Preparations Before the Hunt
1433 Words
The first rays of sunlight spilled across the Royal Alpha University, painting its crystal towers in shades of gold and blue. Unlike any ordinary morning, the academy buzzed with excitement long before the first bell rang.
Students hurried through the stone pathways carrying backpacks, weapons, magical scrolls, and survival supplies. Every conversation revolved around one thing.
The Moon Forest Token Trial.
For two days and two nights, every participant would fight, survive, strategize, and protect their token. The one who collected the most tokens before the trial ended would earn glory, prestige, and privileges that every academy student dreamed of.
Astera quietly stepped out of her dormitory.
The tiny dragon poked its fluffy head out of her backpack before climbing onto her shoulder.
Its red-and-yellow fur shimmered softly beneath the morning sunlight.
Astera gently tapped its tiny nose.
"You stay hidden today."
The little creature blinked innocently.
She knew exactly what that look meant.
It wasn't listening.
---
Instead of heading toward the training grounds like most students, Astera followed the growing crowd toward the Academy Market.
The marketplace occupied an enormous circular plaza near the eastern gate of the university.
Normally peaceful, today it had transformed into a bustling festival of merchants, inventors, potion masters, blacksmiths, and rune craftsmen.
Colorful banners fluttered overhead.
The air smelled of herbs, metal, and fresh bread.
Students hurried from one stall to another.
"Mana crystals!"
"Half-price healing potions!"
"Magic cloaks resistant to beast claws!"
"Portable barrier scrolls!"
"Water purification stones!"
"Sleeping bags enchanted against cold weather!"
Every stall attracted eager customers.
Astera walked slowly through the crowd.
Unlike everyone else, she wasn't searching for weapons.
She observed inventions.
Her curious eyes studied every mechanism carefully.
A folding crossbow.
An enchanted compass.
A magical lantern fueled by moonlight.
An automatic rope launcher.
She crouched beside one display, examining a mechanical trap.
The inventor smiled proudly.
"Interested?"
Astera picked it up.
"The spring mechanism wastes too much energy."
"The trigger could activate accidentally."
"If you shift the pressure point three millimeters..."
"...it would become twice as efficient."
The inventor stared.
"You... figured that out just by looking?"
Astera simply smiled politely before placing it back.
"I'll make my own."
She continued walking.
Behind her...
The inventor remained speechless.
---
Near another stall, Nerina confidently selected several expensive magical artifacts.
Her friends admired each purchase.
"This defensive bracelet came from the Moon Temple."
"And this healing crystal was blessed by Ocean Priests."
Another girl laughed.
"You're definitely winning."
Nerina smiled proudly.
"I don't intend to lose."
---
Nearby...
Flint Earthclaw inspected practical survival equipment.
Strong climbing ropes.
Waterproof tents.
Heavy-duty boots.
A senior merchant nodded approvingly.
"Thinking ahead."
Flint smiled politely.
"A battle isn't always won with strength."
---
Several stalls away...
Zephyr Stormwind had somehow convinced a merchant to let him try a pair of enchanted boots.
The moment he activated them...
The boots launched him nearly twenty feet into the air.
Students burst into laughter as Zephyr landed inside a fountain.
He stood up completely soaked.
"I meant to do that."
Even Flint couldn't hide a smile.
---
Not far away...
Draven Ashfire examined a selection of enchanted swords.
He purchased almost nothing.
Instead, he carefully inspected every weapon.
A true warrior trusted skill more than expensive equipment.
As he turned to leave...
His eyes found Astera once again.
She wasn't buying magical artifacts.
She wasn't searching for stronger weapons.
She stood beside a merchant selling tiny gears, crystals, wires, lenses, and rare metals.
Engineering materials.
Draven watched quietly.
"A strange choice..."
---
After gathering a handful of inexpensive components, Astera returned to her dormitory.
She locked the door.
The dragon immediately leaped onto her worktable.
"Don't touch anything."
It tilted its head.
Astera emptied her backpack.
Tiny gears rolled across the table.
Silver wires.
Miniature crystals.
Small tools.
She rolled up her sleeves.
"Time to work."
---
Hours passed.
Metal clicked.
Tiny sparks danced across the room.
Astera completely forgot about time.
She carefully upgraded the grappling wire hidden inside her bracelet.
The cable now extended farther than before.
Next...
She reinforced her smoke capsules.
Then...
She created tiny motion sensors disguised as ordinary pebbles.
Anyone stepping nearby would trigger a silent signal received through her bracelet.
She smiled with satisfaction.
"That should help."
Next came something entirely new.
