The initial awkwardness of their introductions slowly dissipated as the next few minutes were spent in a flurry of hurried explanations, each member outlining their particular skills and areas of expertise.
Niko, surprisingly adept at facilitating the conversation, displayed a natural leadership that was both inclusive and authoritative.
He listened intently to every suggestion, never condescending, yet maintained an undeniable air of command, a subtle presence reminiscent of seasoned generals on a battlefield.
Twenty tense minutes later, a piercing siren sliced through the still air, followed by the booming voice from above. "Get ready, students. You will begin in five… four… three… two… one…"
Then, with the abruptness of a snapped thread, whatever unseen force had held them suspended vanished.
Kael's stomach lurched as the ground rushed up to meet them. His eyes widened, the wind screaming past his face as he registered the towering trees and jagged rocks waiting with brutal indifference below.
Oh, shit.
"Everyone relax, it's just an illusion!" Niko's voice, surprisingly calm and commanding, cut through the rising panic.
And precisely at the moment of near-certain impact, when they were mere centimeters from being reduced to a messy paste, a sudden, disorienting twist of gravity enveloped them. They halted mid-fall, suspended inches above the unforgiving terrain.
Then, as abruptly as their suspension had begun, it reversed, and they all crashed down face-first into the soft earth with a series of muffled thuds.
Spitting out a mouthful of dirt, Kael pushed himself up, his senses reeling. Lush greenery surrounded them – colossal trees forming a dense canopy overhead and long, tangled bushes obscuring the ground. The air was thick with the humid scent of damp soil and unknown blossoms.
"Okay, everyone," Niko said, brushing dirt from his blue uniform, his commanding presence reasserting itself. "Since we have no idea what kind of dangers lurk in this environment, our immediate priority is to arm ourselves and prepare the unexpected before we begin searching for the shards."
He turned towards Rylen, his green eyes sharp and focused. "Rylen, you said you could work with natural materials to create weapons. What exactly do you require?"
"Not much," Rylen replied, already scanning their surroundings with an observant gaze. "I've spotted some Ire trees nearby. Their bark is very strong and can be effectively used to craft tier one weaponry."
"Noted," Niko said decisively. "And you, Theo?"
"Just some fire lilies," Theo stated flatly, his gaze already sweeping the undergrowth. "There should be some in this type of environment."
"Okay, then I suggest we split up to expedite things," Niko stated, his mind already working strategically. "Karn, you accompany Rylen to locate the Ire trees for the weapon crafting. Theo," he continued, turning to the stoic mage, "you can—"
"Kael," Theo interrupted, his gaze fixed on Kael. "I will go with Kael."
Niko raised a questioning eyebrow but didn't seem to mind.
"Alright. Kael, you will accompany Theo to find the fire lilies he needs. Liri and I will take to the trees to gain a better vantage point and survey our surroundings for anything useful. Does everyone agree with this initial plan?"
A series of nods confirmed their assent.
"Excellent!" Niko said, his tone decisive. "We will regroup here in one hour, regardless of our success in finding the necessary materials. We can always improvise if needed. And to ensure no one misses our rendezvous point…"
As he spoke, the ground beneath their feet began to vibrate with a low rumble. In the next moment, a section of the earth directly in front of them shot upwards, forming a tall, jagged boulder of stone that jutted prominently above the surrounding foliage.
"...This should serve as a sufficiently obvious marker."
Oh
Kael thought, a flicker of intrigue sparking within him.
Is he some kind of stone mage?
"Alright, everyone," Niko commanded, his gaze sweeping over the group. "Let's move out. Remember, one hour, whether you've found your materials or not. We can adapt. And everyone… please don't stray too far."
With that, the unlikely team dispersed, each pair heading in a different direction into the lush, unknown depths of the Shifting Zone's jungle.
***************************
And that's how Kael found himself walking deeper into the verdant embrace of the jungle, side-by-side with the enigmatic Theo. The humid air and dense foliage stirred a strange sense of déjà vu within him, a faint echo of his upbringing in similar climes.
But with the familiarity came the unwelcome resurgence of old, buried memories.
Shaking off the encroaching melancholy, he turned to Theo, who moved with his usual silent grace.
"You were very quiet and… I don't know… almost mean earlier," Kael started, breaking the silence.
Theo offered a curt side glance. "What do you mean?"
"What do you mean, 'what do I mean'?" Kael retorted, a touch of exasperation in his voice. "You've been bland and dismissive to everyone on the team. I would have chalked it up to your natural personality if I hadn't, you know, actually interacted with you before."
"Oh, that," Theo replied, his tone dismissive. "Let's just say I prefer not to associate with… those types of people."
Kael blinked, confused. "Uhm, what kind of people exactly do you mean?"
Theo released a long, weary sigh. "Look, Kael, if you intend to survive for any length of time in this academy, I would advise you to be wary of everyone you interact with. Nobody, and I mean nobody, is exactly what they present on the surface. Everyone has their own agenda, and if yours doesn't align with theirs, they will not hesitate to bring you down. Trust me on that."
He paused thoughtfully before continuing,
"Take that Niko fellow, for example. He may appear noble and inspiring, which, in a superficial sense, he actually is. But beneath that polished veneer lies something… darker, more calculating. Or Rylen, with his perpetual smile. Those smiles are devoid of genuine warmth, masking an almost unsettling emptiness, a void of something akin to… hatred. The others have their own quirks, but nothing as pronounced as those two."
Kael didn't know how to feel listening to all these things. He had only just met these people; judging them so harshly, so quickly, felt wrong. Yet, Theo's conviction was unsettling. Curiosity overriding his reservations, he asked
"And how exactly do you know all this? You just met them… right?"
Theo chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "Of course I just met them. As for how I know… let's just call it instinct."
"…"
Kael's lips twitched.