Despite being located on opposite sides of the city, it was common for visitors to mistake the Royal Palace for Lostvail, and vice versa; such was the grandeur of the main academy building and its surrounding grounds. Four ancient spires pierced the grey pre-dawn sky, their tips vanishing into the thick cloud cover above, while arches had been carved directly into the solid limestone of the building. Stained glass depicting renowned Daemon Hunters of the past was set underneath each arch, and it was a daily occurrence for children and adults alike to peer through the wrought iron gates. The general public was always eager to catch hunters-in-training in the middle of practice, even more so to catch a glimpse of a famous hunter.

  Behind and bordering the main building was a dense, verdant forest that rested at the base of the Dragon’s Perch, and in the middle of the large crowd that had gathered at its entrance stood Alexi. Her broadsword was strapped to her back, while she had her revolver holstered at her thigh, and her hood was drawn up. The air was charged with a mixture of emotions, and Alexi scanned the crowd, picking up looks of excitement, fear, and hesitation. There were men and women of all ages, some chatting while others stood silently, just like she was.

  “This is quite the mixed bag. There have to be at least a hundred people here,” She muttered, her breath coming out in a short puff of air. A shiver ran down her spine. “How long are they going to make us wait?”

  A hush fell over the crowd as a figure appeared at the podium on the collapsible stage before them, as if to answer her question. The man looked close to Joshua’s age, with dark olive skin and white hair cut close to his scalp. He wore an elegant open-jacket cream suit, giving off an air of regency as he studied them with his deep hazelnut eyes. He regarded them all like a bird of prey, the smile crossing his face emphasizing it more.

  “Welcome!” his voice boomed, easily carrying across the entire crowd. “While you may come from different backgrounds and may all be different ages and sexes, you’re here for one reason. You’re here because you believe you have what it takes to hunt Daemons. To hunt this plague that has darkened our home since the war with their foul existence over four hundred years ago. I think you underestimate them. Or perhaps you simply overestimate yourself. This exam will weed out those not fit to set foot in Lostvail. If you wish to become registered to hunt these foul beasts legally, you must prove you belong here. The rules are simple: You will enter the forest behind me and make your way through it by six this evening. While in the forest, you must find one of your fellow examinees and form a pair. Only those who make it out together by six will pass the exam. Now then, any questions?”

  That’s it? Get through the forest with a partner? That’s way too simple. There’s more to this than he is telling us. Alexi grinned darkly, excitement coiling inside her, waiting to be unleashed. Perfect.

  When it was clear no one would answer, the man nodded, seemingly pleased. “You will wait fifteen minutes before finding your partner, and attacking other examinees is strictly prohibited. Now, with all that out of the way…LET THIS YEAR’S LOSTVAIL ENTRANCE EXAM BEGIN!”

  The crowd instantly exploded to life, rushing past the stage and into the forest beyond. Alexi sprinted, kicking up loose topsoil, ducking under long hanging branches, and leaping over exposed roots. She tried to keep her breathing steady, knowing there would be no point in exhausting herself this early. This was a marathon, not a race. She kept pushing forward steadily and didn’t stop until the distant blaring of a siren echoed through the thicket.

  “That must be the fifteen-minute mark.” Coming to a halt, Alexi slowed her breathing and took the opportunity to examine her surroundings.

  She was sure she was a good distance from the edge of the forest, but considering the timeframe they had been given, she knew there was no way she had even put a dent in it. There were no other signs of life in the immediate vicinity, leaving her alone in the forest. The foliage grew thicker and more ominous ahead of her, and Alexi knew that if she weren’t careful, she’d most likely get disoriented and lose her way.

  “Well, here we go.”

  Alexi took a deep breath, straightened her back and marched forward. She would need to conserve her energy for emergencies, which meant that from this point onward, she would need to limit the amount of running she could do. The terrain around her would start changing as she navigated the woodland, with almost no light able to penetrate the thick canopy above her head, and grass, shrubs and other low-growing plant-life becoming non-existent. All that was left were the rotting carcasses of fallen trees, the perfect environment for fungus and clumps of moss to grow.

