ShadowBound: The Need For Power-Chapter 602: Day Two: Group Trial

As the second day of the trial arrived, the students were once again teleported deep into the forest where the evaluation was set to continue. Unlike the previous day, the sky above was still cloaked in darkness, with dawn only just beginning to fracture the horizon. Pale streaks of early light slipped between the towering trees, casting long, uneven shadows across the forest floor and giving the entire area an eerie stillness that hadn't been present before.

Within one of the many clearings scattered throughout the vast forest, Liam found himself standing alongside four other figures. Almost across the clearing, standing several paces away from him, were two familiar faces—faces he had hoped, if nothing else, not to see today.

Lily Cherrinton, a Solarian girl, stood with her arms loosely folded, her chestnut hair catching the faint light of dawn as it fell neatly past her shoulders. Her blue eyes scanned the clearing with mild disinterest. Beside her was her inseparable companion, Linda Frostcost, a Crescentian girl with dark hair and equally blue eyes, whose posture mirrored Lily's almost perfectly. The two looked composed, untouched by the tension that clung to the air.

The moment Liam's gaze settled on them, he already knew what kind of students they were. Pampered, sheltered, and completely unprepared for anything that didn't go their way. They embodied everything he despised in group-based trials. Unfortunately for him, these two girls were among those he had been forced to work with during training, and now, against his better judgment, fate had placed them in his path once more.

As if that wasn't enough, a third figure stood nearby—a boy whose presence alone irritated Liam before he'd even spoken a word. Yuriel Blasken, a Tempestian noble with orange hair and sharp green eyes, stood with his chin slightly raised, as though the forest itself should acknowledge his status. His demeanor radiated pride and arrogance, reminiscent of Chris Rature, though lacking the actual strength or skill to justify it.

Yuriel, too, was someone Liam had been forced to endure during previous group drills. And now, standing in the same clearing, Liam found himself grouped with three individuals he wanted absolutely nothing to do with.

Positioned beneath the shade of a nearby tree, Liam allowed his gaze to drift between the girls and Yuriel, his expression remaining unreadable. Before his thoughts could spiral any further, a familiar voice interrupted him.

"You really don't want them here, do you?"

The voice was unmistakable.

Liam turned his head slightly, just enough to side-eye the girl standing beside him. She had short dark blue hair that framed her face neatly, dark eyes sharp and observant. Her build was slender yet athletic, her muscles subtly defined beneath her training attire. Edith Roswell stood with a calm, grounded presence—the same Edith who had led the group Liam was part of during the Vlardia exams.

At the moment, she was easily the most reliable person he could count on.

"Yeah," Liam replied flatly, not bothering to hide his disdain as his gaze shifted back toward the others. "Something like that."

Edith let out a small breath, almost amused, before speaking again in her usual firm, reassuring tone. "Well, at least you've got me. And we know each other to some degree, so we should be fine."

She then turned her attention fully toward the rest of the group, her expression sharpening slightly. "That said, this is still a group trial. I'll need to figure out a way to get them on board before things start."

Liam glanced at her once more, a thought passing quietly through his mind. 'Honestly, I'm glad she's the one I ended up with. After what happened in Vlardia, I'll barely need to do anything. She'll lead this perfectly.'

"You know," Edith said, pulling him out of his thoughts, "it's actually surprising that we ended up in the same group when we never once got paired together during training."

"Is it really?" Liam replied evenly. "At first glance, maybe. But the academy always knows exactly what it's doing."

Edith paused, studying him for a brief moment before scoffing lightly. "Forget I said anything," she replied with a faint smirk.

Liam merely hummed in response, offering nothing more, though he didn't miss the way Edith stole a brief glance in his direction.

'I'm actually glad he's the one I ended up with,' she thought silently. 'With this, I might finally get to see his dark magic up close.'

Ever since rumors had begun circulating throughout the Zones of the Tempest Kingdom—rumors that had eventually been confirmed by Mystica herself—Edith had found herself increasingly curious about Liam. Dark magic was a rarity, shrouded in fear and speculation, and she couldn't help but wonder how it truly functioned. More than that, she wondered just how dangerous Liam might become if he were allowed to wield it freely, especially considering how formidable he already was with only fire magic.

And now, as if the world itself had answered that curiosity, she found herself placed in the same group as him once again.

After all five students stood in the clearing for a while, the familiar, commanding voice of Sir Kaelen suddenly boomed through the air, cutting cleanly through the quiet tension that had settled between them. His presence was felt even without his physical form, the weight of his authority carrying effortlessly across the forest.

"Greetings to you all once again," he said evenly, his tone firm yet measured. "I trust that by now, you've had sufficient time to acquaint yourselves with your teammates."

None of the students spoke. They remained still, eyes forward, listening intently.

"Now," Kaelen continued, "listen carefully to the details of today's trial. This trial is largely similar to yesterday's, with a few notable adjustments. You will still be required to reach a designated center point, however, this time you will do so as a team—and over a significantly longer distance."

The clearing remained silent as his words sank in.

"That aside," Kaelen went on, "first-year students will head south, while second-year students will proceed north in order to reach the designated center point." There was a brief pause before he added, "Additionally, myst output restrictions have been adjusted. You are permitted to use up to fifty percent of your myst affinity. No more, no less. Anyone who exceeds this limit will be met with immediate failure."

A short stretch of silence followed, the weight of that warning lingering heavily.

Then Kaelen's voice echoed once more, final and decisive.

"May the trial begin."

With that, his presence vanished entirely, leaving only the sounds of the forest behind.

"Guess it's time to make one of those talks again," Edith muttered quietly, more to herself than anyone else.

"Yeah," Liam replied calmly without hesitation. "The floor is yours, captain."

The title forced Edith to shake her head slightly, though a faint breath of amusement escaped her. Without wasting time, she stepped forward into the center of the clearing, her stride composed and confident, every movement deliberate.

Once there, she rested a hand on the hilt of the sheathed sword at her waist and turned to face the others.

"Alright," she said calmly but firmly, her voice carrying just enough authority to demand attention. "May I have everyone's attention, please."

The two girls, who had been quietly engaged in their own whispered conversation, finally turned toward her. Their expressions were skeptical, their eyes roaming over Edith from head to toe as if silently judging her worth. Meanwhile, Yuriel barely bothered to turn fully in her direction, offering only the slightest acknowledgment, his arrogance plain and unhidden.

Edith paid none of it any mind. She ignored the girls' scrutinizing stares and Yuriel's dismissive posture entirely as she continued speaking.

"As you're all aware," she said evenly, "this is a group-based trial. That means success isn't determined by individual performance alone. We will need to function as a unit if we want to clear this trial properly."

She paused briefly, allowing her words to settle before continuing.

"Because of that," Edith added, "I'm proposing that we take a moment to establish some order. We should get to know each other's abilities and elect a leader—someone who can help us coordinate, make decisions quickly, and ensure we move forward efficiently."