The Smiling Death

Amon slowly walked away from the fighting scene.

BOOM!

BOOM!

The sound of their clashes could be heard behind him.

His mind was a mess. He was too tired. It was a miracle how he was still not eliminated. Now, since the top students were fighting against each other, that meant at least one or two of them would be eliminated.

So that meant the people who wanted to beat him would become fewer.

'Why do they want to beat me? I didn't even do anything to them. Especially Aisha! It was her who was hugging me that night.'

Just then, a shadow lunged at him from behind a nearby tree. Amon sensed it at the last moment, his instincts flaring, but his footing slipped.

He stumbled backward, crashing onto the ground, landing hard on his rear as the shadow closed in.

A silver blade of a sword was at his neck. It was sharp.

Amon gulped down his saliva.

He looked up at the person.

"Amon? It's you," the person said softly. Her voice calm and familiar.

Her golden blonde hair was straight, clean, and beautiful. Her golden eyes looked at him with a little surprise. She tilted her head.

"Seraphina! It's you! Finally!" Amon got excited upon seeing his real friend.

She drew back her sword and extended her hand for Amon to get up.

'She's so caring!' Amon smiled happily and grabbed her extended hand. He got up on his feet.

"Sera. You know I have been trying to fin–" he tried to talk to her.

But she cut him in the middle. "Let's talk later. I came here because of hearing someone fighting. It turned out to be Aisha, Arnold, and Marcus. It's getting dark. There's no need to fight them now. So let's get away from them."

Amon didn't complain and followed her silently.

After getting far away from the scene, she stopped at one particular tree.

Amon didn't understand why she halted suddenly here. Just when he was going to ask, someone jumped from the tree.

Thud!

Her feet landed on the ground. Her clear blue eyes fell on Amon first.

"Oh my~ So we finally meet. To be honest, I didn't think you would survive up to this point. Good! You did a good job," Eliana cheerfully greeted Amon.

Amon blinked between the two girls.

"So… you guys were together?" he asked slowly, still confused and exhausted.

Seraphina sheathed her sword with a soft click and nodded. "We decided to move in groups. It's safer that way."

Eliana brushed some dust off her skirt and smiled brightly. "And lucky for you, Amon, we found you before someone else did." She leaned closer, whispering dramatically, "You know… like Aisha~"

Amon shivered. "Please don't remind me… wait! You were actually the last one to find me. Tsk!"

Seraphina let out a soft sigh. "Let's move. This area is too close to those three." She flicked her gaze back toward the distant explosions. "We need a safer place to rest before night fully falls."

Amon didn't argue. He silently followed as the two girls led the way through the trees.

The forest slowly thinned out as they walked. The crackling booms of the distant battle faded behind them, replaced by the subtle sounds of crickets and rustling leaves.

The sky had darkened into a deep purple-blue, the first stars beginning to appear.

Finally, they stepped into a small clearing. Open, quiet, peaceful.

No trees too close, no shadows lurking around. Just a soft patch of grass and enough space for a few people to sit comfortably.

Seraphina stopped first. "Here."

Eliana clapped her hands together. "Perfect!"

Amon looked around, blinking. "Did you two… already prepare this place?"

Seraphina nodded. "We found it earlier while scouting. Thought it would be a good resting point if needed."

Eliana grinned proudly. "And look what we collected!" She pointed to a neat pile of dry branches, wood pieces, and broad leaves placed at the center of the clearing. "Firewood, bedding leaves, and some extra bark for kindling!"

Amon looked between them, surprised. "You two… did all this?" He felt it again. Having a partner was really a good thing.

Eliana winked. "Of course. You think we just stand around looking pretty?"

Seraphina knelt down, arranging the wood with practiced hands. "Help me with the fire."

Amon nodded and crouched beside her. "Y-yeah! Sure."

As they worked, Eliana sat nearby, humming to herself while sorting leaves into a neat pile.

The air grew warmer with their presence. Comfortable, safe.

Amon watched them for a moment.

Seraphina calm and reliable.

Eliana cheerful and warm.

It felt… nice.

For the first time today, his shoulders relaxed.

But the forest wasn't silent forever.

A distant rumble echoed. Another explosion in the direction they came from.

Amon tensed.

Seraphina didn't look up as she replied quietly, "Don't worry. They're far. They won't come here."

Eliana added with a playful smile, "And if Aisha or Marcus comes chasing you again, we'll protect you."

Amon's eye twitched. "That doesn't make me feel better…"

Eliana laughed.

Seraphina smirked slightly.

The fire crackled to life.

Night settled gently around them.

'Finally I could sleep peacefully tonight,' he thought.

But in truth, in this whole four days of exam, no one slept as peacefully and carefree as Amon. Yet here he was saying he was sleeping peacefully after a long time.

"We will take turns after each two hours. I will watch over first," Seraphina declared. Amon and Eliana didn't argue and nodded.

---

Meanwhile, on the side of the other three.

The three students were standing away from each other. All of them were tired and battered.

Their condition was not good. All of them were in the same condition.

Aisha ran her hand through her hair.

"Well… guess enough fighting for today. Will meet you both next time."

She spun on her feet and ran inside the dark forest.

"Yeah. Let's meet again later… I want to fight… but not foolish enough to continue now. There are still three days remaining."

Marcus also left in another direction.

Arnold remained alone. He took out two healing potions from his storage ring and chugged them down.

He was not thinking of Aisha or Marcus.

"Damn that Amon. He really brought these two to me and ran away." There was an amused smile on his face.