The moment the transport crystals dimmed and the flash of teleportation light faded, the students of Class 1-D found themselves standing on the entrance shore of the academy's private island—an area specifically prepared for the final exam. The morning sun hovered at an angle that painted the sand in a pale gold, while a firm coastal wind swept across the beach, carrying a faint scent of salt and greenery. The atmosphere was calm, almost deceptively so, considering the weight of the exam that had just begun.

Arios stepped forward first, his boots sinking slightly into the soft sand as he looked ahead. What spread out before the class was a long stretch of mixed terrain—dense forest, patches of elevated rock, and an uneven clearing that led toward an inland river. Nothing felt distinctly dangerous at a glance, but the subtle pressure hanging in the air made it clear that the island wasn't ordinary. Everything was part of the exam.

Lucy and Liza walked behind Arios while the rest of Class 1-D scattered loosely around the shoreline. Some were stretching, others surveying the area, while a few already whispered anxiously as though imagining what kind of challenges awaited.

The academy announcement earlier that morning had been direct:

Phase One—Establish a Base Camp. Survival and strategic coordination required. Scoring will be based on stability, efficiency, and team performance. Resources on island limited. Time: 48 hours.

The instructions were simple to understand—but the meaning behind them was heavy.

Lucy exhaled softly as she looked around. "The island is bigger than I expected."

"It's meant to be." Arios replied calmly. "They want to push how we respond to unfamiliar terrain."

Liza crossed her arms and tapped her foot against the sand. "I already know half the class is going to argue about who should build what. That'll waste time."

That was true. Class 1-D's teamwork had improved over the months, but it still had cracks. With nobles and commoners mixed, there were always moments where decisions collided and tempers rose. Arios scanned the group, already spotting minor disagreements forming among some students about how to divide tasks.

Mrs. Sarah, the Class 1-D homeroom instructor, stepped forward, clapping loudly to gather everyone's attention. She wasn't a stern instructor by nature, but she was firm where it mattered.

"Listen carefully!" she called out, raising her voice over the crashing waves. "Phase One is not a battle exam. It is a coordination exam. I will observe, but I will not guide you. That responsibility rests entirely on you students. Your score is determined by how well you construct, maintain, and secure your base camp over the next two days."

Some students murmured quietly. Others stood straighter, adjusting their posture.

Arios watched silently, noting how each of his classmates reacted. Some were already nervous. Others seemed excited. A handful looked indifferent, as though confident they'd get through without issue.

Mrs. Sarah continued, "You will choose a leader among yourselves. I will not interfere unless necessary. Tools are limited—each of you received the standard exam kit. The rest must come from the environment."

Lucy quietly adjusted the small pack on her back, where the standard kit had been stored. Liza inspected the straps of her own, pulling them tight.

After a moment, Mrs. Sarah stepped back and simply said, "Your exam begins now."

The class momentarily froze, as though expecting some follow-up instructions. But none came. It was truly up to them.

A short silence passed before someone finally spoke up.

"We need to at least organize the teams."

That voice belonged to one of the noble boys from the back group. Immediately another student spoke up, arguing finer details. Voices layered over each other, some constructive, others critical. The slow swell of debate began building.

Arios watched them with his usual quiet expression.

Lucy leaned closer to him and whispered, "They're going to waste the first hour arguing, aren't they?"

"Most likely," Arios replied.

Liza sighed softly. "Do we step in?"

Arios didn't answer immediately. He observed the terrain again—looking at possible camp zones and potential threats. When he finally opened his mouth, he kept his voice neutral:

"We should pick a place first. Even if the class divides tasks badly, we need a location."

Lucy nodded. "So, we scout."

"Yes."

Liza smirked. "I knew you'd say that."

While half the class still argued, Arios gestured for the girls to follow him. Without waiting for permission or acknowledgment from the others, he started toward the tree line bordering the beach.

