Kana was supposed to be with them, but Professor Dufer had whisked her away for some apprentice training. That left Boris to escort the others. Adam, canceling his own plans, had tagged along instead.

  If someone didn’t know better, they might have mistaken Suri and Rin for their daughters.

  The shop was three stories of polished wood and warm light, every surface crowded with enchanted fashion. Cloaks that shimmered faintly in the lamplight. Tunics trimmed with thick, silvery fur. The capital’s winter was settling in, and the store was packed with weekend shoppers eager for the latest enchantments to keep the cold at bay.

  They weren’t here for idle browsing. Tomorrow’s field training meant Rin needed gear—and Rin was… difficult. Her class was unusual, her skillset stranger still. She had no idea what equipment suited her, so Suri had stepped in, confident her taste could solve the problem.

  Boris leaned against the wall, arms crossed, scowl deepening. “Are we done yet?”

  Suri ignored him, eyes fixed on the fitting room.

  A moment later, Rin emerged. She wore a red-and-white cloak over a matching gown, both lined with subtle runes. The enchantments were strong—three direct strikes would trigger a barrier that could shrug off even the heaviest blow.

  Suri’s eyes lit up. She clapped once, the sound sharp in the busy store. “Perfect. Protection and style.”

  Rin adjusted her glasses, looking anywhere but the mirror. “I don’t feel comfortable.”

  “Again?” Adam and Boris groaned in unison.

  It was her eighth—maybe ninth—outfit of the afternoon. Hours had passed. Adam still hadn’t found the shield he’d come for.

  Suri wasn’t exactly an expert in gear, but she knew this much: the right armor, leather, or tunic felt… natural. Like it had chosen the wearer. If Rin still felt off, then it wasn’t the one.

  She sighed, casting a glance at her increasingly impatient companions. “I’ve got a spare at the dorm. Want to try that instead?”

  Rin hesitated, then nodded.

  …

  Finally, Adam and Boris came back to life the moment they stepped into the armory. The shop smelled of oiled leather and steel, walls lined with massive shields, racks of heavy armor, and rows of weapons sized for tank-class warriors.

  Adam went straight to the shield rack, testing two… three… then hefting the largest one in the store. In his hands it looked almost normal—his broad frame making the weight seem trivial. He tested the grip once, twice, then nodded in satisfaction.

  Less than an hour later, the purchase was done.

  Suri couldn’t help thinking, Why are boys always in a rush when shopping? And clearly coin wasn’t a problem for Adam—the shield alone was worth more than most people’s annual wages.

  Boris, meanwhile, was eyeing Rin. She sat off to the side, book open in her lap, posture as still as a statue while the bustle of the shop moved around her.

  He was curious about something, “Want to try lifting a shield?”

  …

  Rin had no interest in steel or iron. She sat with her book, pages turning lazily while Adam and Boris prowled the armory like wolves.

  Then Boris called her name. A request.

  Rin always said yes.

  Adam’s brow creased as he passed her the new shield—nearly as tall as she was. His hands were careful, deliberate, as though handing over a newborn.

  Rin slid her forearm into the straps. They fit perfectly, as if they’d been measured for her. Adam released it slowly.

  She blinked. Light? No, but it felt right. She’d worn winter cloaks that weighed more.

  Something stirred deep inside her. A pull, subtle but insistent, urging her to try more. She set the shield aside and reached for a mace. No strain. Then a full set of [Crusader] armor—layered plates, heavy pauldrons, and all. The shopkeeper looked half-ready to stop her, but she lifted it without a hitch, strapping it on piece by piece.

  When she finally turned, she stood fully armored, shield in one hand, weapon in the other.

  “This,” she said simply, meeting Suri’s eyes, “is what I want.”

  Suri’s smile froze, her eyes wide. “Sure…!?”

  ….

  The copper class carriage rattled along the frozen road, its wheels crunching over patches of old frost. Inside, the benches were crowded with first-year copper students—and, oddly enough, two from gold class: Leo and Yuri.

  It was the first day of the week, and today’s lesson was outside the academy walls. The monster field.

  Fourth-years had their own turn tomorrow, there was a more dangerous class for them, a route that led into the dungeon.. Third-years rode in the carriage behind, their version of the beginner hunt scheduled for the same day as the first-years. This was part of the curriculum at the end of the year, most had been hoping to avoid repeating it.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  Monster fields were strange places—patches of wilderness that seemed ordinary until you realized the creatures wandering weren’t supposed to be there. Their levels varied, but most were weak and few in number, the occasional stray spat out from a dungeon. Kana had once thought such places might be worth farming for experience, but the reality was disappointing: a dozen monsters in a day was rare, and there was no dungeon boss to gain additional exp.

  Three hours into the trip, the carriage rolled to a halt. The canopy overhead was thick enough to swallow most of the sunlight, and the air carried the sharp scent of damp bark. Students stretched stiff limbs, scarves wrapped tight against the cold. Between the trees, cliffs rose like the ribs of some ancient beast.

  Wor-en stepped down first, surveying the two groups. He’d apparently decided to change the plan. “We will go with the first-years first,” he called, his voice carrying across the clearing.

  Kana caught the flicker of understanding in his expression. If the third-years went first, the first-years could watch, adapt, and patch their weak points. This way, their flaws would be laid bare.

