To the Laboratory

The south gate of the academy was packed with students early in the morning in their light backpack and uniforms. There were also instructors to organize the crowded students that didn't want to stay still.

"Okay! Everyone, please eye on the front and lend me your ears!" A female instructor called their attention with her sound magic, causing them to be silent.

The day marked the start of their five-day practical examination set in the Khunlun Forest.

"Before the exam takes place, we will review the content of your exam..."

She gave them a quick briefing to the entirety of the examination including the rules and regulations.

Their practical examination which was in an outdoor setting focusing on team survival competition. Their ranking and score will be based on the points they gathered at the end of the exam period.

Each team could get the majority of their points from the monster hunt. The monsters  that spawn in the forest contained magic stones that had equivalent points on it according to its monster's level, rarity and difficulty to acquire.

Another way to earn points was from securing a hideout location. There were some location points in the forest where a magical device could be found to register the team as their hideout location. Securing the place in a certain amount of time will give them points.

They could also get some points in accomplishing some missions given to them in a certain time through a magic communication device given to the leaders of the team.

Lastly, they could acquire points from other teams by fighting them to get their hideout location, stealing their acquired magic stones or in some special missions given to the teams.

There were also some rules and regulations given to the students to follow during the exam period such as staying at the allotted forest area, causing severe and irreparable damage to other students, and cheating and using illegal items during the exam. All violations and unethical misconduct will be subjected to penalty, light to severe punishment, disqualification to the exam and even, expulsion according to the degree of its damage.

After a few reminders and speech, the female instructor announced the start of the examination. Each team entered the forest one by one and the instructions who will serve as the proctors for the examination also moved to their respective positions.

Ryder and his team also entered the forest with Yuston leading the team as he was tasked to be their scout, given his knowledge about Khunlun Forest's geography.

Ryder was assigned as the leader of the team, even though he had a short disagreement with it. He carried the magic communication device that will show them some missions and its requirements.

After going into an isolated part of the forest, they decided to stop for a while to be sure of their movement and avoid danger as much as possible.

"For starters, because you all assign me to be the leader of this team, I will give you two options. That is to continue with the exam with the aim to rank high or to go to Professor Shiro Blanca's location as my initial priority. If you all decide to go with the second option, we will go straight to his lab but if you all decide to go with the first option, I will try my best to plan with securing our place in the top ten while I will go to his lab alone."

The others looked at him as he waited for their response. Johannes just smirked before tapping his shoulder.

"Don't be petty, man. In the very first minute that I decided to team up with you, I already made up my mind to help you in meeting Professor Shiro Blanca."

"Well, me too. Getting high grades is not my priority as of now, anyway," Sienna agreed.

"Me too. If I have something to be of help to you, Fourth Prince, I will gladly do it," Ellie eagerly offered to him.

"Are you sure, Ellie?"

"Don't worry, Ms. Sienna, it's not like it is the only exam in our academy."

"Thank you, Ms. Claudia."

"For me, I would really like to focus on our exam because my president will kill me if I don't pass it but if you will give a special scoop in your meeting with Professor Shiro, I would be glad to follow you," Yuston negotiated.

"Well, you can do it as much as you like. In the very first place, you will be our guide to his laboratory."

"Then, call. Let's go to his place." Yuston led the way as they followed him.

After several minutes of walking in the forest, they seemed to get closer to Shiro Blanca's location.

"According to the map given by Senior Alexis, we're getting close to his place."

"Wait. Everyone, hold your positions!" Yuston alerted, making them guard themselves in any upcoming danger.

"Did we get in trouble, Yuston?" Johannes asked.

"No. Did you not hear it?"

They all focus their ears on the noises in their surroundings and notice a unique sound coming from near their place.

"Is that a sound of an alarm?" Sienna guessed.

"Yes. It's a notice to Professor Shiro's laboratory that someone approached his area of responsibility so all the trap and illusion get activated."

"Then, we're in the right direction," Ryder said.

"Yes. So, from now on, you should never leave my side." He pulled out a device from his pocket.

"Wait! Is that..." Johannes pointed the device he was holding. "It's a Hound! An ultimate tracking magic device!" he said in an excited tone.

"Really? I thought only royals, high ranking nobles and tower masters could have that," Sienna commented.

"What is that, Ms. Sienna?" Ellie innocently asked.

"It's an ultra-rare and expensive magical device that is able to tack any person registered in the device. It was also able to break any high level of illusion magic as long as the user could spend enough mana on it."

"Woah. Then, how come Mr. Yuston have that magical device? Are you from a rich family?"

"Of course not. Like I said before, I'm from a common family."

"Then, how did you acquire that?" Ryder wondered.

"How... what are you all blabbering about? I got it from Professor Shiro so I can track the location of his lab," he answered. "And he said he made it himself."

"Huh?! Really?!" they all blurted out.

"Is he the creator of that amazing magical device? That amazing alchemist that can put the Alchemy Association into shame and can make the famous magical engineers into their knees?"

"Wait. As far as I remember, the name of that alchemist is..." Yuston cut Johannes' words.

"Nevermind that. And this is not a Hound. It's a GPS tracker."

"GPS?" they all asked.

"Global Positioning System. It's a device used to track the registered location of a place. He said that it is the only function of it. But when he tried to sell it, some weird mages and magic researchers said some nonsense and rumors about it like being able to break illusions or whatever."

"Then, he is really that alchemist..."

"And this device is really expensive. I spent my blood, sweat and tears to acquire it."

"How much did he extort—I mean, ask you?" Ryder asked.

"Not a monetary payment but labor. He enslaved me for more than a month by running his errands and following his orders. Those difficult times..." he said in a dramatic way.

"Oh... how pity of you."

"Anyway, just follow me. Don't stray out from my tracks so you all don't activate some gruesome traps he made. Far from his looks but he has a sadistic and psychopath personality."

"Oh, yes. Hearing from your struggles with him."

"Then, brace yourselves. We will enter his lair now."

They all gulped as they followed Yuston in going to the Professor Shiro Blanca's laboratory.

*****