We boarded the train shortly thereafter. Mercifully, I was seated next to Jin, and we were both content to spend the trip in awkward silence, which was vastly preferable to awkward conversation.
When we arrived at our destination, Kathy ushered us to a waiting carriage. Not one of the Caelford horseless models — a traditional horse-driven one, which was still much more common in Valia.
We piled in. The seats were barely large enough for all of us to fit — it would have comfortably accommodated four people, not six.
Apparently, the school was willing to pay for some degree of transit, but not enough to make it comfortable.
I distracted myself from being pressed awkwardly close against my friends by looking out the window and admiring the scenery. We were outside of Beaufort now, heading north along a road from Calloway Junction toward what I presumed was the previously mentioned testing grounds.
I’d initially assumed that we’d just be going to the same area where I’d helped Marissa with her test, but this was much further to the north.
Small cities gave way to towns, and towns gave way to farmland.
The cobbled roads gave way to dirt.
The broad plains and fields of crops vanished as the carriage entered a thick copse of trees.
“Vanway Forest,” Sera explained. “We’re just south of the Vanreach Mountains. And, like the mountains, this forest is filled with monsters.”
I remembered the Vanreach Mountains — that’s where those herbs were that could be used to make a potion to heal nearly any injury. From Sera’s explanation, I surmised she’d been studying the whole area.
She hadn’t been making a big deal out of her condition now that she was able to speak and cast some spells again, but I was sure she still wanted a long-term solution. Her voice still sounded scratchy, like she had a perpetual cold, and her magic was still uncertain at best.
“This close to civilization?” Patrick asked. “Why not just move the army in to clear them out?”
Marissa scoffed. “You kiddin’? They don’t care ‘bout anyone this far from the city. ‘Sides, you think they want ‘em all gone? Monsters got all sorts o’ parts people harvest. They’re a natural resource. Soarin’ Wings keep an eye on the borders and make sure nothin’ creeps out too far.”
I blinked. I wasn’t surprised by that explanation, but I wouldn’t have expected it from Mara.
I had a tendency to underestimate her knowledge, probably because I assumed that her martial focus meant that she wasn’t much for studying. It was easy to forget that she’d been assigned to the Tortoise’s Heart, and that meant great academic scores, not just solid fighting abilities.
That explanation did raise questions, though. “If what they’re looking for is monster hides and crystals and such, why not just breed monsters in captivity?”
Marissa turned toward me while she explained. “Some people do. Got a place just off campus that breeds Ironweave Spiders for makin’ dueling tunics. Military’s got big bases where they grow all sorts of ‘em, too, both for harvestin’ and for Summoners. Most monsters don’t do well in captivity, though. Won’t breed or don’t grow as large.”
She paused, making a contemplative expression. “Might be because of different food sources, or it might be that they get more mana from the nodes out in the wild. Either way, monsters in cages or on farms never get as big. That means they’ve gotta leave some out here if they want bigger crystals, scales, that sort of thing.”
“Also means they’ve got strict monster hunting laws,” Jin chimed in. I was used to him by now, so I didn’t jump at the sound of his voice, but it was still a little startling. “That helps prevent any species from being driven to extinction.”
“It’s also why some people move out to the Unclaimed Lands. Easier to hunt monsters without restriction out there,” Patrick chimed in. “It’s just really, really dangerous.”
That explanation made a degree of sense, but it still raised more questions in my mind. Would it be possible to find a way to breed full sized monsters in captivity?
I had some moral concerns about that even if it was possible, though. Some monster species were extremely intelligent — even comparable to humans.
I had to hope that the monsters they were talking about hunting were the bestial kind, or even less intelligent, like slimes and golems. There were certainly plenty of those, too.
I was, of course, already aware that most people wouldn’t care about that distinction the way that I did.
The carriage finally halted a bit later, stopping at the base of a large stone structure. It was a jarring sight among the tall trees, which otherwise surrounded the whole area.
“We’re here!” Kathy announced. “Finally get to stretch my legs!”
We all groaned in agreement, exiting the carriage.
We bid the carriage driver a safe trip back, and I offered him a few extra coins for having to deal with the obnoxiousness of listening to teenagers banter for hours.
With that, we approached the building.
Upon closer inspection, the structure was a three-story fortification surrounded by heavy stone walls.
I saw the tower-and-wings symbol of the Soaring Wings flying from one of the two flags atop the structure, and the blue-on-black flag of the nation of Valia above it.
Kathy approached first, waving at one of the two bronze-armored guards standing out front. “Yo, Jody. These are my kids.”
“You made good time, but the other team is already here.” Jody explained. “I’ll need your team to sign in here, then we’ll head inside.”
Other team?
I already didn’t like the sound of that.
We signed some paperwork at the entrance to verify that we’d all arrived safely…and that we accepted the risks involved in this test.
Lovely.
Then Kathy led us inside.
“Stay safe out there,” Jody said, slapping Kathy on the back.
“Always do.”
For some reason, though, Kathy’s usual grin had faded. Her lips had flattened into a hard line.
The fortification had several buildings inside, but Kathy led us to the central structure. Within, she took us to a large room that looked to be a cafeteria.
Inside, we found another team waiting for us.
“Oh, ye have to be kidding me.” Marissa tensed, pausing in her step, her hands tightening.
“Well, well. I knew we were having another team join us, but this is a pleasant surprise.” Rupert Kent stood up from where he’d been eating and turned to regard us.
From the sound of his tone, he was still intent on harassing Mara, even after she’d beaten the tar out of him earlier in the year.
Without thinking, I laid a hand on Mara’s shoulder. She turned to me with a look of surprise, then took a breath and relaxed.
She gave me a nod of thanks, then I put my hand down.
It was a simple exchange, positive without any words needed. I…wasn’t used to that. But it was nice.
I couldn’t focus on that, though. I turned to look at the rest of the group. I recognized them just as easily, aside from the second-year student with them.
Loria Marshal was an Elementalist, much like Rupert and Patrick. She was sitting next to Kyra Dyson, her usual dueling partner, and one of the few duelists with the Shadow attunement.
I knew the other two even better. Desmond Vyers was a Shaper, and currently one of the top students in the dueling class. He probably had the highest overall score, maybe tied with Marissa.