“Kai, over here,” called Andre from the side of the large group of students.

“Andre, hey. Where’s Hector?”

“Over there.” Andre pointed somewhere inside the assembly of first-year students. The constant chattering made it difficult to hear him. Past dozens of students, Hector stood beside a group of nobles, they were all laughing and having fun except for him. Hectors face a mask of emotions, as he quietly observed the group of nobles. One noble in particular stood out, all the others seemed to be sucking up to him.

“Is that Franklin Cross? The one with blonde hair and blue eyes?” Kai asked Andre, both staring at the group.

“Probably? I don’t know every noble Kai.”

Looking to the side briefly, Andre’s mouth was in a tight line. “Sorry. Is everything alright?” Kai asked.

“Yea, it’s nothing,” Andre turned his head away from the group.

Well, that’s certainly not convincing.

Kai saw his quiet fourth roommate at the edge of the group, looking around lost. “Sean. Here,” he waved his hand.

The three stood in silence as they observed everyone around them. In the sea of students, everyone seemed to have assembled into smaller groups regarding status or friendship. The nobles stood together in the center, while small groups of commoners stood to the outside, all looking uncomfortable.

Kai saw Nicolas and Ashley together, discussing stuff with other nobles.

A few instructors Kai recognized from his melee combat class had arrived during the past few minutes, with some others he didn’t know trickling in here and there. After a while, thirteen adults stood in front of the hundred-plus students.

Sven stood in front of the instructors. “Attention students,” he said in a normal voice. Some conversations stopped, while others kept going, ignorant of the instructors before them.

“I said. ATTENTION!” Sven bellowed loud enough that Kai and many others had to cover their ears, despite the lack of magic used.

Every student was silent, all waiting expectantly.

“Welcome to prep for field training AKA your first expedition. For those of you who don’t know me. I am Sven, instructor of melee combat. Starting next week, we will go out once a month, on a field excursion to an undisclosed location. You will be fighting monsters, in areas scouted beforehand. This will be an opportunity to level up and train your skills and abilities in actual combat with minimal risk to your life. However, death can still happen, so take utmost caution when fighting. An instructor will be assigned to each group, to supervise and in case of emergency protect you but you must not rely on them,” his tone was deadly serious. “Before I continue does anyone have any questions?”

“How long will the field training expedition last each time?” A female student from Hector’s group called out.

“Each excursion will last up to ten hours. One to two hours to arrive and assemble at the pre-determined location, with another six hours for exploring the area and fighting the monsters you come across. And another few hours for returning. We will take carriages to each location,” Sven spoke slowly and clearly, making sure each student understood.

“Does anyone have more questions? No?” He said without giving anyone a chance to ask another. “After discussions with my colleagues, we have placed you all into 12 groups of 10. You do not get to pick your teammates. We have already picked them for you and there will be no changing our decision. Through the information given at admissions, and the observations of my fellow instructors and myself in your melee, range, and mage classes, we have tried to create a well-rounded group. The levels and classes vary in each group and do not reflect your mage, range, or melee, training class placements.

“I understand you may not want to fight with others, and I can accept that. However, this class is an opportunity for you not only to level up but learn to fight in groups. Now beginning with group 1, I will begin calling your names,” Sven’s voice commanded authority. The decision had been made and he would expect everyone’s compliance.

Everyone began being assigned to a single instructor, Andre and Sean were immediately separated from Kai. As fate would have it, Kai was paired with Hector and Jason Grell in group 2. The worse part was that both of Jason’s minions were also in the group with the last five people being random nobles Kai had never met. Judging from the glare he received from Jason, he was just as unhappy about the instructor’s decision as Kai was.

“I will not tolerate any mishaps or fooling around. Make no mistake, despite the instructors babysitting you, your life will be at risk. Do not do anything to harm your fellow students or I will be forced to report you to the academy dean,” Sven’s voice had a tone of unquestionable resolve to it. He would not tolerate any nonsense from stupid students.

A train of carriages rolled out of the Ashbourne Capital to a location unknown to most of the passengers. The time had finally come for the first field training expedition of the school year for the first-year students. The energy in the air could not be contained. Kai himself felt restless, despite him trying to close his eyes and meditate for the last hour. The lively conversation between his three roommates made it difficult to concentrate.

“This whole endeavor is foolish. Trying to make us cooperate with other students is simply asking for trouble. No one in their right mind is going to want to share their kills and experience with people they don’t know or trust,” Andre spat angrily.

“We don’t even know the people they assigned to our group. I have no idea of their magic and classes or if they are balanced groups. How do they expect us to just cooperate without question,” Hector pointed out.

“Sven said they were,” Andre said.

“I heard starting in our second year, we can pick our own team but will lack supervision,” Sean said unexpectedly. Sean was the quietest of the four, often only speaking when spoken to. Every time his voice remained just above a whisper as if talking louder was a burden.

“Doesn’t help us now, they all split us up except Hector and Kai,” Andre pointed out.

“How long did they say the trip would take?” Hector asked.

“About two hours. We still have an hour left to go.” Andre pointed out.

“Kai, what do you think?” Hector asked.

“Think about what?” Kai asked waking up from his mediation nap. His hair usually messy hair was flat on one side from leaning against the inside of the carriage wall.

“About being put in random teams and being encouraged to fight with people you don’t know.”

Kai stretched his arms, yawning. “I think it’s exactly what you were saying before. Foolish and stupid. Trying to create makeshift teams that will be competing for kills between members seems like a good way for someone to get hurt or worse. I know they will have a staff member assigned to each group, but it will be very difficult to watch each student and assess the threat of incoming beasts. I imagine most of the danger will come from other students, not the monsters today. I’m going to do the best for myself. I have no intention of sharing anything with Jason and his goons or the others. Besides the end-of-year tournament isn’t a team fight, it’s a single-elimination format.”

