Chapter 226: Things got Worse
While Elysia was doing farming tactics in the cursed forest, Serena had just come out of Hastterre Forest. She immediately drew closer to Teacher Ruth and the other instructors at a round table outside the tent.
Something had to be reported immediately, and she wanted to look like an exemplary student of great merit.
The teachers and instructors who were there noticed the girl who was running over. To be honest, they didn"t expect a student to come back this soon. It was still more than two hours to go before noon. Hmm, only one student? Where were the other four?
"Teachers, instructors... Huff, there"s something... Huh, there, in the forest... There"s--" Serena gasped as she spoke, and her statement became difficult to understand.
"Calm yourself down while you catch your breath. Take this and drink it after your breath has returned to normal. After that, please talk again." The instructor, who was closest to Serena, offered the tired girl a bottle of mineral water.
Feeling that she couldn"t continue in that state, Serena did as suggested and drank up the mineral water. After feeling better, she went straight to the main point from the strange forest events within the barrier, the casualty, the terrible monsters, and so on.
Serena explained it all as if she was a valuable eyewitness who went all out to come back and report. It was done to prevent many things, and she could claim a lot of merit for that.
It continued, but the expressions of the instructors and teachers grew darker as Serena reported things. They let Serena finish with her series of words, and they would ask a few questions.
"Well then, thanks for your report, student Serena. However, can you please tell us where the rest of your group is?" Teacher Ruth put her hands together and rested her chin there. As an investigator of a case incident, the truth was necessary.
On the other hand, the instructor beside her just looked down at the table. He observed a black cube that had a green line of fluctuation that was continually changing.
"They will follow, catching up behind. My group members ran into another group and warned them to run. I went ahead to report this incident immediately." Serena didn"t stutter or hesitate to respond. She knew she was being tested about the honesty of her words.
"I see... How?" Teacher Ruth nodded, gesturing to the instructor beside her. Suspicion was gone as the instructor nodded at Teacher Ruth.
"Hmm... So, your group was chasing a wild boar, entered into an unfamiliar forest area within the barrier of the invisible wall. There were some terrible monsters, and a student died?" Teacher Ruth asked for confirmation on some critical matters. At that question, Serena simply nodded her head.
"This is bad, do any of you know about the barrier in the middle of the forest? Maybe ten to fifteen kilometers from here." Teacher Ruth looked at the other people in charge.
"That"s something we didn"t know before."
"Something like a forest within the barrier was not there during yesterday"s inspection."
"As far as 40 kilometers wide and eleven kilometers long for this test area, before the river... No irregularities were found. Dozens of instructors and ninth-graders confirmed that before the animals were released."
Some of the responses from other instructors came about what they knew. A place like Serena described didn"t exist yesterday, but why did today suddenly turn out like this?
While the investigation into their discussion took place within this time, Evelyn"s group had just come out of the forest only to report the same thing.
It was just that reports submitted by students who had just arrived only made matters worse. So, the other students were trapped there and had to face terrible monsters far above level 30? Who would dare to set such a trap? There was someone who put it deliberately to kill all the students!?
"This is bad and precarious! Forget the rubbish. Ask for reinforcements to the academy. We split it into two teams, one stays here, and the rest comes with me into the forest. Don"t you dare argue in case of an emergency!" Teacher Ruth shouted to the other instructors and teachers. She looked angry, and the others did not deny it.
A teacher immediately took out a magic device to report to the academy. Yet, several other students came out of the forest to bring news that was worse than the previous one. There was more than one casualty, and things got worse than expected.
Not long after, a group of students who were looking terrified also came out of the forest to report what could not be worse than terrible.
"Report this matter to the kingdom! Someone has sabotaged this test! Cancel the test immediately, the rescue team, let"s go!" Instructor Dillon bellowed before he left with the rescue team. He and the others were ready to fight on the battlefield.
Sure enough, the tragedy was reported directly to the kingdom and academy. They needed sufficient reinforcements as soon as possible.
