Evelyn

  ***

  Being one of the few who didn’t overpack, I was told to remain in camp and to do our next task, which was setting up our shelters. This really is a survival course. I thought that they would offer us tents, but it doesn’t look like it. Man, this is going to be a rough one! Luckily the weather looks like it is going to hold up. Also, I think it’s weird that they have a bathhouse but are making us sleep under tarps. If we weren’t here to hunt demons, I would compare this to a campsite from Earth. Anyway, since we were told to make our own shelters, I got started on mine.

  Having a tarp, it was easy enough, although having to get on my knees every time I wanted to get in was going to be a bit annoying. Maybe I should change it up? Looking at the others, I saw that most of them were struggling. Although I wanted to go talk to Aura and everyone else, I decided that I should stay around and help out a bit.

  …

  Okay, that took far too long. Next time I teach anyone anything, I’ll gather everyone together so I don’t need to repeat myself so often. Still I managed to help everyone. As I helped others, some of our cssmates started to return. Having received their instructions, they started putting up their tents as the sun went down. I really hope my friends get back in time.

  …

  Eating dinner with my friends, it was a quiet affair. Like everyone else who had to walk back, they were tired. Having walked nine miles in total on semi-rough terrain, having to carry heavy bags for six of those miles, they also had to set up tents as it was getting dark. Nicole wanted to cheat and make a shelter with her nature magic, but was told not to since we are going to be using magic heavily for the next few days.

  Also, I hate to make this about me, but what am I going to do? I can’t use magic, and my magic tools don’t exactly have unlimited power. Well, luckily we are just going to be hunting small demons, and I have my spear, so it’s not like I’m going in unarmed. Also, despite this trip being about strengthening our magical combat skills, magic isn’t actually required! What an oversight! Actually it’s more likely that the Sitting Regents interfered so that I can participate and also pass this trip. Oh, and also I don’t think any other students realized that we are being secretly graded on this trip. The teacher's hadn’t told anyone. The only reason I know is because the Regents told me when I was talking to them as Melody a few days before we left. They also told me not to tell anyone, so let’s keep quiet about it.

  With everyone silently eating, I couldn’t help but turn my attention to Aura. As expected, she’s talking with the teachers. Probably going over tomorrow’s schedule. I hope I get some time to talk with her ter. I was never able to go out to find her as a magical girl since I was so busy, so this is the first time that I was able to see them again. Let’s be a little bit selfish and talk to them more often as Melody in the future. As I was thinking that, Charlotte, whose bowl was mostly empty, spoke up.

  “Hey, Evelyn.” Charlotte said, giving me a questioning look.

  “Yes, what is it?” I asked, turning to her.

  “I know that this may be…” She hesitated. “Inappropriate, but what happened? Rather, how do you know these people?”

  “Oh.” I said.

  That much will be simple. Although I’ll need to be careful about what I say. Lots of people seem to be listening in. To be honest, I didn’t expect it to take this long for people to ask me. I’ve been going to school for three years now and this is the first time someone asked about my past. I suppose that they were all being cautious of it. Maybe they were afraid they would upset me?

  “Well, back when I was stranded, I was checking my traps and some of them found me when they were scouting the area to set up an outpost in the Dark Woods.” I said. “That’s the short version anyway.”

  “I didn’t think there was anything edible there.” Olivia said.

  “What exactly were you hunting?” Nicole asked.

  “Small things like horned rabbits, squirrels, and birds sometimes.” I said. “I also fished and ate whatever pnts I could.”

  “You ate horned rabbits?” Chloe asked, shocked.

  “Yeah, they were alright.” I said. “Then again it’s not like I had any way to season it. Even a bit of salt would make it much better.”

  “Is it even safe to eat demons?” Charlotte asked.

  Hearing this, I paused and looked at her, then gnced down at our food. Yep, those are bits of horned rabbit in the stew. Seeing my reaction, my friends, and many of our cssmates, froze. I guess they must not have been paying attention when Aura told us what we would be eating. Well… Maybe that’s for the best. I’m not sure how many would have refused this meal had they known what it was made of. Regardless, with most of the css finished, or near finished, eating, there was nothing they would do even if they had the energy to do so. There was a bit of an awkward silence, so let’s move things along.

