Chapter 88 - The Reznan Forest (Patreon)

Reyna had visited the Reznan Forest many times before. The vast woodland stretched around Wayhold, providing the kingdom with highly valuable timber for export. Most of her visits, however, had been limited to the closer, more developed parts of the forest, where hunts and entertainments were occasionally organized for bored aristocrats.

She had never been to the section where the Academy's carriages had taken them today.

This area belonged to the Academy itself, and only a select few were allowed access. The boundary was protected by a magical barrier, which she felt immediately as it gathered information about her the moment she passed through the invisible field.

They traveled in six carriages, one for each group and another for the Masters. Reyna initially tried to start a conversation about everyone’s summer, but she quickly realized that everyone was too tense about the challenge awaiting them.

Arien was the exception. Half his body was hanging out of the open window while he stared into the forest and muttered appreciatively to himself.

Reyna wasn’t particularly eager to talk to him.

After everything that had happened at her estate, she had deliberately given him some space, uncertain whether he blamed her for any of it. For some reason, she still felt that she owed him an apology, even though none of it had been her fault. There had been no way for her to predict that her father would use her friends' visit as an opportunity to teach her a lesson.

Serig spent most of the year in Wayhold, staying as close to the throne as possible and keeping a careful watch on political developments.

Arien's sister's accidental revelation had complicated things again.

For several days, Reyna had been forced to reconsider how she thought about Arien. She liked him, certainly, but until recently it had been with the comfortable assumption that she was the more capable of the two, the one who understood more and could guide him when necessary.

Ramsy’s report had already shaken that assumption. Learning that Arien had awakened at six without tutors, expensive artifacts, or any of the preparation Reyna herself had required made it even harder to maintain.

What bothered her most was the possibility that, when it came to magic, he might actually be more talented than she was.

“Arien, can you shut up for a minute?” she snapped before immediately regretting the wording. “Your constant muttering is getting on everyone’s nerves.”

“Sorry, Rey.” He didn’t sound particularly sorry. “It’s just so beautiful here! And the mana! Makes you want to breathe.”

“Mana? What mana?” Ellie asked.

“You can’t feel it?” Arien looked around the carriage. “Maybe it’s harder in here. Stick your head out the window.”

Only Matt accepted the suggestion.

“I think I can feel something! A little like those Aspect Discovery classes, just nowhere near as strong.”

“Rey, give it a try.”

She suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to punch him in the face. Was he doing this on purpose? Trying to make her look like an idiot by sticking her head out of a carriage and sniffing the forest air?

Fortunately for him, the coachmen called out before she could decide how to respond.

They gathered in a fairly large clearing, watching the departing carriages with a certain amount of apprehension. At each student's feet rested a large backpack provided by the Academy, supposedly containing everything necessary to survive in the forest for a week, or even longer, if needed.

Besides the backpacks, the most noticeable objects were several large crates covered with grey tarps. Whatever the Masters had prepared for them, they would probably find out soon enough.

Reyna studied the other groups. She had known their compositions in advance and already possessed information on every student, but seeing them together made it easier to judge how well they might actually function as teams.

The most dangerous was undoubtedly Effie Coldhart’s group. Besides Effie herself, Mel and Madri represented respectable threats, while Liam Bowney, one of the Academy’s few beastkin students, specialized in close combat. Jockal and Tod worried Reyna considerably less.

Adam Uthelson’s team was another problem. He ranked third in the year and had a reputation as an excellent duelist. With Fire, Air, and Earth already assigned, he was difficult enough on his own. Ricard Godrey and Gilly gave the group two more students clearly headed toward combat-focused careers.

Senhal Silverleaf’s team looked less overwhelming but far more versatile. The elf possessed three Aspects, including the rare Plant Aspect, and had Pori, Sebastian, and the dwarven student Mandog Cresthill alongside him.

The final group appeared weakest on paper, with only Bazyl in the year’s top ten. Five of its six members, however, came from the same classroom group, and three ranked within the top twenty. Their familiarity with one another might matter more than individual rankings.

Her own team was harder to judge.

During combat classes, Arien usually did little beyond what the Masters required of him, and his Life Aspect would probably contribute little to this particular competition. The only person he sparred with regularly was his friend Will, who wasn’t even a mage.

Ramsy claimed he had performed surprisingly well under pressure, but Reyna had yet to see that side of him herself.

Matt had been her safest choice. He was an excellent fighter, and at least during the competition, whatever resentment he still held toward her shouldn’t affect his performance. Missy was competent, though good grades inside the Academy did not always translate well to unfamiliar conditions.

That gap between classroom performance and practical ability was one of the reasons the Academy organized exercises like this.

"Welcome, everyone, and congratulations on qualifying for this event!" boomed the voice of Master Cerick Lamalson, a broad-shouldered man with a square jaw and a shaved head who taught Magical Defense at the Academy.

