Unmotivated Deity

After they were told about the next steps for their training, they all took the same manacles linked by a long chain. They clasped it around their wrists with a silent determination in their eyes. As it happened the last time, they would end up deposited randomly upon crossing the barrier. The only thing that would keep them all from being separated in a helpless situation was this single chain linking them. It was only after each of them checked the manacle and chain to ensure its stability before they took their first step into their new home.

As soon as they crossed the barrier the world spun and blacked out for several long moments. They felt like they were being crushed and then forced through a tiny tube. By the time they felt the dank earth under their legs they felt a level of vertigo that made the first time feel like child's play. All of Jien's cohort, including himself dropped to their knees and lost their last meal. The mentors only managed to stay standing and with their stomachs still held down by pure determination. It was only when Jien and company regained their vision that they saw their mentors' resolute but pale and even slightly green faces as they didn't dare to move until everything settled.

The second thing that hit his senses was the sound of rough waves crashing on something hard, followed promptly by the scent of salt. It was only after these two factors hit his system that Jien grasped roughly where they had ended up. He looked into the distance in front of him, noticing that the usual fog was actually growing lighter in the distance until he could see a dark curtain covered in a myriad of sparkling dots hidden only partially by the white cloud of vapor.

He was now sure; they had ended up on the western coast of the forest that bordered the ocean. This was both a boon and curse. The boon is that the sea presented them a treasure trove of resources if they could use it. The curse was that this area lacked the level of protection as their previous camp. The forest grew sparser as it arrived near the coastline. He couldn't see it clearly, but he could tell just by the amount of star and moonlight that was able to filter through what fog was present.

After everything seemed to stabilize everyone unclasped the manacles and Mark gathered the chain, storing it away. It was David, Lesley's completely average looking teacher that spoke. His tone was casual but the smile he gave Jien's cohort a chill that caused goosebumps to run up their arms. "We'll give you a week to settle in. Then the fun starts!" With that said the mentors turned on their heels and walked into the forest as if it wasn't an endless maze but an open park. During the last year they had learned a way to keep track of their students without being physically tied to them. The answer was the mana string Jien had learned to puppeteer with from Runa. It worked the same as a rope but was harder to disrupt.

With the mentors gone and a link established by Iris to keep an eye on them the young cohort was left to their own devices. The first thing that Jien did was attach a mana string to each of the members. The burden was in the creation of such an ability, the maintenance of the mana string required only concentration to hold the mana in form, but not more. This was a burden on Jien's mind, but he had had plenty of practice the past year and picked it up without any complaint.

After they were linked, they got into their usual formation, however Olivia took up the rearguard position and Jien acted as her replacement while maintaining his position as controller. With their formation pulled together without any need for communication they started to walk toward the sound of waves coming ahead after seeing Jien's signal. Their movement was fluid and clean, their guard already up as high as they could.

The mentors had said they would get a full week to prepare themselves. None of the cohort were gullible enough to take that at face value. They were now on opposite sides of this battle; you couldn't take your enemy's words at face value. Even if David wasn't lying that didn't mean that the Warping Forest had suddenly become less dangerous. Last year they had been on the edge of death several times and managed to pull through, sometimes on their own and sometimes with their mentors' help. This forest was a death trap, at times they seriously questioned their parents' sanity in having them train here.

That doubt would change nothing. All that stood before them was the challenge they were given and the struggle to survive another year in this inhospitable place. Nothing else mattered since they had stepped across the barrier.