against the soft underbrush, when suddenly, one of the women in front stopped… electing the others to do the same.
She was a woman with an air of authority about her. And as much authority, she radiated even more strength!
It was at this moment, that she turned back toward the younger ones, a light smile touching her lips.
"A group of five is waiting to ambush us ahead," she said, her voice smooth but firm. "How about you go and try facing them?"
Though her words were phrased as a suggestion, the weight in her tone carried command. The three behind her tensed slightly, but they nodded in agreement without hesitation.
This was a trip that doubled as both a reward and a training opportunity, after all, so, nothing was strange with them facing some enemies.
More than anything, they were excited. Having already formed their core and reached the First Mastery Stage, they were eager to test their strength. Especially on enemies they didn't have to hold back against.
The young man moved first, his speed sharp, his body shooting forward like a released spring as he dashed toward the bush the woman had gestured at. One of the young women followed immediately, close on his heels. The third trailed slightly behind, her steps more measured as she reached back and drew the small bow strapped across her back.
But she didn't draw an arrow from her quiver.
Instead, she simply placed her fingers on the string and pulled it back, steady and silent.
She waited… and watched
Then, as the enemy group came into view, just barely visible through the trees, her fingers twitched. A flicker of energy shimmered at the bowstring. A soft green light gathered and shaped itself into a translucent arrow.
Then, with no hesitation, she released it.
Fwoosh.
The sound of the arrow splitting through the air was sharp. And it struck one of the enemies with perfect precision. And with that, it was like a switch had been thrown.
That green-glowing shot was the signal.
The man and the woman who had gone ahead didn't wait. The moment the arrow flew, they burst into action, engaging the enemies without a pause.
Enemies who were five before… were now suddenly four.
A little distance away, back on the trail where the two adult women still stood, the sounds of the scuffle echoed faintly through the trees.
One of them, the woman who looked slightly nervous in the company of the other, kept her eyes on the fight ahead. Her fingers twitched at her sides, and after a moment of hesitation, she finally spoke.
"Is it really alright to let them go on their own?" she asked, her voice low but tight with concern. "Even if those five clearly aren't their match, they could still be hiding lethal firearms… weapons strong enough to injure even someone trained in essence."
She was just a guide, so, she was not supposed to interfere, and express her opinion, but, at this moment, she couldn't help it.
Luckily, the other woman beside her, only chuckled lightly at the words.
"You're misunderstanding something," she said softly, her tone almost amused. "Even if our world doesn't have the same kind of firearms your world uses, there are still plenty of things out there that let the weak kill the strong."
Her gaze was fixed ahead, her voice calm.
"So, they should keep that in mind… every time they face someone. No matter how weak that person might seem."
Not long after that, the fight ahead came to an end.
The five attackers lay lifeless among the underbrush, and the forest fell still again. Olivia, panting lightly, returned to her friend's side. There wasn't a single trace of guilt on her face. Not when those five had been lying in wait to ambush them.
Her friend, the ever cheerful, was already waving at her as she approached.
"I got two! More than you," she called out, grinning.
She was bragging. But Olivia didn't mind. She wasn't trying to compete, either way.
She was just happy… happy that she was becoming stronger.
Was it because she was outside the academy?
At this moment, her thoughts quietly turned to her mother.
It had been six months… six long months since she'd last seen her, and she missed her.
But she knew she had to wait. This trip was a special one, after all. She had come out here with the principal, for training and to find apparently a treasure that could help them.
Aria's chattering voice kept filling the space beside her, light and familiar. But Olivia only half-listened, caught in her own thoughts, and she soft sounds of the forest had returned.
Then, suddenly… she felt it.
Something was wrong.
She wasn't the only one. Aria stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening as she, too, felt it.
Before either of them could pinpoint what exactly was wrong.
The principal appeared beside them.
Her movement had been so fast, that to Olivia… it might as well have been teleportation. 𝖓𝖔𝖛𝔭𝖚𝖇.𝔠𝖔𝔪
But she wasn't given any time to react to this astonishing display.
The principal, who usually wore a smile… even if a scary one, no matter the occasion, was frowning this time. Her eyes were fixed on the forest ahead, sharp and cold.
"If you're already here, then why are you not coming out?" she said, speaking into the open air.
There was no one visible. But her voice was clear and certain.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then, faint footsteps echoed through the trees.
A man and a woman emerged from the shade of the forest. Calm. Unhurried.
The principal's frown deepened as she glared at them. "I heard the rumors that you two had come to this world," she said, her tone now carrying a weight behind each word. "But are you really planning to compete with us?"
The man said nothing. His cold eyes gave no hint of emotion, not even interest.
So it was the woman beside him who finally responded, her voice awkward, as if this encounter between the principal was not something she was wanted.
But Olivia wasn't listening.
Her ears barely registered a single word of what was being said.
Her eyes were fixed on that pair, and her hands had clenched tightly at her sides.
There was something sharp in her gaze now, barely restrained hostility simmering beneath the surface.
Because she recognized them.
Christian had sent her a sketch once.
And now… they were standing right in front of her.
The same man and woman who had once traumatized her mother.
