The first-year students gathered in the predawn chill, murmuring among themselves as they waited in the training yards outside Ironside Keep. The tension was palpable—this was it, the final test of the semester. Though the air was cold, Otter could feel the nervous energy radiating from the crowd.

  He stood with his team near the back, adjusting the straps on his new backpack while Milo fidgeted beside him. Otter had spent more of his hard earned credits at the Commissary to buy some adventuring supplies: the backpack, rope, a couple of glowsticks, and a grappling hook. That had been the most expensive purchase, and it left him with only a few credits.

  Jasper looked as relaxed as ever, arms crossed, weight shifted onto one leg, while Erin kept scanning the crowd, as if searching for something—or someone. Sage remained unreadable, her hands clasped in front of her as if in silent prayer.

  When the massive wooden doors to the keep creaked open, conversation died instantly.

  Headmaster Voss emerged, flanked by several instructors, including Blackwood, Horvan, and a few Otter hadn’t interacted with before. The headmaster surveyed them, his expression unreadable as always.

  “First-years,” he said, voice effortlessly carrying over the crowd. “You stand at the threshold of your final test. Up until now, your exams have measured your individual skills and theoretical knowledge. But an Adventurer never works alone.” His gaze swept the students, lingering just long enough to make each of them feel as if he were speaking directly to them. “Today, we test your ability to work as a team. Follow me.”

  Without another word, he turned and strode forward.

  The students hesitated, exchanging confused glances before hurrying after him.

  Otter frowned as they crossed the training grounds and entered Ironside Keep. He’d been inside before—mostly for Combat Basics—but this was different. Instead of heading toward the usual sparring halls or armory, they were led deeper into the fortress, past towering suits of armor and ancient battle banners. At the end of a dimly lit corridor, a set of massive stone doors loomed, their surfaces etched with unfamiliar runes. Otter was certain they hadn’t been there before.

  “Was this always here?” he whispered.

  “No,” Erin murmured. “Or if it was, it’s been hidden.”

  The instructors positioned themselves at either side of the doors. With a flick of Voss’s wrist, the stone groaned and shuddered, splitting down the center and swinging inward. A gust of stale, cool air rushed out to meet them.

  Beyond the threshold was a descending stone staircase, disappearing into the darkness below.

  Otter swallowed. The Academy had an underground complex.

  And no one had ever spoken of it.

  Voss turned back to them, his expression unreadable. “Proceed.”

  One by one, the students stepped inside. Otter felt the weight of the stone above him as they descended, lanterns flickering along the walls to guide them. The air grew cooler, the scent of damp stone and something faintly metallic filling his nostrils.

  The stairwell eventually opened into a vast chamber, its high ceilings supported by thick stone columns. Magical sconces lined the walls, casting a cold blue glow over the room. At the far end, a series of heavy wooden doors stood in a row, each one marked with an arcane symbol that pulsed faintly.

  The instructors spread out, some standing near the doors, others observing the gathered students. Voss addressed them again.

  “This underground facility exists for one purpose,” he announced. “To test those who would call themselves Adventurers. What lies beyond those doors is a simulated expedition, created and maintained by the Academy’s finest Spell Lords. While nothing inside is truly real, the experience is designed to be as authentic as possible.”

  He gestured, and a few assistants stepped forward, each carrying a small wooden box.

  “The markers you are about to receive will track your status within the simulation. Consider them a measure of your life force. Every attack you take, every injury you sustain, will deplete the marker accordingly. If your marker reaches zero, you will be teleported out of the simulation immediately. Remember, if your team is unable to complete your objective before time expires or if your entire team is removed from the simulation, you will fail.”

  A murmur spread through the gathered students.

  Otter watched as one of the assistants approached and handed him a small circular badge, about the size of a silver coin. The moment his fingers touched it, it pulsed once with a soft red glow before fading.

  Voss continued, “Your teams have been assigned a starting time. You will enter the simulation in waves, allowing instructors to monitor your progress. The first teams will begin shortly.” He raised a hand, and one of the assistants unrolled a long parchment. “Listen carefully for your team number.”

  One by one, names were called. The first group of students—some of them looking far too confident, others already pale with nerves—stepped toward the first door. Levi was among them. He seemed absolutely giddy. A Spell Lord moved to activate the entrance, chanting softly under his breath.

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  Otter exhaled as more names were called.

  Then—

  “Team Five.”

  Otter felt his stomach flutter as they stepped forward.

  “You will begin during the third round,” the assistant continued, marking something down on his parchment. “Prepare yourselves accordingly. You have a few hours before your trial begins.”

  Voss cast one last look over the students. “Use your time wisely.”

  And with that, the first team stepped through the arcane door. It flared with light as they disappeared inside.

  Otter watched them go, then turned his attention to the surrounding crowd. Though the light down here was dim, he tried to find Liora. Her size should make her stand out, but instead he spotted Lyle and Torrin watching him, whispering to each other. Wonderful, he thought. They’re going to try something.