The ground shifted from soft sand to firm soil, and the noises of arguing classmates faded slightly under the sound of rustling leaves. Birds occasionally fluttered away deeper into the forest. Arios continued forward at a steady pace, occasionally observing tracks and terrain dips.

Lucy caught up beside him, brushing a stray strand of her white hair behind her ear. "What kind of place are we looking for?"

"Flat ground, water source nearby, stable soil, little risk of monster presence," Arios said calmly. "If the academy planned this exam properly, they wouldn't place anything ridiculous on the early parts of the island. But we can't assume."

Liza hopped over a tree root. "I still think some of the seniors messed with the terrain."

Arios didn't dismiss that idea. The academy was known for harsh exams, and seniors often helped in preparing exam environments.

After a few minutes of steady walking, Arios spotted something through the trees—a clearing. Wide enough, decently flat, with short grass instead of thick undergrowth. And faintly in the distance, he could hear running water.

"This place works," Arios said.

Lucy walked ahead and looked around. "It's big enough for the whole class."

Liza nodded in agreement. "Plus we're not too deep inside the forest. Monsters shouldn't wander this far."

Arios glanced upward; the sky was partially visible between the leaves. Enough sunlight would reach the area throughout the day. That was important for drying clothes, gathering warmth, and visibility at night.

He took another few steps, then motioned for the girls to stand back. He crouched and placed his hand on the soil. After pressing lightly, he lifted his hand and brushed the dirt away.

"The ground's firm. Not much moisture."

Lucy stepped beside him. "So it won't sink or flood?"

"Unlikely."

Liza placed her hands on her hips. "Then this is definitely the spot."

Arios straightened and nodded once. "We bring the class here."

This time, Lucy went ahead. She jogged back the way they came, clearly intending to collect the others.

Arios and Liza waited in the clearing, quietly surveying the area. Liza eventually turned slightly toward him.

"You're doing that thing again," she said.

"What thing?" Arios asked without looking away from the forest line.

"Thinking five steps ahead without saying anything."

He didn't deny it. "Better to prepare before the rest arrive."

Liza shook her head lightly but smiled. "Just don't forget you have us. You don't have to shoulder everything alone."

Arios didn't respond verbally, but he heard her. He simply kept studying the perimeter in silence until distant voices signaled that Lucy was returning with the class.

The group emerged through the trees moments later, with mixed expressions—some tired, some annoyed, others simply curious. The arguing had clearly not resolved much. But when they saw the clearing, a few faces softened, recognizing it as a viable location.

Lucy rejoined Arios and quietly said, "They followed me. Eventually."

Mrs. Sarah stayed near the back of the group, observing without interfering.

The noble boy from earlier stepped forward again. "Not bad. This place works."

Some of the commoner students nodded. A few noble girls shrugged, but none objected.

Seeing no resistance, Arios stepped back and allowed the class to debate task distribution. This time, the atmosphere was less chaotic. The location being secured seemed to ease some tension.

A girl suggested constructing basic tents. A boy recommended assigning resource-gathering teams. Someone else proposed setting up a perimeter line with rope and stakes.

Although voices rose occasionally, the class eventually divided tasks:

—Group A: basic shelter construction

—Group B: gather wood and stones

—Group C: fetch clean water

—Group D: mapping the perimeter and setting simple markers

Arios, Liza, and Lucy were automatically assigned to Group B—resource gathering—despite some arguing over whether Arios should be put on leadership duty instead.

Arios didn't resist the assignment. Gathering resources was efficient and let him survey more terrain.

Once tasks were set, the class dispersed.

Arios led Lucy and Liza deeper into the forest, following a path that gradually thickened. The sunlight dimmed slightly beneath the canopy. The air grew cooler.

"What do we focus on?" Lucy asked.

"Dry wood first," Arios said. "Then stones. But we'll need straight branches too—for support beams."

Liza lightly kicked some dried leaves. "I'll climb that tree if I have to."

Arios simply nodded.

