"Attention!" Commander Ruth's voice boomed through the courtyard, snapping everyone into a rigid formation. The tension in the air was thick, and the cadets stood still, their faces a mix of nervous anticipation and exhaustion.
"For every batch," the Commander began, pacing slowly, his eyes cold and piercing as they scanned the group, "we conduct a final test. A test to see if you're truly worthy to be part of this team."
His boots crunched on the gravel as he continued walking, his voice filled with authority. "We captured Queen Shadowfang, blinded her, and lured her deep into the forest."
Commander Ruth's pace quickened as he walked the line, his tone growing sharper. "Every six months, we bring new cadets, sent them into that forest for their final trial to bring out the strongest, the most resourceful one."
Aeron raised his hand, "Commander, that cultist we fought… was he part of the test?" His voice wavered slightly, though he tried to keep it steady.
The Commander stopped abruptly, turning his head towards Aeron, his expression hard as steel. "No," he replied in a low voice. "He infiltrated the area."
A murmur rippled through the formation. The Commander's gaze sharpened. "He tried this before," he said, his voice now cold. "Last time, half the cadets didn't make it because of him. But this time... this time we enchanted all of you with a protective spell. That's why the cultist couldn't kill any of you."
Aeron, Mihon, and the others who had faced the cultist realized why the cultist could kill them and what the ritual was about. At the same time Aeron realized the feeling of constantly watching was for the spell.
"But," the Commander's voice cut through the murmur, "some of you showed real courage. You captured him alive, and now we can interrogate him. We'll get the answers we need."
Aeron's mind raced. He thought about the boy who disappear after the fight. "What about the boy with him?" he asked. "The one who disappeared after the fight?"
Commander Ruth's expression darkened. "We believe he's one of our own. A cadet from the last batch who disappeared during the final test. It's possible he's been possessed or cursed."
A tense silence settled over the group as the weight of the situation sank in. The cultist, the cursed boy—it all felt too close, too real.
Seeing their exhaustion, the Commander softened his tone slightly. "You've all fought hard through the night. You'll have the rest of the day to recover. But remember," his eyes narrowed, "tomorrow, your real journey begins."
"Before that I want everyone to head to the medical center to do a checkup and heal yourself." Commander added.
With a sharp salute, he dismissed them. "You're dismissed."
As the cadets relaxed, the tension in their shoulders easing, conversations broke out among them. Aeron stood lost in thought, the events of the past night still replaying in his mind.
After the medical Test...
A senior cadet approached him. "Aeron," he said, a little out of breath, "there's a call for you at the Information Center."
Aeron looked at him, surprised. "Who's it from?"
The senior cadet said, "It's from Miss Daisy."