  The underground chamber buzzed with tension as teams clustered together, speaking in hushed voices. Otter’s group stood near one of the stone benches, their expressions more serious than before. Their earlier planning session had given them a foundation, but now—after hearing the full rules of the simulation—they needed to adjust.

  Jasper crossed his arms, scowling. “Four hours. That’s not a lot of time.”

  Erin nodded. “We need to move fast. No wasting time on dead ends.”

  Otter leaned against the bench, tapping his fingers on the stone. “We still don’t know how big the dungeon is, but we can assume it’s not straightforward. There will be obstacles.”

  “We stick to the original plan,” Jasper said. “I take point in combat, Erin scouts, Sage keeps us alive, Milo supports where needed, and Otter…” He hesitated before finishing, “finds the best way forward.”

  Otter smiled. It wasn’t exactly praise, but it was better than before.

  Milo adjusted the strap of his satchel. “If we get separated, I can use Minor Illusion as a signal. We should establish a pattern now, so we don’t mistake it for an enemy trick.”

  Sage lifted a brow. “Good thinking. Something distinct.”

  Milo thought for a moment. “How about three flashes in a row? If it’s safe to regroup, I’ll hold the last one a little longer.”

  “Wait. There’s no guarantee we’d be able to see that. Unless we’re walking into a labyrinth with walls but no ceiling, I don’t think that would work. Can Minor Illusion make sounds?”

  Milo nodded.

  “Okay, instead of a flash, use a series of high-pitched notes.”

  “I can do that.”

  Erin glanced toward the archway where the first team had already entered the portal. “We also need a plan for if we run into another team.”

  “They might be friendly,” Otter said. “They might not.”

  Jasper snorted. “There’s a chance someone might have a ‘kill the expedition’ objective. They won’t be looking for allies.”

  “Which means avoiding unnecessary fights,” Sage said. “We won’t win if we burn out early.”

  With their plan adjusted, there was nothing left to do but wait. The cavernous chamber felt heavier now, the looming stone portal radiating an eerie hum of energy. One by one, teams were called forward, stepping into the glowing archway and vanishing from sight.

  Otter clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay loose. The anticipation was almost worse than the actual danger ahead.

  “We should check our gear,” Erin suggested, already double-checking the straps on her daggers. “Make sure we’re not scrambling once we’re inside.”

  Everyone murmured agreement. They moved to one of the unoccupied benches, spreading out their supplies.

  Jasper unsheathed his longsword, inspecting the edge. Then he checked the string on a crossbow he’d brought.

  Erin tightened her bracers. “I’m not sure if we’ll find any supplies inside. Better not forget anything.”

  Otter unfastened his backpack and took inventory—rope, chalk, water flask, torches, glowsticks, grappling hook, and his father’s knife. They had been told to bring real weapons for this and it was the only one Otter had. He removed the knife from his backpack and considered how best to carry it.

  “You got a sheath for that thing?” Jasper asked.

  Otter shook his head. “Just the knife. I didn't have enough credits left to get one at the Commissary.”

  Jasper heaved a deep sigh, then rummaged in his own pack, finally withdrawing a knife of his own. His was in a sheath. He pulled it free and tossed the sheath to Otter. “See if that works. You won’t have time to get that knife out of your pack if you need it.”

  Otter stared at it for a moment, then looked at Jasper. It was the first real gesture of goodwill he’d made. “Thanks.”

  Jasper shrugged, then turned back to checking over his own weapons.

  Milo held up a few small glass vials filled with shimmering liquid. “Mana restoratives. Not much, but enough to keep me casting.”

  Sage murmured a quiet prayer over a small silver pendant, eyes closed in concentration. Otter had seen other Divine Conduits do something similar before. Preparing themselves.

  “Anything we should know?” he asked her.

  Sage opened her eyes, tucking the pendant beneath her tunic.

  Jasper smirked. “Praying for us?”

  “Praying you don’t get yourself killed,” she deadpanned.

  Otter held back a grin. He liked Sage.

  Their group fell into a quiet lull. Across the chamber, other teams prepared themselves, too. Some stretched, others sat in deep focus.

  Otter looked up at the towering walls of the underground space, tracing the strange runes carved into the stone. “Did any of you know this place existed?”

  Erin shook her head. “Not a clue.”

  Milo frowned. “I thought I knew every building on campus, but this—this feels ancient.”

  Jasper rested his hands on the pommel of his sword. “Makes sense. The Academy wouldn’t train us to fight Kaosborn without a proper testing ground.”

  Sage exhaled slowly. “A testing ground built beneath an old fortress. Seems fitting.”

  Otter’s gaze returned to the portal. Soon, it would be their turn. Soon, there would be no more waiting.

  He rolled his shoulders and took a deep breath. “Alright, then. Let’s do this.”