The three of them worked at a steady pace, collecting fallen branches, sorting which were usable and which weren't. They tied bundles using the rope from their exam kits, loading them into small stacks to carry back.

Lucy occasionally complained about a twig scratching her arm, while Liza argued with her about who found the better bundle of wood. Arios listened quietly, responding only when needed.

At one point, Lucy tripped on a root and immediately tried to pretend nothing happened.

Liza snorted. "Graceful."

"S-shut up."

Arios glanced over. "Be careful where you step."

Lucy puffed her cheeks. "I'm fine."

They continued.

Half an hour later, they had enough bundles for one trip. The weight wasn't too much, but it made walking slightly slower. As they made their way back to the clearing, Lucy talked about what she thought the next phases of the exam would involve, and Liza countered each guess with one of her own.

When they reached the clearing again, several students had already set up partial frames for the tents. Others were tying rope between trees to outline the camp perimeter.

"Arios, Liza, Lucy—over here!" one of the boys called out. "Put the wood there!"

They delivered their bundles and immediately headed back for more.

The cycle repeated.

Collect. Carry. Drop off. Collect again.

It took hours, and the sun climbed higher through the sky, warming the clearing.

By midday, sweat dripped from several students' foreheads, but progress was visible. Tent frames stood upright. Basic flooring of leaves and flat wood had been laid. Stones were arranged for a small cooking area.

Lucy wiped sweat from her neck. "We're actually doing okay."

Liza stretched her arms. "Surprisingly."

Arios scanned the camp. Things weren't perfect. A few shelters were crooked. The rope perimeter had gaps. Some of the water containers were placed carelessly. But the class was functioning—more smoothly than expected.

Mrs. Sarah continued to observe, arms folded, saying nothing.

Arios began analyzing weak points in the camp layout until Lucy tugged his sleeve.

"Hey. Break. You've been standing for ten minutes without blinking."

Liza nodded from beside her. "Yeah. Take a seat or something."

Arios blinked once, realizing he had in fact remained in place longer than intended.

Lucy led him toward the shade under a large tree. The three of them sat down. The cool shade relieved the heat that had built up.

For a moment, none of them spoke.

Then Lucy leaned back and sighed. "This exam is exhausting, but at least the class isn't tearing itself apart."

Liza rested her head on her knees. "Give them time. Someone will mess up eventually."

Arios simply watched the camp in silence.

Lucy nudged him. "You're thinking something again."

Arios nodded. "This is Phase One. It won't stay this simple."

Liza raised an eyebrow. "Expecting sabotage?"

"Not necessarily. But the exam designers wouldn't leave it at this."

Lucy lowered her voice. "Then we stay ready."

Arios turned his head slightly. "Always."

Afternoon passed into early evening.

By the time the sun dipped toward the horizon, the camp resembled a functional settlement. Tents were erected. Water was being boiled. Low walls of stones and branches lined the camp's edges.

The class gathered around the center fire pit, eating rations and discussing tasks for the night. Some students joked lightly. Others quietly watched the fire. A few collapsed asleep near their tents.

Lucy leaned against Arios' shoulder. Liza sat on his other side, occasionally poking the small fire with a stick to adjust the embers.

The sky darkened, shifting slowly from blue to purple.

Arios kept his gaze fixed on the forest edge. Something about the silence felt off—not threatening, but unusual. As if the island were preparing for something.

Lucy looked at him again. "Arios?"

"Hm?"

"We did good today."

Arios didn't immediately respond. He looked at her for a moment, then nodded once. "Yes. We did."

Liza smirked. "Don't sound too excited."

Arios exhaled lightly. "I'm conserving energy."

Lucy smiled softly. "Sure you are."

Night settled fully.

The first day of the final exam had officially begun—and so had the quiet tension beneath the surface.

They had completed the first major step.

But deeper inside the island, something else was already stirring.

Something that ensured Phase Two wouldn't be anywhere near this peaceful.

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