The big day we’d all been waiting for since the moment we first set foot in the academy had finally arrived. Our first-year trial was here, and our journey to Stonevent Cavern was about to begin. You could feel the excitement in the air. All my classmates were hyped. I don’t know if it was the nerves or the sheer enthusiasm, but it felt like the whole campus had come alive. Even Red felt it, as if he too was a student taking the trial. This wasn’t just another day. It was the day. We’d been training for this, studying for this, and now it was time to prove ourselves.

We headed toward our destination using the magic portal in Skywalk. The usual rush of teleportation hit me like a blast of cold air. You’d think I’d get used to it by now, but nope. Every jump felt like a new experience. I glanced over my shoulder, and there he was, Red, hovering with reckless energy. It was his first time using a teleportation gate, and I could tell it was throwing him off in the best way possible. The way his invisible form flickered and pulsed, I knew he was feeling it too.

We reached Ark Town, located right on the edge of the northwest of Aegis Island. Cobblestone streets, low-lying buildings, and houses lay beside each other, and the air was thick with the smell of the market street food such as stuffed pastries, berry tarts, sweet honey cakes, and of course my favorites, the meat pies and spiced meat skewers. It almost made me forget where we were headed. Almost. Everything around me felt so calm. It was like a beautiful snapshot come to life, one of those perfect little towns where you could just overlook the dangerous things out there. But reality quickly set in. This was a brief stop. There was no time to dawdle.

Once everyone had made it through the portal, we were back on our way, this time in horse-drawn coaches that bounced and rattled along the road toward Stonevent Cavern. I leaned against the window, watching the world unfold outside. Fields and rolling hills spread out. The breeze blew through the tall grass, making it ripple like the surface of the ocean, and I could almost hear the hum of the wind through the blades. It was strange, but it felt like the land itself was alive, drawing us into its nurturing fold.

As we traveled on, I caught a subtle movement from Red. He gave me the tiniest of signals, telling me something was out there. My eyes darted toward the boulders on the side of the road, trying to see what he was pointing out. Initially, I saw nothing. But Red wasn’t the type to give false alarms. I squinted, trying to catch any hint of movement. And then, there it was, something shifting in the shadows. Mythical beasts that looked like lizards, camouflaged and sneaky. They weren’t dangerous, not unless you provoked them, but they sure liked to hide in the most inconvenient spots.

When we arrived at the cavern, it was even more breathtaking than I’d imagined. Stalactites and stalagmites shot up from the floor and hung down from the ceiling like jagged towers, creating a maze of rocky structures that looked older than anything I’d ever seen. The air was cool and damp, thick with the scent of stone and moisture. The deeper we went, the more it felt like we were about to uncover something hidden away for centuries.

Our instructors met us at the base camp and gathered everyone for the briefing. The usual drill, laying out the rules and telling us what we were up against. We had three hours to complete the trials in the cavern. After that, we needed to be out before nightfall and back to Ark Town, no exceptions.

The entry point for each team had been allocated, and we would all begin the trial together after an early lunch. I was already thinking ahead, planning out what I needed to do. Red was coming with me. Even if I tried to stop him, he would still follow me in secret. So I might as well use his ability to spearhead my group’s path through the cavern, of course, without Lina and Seraphus knowing about him tagging along. Red might be small, but he would easily turn out to be one of the most useful individuals on my team. And he’d be invisible, like always.

After our lunch, Lina and I made our way over to where Seraphus sat on a large boulder, staring out into the vast expanse of the canyon. The setting sun tinted the world in shades of gold. It was a beautiful sight, but there was something about the way Seraphus sat there, lost in thought, that made the whole scene feel a little more… romantic? What the hell am I thinking! I shook my head vigorously, trying to dispel the thought.

Lina and my boots crunched softly against the dirt with each step we took. Seraphus didn’t move, didn’t acknowledge us, until we were right beside him. His blonde hair whipped in the breeze, adding to the mysterious vibe he had going on. He seemed like the type of person who could disappear into the landscape if he wanted to, like he belonged there, away from everything and everyone.

