Five days of preparation had finally passed, and now the fifty acolytes of Hall 6 stood assembled at the Academy dock. Ery and Klea joined them as their leader, guiding and steadying the young acolytes as they prepared for what would be their most grueling exam yet. Among them, Hardy was visibly restless, thodically inspecting their equipnt list, double-checking every item they had managed to gather.
Unlike previous exams, which focused on fairness, this one emphasized survival, allowing each hall to bring any gear or provisions they deed essential. Hall 6's acolytes, coming predominantly from the lower realms, had fewer resources to display. Their crates were mismatched, a stark contrast to the coordinated, polished boxes of other halls. This difference didn't go unnoticed—whispers and sidelong glances from nearby halls signaled a quiet, unspoken judgnt, adding to the mounting tension in the air.
Before long, the half-blood halls arrived, their mbers warmly greeting each other and infusing the dock with a lively, familiar energy.
The sight seed to lift so of the anxiety from Hall 6, and Ery seized the mont to approach Shinta. As he reached her, he gently analyzed the pendant around her neck, double-checking the partial soul he had embedded inside, and reminded her to be careful.
"'Ooo... seriously, Father... I am the number one acolyte! You should worry about your other kids instead!'
Shinta's playful comnt drew surprised looks and a few amused smiles from the Hall 6 acolytes nearby, particularly Ha Ron and Kingrig, who exchanged glances at her remark.
As they spoke, Magus Beatrice—a senior instructor from Hall 9—approached the group. She offered Ery a respectful nod and said. 'Rest assured, I'll be keeping a close eye on your daughter"
Soon, all 120 twenty halls gradually filled the docks, a sea of acolytes and instructors bustling with anticipation. However, upon closer observation, Ery noted that there were fewer than forty units ford, resulting in a total of about two thousand acolytes.
A swift calculation made it clear: with approximately 20% of acolytes still below rank 9 and around 15% of the halls left unfilled, there was a substantial number of students absent.
The absence of many was telling. A significant number of acolytes had chosen not to participate in the group exam due to safety concerns. This was particularly true for those hailing from the higher and top halls, where family expectations lood large. Their factions, protective and unwilling to bear the risk of potential loss, had convinced them to stay back.
As Ery scanned the bustling dock, he noticed a group of Academy Magus staff approaching their designated halls. Hall 6 was assigned to a young, bespectacled female Magus nad Surri, who would serve as their official handler. Selected from Beta Academy to ensure objectivity in marking, she was tasked with reporting achievents and noting any penalties during the mission
Despite her unassuming appearance, there was a quiet strength about her, and Ery sensed the aura of a Half-Moon realm magus emanating from her. "Welco, Magus Surri!" Klea quickly stepped forward, her warm smile and charm breaking the ice as she introduced herself, skillfully establishing a friendly rapport with their new handler. As they finalized the last details, the rumble of engines reverberated from above.
Eight imposing Magus Alliance Military cruisers descended from the sky, their massive, destroyer-class hulls casting long shadows over the dock. These formidable ships had clearly seen action on the frontlines; their exteriors bore deep battle scars, and their turrets glead under the sunlight, a stark reminder of the battle that lay ahead.
Headmaster Goldstein arrived to greet the commanders of the warships, his authoritative presence commanding the attention of the students.
With a powerful voice, he addressed the assembled acolytes, reminding them of their duty and the honor of serving the Alliance. His words left a palpable sense of gravity and purpose in the air, bolstering their resolve.
"All aboard!' ca the booming shout from one of the commanders.
The acolytes, a mix of excitent and apprehension, began to board their assigned warships. As each of them stepped onto the massive vessels, the reality of the mission settled in. Each of the eight warships housed five units of acolytes, totaling two hundred fifty young warriors on board. Ery felt a surge of relief upon discovering that Hall 9 was sharing the sa ship; this ant they would be directed to a similar zone during the mission.
"This is great! We might be able to help each other again" Bellana exclaid, her excitent bubbling over as she glanced at her fellow acolytes. Magus Surri adjusted her glasses, her fingers brushing against the sleek fras as she began to explain the arrangents made between the Academy and the Magus military forces. Her voice was steady and authoritative, capturing the attention of the acolytes.
The Magus Alliance has over three dozen active warzones across its three quadrants, shared between the three Magus academies: Alpha, Beta, and Delta.
As she spoke, the acolytes listened intently. "The lower and middle halls will be deployed to less dangerous areas designated as the Yellow Zone, while the higher and top halls will face the more perilous Red Zones.' Ery's heart raced as he absorbed the gravity of the situation. As mbers of a top hall, it beca increasingly clear that the ship they were boarding was bound for a Red Zone—one of the most treacherous and volatile areas in the ongoing conflict.
However, while the five halls would share the sa command center during their operations, it seed unlikely they would be assigned to the sa mission, leaving each group to face its challenges and dangers.
During the travel, the acolytes were subjected to a crash course on military command structures, essential equipnt, and the galaxy they were entering. The briefings were intense and packed with vital information, with experienced Magus conveying the nuances of battlefield tactics and the importance of teamwork and survival.
After five long days of travel through multiple space portals, the ship finally arrived at their destination.
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