[: Daniel's POV :]

Well, it's been a month since I've enrolled in the Academy.

Every day passed by almost the same, lectures, training sessions, mana synchronization, theoretical magic, and endless chatter from Fendrick and Silvia.

All of it was a routine, predictable and peaceful, in a sense.

At least, as peaceful as life could be in a place filled with hundreds of students, swordsmen, and battle maniacs trying to prove their worth.

But on this particular day, something changed.

Scarlett, our instructor, clapped her hands, her crimson eyes glinting mischievously.

"Well, that's the end of today's lecture," she said, her tone as casual as ever.

"Before you all leave, let me remind you, there will be a 'Festival Hunt' or you first years at the end of this month"

"So prepare yourselves accordingly."

The room immediately erupted into murmurs.

A few gasps, some cheers, and the occasional "Wait, is that the monster hunt thing!?" from the back row.

Scarlett chuckled softly, clearly amused by their excitement.

"Perhaps what I've taught you this past month might finally prove useful," she added, flashing us one of her cryptic smiles before exiting the room, her long hair trailing behind her like a flicker of flame.

The door shut, and the class buzzed with excitement.

I leaned back in my seat, staring blankly at the board where her magic formula still faintly glowed.

Festival Hunt, huh?

I remember reading about it during my orientation.

An event where students are thrown into one of the academy's designated hunting fields, massive, magically sustained environments filled with monsters specifically bred for training purposes.

The goal is simple, hunt monsters, earn points, and rank higher than the others.

Of course, 'simple' usually meant 'chaotic.'

Moreover, it was up to the student's choice whether they wish to team or act as an individual.

But most the time, they tend to team up.

"So, what do you guys think about the Festival Hunt? Isn't it exciting just thinking about it!?"

Silvia asked, eyes sparkling like a child who just found a chest of sweets.

I glanced at her.

The way she leaned forward, both elbows on the desk, chin resting on her palms, she looked genuinely thrilled.

Her snow-white hair glimmered faintly under the classroom light.

Fendrick groaned beside her.

"Exciting? You mean terrifying. I barely survived the *Anti-Magic Practical* last week."

Silvia rolled her eyes.

"That's because you accidentally erased your own fireball."

"I told you that was intentional!" Fendrick argued.

"Sure it was," she replied with a teasing smile.

I couldn't help but chuckle quietly.

"You know, Silvia's right though. The Festival Hunt might actually be fun."

Fendrick turned to me, incredulous.

"You too? What's wrong with both of you? You're talking about a field full of monsters that bite, slash, and burn things alive!"

"Exactly," Silvia said. "Doesn't that sound thrilling?"

Fendrick gave her a deadpan stare.

"No. It sounds like a one-way trip to the infirmary."

"Relax," I said, resting my chin on my hand.

"You'll have me there"

"What's the worst that could happen?"

Fendrick blinked, then frowned.

"You know, when you say that, it doesn't actually make me feel better"

"In fact, it sounds like you're inviting trouble."

I smirked.

"Maybe I am."

Silvia giggled at our exchange, her laughter light and sincere.

For a moment, I felt the tension that had lingered from previous weeks fade away.

After what happened with Leon and his ilk, it was good to finally have a normal conversation.

Normal… felt nice.

The rest of the class was abuzz with discussion.

Some were forming teams already, others debating whether they should focus on gathering points or hunting the highest-ranked beasts.

From what I remembered, the rules were simple, each monster carried an assigned point value, and the teams with the most points by the end of the hunt would receive academy recognition and rewards.

It was more than enough motivation to turn the event into a competition.

Silvia suddenly leaned toward me.

"Daniel, are you joining with us?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"Us?"

"Me and Fendrick, obviously," she said as if the answer was obvious.

I looked at Fendrick, who was half-buried in his notes.

He seemed to have just realized he was being volunteered.

"Wait, wait, wait, why am I included in this death wish?" he asked.

Silvia grinned.

"Because you're part of the team. You can't just run off now."

"I, what team!? We never even—"

I cut him off.

"You're coming," I said flatly.

He blinked, stunned. "Huh?"

"Silvia's right," I said, smirking faintly.

"We'll be fine. It's just a hunt. Nothing too dangerous."

Silvia smiled brightly.

"See? Even Daniel agrees!"

"Daniel agrees to everything if it means watching me suffer," Fendrick muttered.

I chuckled. "Maybe."

"...I'm switching dorms," he groaned.

As the chatter faded and the room emptied, I found myself looking out the window again.

The afternoon sun cast long shadows over the courtyard, where other students practiced their spells or sparred under supervision.

The hum of magic filled the air, mana streams glowing faintly in different hues.

For some reason, I felt something stir inside me, a quiet anticipation I hadn't felt in a long time.

Maybe it is because this is the first time that I would have team in hunting down monsters.

Days passed quickly after that.

Training became more intense as the Festival Hunt approached.

Every student was eager to prove themselves, and even Scarlett added more advanced lessons to push us further.

