Chapter 55: Duskwood Trial Grounds (I)
The morning sun slanted through the tall windows of the training hall, casting faint golden lines across the stone floor.
Students filed in by the dozens, the sound of shoes scraping and hushed conversations filling the air.
Some were sharpening blades, others adjusting armor straps, but most were doing what nervous students always did, talking to kill the tension.
"What do you think it’s gonna be this time?" a tall boy muttered to his friend, gripping the hilt of his longsword a little too tightly.
"Dunno," his friend shrugged. "They said teamwork, right? Probably some group sparring. Easy."
"Easy? This is Otto we’re talking about," a girl nearby snorted, pushing a strand of red hair out of her face. "He doesn’t know the meaning of easy."
Another boy leaned in, lowering his voice slighly.
"What if it’s one of those dungeon runs? My cousin told me last year they threw people into a swamp with spirit beasts."
"That was Professor Aldric, not Otto," someone corrected quickly.
"Still, you think he’ll just let us swing sticks at each other? Nah. He’s probably got some nightmare cooked up."
"I just hope it’s not something with poison... I’m still working on antidote spells." A smaller girl hugged her staff close to her chest.
"Or giant spiders," another shivered. "Gods, if there are spiders, I’m out."
That earned a round of quiet chuckles, but the laughter quickly died when someone said,:
"What if it’s both?"
A thick silence lingered for a beat.
Then the doors at the front creaked open, and the sound of boots echoed through the hall.
All eyes snapped forward as Professor Otto stepped inside, his coat trailing behind him like a shadow.
The weight of his presence alone silenced whatever conversations were left.
His expression was unreadable, but the way his eyes scanned the room made everyone stand straighter.
Behind him were the other two professors from the other classes.
His gaze swept the room before he finally spoke.
"Listen well," he began, his deep voice carrying through the hall without effort. "Today’s exam will not be a simple sparring match. You will be tested in conditions closer to real battle than anything you’ve faced so far."
A ripple of unease passed through the students. Otto didn’t acknowledge it; he continued speaking calmly.
"You will be thrown into the Duskwood Trial Grounds, an artificial domain built to devour the unprepared. It is filled with beasts infused with corrupted mana, terrain that shifts at will, and traps meant to punish the careless. The trial will last until sunset. Survive until then, and your team will pass."
He finished speaking, and immediately, murmurs erupted.
"Duskwood Trial Grounds? Are they insane? That place eats people alive..."
"They’re letting students in there?" a girl muttered, her eyes wide. "I’ve heard the ground itself moves under your feet. One wrong step and you’re gone."
"Not to mention the beasts," another added grimly. "Corrupted mana means they’re stronger than normal. And unstable. Like fighting something that doesn’t even feel pain."
Someone tried to laugh, but it came out nervous. "Well... at least we just need to survive until sunset, right? Easy."
"Easy?" The red-haired girl from earlier shot him a sharp look. "Do you even know how long that is? Hours in a place like that is hell. You’ll be lucky to last one."
"I heard a second-year say the illusions inside can make you see your own teammates turning on you," one boy whispered, his voice barely audible.
"People come out of there not knowing who to trust anymore."
But just as the students continued whispering, Otto lifted a hand, silencing them instantly.
"You are allowed to choose your teammates, but—" his voice hardened, "no more than four per group. Work with people you trust, or fail with those you don’t. Inside, loyalty and coordination will decide whether you live long enough to crawl back out."
He let the words sink in, then added, almost with a grim satisfaction:
"And for those of you dreaming of easy points... do not forget. The trial ground recognizes death as death. The protective wards are limited. Push your luck too far, and you won’t wake up tomorrow."
A tense silence followed.
Then Otto’s gaze narrowed, sweeping over the three classes again:
"Form your teams. You have ten minutes."
The training hall instantly erupted into noise the moment Otto gave the order. Dozens of students shuffled across the stone floor, calling out names, pulling friends close, shoving others away.
Some cliques formed quickly, those who had already decided their partners days ago, while others stumbled in hesitation, scrambling to not be left behind.
[...It seems that you’ll be alone in this exam.]
Jasmine muttered to Gray with a sly grin.
"Sigh..."
Gray sighed at her words, watching the chaos around him silently.
From one corner, Dimitri was already surrounded by eager faces, Lyra included. The golden glow faintly shimmering off her skin made her impossible to miss.
Then, Jess appeared.
She walked toward him with the triplets in tow, but her usually bright face was muted, almost blank.
"...It seems that we won’t be able to form a team, Gray..." she muttered softly, eyes cast down.
Her voice carried disappointment and a touch of guilt.
After all, she had promised him yesterday that they’d go in together, with the triplets.
"Don’t worry about me. I’ll do well on my own." Gray only chuckled lightly, lifting a hand to tap her head.
"Mhm!" Keira leaned forward with her fists balled, trying to look fierce. "If you need help, we can always run to you!"
"Right!" Mira nodded quickly. "Four of us together is strong, but five would’ve been even better. It’s a shame."