“That’s quite cynical Kai,” Andre said after a moment of silence.

Shrugging, “That’s just the way it is. You forget that most nobles won’t care to share their experience with commoners,” Kai murmured.

“What do you mean?” Sean asked, leaning in.

“I think he means that the nobility desire to stay in power, and the idea that a commoner or someone from a lowly birth can rise in power and threaten that is what he is referring to. It’s been this way since the beginning of this kingdom because they have resources, training, and information. All things making it easier for them. On the flip side, the nobles have expectations to protect this kingdom, so they are required to train and grow in strength in order to do so,” Hector supplied.

Kai reached his hand out and tried to pet his Akane, only for his hand to pass through the air. Crap, I forgot. Akane wasn’t allowed to come. Akane’s illustrious fur had become a calming technique for Kai in the past month. Today had been extra stressful with the anticipation of the coming battles. Although Kai was used to fighting for his life, it had been so long since he had done so in the wilds. His nerves and anticipation were getting to him. Only the crazy ones don’t get nervous in combat.

Everyone was dressed in their battle equipment. They had the option of bringing their armor to the staging area and equipping it there, but most of the students decided to wear their armor before they left the academy. Kai imagined most of the students were nervous today.

Hector sat dressed in a dark grey and red robe with a crest of a cross sat center on his chest of the noble family he served. The robe didn’t look like it would be able to do much in the way of defense, but it was probably better than Kai’s own armor. He only had a cheap hard leather chest piece and the pair of white Aerowolf boots he received from Ashley.

Andre was sitting in scale mail. He appeared uncomfortable in it like he wasn’t used to wearing it. His helmet bounced up and down on his lap as his leg shook lightly. Sean was like Kai. He wore simple hard leather armor on his chest but that was where the differences stopped. He actually had a complete set of leather armor, unlike Kai.

I need to go shopping before the next field trip and buy some additional armor. Due to the nature of his village, there was no barter or coin-based currency, so he was unaware of what the normal cost of items would be. In his first life, they hadn’t yet established a way to mass produce coins before he died. Maybe Andre can help me find some good armor for a decent price.

Kai watched the scenery pass for the next hour after giving up on meditating.

“Everyone out, we have arrived,” called a voice from outside the carriages half an hour later.

Kai and the group shuffled out of the carriage. All the students were standing by their own carriages looking around. Gone were the paved roads. Nothing but a dirt path remained. Massive thick trees lay ahead, numerous enough to block vision deeper into the woods. It looked like a regular forest, with nothing out of the ordinary. The sight of such a forest reminded Kai of his home in the Illusionary Misty Region, minus the mists.

Kai saw Nicolas and Ashley exit the same carriage, the former looking bored. As if knowing he was looking, Ashley turned her head to face Kai, giving him a wink and an air kiss. He had no doubt that it was done intentionally as the next moment he felt killing intent emanating from multiple sources around him.

“Welcome students to the Delmash Forest.” A female instructor Kai hadn’t met called out with a squeaky voice. Figuring she must be from one of the mage classes instructors because of her distinct wizard-like robes. “In a moment we will ask you to separate into your pre-assigned groups. Together with your instructor, you all will spend the next six hours in the Delmash Forest, hunting monsters and learning to work together as a team.”

The squeaky-voiced mage began turning before putting her finger in the air as if an idea struck her. “Oh, before I forget. Your group leader will have a few health potions in case of emergencies. Behind you, Healer Jasper has begun setting up a medical tent for students with injuries too severe for a health potion. I ask that you all be safe and not let it come to that.”

Kai turned, seeing a makeshift large red tent had been set up during the time the instructor was talking. A white plus sign encircled by a white line was printed on the tent, a familiar symbol that Kai remembered seeing in his past.

“Group 2, this way please,” a beefy instructor from the melee combat class called out.

Hector slapped Kai in the back before the two walked over.

Jason was giving Kai one of his usual glares, his eyes shifting between Kai’s face and his lack of armor. The glare turned into a self-satisfied smirk, no doubt at Kai’s obvious poverty.

Responding in kind, Kai gave Jason a one over as well. His armor looked pristine, unused even. He wore steel plate armor contoured to his body. It looked light enough to allow for mobility and speed. Kai was sure it was enchanted with at least the basics of sturdiness that most enchanted armors possessed, except his now that he thought about it.

A white cloak flowed behind Jason.

Wow... that dud is even wearing a cloak.

“Now that we are all here, let’s set out.” Without any further words or introductions, the beefy man turned and began walking away from the stunned group.

A few students ran to catch up with the surprisingly quick instructor. Jason gave Kai one more glare before he turned away dismissively and walked off with his two minions in tow.

Kai prepared himself. Taking a deep breath, he centered himself. His eyes opened with fierce determination to kill monsters. These field trips would be his only opportunity to level up safely during the school year. If he failed to grab hold of his chance, he wouldn’t be able to challenge the strongest at the end of the year and defeat them.

Name: Kaismo Cineris

Realm/Level: Foundation 28

Aspect: Gravity

Class: Vanguard

Race: Human

Health: 520/520

Stamina: 250/250

Mana: 250/250

Vitality: 50 (52)

Strength: 50

Dexterity: 20

Endurance: 25

Intelligence: 30

Wisdom: 25

Unspent Attributes Available: 0

Active Skills:

- Heavy Blow [1/10]

- Gravity Crush [1/10]

- Domain [1/10]

Passive Skills:

- Burden [1/10]

General Skills:

- Identify

- Pain Tolerance 1

- Sense Improvement 1

- Soul Presence 4

- Elemental Magic Resistance 4

- Physical Resistance 4