Crestfall: Darkness Unveiled

The group pressed on, the quiet between them filled only by the sound of their steps on the grass. The sun climbed higher into the sky, casting long shadows across the bumpy grassland as the group trudged onward. The hum of the extraction point's beacon was faint but growing louder, pulling them closer with each step.

Rin, walking a few paces behind the others with her eyes on Sosuke, broke the silence with a heavy sigh. "Something's been bugging me."

Ren turned his head, slowing his pace slightly. "What is it?"

She quickened her step to draw closer. "We're supposed to be one of the best first-year classes in a long time—that's what Professor Aleron said. If that's true, why did we struggle so much?" Her voice carried a bitter edge as she gestured around them. "Think about it. That means people before us must've struggled way worse—almost guaranteed to die."

Her voice grew louder with every word, the frustration she'd held in finally spilling out. "How is any of this okay? We're just students, teenagers trying to learn! In what way is it okay for them to force us into this life-threatening forest just to pass the first year?! How is this allowed, how is it legal?!"

Everyone's focus shifted, stopping in their tracks. Even Lyra's usual carefree demeanor became serious, and the rest of the group fell silent, unease settling over them like a thick fog.

"You don't understand." Arthur's voice cut through the tension, steady and calm. His gaze remained fixed on the distant horizon, past the seemingly endless grasslands. "We're in dangerous times. The rest of you may not have noticed, but I was told by my father. Our nation is in the middle of a war."

The air seemed to grow heavier. Rin stared at Arthur, her frustration giving way to disbelief. Elowen clutched her staff a little tighter, her lips pressed into a thin line. Lyra blinked, trying to process what he'd just said, her earlier complaints forgotten.

Ren was the only one who managed to respond, his voice quiet but pressing. "A war? Why haven't we heard about this?"

Arthur turned toward them, his expression serious but calm. "Because it's not public yet. The council is keeping it under wraps, trying to avoid panic. But it's real. My father told me months ago—we're not just training here. The academy is preparing us for battle."

Rin shook her head, her voice trembling with disbelief. "You're saying… everything we've been through, all of this, is to turn us into soldiers?"

Arthur nodded. "That's exactly what I'm saying. This midterm, the dangerous tasks, the pressure—it's all meant to weed out the weak and prepare the rest of us for war. Whether we like it or not."

Lyra let out a shaky breath. "But we're not ready for that. We're not even close to being ready for something like that." She gestured toward Sosuke, unconscious and slumped over the back of the summoned beast. "Look at us! Half of us can barely stand. How do they expect us to fight?"

Arthur's jaw tightened. "They don't care if we're ready. They care if we survive. That's all that matters to them."

Ren's fists clenched, frustration bubbling just under the surface. "So, what? We just accept it? Let them turn us into pawns for a war we didn't even know about?" His voice grew sharper, but his tone stayed steady.

Arthur met his gaze without flinching. "You don't have to like it, Ren. I sure as hell don't. But if this is the reality we're facing, we'd better be ready. Because no one else is going to protect us."

The group stood in uneasy silence. The distant beacon marking the extraction point pulsed faintly on the horizon, but none of them moved. For a moment, it felt as if the ground beneath them had shifted, the weight of Arthur's words heavier than anything they'd carried before.

"Let's go. We're almost there," Arthur said, his voice steady as he stepped forward again. The group followed behind him in silence, the weight of their journey and his earlier revelation pressing down on them. "It shouldn't take more than an hour."

When they finally arrived at the extraction point, a sprawling open area came into view. It was bustling with guards and teachers, their stern faces adding to the somber atmosphere. Students were already lining up in neat rows, preparing for departure. The air was thick with quiet exhaustion, broken only by the sharp commands of the professors organizing the scene.

Arthur's focus was unwavering, his thoughts locked on returning to the academy and claiming the prize for first place. Lyra and Elowen, walking just behind him, said nothing, their expressions tense. The weight of everything they'd endured hung heavy over them all.

As the group reached the front of the line, a teacher waved them over. Without waiting for instruction, two medics rushed to Sosuke, carefully lifting him onto a stretcher. Rin followed closely, her brows furrowed in worry.

"We'll take care of him," one of the medics assured her as they began walking away.

Rin hesitated, her hands gripping the straps of her bag tightly, before stepping back to rejoin the group. Ren placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her a firm nod. "He'll be okay."

Before Rin could reply, Professor Magnus Aleron stepped onto a raised platform at the center of the clearing, his voice amplified by a spell. "Attention, everyone!"

The gathered students turned to listen, their exhaustion evident but their curiosity piqued.

"As you all know, the midterm has concluded. Most of you will be returning to Astralis immediately, where your scores will be tallied and your rankings finalized," Aleron began, his sharp gaze sweeping across the crowd.

"However," he continued, his tone growing heavier, "the top three groups will not be returning to the academy. Instead, you will be sent to an alternate location for the second phase of your midterm evaluation."

Whispers broke out among the students, but the tired atmosphere dampened any excitement.

Aleron raised a hand, silencing the murmurs. "This opportunity is a rare honor. It is an invitation to the palace of Gabriel Aurelius, High Council leader. There, you will represent Astralis and be evaluated directly by the High Council themselves."

Arthur stiffened, his blue eyes narrowing slightly. Lyra glanced at Ren, her usual sarcasm absent. Even Rin's shoulders tensed.

Magnus began calling out names. "In third place: Reid Stark, Rafael Vessler, and Milo Griffin."

The trio stepped forward, their faces unreadable.

"In second place: Ren Natsume, Rin Sakurai, Sosuke Estrella."

The remaining four turned to Ren and Rin. Ren clenched his fists, his mind racing. Rin glanced in the direction where Sosuke had been taken, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"And in first place: Arthur Veiss, Lyra Valcrest, and Elowen Cysra."

Arthur exhaled deeply, his jaw tight. Lyra's lips twitched, but she didn't speak. Elowen stood still, her grip tightening on her staff.

Aleron gestured toward the trio of groups. "You will remain here. The rest of you, prepare for departure."

The other students began filing onto the transports, leaving the clearing feeling oddly empty. Rin stayed near Ren, her eyes flicking back toward the medical tent.

"I'm not leaving without him," Rin said quietly.

Ren nodded. "Neither am I."

Minutes later, a medic emerged from the tent and approached them. "Sosuke is stable. He woke up briefly and asked for you both. You can see him, but make it quick."

Rin didn't wait. She bolted for the tent, with Ren following close behind.

Inside, Sosuke lay on a cot, his purple eyes half-open but alert. A faint smile touched his lips when he saw them.

"Hey," he murmured, his voice weak.

Rin's expression softened, letting out a laugh. "You're finally awake."

Ren crossed his arms, his silver eyes narrowing slightly. "You gave us a scare."

Sosuke's smile grew. "Did we make top 3?"

Rin huffed. "You're unbelievable, but e did."

The three of them shared a moment of quiet relief before a voice outside called for Ren and Rin to rejoin the group.

"We'll catch you up later," Rin said softly, patting Sosuke's arm.

As they stepped out of the tent, Rin glanced at Ren, her usual demeanor returning slightly. "He'll probably milk this for all it's worth when he's back."

"Yeah." Ren remained unchanged.