Elira remained quiet, although the look on her face said enough.
Jess bit her lip at their words, her gaze flickering between Gray and the triplets. But Gray just shrugged casually, the same easy smile on his lips, though his eyes gleamed sharper than anyone else’s in the hall.
[...I know that smile.]
Jasmine affirmed.
[What are you scheming?]
’Me?’ Gray blinked, feigning innocence as his lips curled faintly.
’I wouldn’t do something like that.’
[.....]
Ignoring her suspicion, his eyes shifted to the side.
Just a few steps away, Cassandra stood by herself, arms loosely crossed, her face unreadable.
Another loner, like him.
Selene, however... she was clinging to her boyfriend, though her eyes betrayed her. That subtle, restless glance kept straying toward Gray, again and again.
They still didn’t have the time to talk, and Gray was trying to keep it that way.
[...By the way, Selene is glancing at you.]
’I noticed.’
[And you won’t do anything?]
Gray sighed, as if bored with the topic.
’Jasmine, what I had with Selene was built on lust and attraction, not love. If I actually want her to fall for me, I can’t just push harder. I have to change the approach.’
[She’s a mermaid. Mermaids fall for the one who takes their first time. Isn’t that enough for you?]
’How sure are you?’ he countered smoothly. ’She’s half-mermaid, not full. You’re gambling on instincts that might not even be dominant.’
[That...]
Jasmine frowned; she hadn’t thought about that possibility.
[Hmn... I didn’t consider that, but then, what exactly do you plan on doing?]
Gray finally smiled.
’Simple. Make her jealous. Even if she’s not a full mermaid, she’s still a woman. Jealousy always digs deeper when it’s tied to the one who took something precious... especially her virginity.’
[And by making her jealous, you’re trying to make her realize that she likes you?]
He chuckled at her words.
’No’e. I doubt sex alone will flip her heart. But if she breaks, if she lashes out, that’s my opening.’
[...And then what? You will comfort her or anything?]
’Not exactly.’ His smirk tilted.
’I’ll reset us to friends. Once we’re ’friends,’ there’s no pressure. We’ll meet naturally, casually. That’s when I start weaving her in. Small touches. Shared meals. Walks that turn into dates. Step by step.’
[And the resources you want from her? How does that fit in?]
’...That’s the easiest part. Right now, I’m the exiled son of a duke’s family. When she learns my true identity, that’s when her pity will set in. Pity always opens doors.’
[Pity, huh? And you’ll just... ask?]
’Not directly,’ he shook his head.
’I’ll mention small things. How I can’t afford even a basic mana control book. How I’m struggling to keep up without proper resources. She’ll fill in the gaps herself.’
[...You’re playing a long game.]
Jasmine muttered.
Gray’s smirk didn’t fade at all.
"Patience builds the strongest traps."
"Time’s up," Otto’s deep voice cut through the hall, and the buzzing of students died instantly.
His sharp gaze swept over the gathered crowd before narrowing on two figures.
"Gray and Cassandra... it seems you two didn’t form a team."
Murmurs rippled through the students. Otto folded his arms behind his back.
"You have two options. Either you team up now, or you both enter the exam alone."
His words hit the air like a hammer.
Almost at the same time, two voices answered:
"We’ll make a team."
"I won’t team up with her."
The clash of answers froze the crowd.
Eyes widened, whispers flew everywhere.
Nobody expected Gray to be the one refusing, especially when Cassandra, the number one student, was the one who had agreed.
But Gray didn’t flinch, his calm eyes almost looked like he had predicted it.
’She probably wants to test me... or figure out how I know about her Soul Weapon.’
[Well, that’s all thanks to me!]
Jasmine said proudly, her voice smug in his mind.
Gray only nodded.
Otto, however, lifted an eyebrow at the conflicting answers. Then, slowly, his lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile.
"Since Cassandra’s rank is naturally higher than Gray’s... she holds the right to make the decision."
His voice carried a finality that brooked no argument.
"Therefore, from this moment on—Gray and Cassandra are officially a team."
Gasps burst out from the students, their shock thick in the air. For the first time that day, Gray’s small smile slipped away.
’Motherfucker...’
[He ruined our plan... fucking hell.]
Jasmine also growled in frustration.
Gray exhaled sharply, turning his head just enough to catch Cassandra’s slow approach.
The faint smile she wore wasn’t mocking; it was unreadable, which was worse.
’Keep as much distance as possible... she’s dangerous.’
Before the tension could thicken further, Otto waved his hand.
A crack of light tore open in the air, widening into a massive portal that pulsed with raw mana.
The crowd went dead silent, staring at the glowing threshold.
"Step inside," Otto commanded, his voice coming out cold.
"The exam begins now. Good luck."
His figure shimmered and vanished in the same breath, leaving the students facing the impossible.
Cassandra’s eyes slid toward Gray as she tilted her head slightly, just like a lizard, her lips curling faintly.
"Shall we?"
"...Ahh..." Gray sighed, his shoulders sinking.
Without another word, he moved ahead of her, stepping into the portal first.