She picked up a silver compass.
After carefully carving several magical runes onto its surface and inserting an enchanted crystal into its center, she activated it.
The needle spun wildly.
Then...
It stopped.
A smile appeared on her face.
"My Token Tracker."
Every Moon Trial token contained identical magical energy.
The compass wouldn't reveal exact locations...
But it could detect nearby tokens.
"If I can't overpower everyone..."
"I'll outsmart them."
The dragon chirped happily.
Astera looked at it.
"No."
"You are absolutely not testing it."
---
Unfortunately...
The dragon had already disappeared.
Astera frowned.
"...Where did you go?"
Silence.
She opened the door.
Nothing.
Then...
A loud scream echoed from outside.
"Catch it!"
Another voice shouted,
"It stole my breakfast!"
Astera closed her eyes.
"...Of course."
She hurried downstairs.
Students were running through the courtyard chasing the tiny dragon.
The fluffy creature proudly carried an entire roasted chicken almost larger than itself.
Several students chased after it.
Zephyr laughed so hard he nearly fell over.
"It outran three seniors!"
One unlucky student slipped on the grass trying to catch it.
Another crashed into a flower bed.
The dragon happily zigzagged between everyone's legs before jumping directly onto Astera's shoulder.
It proudly presented the stolen chicken.
Astera stared.
"...Seriously?"
The dragon blinked.
She sighed.
"I leave you alone for five minutes..."
"...and you become a criminal."
The creature pushed the chicken toward her.
Sharing.
Astera couldn't help shaking her head.
"I appreciate the thought..."
"...but we're giving this back."
The nearby students burst into laughter.
Even the angry owner of the chicken couldn't stay upset after seeing the tiny creature's innocent face.
---
Later that afternoon...
Draven walked past the engineering building.
A strange metallic sound caught his attention.
Curious...
He glanced through the open workshop window.
Inside...
Astera worked alone.
She wasn't practicing swordsmanship.
She wasn't meditating to improve mana.
She wasn't casting spells.
Instead...
She carefully assembled tiny mechanical devices.
Every movement was precise.
Every invention reflected countless hours of experience.
Draven watched silently.
She looked completely different while creating.
Calm.
Focused.
Confident.
As though this...
Was where she truly belonged.
Almost sensing his gaze...
Astera looked toward the window.
Their eyes met.
Only for a second.
Neither spoke.
Draven simply nodded before continuing down the corridor.
Yet the image remained in his mind.
---
That evening...
Far above the academy...
Inside the Council Chamber...
Dean Aurelius sat with the senior professors.
A glowing projection of the Moon Forest floated above the round table.
Professor Orion adjusted the magical map.
"Everything is ready."
Master Kael smiled.
"The students believe tomorrow is only a survival exercise."
Professor Selene folded her arms.
"They're mistaken."
The map changed.
Ancient ruins glowed.
Hidden caves opened.
Magical rivers shifted course.
Dozens of powerful magical beasts awakened throughout the forest.
Illusion zones appeared.
Living vines spread beneath the trees.
Professor Orion looked surprised.
"Isn't this... more dangerous than previous years?"
Dean Aurelius smiled faintly.
"This year's students possess extraordinary potential."
"They deserve an extraordinary trial."
Silence followed.
Then another professor spoke quietly.
"Dean..."
"There is another matter."
"The Forbidden Archive."
The room became still.
"The protective seals were activated two nights ago."
"Someone entered."
Professor Selene frowned.
"Was anything stolen?"
"No."
"But someone found the hidden chamber."
Dean Aurelius slowly looked toward the glowing moon outside the window.
"The person who entered wasn't searching for ordinary knowledge."
"They were searching for answers."
He paused.
"Do not interfere."
"If fate has led someone there..."
"...they will return."
---
Night settled over the academy once more.
Inside her dormitory...
Astera placed her final invention inside her backpack.
Smoke capsules.
Motion sensors.
Token Tracker.
Grappling bracelet.
Emergency potions.
Everything was ready.
The tiny dragon curled into a fluffy ball on her pillow, exhausted after its eventful day.
Astera walked toward the window.
Beyond the academy walls...
The Moon Forest stretched endlessly beneath the silver moon.
Tomorrow...
The hunt would begin.
Some students would rely on strength.
Some on magic.
Some on alliances.
Astera would rely on something far rarer.
Her mind.
As the moonlight bathed the silent forest, neither the students nor the professors realized that hidden deep among the ancient trees, a pair of crimson eyes slowly opened.
Something else...
Had been waiting inside the Moon Forest long before the academy announced its trial.
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