The students gathered at the campsite. Commander Elijah stood tall before them, flanked by the captains, his steely gaze scanning the crowd of weary but determined students.
“Well done, students,” he began. “We’ve swept the area, and there are no more dragons within this vicinity. But this is just the beginning. Tomorrow, we ride deeper into the South to finish clearing the dragon infestation. Make no mistake—what lies ahead will test you in ways today could not.”
The students murmured among themselves, a mix of excitement and nervous energy rippling through the crowd. Mike grinned widely, his confidence unshaken. “Now that’s what I’m talking about! We’re definitely going to ace this exam!”
Elijah raised his hand, and the group fell silent instantly. “While your performance today was commendable,” he said, his tone hardening, “the challenges ahead will be fiercer. Luckily for us, we haven’t spotted any high class dragons yet. Brace yourselves. This is no time for complacency.”
Adam turned to his friends, his expression resolute. “Let’s give it everything we’ve got!”
“Yeah!” they all shouted in unison, the fire of camaraderie burning strong.
The days that followed were grueling. The students faced wave after wave of dragons, each encounter pushing them to their limits. Villages in need of protection marked their journey southward, the students using every ounce of their training to fend off the relentless attacks.
As the week dragged on, exhaustion began to creep in. That evening, under the starlit sky, the boys gathered around a crackling campfire. The warmth of the flames was a welcome contrast to the cool night air.
Mike leaned back, stretching his arms. “These past few days have been insane. I mean, who knew the exam would be this intense?”
David chuckled, poking the fire with a stick. “Honestly, I thought it would be smooth sailing. I didn’t expect to be fighting this many dragons and coming out mostly unscathed.”
Ben sighed, staring into the flames. “I’m just glad it’s almost over. I miss home.”
Adam, seated across from him, smiled warmly. “It’s been tough, but thanks to everyone’s efforts and teamwork, we’ve managed to pull through.”
David glanced around the campfire, his expression curious. “Hey, where’s Frank? He’s been wandering off a lot this week.”
“Oh, he went out for some air,” Ben said, shrugging. “Probably reading again. You know how he is.”
Adam rose from his seat, brushing the dirt off his pants. “I’ll go check on him. Just to make sure he’s okay.”
As Adam made his way from the campfire, the soft crunch of footsteps on dried leaves drew his attention. Turning, he saw Victor and Cynthia approaching from the opposite direction.
“Hey, you two,” Adam greeted, his tone light. “Taking a stroll?”
Cynthia’s face flushed slightly. “Oh, something like that. We were just talking about… dragons.”
Adam chuckled. “Sounds like fun. I’m actually on my way to check on Frank. He’s been a little distant lately.”
Cynthia tilted her head thoughtfully, a finger tapping her chin. “Yeah, I’ve noticed that too. But I’m sure he’s fine. He just likes his space sometimes.”
Victor glanced at Cynthia and said, “Why don’t you head back to your tent? I want to have a quick word with Adam.”
Cynthia hesitated for a moment but nodded. “Alright. Goodnight, you two.” She waved, walking back toward the camp. As she left, she couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder, watching Adam and Victor walk away together.
YOU ARE READING
The Elementiels
FantasyAfter the death of Stacey Grace, Jason Marquoid discovers a new power in him that can change the world as we know it. He must find a way to harness this new found power in order to prevent the deaths of those he loves and cares about. Season One: Th...