“That’s enough for introductions. I hope you’ve recovered during the semester break, because I guarantee you this: you won’t be bored over the coming days.”

Cerick paused, then grinned. “We have five teams here, and only one will earn the prize: a fully protected Academy expedition into a Portal.”

The clearing immediately filled with whispers.

Reyna kept her expression under control, though she understood the excitement perfectly. A supervised Academy Portal was unlikely to contain valuable artifacts or offer much opportunity for gaining levels, but simply having participated in a Raid carried enormous prestige. Even her family wasn’t willing to spend the resources required to buy her and her guards a place in one merely for the experience, and in Wayhold, entire establishments catered only to people who could prove they had entered a Portal.

That alone made the prize worth fighting for.

Oh, how much easier that would make her life and her plans...

"Now that you know the prize, we'll explain the rules of this year's competition," said Master Bonette Sanwick, a stocky woman whose copper-red curls reached all the way to her waist. She taught Fire and Air Manipulation. Reyna wasn't particularly fond of her, largely because she was convinced the woman had some personal grudge against her.

"We're going to play Capture the Flag!"

The Master grinned at the students' expressions.

"What's with those faces? Don't like it? Good. That makes it even better." A few groans rose from the crowd. "But these won't be ordinary bases. The winning team will either be the last one whose flag remains uncaptured, or the team with the most points after seven days." 

Several students immediately leaned forward.

"Wondering how to earn points?" Bonette continued. "Each of you will receive a special amulet. It will activate the moment your defenses are breached and you would otherwise suffer an injury. The amulet will protect you, but you'll be eliminated from the competition."

She paused.

"The attacker receives two points for their team. Eliminating a leader wearing a red armband is worth three points."

She pointed toward the students.

"If a leader is eliminated, another team member must take the armband.”

“And there’s one more way to earn points,” Bonette continued.

At her signal, an assistant pulled the grey covering from one of the crates.

Cages filled with dozens of squeaking creatures stood underneath.

“These are Ratgliders. Harmless Monsters that feed mostly on carrion, but they’re extremely sensitive to magic. Each one carries a tag worth one point.”

As she spoke, Bonette walked to one of the cages and opened it. A grey blur shot out with astonishing speed. Before it could travel more than a yard, however, it suddenly rose into the air. With a casual gesture, the Master trapped the creature inside a bubble of Air magic and held it up for everyone to see.

Reyna disliked the woman, but she had to admit that her control over magic was something she envied immensely.

The monster itself looked unimpressive.

It was Reyna's first time hearing about Ratgliders, though there were thousands of Monster species in existence. This one seemed neither dangerous nor valuable. It resembled an oversized rat with a blue tail and disproportionately large paws.

"You will receive maps marking the location of your base," Bonette continued. "Another important rule: any attempt to continue attacking after someone's amulet activates will result in the automatic elimination of the entire offending team."

The crowd immediately quieted.

"Anyone whose amulet activates must leave the combat zone immediately and may not communicate with either allies or enemies in any way. Our assistants will be observing you throughout the competition and will escort eliminated students back to the main camp, which will be located here."

She pointed toward the clearing.

"The flags in your forts are protected by artifacts. You may not reinforce those defenses. Destroying a flag automatically eliminates the entire team. The attacking team receives ten points."

A murmur spread through the students.

"You may not strengthen your fortifications in any way. You may not leave the barrier surrounding our section of the forest. Good. Any questions?"

Reyna had been analyzing every word from the moment the explanation began and immediately understood the implications behind each rule.

The most interesting addition was the point system tied to the Ratglider tags. Without them, the safest strategy would have been to sit behind the defenses and wait for the other teams to weaken one another. Now every group would have to divide its attention between protecting the flag, hunting for points, and attacking rival camps.

This was going to be much more complicated than she had expected.

"What happens if the last surviving team has fewer points than a defeated team when the final base falls?" Effie asked.

Good question.

"The team whose flag survives wins," Bonette replied. "However, every subsequent placement will be determined by total points. Members of the second- and third-place teams will receive bonus ranking points at the start of the semester."

"Can we use Fire magic?" Adam asked.

"Yes. You don't need to worry about starting a forest fire. The barrier will prevent that."

“Can we form alliances with other teams?” Bazyl asked.

“Yes.”

“Do the bases have showers?” Arien asked.

Reyna stared at him while several students laughed.

Although…

Ridiculous as the question sounded, seven days in the forest meant everyone would eventually have to wash, sleep, and relieve themselves somewhere. Suddenly, she was interested in the answer too.

“No,” Bonette said with a smile. “There aren’t any toilets either. You have lakes, ponds, and streams.”

She looked directly at Arien.

“And just so you know, Portals don’t come with showers either.”

A few students groaned.

"Any other questions? No? Good. The assistants will distribute your maps. You have one hour to reach your camps. After that, Ratgliders will be released at various locations throughout the forest. They will not be able to leave the barrier."