This was it. The first time our team was really going to sit down and talk strategy. The moment we had to figure out how we were going to work together in the trials ahead. Lina didn’t waste a second. She stepped up, her voice clear and steady as she addressed Seraphus. “Seraphus, we need to discuss our plan.”

He nodded, like he had been expecting this. “Sure, what do you have in mind?” His voice was calm, neutral, but there was something in his posture that told me he was more engaged than he was letting on.

Lina gave me a quick glance before continuing, her gaze locking on Seraphus. “But first, we need to pick a leader and let the instructors know.” Her words were practical. Choosing a leader meant deciding who would steer the team, who would make the tough calls when things got messy.

Seraphus shifted his gaze to me then, as if the question of leadership had already been decided. He didn’t seem angry or annoyed, just expectant, like he already knew what was going to happen. “You can take the position if you want,” he said, almost casually, as if handing over a baton in a race. The offer came so easily, it threw me off. I blinked, surprised by how quickly he just gave it up.

“Really?” I asked, not quite believing it. I had expected some resistance, or at least a challenge. Truth be told, I’d hoped he’d take the lead himself. After all, if anyone could pull this team together in the face of danger, it was him. His confidence and fighting skill were obvious. But if I took the position, I knew it would come with a challenge, one that could stir up tensions between us.

“I think you should be our leader,” I said, trying to be honest, but also wary. I didn’t want to step into something I wasn’t ready for.

Seraphus raised an eyebrow, his piercing blue eyes locking onto mine. “Why?” The question wasn’t hostile, it was curious. He was sizing me up, looking for something in my answer. The kind of look you get when someone is trying to figure out what’s really going on in your head. I paused, unsure how to reply, and before I could even think of a response, he spoke again, his tone sharper this time. “Is it because you thought I would question your order every time?”

“No!” Lina was quick to cut in, her voice protective. “That’s not it.” She made it clear she wasn’t about to let him paint me into a corner with that accusation.

Seraphus didn’t back down. He softened a little, but the pressure was still there. “Then what is it?” he asked again, this time almost probing.

Without missing a beat, Lina pointed a finger at him. “It’s that look on your face,” she said, her voice firm. “The one you’re wearing right now.” There was no hesitation in her words, and they landed like a stone in the silence between us. Her gaze riveted on his, challenging him, daring him to argue.

I wasn’t sure how to handle this. Both of them were locked in a silent battle, and I was caught in the middle, unsure of how to diffuse it. But then, Red’s voice broke into my mind, light and unbothered. “What’s up with this dude? And why don’t you want to become the leader?”

I replied to him with my thoughts. “It’s his attitude. But he’s also the best student in our class.”

Red’s response was way too cheerful for the moment. “Why not just tell him that?” His voice was almost too bright, as if he didn’t get the weight of the situation.

I thought about it for a second. Maybe Red was right. Honesty was the way to go. I turned back to Seraphus, steadying myself. “Look, calm down, both of you,” I said, trying to keep things from escalating. “Seraphus, you’re the strongest fighter in our class, and that includes magic enchantments. Everyone knows that. You’ve mastered the Aura blade. You’d be an amazing leader.”

There was a flicker of surprise in Seraphus’ eyes. For a moment, he studied me like I had just said something outrageous, something he wasn’t sure he could believe. I held his gaze, my face heating from the nature of his stare, but I didn’t look away. The silence stretched out, heavy, until finally he exhaled, his shoulders dropping in defeat.

“No,” he said, shaking his head slowly. “You be the leader. And don’t worry, I won’t go against anything you say.”

His reply took me by surprise. I didn’t know what to say at first until Lina clapped her hands together. “Okay, that’s settled then. Arianna’s leading. Let’s get our gear.”

With the decision made, we started making our way to the Armory tent. The wind picking up as we moved. As we walked, I couldn’t help but steal glances at Seraphus. There was something in the way we’d locked eyes earlier, something unspoken that had made my heart… flutter? Perhaps this team would actually work. With Seraphus’ strength, Lina’s energy, and Red’s abilities, we had the skills to face whatever the cavern could throw at us. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.