During one class, she demonstrated Spatial Lockdown, a spell that could trap weaker monsters in an isolated zone.

It was supposed to give first years a safety buffer.

Of course, when she demonstrated it, the resulting explosion was large enough to shake the entire training hall.

"Try not to replicate my intensity," she said afterward, completely unfazed.

"You'd all die."

Fendrick whispered under his breath, "Pretty sure she's serious."

"I think she's proud of it," I whispered back.

"Both of you, quiet," Silvia hissed, though she was struggling not to laugh.

Scarlett turned, her crimson eyes narrowing.

"Something funny, you three?"

We immediately straightened. "No, Instructor!" we chorused.

She smirked faintly.

"Good. Then perhaps you can all demonstrate what's so entertaining about staying alive in the field."

I sighed quietly.

Great, time for punishment training.

By the time the day ended, I was exhausted, not in a sense where my mana ran out.

But simply, the long hours of the punishment.

Fendrick had somehow managed to set his own sleeve on fire twice.

Silvia, of course, aced every practice spell with effortless precision.

"You're unbelievable," Fendrick muttered as we walked back to the dorms.

"You make it look so easy."

Silvia smiled, brushing her hair back.

"Maybe you should try not tripping over your own mana."

"I didn't trip! The spell backfired!"

"That's still your fault."

"Daniel, tell her she's being unreasonable!"

I looked at him, then at her. "She's right."

Fendrick groaned dramatically. "Why do I even bother…"

"Because you love us," Silvia said playfully.

"Yeah, yeah," he mumbled. "Sure."

Later that evening, I sat by the dorm balcony, the night air cool against my skin.

The stars were unusually bright, the moon a pale crescent hanging above the academy spires.

Below, I could see other students practicing, laughter echoing faintly through the courtyards.

A month had passed, and yet, it felt longer.

I closed my eyes and leaned against the railing, exhaling softly.

"Festival Hunt, huh?" I muttered. "Guess we'll see how far I've come."

The next day, the academy announced the team arrangements and the hunt zones.

The first-year division would be split into four major sectors, each filled with different types of environment, and they would be randomly teleported.

[: Sector A: Forest terrain :]

[: Sector B: Desert-type :]

[: Sector C: Underground caverns :]

[: Sector D: Frozen plains :]

Each team or individual would be randomly teleported into their assigned zone, and points would be registered via their wrist seals, devices that automatically track kills and mana fluctuations.

The last week before the event was filled with frantic preparation.

Scarlett drilled us relentlessly, forcing us to apply our spells in rapid succession, refine our mana control, and even run physical drills for endurance.

I could tell she was pushing us harder than the other classes.

Maybe she saw something in us, or maybe she simply enjoyed torturing her students.

With her, it was impossible to tell.

"Daniel," she said one afternoon after class, stopping me before I could leave.

"You've been holding back."

I turned slightly, meeting her eyes. "Have I?"

"Yes, I'm a mage Daniel and I'm not a fool to know that possess Mana that I can't find its end" she said simply.

"The world is full of wonders and I wouldn't be surprised to find an anomaly like you in this academy"

"And with your instant comprehension and understanding, plus, with the words that other instructors said about you, there's no way you are normal, Prince Daniel" She smiled.

"Looking at your face you might be wondering why the students are not aware but that's just because the news been blocked, and for us, instructors, all of us are aware"

"But that's not what I'm here to lecture you about"

"You shouldn't hold yourself back and for whatever reasons you may have, I won't pry into it except that I believe it's waste if you down your potential"

I stayed quiet, unsure what to say.

She was right, of course. I was holding back tremendously.

But if I didn't, there was no telling how much damage I could cause.

Scarlett smiled faintly.

"Just remember, Daniel, power restrained too long tends to rot. Don't let it."

Her words stayed with me long after she left.

The night before the Festival Hunt, the academy was alive with light and energy.

Students gathered in groups, some laughing, some nervous.

It reminded me of the calm before a storm.

In our dorm, Silvia was preparing supplies, potions, magic scrolls, spare mana crystals.

Fendrick was pacing nervously, muttering about being eaten alive.

I sat by the window, quietly watching them.

"You're awfully quiet," Silvia said suddenly, glancing my way.

"Just thinking," I replied.

"About tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

She smiled softly. "We'll be fine. I trust you."

I blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in her tone.

Fendrick immediately noticed and groaned.

"Oh great, here we go again, Saint Silvia's faith in the almighty Daniel."

"Jealous?" Silvia teased.

"Yes," he deadpanned. "Because I have to do the actual running."

I couldn't help but laugh quietly. The sound felt foreign yet comforting.

Silvia smiled at the both of us.

"Then it's settled. Tomorrow, we show them what our team can do."

"Right," I said quietly, the corner of my lips twitching upward.

As the night deepened, the laughter faded, and silence took over.

I found myself staring at the moon again, my reflection faintly visible against the glass.

A festival of blood, monsters, and ambition, maybe this time, I could fight without any goals and could enjoy it.

But come to think of it, it's been a while since I had a mission from the system.

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