The following morning, the academy was abuzz with the aftermath of the first big test. Students shared their experiences, swapped stories of their encounters with the beasts, and compared the spoils of their hunts. The tension of the previous days had given way to a sense of accomplishment, and for many of the first-years, the mission had been a turning point—a chance to prove themselves worthy of Rising Star Academy.
Lifu, Tia, and Tumo sat together in the dining hall, enjoying a well-deserved breakfast. The mood was light, their conversation filled with laughter and relief. They had all completed their missions successfully, and the bonds between them had only grown stronger through the experience.
“So, did you guys hear about Kade and Sifiso?” Tumo asked between bites of his food. “They ran into a whole pack of dire wolves. Barely made it out with their cores.”
Tia raised an eyebrow, impressed. “Dire wolves? That’s tough. Those things hunt in packs and don’t let up. How’d they manage to take them down?”
“From what I heard, Sifiso used some kind of wind barrier to separate the pack, and Kade picked them off one by one with his earth magic,” Tumo explained, his tail flicking with excitement. “They said it was close, though. One of the wolves almost took Kade’s arm off.”
Lifu nodded thoughtfully, taking in the story. The hunting grounds had tested each pair differently, forcing them to adapt and think on their feet. It was a reminder that, despite their progress, there was still much to learn.
“We’re lucky we only had to deal with one beast at a time,” Lifu said, glancing at Tia. “That chitterfang was no joke. I can’t imagine handling multiple threats at once.”
Tia grinned, her fiery spirit undimmed by the challenges they’d faced. “If we had to, we would’ve figured it out. But yeah, I’m glad we didn’t have to face a pack of wolves. That would’ve been a whole other level of crazy.”
As they finished their meal, a voice echoed through the dining hall, calling the students to attention.
“All first-years, report to the central courtyard immediately,” the voice announced. “You are to receive your evaluations from the recent mission. Attendance is mandatory.”
The students exchanged glances, the buzz of conversation quickly dying down. This was the moment they had been waiting for—the evaluations would determine how well they had performed and what their standing would be within the academy.
Lifu, Tia, and Tumo quickly gathered their things and made their way to the central courtyard, joining the throng of first-years who were already assembled. The courtyard was large and open, with a grand fountain at its centre and statues of legendary warriors lining the perimeter. It was a place of significance within the academy, a place where important announcements were made and where students’ progress was recognised.
Lady Isolde and Master Zuberi stood at the front of the courtyard, their expressions serious as they prepared to deliver the evaluations. The air was thick with anticipation, the first-years standing in silence as they waited to hear their results.
“First-years,” Lady Isolde began, her voice carrying easily across the courtyard, “you have completed your first real test here at Rising Star Academy. Each of you has faced challenges, and each of you has had the opportunity to prove your worth. The evaluations you receive today will reflect not only your success in completing the mission but also your potential for growth and your ability to work as a team.”
She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in before continuing. “We will now announce the top-performing pairs. These students have shown exceptional skill, determination, and resourcefulness in the field.”
Lifu felt his heart race as he listened, his mind flashing back to the mission. Had they done enough to stand out? He knew they had completed the mission successfully, but there was always that lingering doubt—had they truly proven themselves?
“First,” Lady Isolde announced, “we have Sifiso and Kade, who successfully defeated a pack of dire wolves and retrieved the required monster cores. Their quick thinking and coordination were exemplary.”
A murmur of approval ran through the crowd as Sifiso and Kade stepped forward to receive their recognition. Lifu felt a pang of envy but quickly pushed it aside. They had clearly earned their place at the top, and Lifu couldn’t deny the skill it took to face down a pack of dire wolves.
“Next,” Lady Isolde continued, “we have Lifu and Tia. These students successfully hunted a shadow cheetah and a rare chitterfang, showing both strategic planning and effective teamwork in their approach.”
Lifu’s heart soared as he heard their names called. He exchanged a quick, excited glance with Tia, who was grinning from ear to ear. They had done it—they had made the list of top performers.
The other students murmured in acknowledgment as Lifu and Tia stepped forward, feeling the eyes of the first-years on them. It was a moment of pride, a validation of all the hard work they had put in over the past two weeks.