  As more time passed, solid ground would soon give way to steep inclines where loose earth and negligence could lead to a nasty fall, and sheer cliffs that needed to be scaled to move forward. Studying the third such cliff she had come across, her breath coming out short and slightly laboured, Alexi knew she needed a break. Slumping against a nearby tree, the young woman pulled her hood down and gazed at the canopy above her. While it was impossible to tell how long she had been walking, she figured it had been a few hours at least, and the shifting terrain was a good indicator that she was nearing the mountain. Despite how long it had been, she had yet to run into anyone else, and traversing the forest had proved to be a bigger challenge than she had anticipated. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something felt off.

  “What am I missing?” she asked herself, taking a sip from the thermos she had packed, carefully rationing her water. Dread settled in the pit of her stomach, the unknown factor tugging at the back of her mind. They were clearly testing the examinees’ survival skills, as well as how they handled themselves under pressure. There was just one part of the puzzle she was missing.

  A scream cut through the creeping silence of the forest, and Alexi was on her feet in an instant, the sapphire eyes of her sword slicing through the air as she drew it. She remained still, every nerve in her body on high alert as she surveyed her surroundings, straining her ears as she listened intently. The scream had sounded human enough, clear and loud enough that it couldn’t be too far behind her. Someone was in danger.

  Is it even my problem?

  Biting her lower lip, Alexi weighed her options carefully. There was every possibility that it could be a trap, but even if it wasn’t, why should she go out of her way to help a possible rival? The less competition, the better. Another scream ripped through the forest, this time accompanied by a panicked voice.

  “Help me! Daemon!”

  Alexi’s legs moved before she knew what she was doing, dashing back toward the cries of terror. It wouldn’t take long for her to find the source, a girl sprinting towards her, her strawberry-blonde corkscrew curls bouncing in a way that could almost be described as cute, in stark contrast to the look of utter terror on her face. The Daemon was scuttling closely behind her, digging up roots and soil as it snaked through the forest floor with dozens of spindly, spike-tipped legs. It was at least 5 metres long, and Alexi couldn’t help but compare it to a giant millipede, with rows of jagged, drooling teeth in place of a head, chunks of rotting flesh caught between them.

  Alexi charged past the fleeing girl, putting herself between her and the Daemon. It stopped, moving its eyeless head as if sensing her rather than seeing her, before rearing back to let out an ear-piercing screech. She sucked in a breath and lowered her stance, tightening the grip on her sword, just as it struck with the speed of a viper, giving Alexi a split second to react. She jumped backward as the monster slammed its maw hard into the ground with a sickening smack. The moment her feet touched the ground, she leaped back to the beast and buried the tip of her sword into its flesh with all her might. She twisted the blade as it writhed in its death throes, shrieking in agony before falling silent, and growing still.

  “Disgusting.” Alexi groaned as she tore her sword free, the blade coated in thick, mucus-like blood. “And I have nothing to clean this off with. Great”

  “That...was amazing.”

  Alexi whirled around, having completely forgotten about the girl she had rescued. Reaching into the pocket of her plaid skirt, the girl timidly made her way over and handed Alexi a matching handkerchief. It looked handmade. “I don’t know if this will help with your sword, but you have some blood on your face.”

  “Oh. Thanks.” Alexi took the folded fabric, noticing the fine white scars along the girl’s slender fingers. After wiping the blood from her face, she used it to try and get as much blood off her sword as possible, all while her new companion smiled silently, hands behind her back as if to bring attention to the outfit she was wearing. She wore a frilly, white blouse, a voluminous waist-high skirt, and white stockings. She tapped the ground with her black loafers before adjusting the beret she wore on her head. “You’re not exactly dressed for this event. Are you sure you’re in the right place?”

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  The girl turned bright red, which brought attention to the freckles splashed across the bridge of her nose. She began to twist one of her curls. “I uh…I sort of made these?”

  “Ok, cool. But what does that have to do with Daemon hunting?”

  A wave of annoyance threatened to consume Alexi as they stood awkwardly, the dead Daemon at their feet an accusation. She couldn’t help but ask herself if this girl was actually taking the exam. If she was, then was she even trying? Alexi turned to leave. She didn’t have time for this.

  “Wait!” The girl cried, stepping before Alexi and throwing her arms wide open. She looked at her with determination clear in her navy blue eyes.. “Please, just hear me out. Press the tip of your sword against my shoulder.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Please.” The blonde girl repeated, showing no sign of budging. “Poke my shoulder. You’ll understand everything.”

  “Fine.” Alexi sighed after a moment’s hesitation. She gently pressed the tip of her blade against the girl’s shoulder, and instead of skin, Alexi found her blade meeting something sturdy yet flexible. “Armour? There’s no way you can fit body armour under these.”

