I Don't Need To Log Out

Arlon's group, which included June and the blonde Magus, Mei, moved swiftly through the trees.

Mei took the lead, her hands glowing faintly as she used a tracking spell to guide them toward their first marker.

"So," Mei said, glancing back at Arlon and June, "are we going for top marks, or just aiming to survive this lesson?"

"Top marks," Arlon replied without hesitation. "Anything less isn't worth the effort."

June smirked. "Well, let's hope your plans involve more than just brute force."

Arlon looked at June and thought of when he brute forced anything.

It was probably the time we two grouped up to find the creature under Istarra.

"Mei, do you mind if I take the lead?" Arlon asked upon thinking that.

"Sure, but can you find your way here? Even we are not that good even though we were here for the last three years," she answered.

"Don't worry, I memorized the map Professor Elwyn showed." He actually had just recorded it.

"Impossible! He had shown for only a few seconds and the map is too big," Mei said in a shocked voice.

"Again, don't worry. My memory is good."

"S-sure, if you say so..." Mei said.

The sounds of the forest grew quieter as they pressed on, the trees around them seeming to close in. Somewhere in the distance, a high roar echoed, sending a shiver down June's spine.

"Was that one of the summoned creatures?" She asked, her voice tinged with unease.

"Probably," Mei said, gripping her staff a little tighter. "I just hope it's not something too crazy. I'd rather not fight a giant spider or something today."

"Let's focus," Arlon said firmly. "We need that first marker before worrying about what's guarding it."

The trio pushed deeper into the forest, their senses on high alert as they approached their first challenge.

---

Lei, Pierre, and Leafa were making their way through the forest, the faint sounds of rustling leaves and distant birds creating a serene yet charged atmosphere.

"Do you think we can get the top spot?" Lei asked, glancing at Leafa, her broad sword resting casually on her shoulder. "I saw some students moving on their own. They left their groups to cover more ground."

Leafa snorted, her wings fluttering slightly as she adjusted her pace to keep up. "Huh? Don't worry about them.

That happens every year. They always think splitting up is a genius strategy, and every year, they come back empty-handed. It's a waste of time and energy."
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"So you're saying we're going for the top spot?" Lei asked with a grin.

"Obviously. Otherwise, this would be boring," Leafa replied with a smirk.

"Well..." Pierre interjected, his voice quieter than usual. "I think Arlon and June's group will probably get the top spot. But we can aim for second place."

Leafa stopped in her tracks, spinning around to face him. "Why do you think that?" she demanded, narrowing her eyes.

Pierre hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. "I mean, Arlon's strong, right? And June's... resourceful."

Leafa rolled her eyes. "Strength has nothing to do with this lesson. It's not about who's the strongest. It's about who works best as a team and who's the smartest navigator."

She crossed her arms, her tone firm but not unkind. "Even if Arlon bulldozes through every obstacle, if they can't get back in time, they can kiss the top spot goodbye."

Pierre nodded, his shoulders slumping slightly. "You're right. Sorry."

"No worries," Leafa said, softening her tone. "But that doesn't mean we're in the clear. Mei's good, I'll give her that, and June's no slouch either. But it doesn't matter how good they are—we've got our own strengths."

Lei grinned, giving Leafa a thumbs-up. "That's the spirit. So what's our game plan?"

Leafa pointed ahead, her wings fluttering slightly. "Stick together, no shortcuts. I'll handle navigation and keep an eye out for traps.

Pierre, you're on defense in case we run into anything nasty. And Lei, you can take cover our back. If we stay focused, we've got this."

Pierre straightened up, his confidence restored. "Got it. Let's aim for first."

"That's the attitude I want to hear," Leafa said, her tone teasing but encouraging.

As they moved deeper into the forest, the air grew cooler, and the light dimmed under the thickening canopy.

The faint sound of running water reached their ears, and Leafa raised a hand to signal them to stop.

"Water ahead," she said, her voice dropping slightly. "Markers are often placed near natural barriers like rivers or cliffs. Stay sharp."

The trio exchanged glances, their earlier banter replaced by quiet determination.

---

The four-person group—Evan, Maria, Carmen, and Alia—pushed their way through the dense forest. The thick canopy above filtered the sunlight into scattered patches, making the path ahead feel both serene and ominous.

"I think Arlon's luck rubbed off on me," Evan said, grinning as he walked ahead of the group. "I'm in a team with three girls—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Maria's fist landed squarely on the back of his head.

"Ow!" Evan yelped, stumbling slightly.

"Think before you talk," Maria said sharply, glaring at him. She crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed.

Evan rubbed the back of his head, wincing. "Eh, sorry. My bad," he mumbled, assuming she was offended by his comment.

Maria sighed, her annoyance barely concealed. "Tcsh, you don't even know what you're apologizing for," she muttered, looking away.

Meanwhile, Carmen, walking quietly beside them, seemed flustered. Her cheeks had turned a faint shade of pink, but she kept her gaze firmly on the ground.

Maria, having noticed this, smirked inwardly. Ah, so she's still obvious. Poor girl, she thought as a more experienced big sister in the "love" department.

"You all seem like good friends," Alia said suddenly, breaking the tension. Her tone was curious but lighthearted. "Were you together before coming to the academy?"

Evan and Carmen froze, exchanging panicked glances.

"Huh? Yeah, we were together," Maria said calmly, cutting in before the others could fumble. "But we can't explain where we came from due to... reasons."

Alia raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Hmm. Let me guess—some special training program? But judging by your teamwork so far, I'd say your training is incomplete.

My bet is that you've got exceptional talent and are being prepared for something big under the Trionian government. Maybe even against the Keldars."

Maria maintained her poker face perfectly against this almost perfect guess, not giving anything away. Unfortunately, Evan and Carmen were far less composed.

"N-n-no, that's not it!" Carmen stammered, her face reddening further.

"Y-yeah, you're way off. Haha!" Evan added, his laughter forced and awkward.

Maria sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. Seriously, these two...

Alia chuckled softly, clearly entertained by their reaction. "Relax," she said, glancing at Maria with an understanding smile. "I won't tell anyone. Your secret's safe with me."

Maria let out a small sigh of relief. "Thanks. And... sorry for the secrecy. It's just something we have to do."

"It's okay," Alia replied, her tone sincere. "You're obviously doing something important for Trion. I'm sure there's a good reason you were chosen."

Carmen looked at Alia with wide eyes. "Do you really think so?"

"Of course," Alia said with a shrug. "Not everyone gets to attend Cardon Academy, even as a guest. If you're here, it means someone believes in your potential. Don't let that go to waste."

Carmen's expression softened, and a small smile formed on her lips. "Thank you. That... means a lot."

Evan, feeling the need to contribute, grinned and gave Alia a thumbs-up. "See, Maria? At least someone around here appreciates us!"

Maria shot him a glare. "Keep talking, and you'll be eating dirt before we reach the first marker."

Alia laughed, shaking her head as she led them further into the forest. "You guys are an interesting bunch. I think I'm going to enjoy this lesson."

As they continued deeper into the woods, the group's earlier tension gave way to a more relaxed atmosphere, punctuated by Evan's occasional jokes and Alia's good-natured teasing.

Even Maria found herself smiling faintly, though she kept her focus sharp as the forest grew darker and the sounds of rustling creatures became more prominent.