  “Don’t worry, when it comes to small demons, they’re safe to eat.” I reassured her.

  “I see.” Charlotte said, looking at her mostly empty bowl.

  “There’s no need to be scared, we are going to be eating what we catch for the next week after all.” I said. Surely it would be better for her if she knew what she was eating, right?

  “I see…” Charlotte muttered.

  I don’t think that helped. Let’s try changing the subject.

  “Food aside, back before they found me I made myself a nice little home!” I said.

  “Really, what was it like?” Chloe asked, gd to change the subject.

  “Well, it wasn’t so much as a home, rather a cave.” I started. “Actually no, it was probably too small to be considered a cave. It was more of a… pit? No, that's not quite right… Okay, so it was like a kinda deep hole in the side of a hill that was mostly covered. It was probably a den of some creature long ago. I made it a bit bigger, used some branches and mud to give myself a proper roof, made a door and dug out a chimney for a little fire to cook and smoke food.”

  “That’s um…” Olivia muttered.

  “Yeah, it wasn’t good, but at the time I was proud of it.” I said. “It kept me warm and dry, and that's all that mattered.”

  “I can’t imagine living in those conditions.” Nicole said.

  “Yeah, it was rough. Luckily I didn’t come across any rge demons, or any wolves or bears.” I said.

  “What’s a bear?” Charlotte asked.

  “Oh that's right.” I muttered.

  The animals of this world are different from Earth. Bears are one example. They exist here, but in all my time living here, I’ve only ever seen them deep in forests when flying over. Also, they’re probably bigger? But I’m not sure on what makes a “big” bear and a “normal” bear. Regardless, I wonder how rare they are?

  “I haven’t seen one myself but I heard about them before.” I lied. “They’re like these big brown things with lots of fur and big cws and paws and they eat like meat and honey and stuff.”

  “Sounds cute.” Chloe said.

  “Yeah, no. If one catches you, it’ll probably eat you alive.” I warned her.

  “Oh.” Chloe said.

  “Who told you about this?” Nicole asked.

  “The Raven.” I brought up ‘old reliable'.

  Yep, let’s just bme it all on The Raven! After all, I can’t say that I heard it from Aura’s group. I would be caught immediately if anyone asked.

  “The Raven?” Charlotte asked. “Who’s The Raven?”

  “Oh, psshh.” I waved off. “You know.”

  “No, I don’t think I do.” Charlotte shook her head.

  “Y-you know. I-it’s The Raven.” I stuttered.

  “Who is The Raven?” Olivia asked suspiciously.

  “T-the R-r-Raven is… It’s the Raven!” I said in a troubled voice.

  Why do they keep asking? At this point, 38 would just roll her eyes and give up! Wait, it's probably because of all the weird things I tell her… You know, maybe I should have thought about a better cover story for this guy…

  “…Does this ‘Raven’ talk to you often?” Nicole asked.

  “Not really- just sometimes. But like not a lot.” I poorly thought of excuses. “Mostly it’s like, watching me.”

  “…” My friends looked at each other concerned.

  “Okay I phrased that badly. It’s not like just watching me, but like everything.” I quickly expined, feeling the need to defend this fake person’s image. “It’s like, all-knowing and sees everyone.”

  What am I saying? This guy sounds like a creep! Oh no, everyone looks creeped out. This is bad! Let’s change the subject.

  “Let’s just like forget about that. Are you like ready for tomorrow, to maybe see and fight some demons?” I asked.

  “Yes, well…” Charlotte started, still sounding worried.

  Lloyd

  ***

  And just like that I believe I know why Evelyn isn’t acting like in the game. It also expins how she was able to survive so long in the Dark Woods. Whoever this “Raven” is, is likely someone with Earth knowledge. After all, bears don’t exist here, and there is no way a child of nobles of all people would be able to know how to smoke food, fish, or make a shelter with a firepce. Also, given how she’s acting, they probably told her not to speak about him. They are also probably responsible for dealing with the kidnapper event as well.