  Half the copper class looked pale, eyes darting toward the treeline as if monsters might leap out at any moment. The other half—Boris, Suri, Kana, Adam, and Leo—seemed entirely unbothered. Boris was in the middle of describing a particularly overstuffed meat pie, Suri arguing the merits of honeyed bread, and Adam calculating whether there’d be enough time to eat both before the afternoon session.

  Great eating discussion, Kana thought

  The schedule had already shifted. This new subject—the practical monster hunt—would run long, the rest of the day’s classes pushed back depending on when they returned.

  ….

  Since it was their first time, Wor-en surveyed the area himself before giving them a briefing.

  “We have four undead skeletal monsters,” he said, rolling up the map before pointing toward a cliffside. “Once you turn this corner, you’ll see them.”

  Suri nodded. She’d already scouted the surroundings with her illusion magic and counted seven in total. The remaining three were likely set aside for the third-year group.

  Kana had already spoken to the team before they set out—telling them to trust her lead and follow her calls. Most agreed without hesitation, except Yuri, who still seemed a little skeptical of Kana’s leadership.

  They rounded the final bend, and there they were—four skeletal undead standing in wait. Behind the group, Wor-en trailed with the third-year students, observing quietly. To an outsider, the sight might have been laughable—so many people against a handful of skeletons.

  They quickly formed a standard battle formation, tanks at the front. The undead were clearly once human—each wielding a short sword and a battered wooden rectangular shield. Even in their numbers, the skeletons didn’t react until the students closed in.

  The only sound was the creak of bone as the skeletons closed in—silent, but unnervingly quick.

  Two of them burst forward in a blur of rusted steel. Leo and Adam braced, shields slamming into the blows with a dull, jarring thunk.

  Boris and Andel stepped in, long weapons darting like snakes. Their jabs struck true—clean hits to the neck. The skeletons shuddered… then collapsed in a sudden, eerie stillness, as if their animating spirit had been ripped away.

  “Now, Roy!” Kana barked.

  Roy had already told her—and even Wor-en—about his skills. Too honest for a [Necromancer], but that meant they didn’t need to hide it. At least this time, necromancers weren’t rumoured bad like monsters… or so, at least she remembered from somewhere.

  [Raise Undead]

  The two crumbled piles twitched, bones scraping as unseen magic snapped them upright. Skulls reattached with an audible click. They moved awkwardly, smashing into each other as Roy’s face tightened with strain, sweat beading despite the icy night air. Without weapons, they grappled with one of the remaining skeletons, slamming it to the ground until it stopped moving.

  Kana turned to Rin. The sight still caught her off guard—mace and shield in small, steady hands, an angelic face that didn’t belong on a battlefield.

  “Try it on that one,” Kana said, pointing at the last skeleton lurking in the back.

  [Guilty Torture]

  The air seemed to thicken for a heartbeat. The skeleton froze… then disintegrated into a cascade of fine, pale sand.

  “That one must have been a really bad guy before,” Rin muttered.

  It was an experiment—Rin wouldn’t usually waste the skill on something non-human but they’d try it anyway, especially her skill that dealt damage.

  Boris gave a low whistle.

  Suri high-fived Rin. “Good job, Rin!”

  Kana nodded, satisfied. She hadn’t drawn her bow. She didn’t need to. This fight had been about more than winning—it was about showing everyone their place. Roy had stepped up. Rin had struck decisively. Unlike before. There shouldn't be any more criticism, their roles were perfectly assigned and this would give a boost to their party’s confidence.

  ……

  Balt had pulled strings. Called in favors. Burned more coin than he’d planned.

  Two mages from the organization—construction specialists. Not flashy, but dangerous in the right hands. They could make a wall where there wasn’t one, drop a floor out from under you, or turn a fortified room into a death trap in the span of a heartbeat. Two was enough. More than enough.

  The academy might shut down the field training if the noble families found out about their missing sons and daughters. That was why the plan had to move fast—one day, every team striking at once. Third day of the week. No delays. No do-overs.

  Half his crew should have been plenty to handle a bunch of first-years, but the professor… that was a problem. Old dungeon raider, by the look of him. The kind who didn’t hesitate when things turned ugly. And then there were the third-years—more experienced. Fortunately, none of his marks were among them. Most of the nobles in that year were labeled as protected.

  What didn’t sit right was the Third year Gold Class. Too many commoners wearing those band colours. Gold was supposed to mean lineage, influence, bloodlines older than the kingdom itself. And yet there they were—sons of smiths, daughters of sailors. Something was off.

  The organization had one absolute rule for this mission: Do not kill the captives. The targets.

  Then it said nothing about the other students.

  A few incidents might happen. He grinned at the thought.

  If there’d been another crew assigned to hunt third-years, he wouldn’t have to be so careful. As it stood, one mistake meant a fight he didn’t want—and worse, witnesses he couldn’t afford.

  A week ago, he’d walked the area. Studied every corner, every unusual thing, every patch of stones that crunched too loud underfoot. Mapped the shadows at different times of day. His crew had already started preparing—hidden wall traps and sound barriers, all waiting to be triggered.

  When the day came, the academy students would still think it was a safe, quiet morning… right until the ground dropped out from under them.

  Balt smiled at that thought.

  It was always better when they didn’t see it coming.

  Different amounts of coin running in his mind.

  How much should he demand from the noble brat parents?