“And what exactly do we need?” Min asked while trying to keep Ren’s pace.
“A small vein,” Ren responded simply. “For cultivation.”
Taro and Min exchanged glances, their eyes meeting in a silent conversation born from months of friendship.
“What if we get caught?” Min asked, though his tone held more excitement than concern.
“We won’t,” Ren smiled, his mushrooms pulsing with quiet confidence. “Not if we close the tunnel properly… I’ll explain everything after class, when we’re all together. For now, let’s focus on surviving Lin’s training.”
As if summoned by the mere mention of her name, their teacher’s voice thundered across the field: “TOO MUCH TALKING! FIFTY MORE LAPS!”
The three friends groaned in unison but kept running, their feet pounding against the packed earth in a steady rhythm.
♢♢♢♢
After completing all their exercises, muscles trembling from exertion…
“Attention!” Yang’s voice boomed across the training field, cutting through the scattered conversations like a blade. “I have an important announcement.”
The students gathered, many still panting from their workout. Lin took her place beside Yang, her crane’s feathers gleaming in the morning light.
“Final exams begin in one month,” Yang continued, his stone behemoth manifesting subtly in his skin, creating rippling patterns like living granite. “And this time will be different…”
A wave of anticipation swept through the group, raising the hairs on the back of their necks.
“This won’t be just a friendly match between yourselves,” Yang smiled, though gravity lurked in his eyes. “You’ll face a real Bronze-rank beast.”
The murmur transformed into exclamations of surprise and worry, voices rising in concern.
“A real Bronze beast?” someone asked from the back, their voice cracking. “I thought you were joking on the first day to scare us… We’re Iron students!”
“That’s why you’ll be allowed weapons again and work in groups of three,” Lin cut through the rising panic, her voice sharp and precise. “You have a month to prepare yourselves mentally.”
“Learning to kill beasts is crucial for your future,” Yang pressed on. “What matters is your ability to face a real threat. The hordes don’t discriminate, and in the outside world, monsters won’t wait until you’re ready.”
“There will also be matches between you with no weapons again,” Lin added.”Both individual and in groups of three. Other classes will join for these trials, and it won’t be as friendly… Your exam results and rank are at stake this time.”
Students exchanged wary glances. The mention of other classes meant more competition, more chances to shine… or to fail spectacularly.
“Your performance in these exams,” Yang emphasized each word, his stone patterns gleaming, “will determine if you advance to Bronze 1 next semester. This isn’t just a skill test, it’s your chance to rise in rank.”
“Groups must register this week,” Lin continued, her eyes scanning the gathered students. “Choose wisely. Skill balance will be crucial.”
“What kind of Bronze beast will it be?” Jin asked, his tiger markings glowing with poorly concealed eagerness.
“You’ll find out on exam day,” Yang replied, his expression unreadable. “Be prepared for anything.”
“What if we fail?” a trembling voice asked from the back of the crowd.
“Then you’ll remain Iron rank,” Lin answered simply, her words falling like stones in still water. “And watch your companions advance without you.”
The silence that followed was heavy enough to crush dreams.
“One month,” Yang repeated, his voice resonating with finality. “Use this time wisely. Study, train, prepare. Because when you face that Bronze beast, there won’t be second chances.”
“…And remember,” Yang concluded, his grave voice echoing across the field, “this is the first real trial you’ll face as tamers. What happens here will determine not just your rank, but your future at the academy.”
The students began to disperse, forming small clusters to discuss the news. The air hummed with a mixture of excitement and anxiety, like the calm before a storm.
The month ahead promised to be intense. The final exams would be a trial by fire, a chance to rise… or to be left behind.
♢♢♢♢
“Unacceptable!” Mei slammed her hand against her desk, making several students jump in their seats. “An entire class missed without explanation, and you waltz in as if nothing happened!”
Her gaze swept over the culprits: Ren, Taro, and Min, the two groups of noble cousins with their “follower students” Maria, Mayo, and Matilda, and the six “new girls.” All tried to make themselves as small as possible under her withering stare.
“The new Wei might ignore your absences,” she continued, her vine manifestation rippling across her skin with irritation.
“Professor Mei,” Larissa stepped forward, wearing her most charming smile. “Allow me to explain…”
Larissa outlined the situation broadly. Apparently, Lin had explained everything to Yang, but nobody had remembered to inform Mei.
“No, my dear,” Mei cut her off. “Not even an infiltrated child from Yino can justify this… It’s not the students’ responsibility to handle such matters. All that commotion, having to take students to shelter, and it just happens to involve precisely the students who missed my class!”
The “new girls” shifted uncomfortably. They were supposed to protect the girls, not cause academic problems.
“And you, Ren,” Mei turned to him, her eyes narrowing. “Your shenanigans are causing more and more problems. First the crazy theories, then the interruptions, and now unjustified absences! I’ll have to deduct points for the first time over this.”
Ren’s mushrooms pulsed rapidly as he considered his options.
“Professor,” he began softly. “May I make an observation?”
“Don’t try to change the subject!”
“It’s about your Megaphila Vine,” Ren continued, unfazed. “Don’t you find it curious that at Silver 1 it only grants 40% vitality? Compared to its 120% in wind control…”
Mei halted mid-scolding, her eyes widening slightly.
“That’s… that’s normal for this type of beast,” she responded, though doubt had crept into her voice.
“It’s really a shame,” Ren smiled gently. “With the correct method, it could easily reach 80%. You’d look even younger…”
The last words caught Mei’s attention completely. Her hand unconsciously rose to her face.
“Younger…?”
“Oh yes,” Ren nodded, his mushrooms pulsing with apparent enthusiasm. “It’s just a matter of applying a new cultivation method that Professor Zhao and Master Lin are already practicing. Have you noticed how the leaves tend to lean north during certain nights?”
“How do you know that?” Mei asked, genuinely surprised.
“The patterns are quite clear,” Ren explained. “If you absorbed crystals processed during the correct lunar phases…”
“Enough!” Mei raised a hand, though her tone had lost all hostility. “Perhaps… we could discuss this after class.”
“Of course,” Ren smiled innocently. “Though about the points…”
“The points,” Mei coughed, composing herself. “Well, considering the special circumstances and… given that you seem to have some interesting theories to discuss…”
“Shall we start class?” Larissa suggested sweetly.
“Yes, yes,” Mei nodded, shuffling her papers and attempting to regain her dignity. “Everyone take your seats. And Ren…”
“Yes, professor?”
“I’ll see you after class,” a small smile tugged at her lips. “To discuss these… theories of yours.”
As the students settled in, Min leaned toward Ren.
“You’re terrible,” he whispered. “Do you really know how to improve her vitality?”
Ren’s mushrooms pulsed with what was definitely amusement.
“Of course,” he replied quietly. “It’ll take 1000 days… But that’ll give her something more interesting to think about than our absences.”
Taro, overhearing the conversation, could only shake his head with a smile. His friend was turning the art of distracting teachers with real knowledge into an exact science.