Star Trail

CHAPTER 5 The Forest Invitation

Master Anom made an announcement that caught everyone off guard during the third week of classes.

"The selected students will participate in an Exploration Expedition to the f*******n Forest next month," he said calmly. "This is part of the end-of-semester assessment for second-year students, but I will allow a few first-year students to join as well, for the experience."

Rai's hand shot up before he could think about it. Nara looked at him with a mix of admiration and worry.

"The f*******n Forest?" she whispered. "It's dangerous. Not everyone who goes in comes back out."

But Rai had already made up his mind. The f*******n Forest was said to hold clues about the Crimson Desert — the place where his father had vanished. If there was a chance to learn more about his father, he was taking it.

Master Anom approved Rai's participation. "You'll need to prove you're ready," he said. "I'll give you private training sessions for the next two weeks."

That training meant practice every afternoon after regular classes. Master Anom taught Rai basic protective spells, how to read signs in nature, and most importantly, how to stay calm under pressure.

"Panic is a sorcerer's worst enemy," Master Anom told him one afternoon as they practiced in the back courtyard. "When you panic, your source becomes chaotic. And a chaotic source can hurt you."

Rai trained with everything he had. He practiced the shielding spell over and over — a bubble of light that wrapped around his body. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it shattered. But every time it broke, he started again.

Meanwhile, Dante was also selected for the expedition. When he heard Rai was going too, he frowned.

"A first-year on an expedition? That's practically suicide," Dante muttered loud enough for Rai to hear in the cafeteria.

"I can handle myself," Rai said, firmer than he expected.

Dante stared at him. Something flickered in his eyes that Rai hadn't seen before. Not arrogance. Something more like fear, hidden just beneath the surface.

"I hope so," Dante said quietly, then stood and left.

Nara watched him go. "Did you know Dante's father also went to the Crimson Desert? He came back, but he never talks about what happened there."

Rai's eyes widened. "His father was there too?"

Nara nodded. "They say Dante's father and yours went together. But only Dante's father returned."

Rai's heart hammered. The information fit like a missing puzzle piece. His father and Dante's father had gone to the Crimson Desert together. Dante's father came back. His father didn't. Something had happened in that desert — something no one wanted to talk about.

That night, Rai couldn't sleep. He lay staring at the ceiling, his thoughts spinning like leaves in a storm. What had happened in the Crimson Desert? Why hadn't his father returned? And what did Dante's father have to do with any of it?

He picked up his father's letter. The words on the paper felt different now. Not just a clue anymore. But a legacy, heavy with mystery.

Tomorrow, the expedition would begin. Rai would find his answers. He was sure of it.