Looks like most of the students are gathered here. Once the classes are over, this big forest, also called as training zone is quickly crowded with students wanting to train themselves, or just to have a discussion there. Either way, they look excited.
The forest is now being crowded, which makes sensation of a creepy forest with the monsters inside it to be lost. Even in the evening sky with cold breeze, the forest somewhat turns into a public park. Someone told me that the monsters only exist deeper in the forest, and we still just near the entrance all the time.
The instructors in classes have told them, that while every risks are becoming one's responsibilities, the Examination won't be that dangerous as it sounds. They say that the students will be enchanted with a magic that won't cause any blood to fall out, though the pain sensation still exists. But they seem to be relieved by this fact.
Everyone is busy summoning their main weapon for the first time of practical use. As Sir Palladion once said, we can't just rely on magic attacks only. We are trained to use and proficient in at least a single conventional weapon, in case we ran out of magick during any battle. The solution for that, is we conjure our weapon of preference from our mind into a physical form to be used. Conjuring weapon turns out to be an easy task and only require less to none magick, given how skilled the user is.
I go there to meet up with Farris to discuss and prepare early for the Examination since we're paired up for that event. He said he'll come later, so I choose to go there first to find an appropriate place for the meeting. On my way there, I came across with Celine, my cousin. We've been rarely met these days, since our dorms are separated, and she is in Division A. She is practicing archery and becomes pretty good with magic bow and arrows, which become her preferred weapon. Me myself, I choose a single-handed sword and daggers to promote my favored attribute, agility.
"Hey there, long time no see." I greet her in a friendly manner.
"Oh, hi there. You've been well?" she replies, while starting to aim with her bow to the shooting target on a tree across of her.
"Just fine. How's your partner?"
"She'll be here soon. Oh, you mean my opinion about her.. She is fine, friendly enough, and cooperative," she tells me, then she released her arrow and they precisely hits the target. Followed by another arrow, and it hits precisely on the same spot as the first one.
"Nice shoot," I compliment her.
"Thanks. By the way, what about yours? I heard that he is not from around here. Might be difficult to adjust with culturally different person."
"No, he is good actually. Adept in alchemy and enchanting. Though the air surrounds him is somehow.... different, but we get along well. In fact, we're supposed to meet around here."
"Good to hear that,"
While we are talking, a long black-haired girl come walking through the forest. Judging from Celine's expression, it must be someone she's been anticipating.
"Glad you here, Miel. Come here, I want you to meet Jason, my cousin." she moves to greet that girl and grab her by the hand to where I am standing.
"Miel, this is Jason. Jason, this is Miel," she smiles widely, " Come on, don't be shy! Give him your hand! You too!" she then looks at both us. Facing each other in awkwardness. Still, I'm the one who is being awkward, and she is the first to offer her hand. Seeing no other option, I shake her hand with soft and quick shaking.
"So, is he truly your cousin? You both look different," Miel says to Celine.
"Of course you silly! He is a boy, I am a girl! Of course, we're different!" Celine replies jokingly.
"That's not what I meant!" and then both of them burst into a laughter, and I'm just standing there smiling.
"We're distant relatives," I tell her, slight yelling so my sound can be heard between the laughter.
"Uh-huh, I think that explains it," Miel says, while catching her breath. The laughter ends, and both of them have returned to their composure. It is difficult to laugh as free as they did just now nowadays, everyone are busy with their classes, and now the Examination.
"Good to have relatives here, since we might not be able to meet them again once we graduated here," Miel says gloomy. She's right. Once we're graduated, we will be sent to Highmont to receive our duties to serve the country, and meeting relatives is becoming a difficult matter during that.
"Ah, never mind that. We're going to find a new family here, I suppose." she then continues cheerfully. Guess she is a happy-go-lucky kind of person.
"Oh, I almost forget. I need to find a good place for sparring. See you later, both of you," I say goodbye to them, and both of them gestures a good-bye sign.
I proceed to go deeper into the forest, but not too deep where the monsters are. Deep enough where there is less to none people is around, that's what Farris said to me. To make it easier for him, I find a place not too far from the main road.
Ten minutes later, he finally finds me. I'm just standing there, leaning to a tree. Then we come face-to-face.
"Well, I've been thinking about the rules we heard this morning. One of us is going to have three battles, while the other only two," he opens up the conversation.
"Yeah, I know that.. What do you suggest?" I ask him in return.
"Let's have a spar. Whoever wins, he is the one who is going to have three battles.. You agree?"
"Sure, that's a good idea. Might as well as training and knowing each other skills, right?" I slightly laugh. He also have a slight laughter in his face, "Take it easy now, none of us want to have serious injuries before the big day."
"Yeah, I agree." And both of us smiled.