  Pleased with Alexi’s reaction, the girl beamed before stepping back. “As I said, I made these myself. It’s a Lacey original, and all Lacey originals come with flexible yet durable armour sewn between layers of fabric. Now hunters can be both safe and stylish. Public image is important for a Daemon hunter after all.”

  “That’s an impressive sales pitch,” Alexi admitted, genuinely impressed. Even now, she was wearing body armour under her jacket, and while it provided the protection needed in Daemon hunting, it could be cumbersome at times. Weaving a layer of security into the fabric itself could aid mobility. “You came up with this concept yourself?”

  “Yup! I’m sorry, I haven’t even introduced myself yet. My name is Lacey Flos. It’s nice to meet you, partner. Thank you for saving me back there.” Lacey reached her hand back out, attempting to shake Alexi’s.

  It then dawned on Alexi that Lacey would be her partner for the remainder of the exam. Someone, she groaned internally, who couldn’t even hold her own in a fight.

  Shit

  Suppressing the sigh that threatened to escape her lips, Alexi instead forced a smile and shook her hand. “I’m Alexi. Nice to meet you, too. Just answer one question for me? Why did you run from such a small threat?”

  All the confidence and determination on Lacey’s face melted away instantly, and she looked away.

  “They didn’t tell us there would be Daemons in the forest. It snuck up on me and I…I panicked.”

  Great. Just. My. Luck.

  “You wouldn’t happen to know what time it is, do you?” Alexi asked as she returned her sword to its strap.

  Reaching into her skirt pocket, Lacey withdrew a silver pocket watch linked to the fabric by a delicate silver chain. Flicking it open, she responded, “It’s noon.”

  Alexi frowned. “That leaves us with six hours. I have no idea just how far we are, but chances are we’ll run into more Daemons the deeper in we go. I knew this seemed too easy.”

  “I won’t slow you down if we run into any more of them,” Lacey promised, her head held high despite trembling.

  “Yeah, please don’t.”

  Walking back towards the cliff blocking her path, the pair scaled up to higher ground and traversed deeper into the forest. They hadn’t been travelling long when Alexi, who was a few feet ahead of Lacey, turned to glance back at her. There was a question she had meant to ask since she first laid eyes on the other girl.

  “You’re wearing white. How are your clothes so clean?”

  “Oh, you noticed?” Lacey grinned, once again puffing out her chest. “I use fabric that is both dirt-repellent and stain-repellent. Trust me, even the toughest blood stains will be gone in a flash.”

  Alexi couldn’t hold her sigh this time, instantly regretting her decision to ask. “No offence, but is this really the time for another sales pitch? I get it, you make clothes. I’m not interested. Right now, I need to focus on getting us through this. Honestly, why are you even here?”

  Lacey muttered a muffled apology, causing a shard of guilt to pierce her heart. She hadn’t meant for her words to come out so harshly. They kept pushing through the forest in relative silence for the next few hours, Alexi holding the lead while Lacey stuck close behind. They eventually reached a wide stream that cut the forest into two distinct halves, the mountain range looming over them in the distance. Once they had taken the time to refill their thermoses, the girls found a path forward and continued on their way.

  “Soooo, Alexi?” Lacey asked once they were on the other side. “You already seem to know your way around a sword.” She giggled awkwardly.

  “Your point?” Alexi asked, glancing back.

  Lacey rubbed the back of her neck, attempting to find the right words. “Well, I was just curious if, you know. Your parents-”

  “No.” She snapped. “They weren’t hunters.” Scowling, Alexi passed under the shadow of a rocky outcropping and froze. She reached for the hilt of her sword, causing Lacey to freeze on the spot.

  “W-what’s wrong?” Lacey fretted, only for Alexi to promptly hush her. Their heads shot up towards the stone above them as something crashed against it, before falling limply at their feet. A broken mass of bone and fur lay before them, unmoving and impossible to identify. A boy Alexi recognized followed close behind, gracefully landing before them.

  “Nathan!?”

  Nathan looked just as astonished to see her, doing a double-take as the realization sunk in. “No way. Do you have any idea how unlikely this is?”

  Alexi couldn’t help but laugh; their conversation from yesterday was at the forefront of her mind. Some part of her thought she would never see him again once they parted ways at the bookstore. “I’m guessing not likely.”