Lady Isolde nodded at them, her expression unreadable. “You have both shown potential. Continue to build on this success, and you may find yourselves among the elite of this academy.”
Lifu and Tia both nodded, feeling the weight of her words. This was only the beginning, but it was a step in the right direction—a step toward the greatness they both aspired to achieve.
The evaluations continued, with other pairs receiving their recognition for successful missions. Some students looked disappointed, while others wore expressions of determination, already resolving to do better next time.
Once all the evaluations had been delivered, Master Zuberi stepped forward to address the group. “You have all faced your first real challenge here at Rising Star Academy, but the tests will only get harder from here. Remember, this academy is not just about surviving; it’s about thriving, about pushing yourself beyond what you think is possible. The path ahead is difficult, but those who persevere will emerge stronger. We’ve returned the monster cores to each of you, use them to get stronger and be ready for the next challenge.”
As the crowd dispersed from the central courtyard, Lifu, Tia, and Tumo were joined by Leila, who had been paired with Tumo for the mission. Leila was a quiet and reserved girl, with sharp, intelligent eyes and a calm demeanor that contrasted with Tumo’s lively energy. Her affinity for wind magic had proven invaluable during their mission, and the experience had clearly brought her and Tumo closer.
“Well, looks like we’ve got our own little squad now,” Tumo said, grinning as he walked alongside Leila. “We all made it through the first big test, and I think we did pretty well, don’t you?”
Leila nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. “We did. I wasn’t sure how it would go at first, but I think we made a good team. Your agility and my wind magic worked well together.”
Tia laughed, her fiery spirit as strong as ever. “Looks like we’ve got ourselves a solid group. With Lifu’s lightning, my fire, Tumo’s speed, and Leila’s wind magic, we’ve got a pretty balanced team.”
Lifu nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of camaraderie growing between them. “Yeah, we really do. We’ve all got different strengths, and we’ve shown that we can work together. I think we can accomplish a lot if we stick together.”
The four of them walked together back to the dormitory, discussing their experiences during the mission and the challenges they had faced. Leila, though quieter than the others, shared her thoughts on their mission, revealing a sharp strategic mind that had helped them navigate the dangers of the hunting grounds.
“I noticed that the wind currents were stronger near the edges of the forest,” Leila said as they walked. “It made it easier to anticipate where the beasts would move, and we were able to use that to our advantage. But I think there’s still a lot more we can learn about the hunting grounds. There are probably other environmental factors we can use in the future.”
Tumo nodded, clearly impressed. “Yeah, that was pretty smart. I hadn’t even thought about the wind like that. You’re really good at noticing those kinds of details, Leila.”
Leila shrugged modestly. “It’s just how I’ve always been. I like to observe and think things through before acting. But your quick reflexes were what kept us safe when the beast got too close.”
Lifu listened to the exchange, feeling a sense of pride in their growing team. Each of them brought something unique to the table, and together, they were stronger than any of them would be alone.
As they reached the dormitory, the group found a quiet spot in the common area to sit and relax.
“So, what’s next?” Tia asked, leaning back in her chair. “We’ve passed the first big test, but like Lady Isolde said, things are only going to get harder from here.”
“We keep training,” Lifu said, his voice steady with determination. “We’ve proven that we can handle the basics, but we need to keep pushing ourselves. The academy isn’t just going to sit back and let us coast through. We have to stay sharp and keep improving.”
Leila nodded in agreement, her expression thoughtful. “And we need to learn to work even better as a team. We did well in the hunting grounds, but there’s always room for improvement. I think we should focus on combining our abilities in different ways, finding new strategies that can give us an edge.”
Tumo grinned, his excitement palpable. “I like the sound of that. We’ve already got a good thing going, so let’s keep building on it. And hey, maybe we can start training together more often. It’ll help us get to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses better.”
Tia raised an eyebrow, her playful smirk returning. “Just don’t expect me to go easy on you, Tumo. I’m all about pushing limits, and that includes yours.”
Lifu chuckled, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.
The rest of the evening was spent in light conversation and laughter, the four of them sharing stories and jokes as they unwound from the day’s events. The bond between them had solidified, and there was an unspoken understanding that they would face whatever came next together.
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