  So we have another reincarnation on the loose. Whoever they are, they saved Evelyn, so I don’t think that they’re bad. Maybe It’s Melody? Wait, no if she knew that Evelyn was stuck stranded in the woods, she would have just brought her back instead of letting some mercenaries find her. I wonder who they could be…

  Well, if it's someone from Earth, they probably are using ravens as a reference to something. What are some famous ravens on Earth…? Well there was that poem, but it doesn’t seem like Evelyn was being tormented, so what else? Mythology? Were there any famous Ravens that don’t mean death?

  …

  Wait. All knowing? See’s everything? Ravens? Isn’t that Odin? Oh god, we have some reincarnation rping as a god. What a weirdo! Wait, isn’t Evelyn in danger then? I don’t remember much about Earth gods, but aren’t big gods like him huge perverts, just like Zeus?

  …

  Oh-no Evelyn really is in danger! We need to do something about this! Tomorrow I’ll bring Lna and talk to Nissia and her friends! They’re saints! Surely they can do something about him, right?

  Evelyn

  ***

  With dinner having ended, all of us students were in our tents, preparing to go to sleep. Since we’re in groups, me and my friends arranged our tents in a “C” shape to shield us from outside observers. I had to reset my tent to do this, but it was easy enough. Anyways, our tents were set up with a single wall and a roof above us for whatever leaves may fall from the trees. Anyways, as the st light faded, I attended to Nicole who was wrapped up in her bnket.

  “Do you really have to tuck us in?” Nicole asked, embarrassed.

  “You were going to get cold if you slept in your bnkets like normal.” I said. “Do you want to spend the night shivering and not sleeping?”

  “No…” Nicole pouted.

  “That’s right, now be a good girl and go to sleep. We’re going to need the rest.” I said, patting her head.

  “So this is how Amber feels.” Charlotte muttered, not looking dissatisfied.

  “I want a big sister now.” Olivia said.

  “I know what you mean.” Chloe nodded.

  “Then for this trip, I’ll be all of your big sisters.” I decred.

  “We’re the same age.” Charlotte giggled.

  “Yeah, well I’m taller so that must count for something.” I smiled.

  “Alright, fine.” Charlotte smiled. “Goodnight big sis Evelyn.”

  “Night sis!” Nicole said.

  “Night-night sis!” Olivia said.

  “Night sis!” Chloe said.

  “Goodnight you three.” I smiled.

  As I climbed into bed, I was very gd that they couldn’t see my face. I wonder if I can get Robbie to say that to me? No, probably not. Wrapping myself up in my bnket, I looked out over my friends. With their eyes closed, it won’t take long for them to fall asleep. Given the fact that they walked nine miles, they were definitely tired. I was a bit tired, but I couldn’t sleep. I wonder if Aura will come over to see me? What should I say to her if she does? Well, I want to thank her again for saving me back then. I want to know what she’s been doing all this time. I noticed that none of the kids were here, so I suppose that they must have sent them away for this job. I wonder if she has any kids. Oh what am I talking about, of course she doesn’t. Neither she or Bke want kids. Leading mercenaries isn’t easy. Or so Bke says. I’ve never done it so obviously I don’t know.

  Reaching my hand under my pillow, I felt the familiar grip of my dagger. Sleeping in the open, and sometimes even in my room, I don’t feel safe sleeping unless I have a weapon nearby. Ever since some horned rabbits broke into my shelter when I was still stranded, I’ve always kept something nearby. Not only that, but right next to me was my spear. It’s always good to have it nearby.

  Laying there, I waited, hoping that Aura would visit me. Maybe it wasn’t to be? Ever since I saw her today, my excitement has been through the roof and I unknowingly tired myself out. Not long after ying down, I fell asleep with my hand on my spear.

  Grayburne