  “No.” Nathan lightly punched her on the shoulder. “It’s good to see you, Alexi. And who is this?” He turned his gaze onto Lacey, who was staring at him in awe.

  “Y-you’re” She muttered, causing Alexi to tense up. “You’re perfect!”

  “Uhm… excuse me?” Nathan asked, bewildered.

  Lacey began to circle Nathan as if he were prey, studying him sharply. “You just have to model for me! I have so many designs that would fit you perfectly.” She leaned closer to Nathan, their faces inches apart, before abruptly pulling away, turning crimson. “I-I’m sorry. The artist in me took over for a second.”

  “I’m still confused.”

  Alexi sighed. “Nathan, this is Lacey. She, uh, makes clothes. Lacey, this is Nathan.”

  Sliding his hands into his pockets, Nathan flashed Lacey a grin. “Nice to meet you. Not sure I can be your model, though. Sorry. It would probably do more harm than good.” He winked at her before turning to look behind him. “My partner should be here any second. I may have run ahead.”

  “I’ve been here for a few minutes.” Drawled a slightly deep, but richly smooth voice.

  Alexi turned on her heel, reflexively reaching for her sword. Leaning against a nearby tree was a young man with piercing golden eyes, a look of boredom written over his face. He was tall, with broad shoulders, and as he pushed himself off the tree, he ran a hand through his slicked, pitch-coloured hair. Alexi narrowed her eyes at him, the sudden interruption catching her off guard.

  “Vincent!” Nathan laughed, stepping towards him. “Don’t sneak up on us like that. Kinda weird man.” Patting Vincent on the shoulder, Nathan turned to face Alexi and Lacey. “Guys, this is Vincent, but he lets me call him Vince.”

  “No, I don’t.” Vincent drawled as he continued walking, undeterred. He completely ignored Alexi and Lacey as he passed them, allowing Alexi to take him in. He was well dressed, sporting a black double-breasted coat, a twin set of gold buttons adorning it, and a white fur-lined collar. Her gaze slid down to the sheathed sword in his left hand, a katana. “Come on, Nathan, we don’t have time for this.”

  Undeterred, Nathan trailed behind Vincent. “I was thinking that the four of us could team up, actually. It would make the rest of the exam a lot more enjoyable. And besides, there’s no rule against two teams travelling together, right?” He looked over to Alexi, then to Lacey. “What about you guys? Wanna team up?”

  Before either of them could reply, Vincent calmly replied, “No. They’re dead weight.”

  “Excuse me?” Alexi growled, almost instinctively. “Who the hell do you think you are, exactly?” She knew he was looking down on her, on all of them, even Nathan. It oozed from every pore of his body, and she couldn’t stand it.

  Standing still, Vincent turned to lock eyes with her. “You two would just slow us down. Especially her.” He nodded towards Lacey.

  “You sure got a lot of bark, huh?” Alexi said through gritted teeth, glaring at him with cold fury.

  Jumping between the pair, Nathan smiled uncomfortably. “No need to fight, guys, especially since that’s definitely against the rules. We all want the same thing here; there’s literally no downside to this. Besides, we’re nearly there.”

  Alexi, feeling her anger subside slightly as she looked at Nathan, gave him a confused glance. “How can you tell exactly?”

  Giving Alexi a wink, Nathan strolled to a nearby tree and effortlessly hopped onto the nearest branch. “I’ve been scouting from the trees. I spotted a field that separates the mountain and forest.”

  She couldn’t stop a relieved smile from spreading across her face as the half-elf boy jumped back onto the ground. Once done with this exam, she’d be well on her way to earning her license and becoming a full-fledged Daemon hunter. “Come on, Lacey, let’s go.” With a new wave of resolve, Alexi turned towards her partner and felt it all melt away at once as a chill wracked her body.

  Something’s watching us.

  “Alexi, watch out!” Lacey cried, pushing her out of the way just in time as a broken tree trunk crashed into the spot where she was standing mere seconds before, flinging dirt and dust into the air. Coughing, Alexi turned her head in the direction the tree had come from and felt her heart stop. Standing over twice her size, with matted, filthy fur that may have been white at one point, was a daemon like nothing she had ever seen. Its limbs were abnormally long but tightly coiled with muscle, five-fingered hands armed with vicious-looking nails. For the first time in eight years, as Alexi looked into black beady eyes set in a raw, pulsing mass of meat where a face should be, she was scared of a Daemon.