She swept her gaze across the assembled students.

"I wish you all a pleasant time."

Arien trailed behind the rest of the group, admiring the scenery. The endless procession of trees and rolling hills didn't bore him in the slightest, and he found himself smiling at the sight of a gently flowing stream.

Back on Earth, he had rarely had the chance to experience nature untouched by humanity. Truthfully, Erador hadn't been much different. Around both Three Meadows and Ribenne, fields stretched as far as the eye could see, while in Wayhold he had never had either the time or the opportunity to venture deep into the wilderness.

So now he was making up for lost years, soaking in the peace and beauty surrounding him.

Perhaps the Academy’s forest couldn’t truly be called untouched wilderness. The trees stood a little too evenly spaced, and the undergrowth was far too sparse. Still, at least he could see a decent distance ahead through the woods.

Good thing we have Matt.

The boy walked beside Reyna at the front of the group, navigating through the forest with the help of a map. He rarely stopped and even more rarely had to backtrack after taking a wrong turn.

When they finally reached their base, however, Arien let out a quiet sigh of relief. The scenery was beautiful, certainly, but the backpack he carried was beginning to feel unbearably heavy.

He dropped it onto the ground with a loud thud and looked around their "fortress".

They stood in the middle of a medium-sized clearing. At its center was a white flag planted firmly into the earth, emblazoned with a black triangle. The pole stood about thirteen feet tall and was surrounded by a faint glow indicating a protective field.

Encircling the clearing was a low stone border, barely three feet high. On one side, a stream about six feet wide ran alongside it. Inside the perimeter, there was just enough room to pitch their two tents comfortably, one for the boys and one for the girls.

"Alright," Reyna announced once everyone had caught their breath and unpacked enough to function. "I think we should discuss our strategy for the coming days. I assume everyone wants a chance to visit a Portal?"

"Of course," Missy replied, dabbing sweat from her forehead with a velvet handkerchief.

"In that case, does anyone have any ideas?" Reyna asked, as though she genuinely expected suggestions. Arien knew her well enough to realize everything would proceed according to her plan regardless.

"We need to figure out where the other teams have their bases," Matt suggested.

"Yes. Reconnaissance is a very good idea," Reyna agreed. "Anything else?"

"We could set up the tents?" Missy offered.

"Obviously. But one thing at a time. The next few hours are extremely important. We need a plan and we need to establish our priorities."

She paused.

"I've spent the journey analyzing the competition, and I believe we only have two viable options. Depending on which one we choose, our entire strategy changes."

"What do you mean?" Matt asked.

"The first option is fighting for first place. If that's our goal, then our highest priority is eliminating Effie's team as quickly as possible. To accomplish that, we'll need an alliance with at least one, or preferably two other teams."

"And the second option?" Elia asked.

"Fight for second place. In that scenario, our objective becomes collecting as many tags as possible while avoiding the other teams."

"Couldn't we wait and see how things develop before deciding?" Arien suggested. He wasn't sure why Reyna was framing the situation as two completely different paths.

"No," she replied without hesitation. "In a direct confrontation, we can't beat Effie's group. Nobody can. Without cooperation, she'll eliminate us one by one. So either we act immediately while we still have a chance, or we settle for second place." 

She looked around.

"Let's put it to a vote. Who supports the first option?"

Everyone except Elia raised a hand.

"I share a class with Effie," the girl explained. "I've seen what she can do."

"Which is exactly why I suggest forming alliances," Reyna replied.

She counted quickly.

"Five in favor, one against. Good. Then we're ignoring the tags for now."

She glanced toward the sun.

"We still have several hours of daylight left. I suggest splitting into three groups. We're on the northern edge of the forest. Missy and I will head southeast, while Matt and Greg take the southwest route. Our objective is locating the neighboring teams. If a fight breaks out, we run."

She turned.

"Arien and Ellie will stay here and defend the base. You can also set up the tents and organize the supplies." She looked around one final time. "Any questions?"

"What if we run into a Ratglider?" Matt asked.

"Ignore them unless you can kill one quickly without using magic that another team might detect." Reyna paused, then added, "Oh, and one more thing. Arien, you're getting the leader's armband."

"Me?!"

"Yes, you."

She folded her arms.

"Your only job during these games is to sit in camp and defend the flag. If the flag falls, we've lost anyway. And if someone defeats me while I'm outside the camp, they'll earn three points."

"Wouldn't it be better if you or Matt stayed behind to guard the flag?" Missy asked, giving Arien a doubtful look.

"I need to try forming an alliance against Effie," Reyna explained. "And Matt is the best among us when it comes to navigating through the forest."

"Then maybe I should stay?" Missy suggested.

"No. Arien is stronger than you."

Reyna swept her gaze across the group.

"Everyone understands their assignments?"

No one spoke up.

"Good. Ten minutes of rest, then we move out."

Which group will win?