"Ely, still in that dangerous forest? Is she still helping the other students escape? Silly Ely, what are you thinking..." Evelyn muttered as if she wanted to cry. She didn"t want anything wrong to happen to her best friend.
"Student Evelyn, you can"t say that. Elysia is only doing what she can to save the other students. A good soul will have good fortune too. Let"s pray to the G.o.ddess, Elysia will return safely like the students she helped." Instructor Scarlett gently rebuked the girl next to her.
"But Ely is alone, with Vann. What can she do to deal with dozens of dangerous monsters? I know she is strong, but she is putting herself at risk, with a high risk of death." Evelyn expressed her worries to anyone who listened to her. Apart from Instructor Scarlett, several other girls were also present.
"Well, living and practicing alone are challenging the dangers. Elysia just did what she thought was the best way for her to do at the time. Take a look over there. Elysia has saved over 40 students from escaping their hopeless situation." Instructor Scarlett pointed to the students who were receiving medical aid.
She tried to comfort Evelyn because this student seemed so depressed. After all, Evelyn"s best friend had not returned for n.o.ble reasons.
"Only about a quarter of the students have returned. We don"t know what happened. Hopefully, things don"t get any worse than this." Instructor Scarlett let out a sad sigh.
If only taken from students" reports, then counting their incomplete group members, 13 students had died. It was so terrible... No one knew what awaited them.
Sabotage or perhaps an a.s.sault plot of a more complicated scheme. Given the tense fights at the borders and the war between races, was the Holy Central Region targeted by the devils? Instructor Scarlett looked to the cloudy sky, lost in thought.
Evelyn looked down with complicated thoughts. Her best friend was lauded and probably got a lot of merit from helping other students. But what, if--
The girl who overthought immediately shook her head to shake off the sad thoughts. She should pray for Elysia and wish her the best, not think of the worst.
Despite that, Evelyn took a talisman from her real s.p.a.ce Bag, not the academy"s s.p.a.ce Bag. She wrote something, then burned it with Holy Magic, and the writing vanished instantly.
While the first-year students and those in charge of the test were in chaos, the academy was still calm and peaceful. The princ.i.p.al was in a monthly meeting with several teachers, instructors, and student council representatives in their regular discussion of various matters.
"Okay, let"s go back to a lighter topic. What do you think of this year"s first-graders? They are good seedlings for a better future." The princ.i.p.al shifted their topic after a few things had been discussed.
"Despite the small number, the first-grade students are indeed much better than the previous year."
"Decreased quant.i.ty to be replaced with increased quality. That"s all I can say for that, princ.i.p.al."
"Yes, I heard that there is a girl in the first cla.s.s that managed to collect 120 points even before the first test even started. That has already set a new record. A new student who is just learning magic, that girl is learning fast. We need to pay attention to her for all her needs."
The senior teachers and instructors conveyed their pleasant responses to the topic raised by the princ.i.p.al. They had a good impression of the new students this year.
After several conversations about that, an instructor smiled and felt happy about his decision, which the princ.i.p.al approved.
"Oh, what is this? What are you talking about is a student named Elysia Avery? A platinum grade gifted girl who has an affinity for all elements? According to Holy Cathedral, Elysia Avery also has Grade 5 affinity for Holy Magic. Of course, our academy nurtures gifted students with great care." Alby Dawson stroked his chin with a smile. He was always happy whenever he heard about the achievements of the students.
"Oh, that"s right. The student in question is blessed with the name Elysia Avery. I feel ashamed not to mention the name because I forgot, hahaha!" The senior old teacher laughed.
He knew but forgot, and it was different from the few others who didn"t know the details yet. No wonder no one mentioned the name of that outstanding student. Light laughter filled the meeting room for a moment.
"Eh? I felt like something was wrong. I know Elysia Avery in question. I even hang out with her sometimes. She does have a Grade 5 affinity for Holy Magic, but she holds a silver privilege card and not platinum. What happened?" Rosie said something she didn"t understand. Bianca next to her also had the same confusion.
"Hmm!?"