The next morning, I stepped into the academy halls, but something had changed.
Whispers. Glances. Silence.
The students who had once eagerly chatted in groups now stiffened whenever I passed. No one looked me in the eye.
Even the A-grade and S-grade students—those who had shown arrogance before—kept their distance. Some even moved aside when I walked by, as if I carried a curse.
I expected confusion. Maybe curiosity. But this was fear.
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck.
“So this is what it’s like to be an anomaly.”
After yesterday’s awakening, I had gone to my dorm without any answers. No explanations, no reassurances. Just that grade.
Minus.
Even the teachers didn’t know what it meant. Or rather, they refused to explain.
Alden had kept his usual cold demeanor, but I could tell—he was unsettled too.
And now? The students treated me like a walking disaster.
Fine.
I had dealt with worse.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
I didn’t need their approval.
I headed to class, finding my seat near the back. Nobody sat beside me. The desk next to mine had been occupied yesterday, but its owner had moved elsewhere.
I barely had time to process the new atmosphere before Alden entered the room, his ice-like presence silencing the class immediately.
His gaze swept across us. When his eyes landed on me, they lingered for a second before he continued.
“I will not waste time on unnecessary lectures. Today, you will be briefed on the academy’s first survival training drill.”
The class sat up straighter.
Alden flicked his hand, and a large map appeared in the air. It displayed a massive, dense forest stretching across several miles. Marked locations glowed on its surface.
“The Trial of the Wilds.”
Murmurs spread through the students.
A survival drill. It was famous.
Every year, Elixir High threw its students into a month-long survival test. It wasn’t just about magic or combat—it was about intelligence, adaptability, and endurance.
Somewhere in the forest were hidden supply caches, but they were limited.
If you didn’t prepare, you’d starve. If you weren’t strong enough, you’d fall.
I leaned forward slightly, interested.
Alden continued, his voice sharp.
“You will be placed into teams of four. Your objective is simple: Survive for one month.”
The whispers grew louder.
“Teams of four?” someone muttered.
Alden raised a hand, and the murmuring ceased.
“Team formation is your responsibility. I will not interfere. Choose wisely. A poor team will lead to failure. And in this trial—” his eyes gleamed coldly, “—failure is not tolerated.”
Silence.
He turned, gesturing toward the exit.
“You have until sunset to form your teams. After that, your survival will be in your own hands.”
With those final words, he strode out of the room.
The moment the door shut behind him, chaos erupted.
Students scrambled to form groups. The strongest students were picked first, their grades making them valuable assets. Friends clung together. A-grade and S-grade students teamed up quickly, ensuring they had the best chance at survival.
I sat still, watching the scene unfold.
I wasn’t surprised.
Nobody approached me.
I was the anomaly.
The unknown. The danger.
Who would want someone with an unmeasurable grade in their team?
Even those who had once been friendly to me now avoided my gaze. I caught a few students sneaking glances my way, only to turn away just as quickly.
My fingers curled into a fist.
Cowards.
But before I could stand up, I noticed something.
From the corner of my eye, a shadow flickered.
A presence.
Someone was watching me.
Not in fear.
Not in curiosity.
But with something else.
Anger.
I turned my head slightly, scanning the crowd.
No one was looking at me directly.
But I knew.
Someone in this room held an unexplained, seething hatred toward me.
And they were hiding among the students.
I let out a slow breath, forcing my body to relax.
The Trial of the Wilds would begin soon.
