Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece-Chapter 267: HQP-19 [3]

HQP-19 [3]

Kyle watched Lyra and Cassian from the corner of his eye, and a small, knowing smile formed across his lips as he saw Lyra's blush darken when Cassian leaned in to whisper something.

He remembered their story from the novel he'd read.

They were childhood friends, with Cassian always protecting Lyra whenever she faced discrimination for being a half-elf.

Noble elves didn't readily accept mixed bloodlines, afraid their ancient lineage would be sullied. Though not all elves were like that, the old traditionalists still held power.

A bittersweet pang hit him when he recalled how their story ended, how both of them died in each other's arms on a battlefield, bloodied and broken. They never even got the chance to express their feelings about each other.

He sincerely hoped their outcome would be different this time.

'But who am I to give romance advice?' he thought. 'I don't know the first thing about it.'

To be honest, Kyle wasn't against romance in general. Seeing Lyra and Cassian made his heart feel warm.

But for himself?

He wasn't ready.

His mind was filled with the future he'd read about..... A future of war, betrayal, and great darkness.

The novel's plot loomed over him like a shadow. He knew when the great disasters would begin, which allies would fall, and which enemies were hiding in plain sight.

How could he even think about holding someone's hand, sharing soft moments, when he knew what was coming?

It wouldn't be fair. To invite someone into his life now would be to invite them into a storm.

They would want a future, promises, hope.... and all he could see were the battles ahead.

And they would be in danger, just by being close to him.

Plus, Kyle was still adjusting to this world, constantly thinking and planning. His heart felt heavy with secrets he could never share.

Starting a romance would mean building something on a foundation of lies and hidden fears.

No, his path was clear.

He needed to get stronger first...

Maybe after that, he could think about romance.

.....

"They are cute together, aren't they?"

Eleanora's voice softly reached his ears from beside him. He turned to find her crimson gaze locked onto both Cassian and Lyra.

Her gaze was filled with warmth and a question he didn't want to answer.

'I know exactly what you wanted to hint at with that sentence.' Kyle thought silently.

He let out a nervous laugh.

"Yeah, they are cute."

He simply agreed and turned his attention back towards the elf.

"I am Aredhel Orthor," he announced, "an overseer of this perimeter sector. I am here to brief you on your temporary residence and the rules of engagement with the Hushwood."

He gestured his slender hand toward the strange, bulbous shapes in the distance. They looked like giant mushrooms or soft domes that glowed faintly in the dim light.

"Those structures are research outposts. Scholars and mages study the unique flora, fauna, and mana phenomena within the Quarantine Zone. Their work helps us understand and survive this place."

His gaze swept over them one by one.

"Your instructors are currently conducting a safety survey of the first layer. While they ensure the area is secure, you will adhere to the following rules...."

He held up one finger.

"First, you are never to go anywhere alone. You must always have at least one partner with you. This is not a suggestion."

He held out the second finger.

"Second, you are forbidden from going past the marked boundaries into the deeper forest, the second layer. The creatures there are not meant for students of your level."

He continued, listing more guidelines: don't disturb the research, don't pick plants or harass wildlife, always listen to your Senior Guide, and respect the silence of the woods.

"Show the forest respect, and it may allow you to pass through unharmed. Show it foolishness, and it will remind you why this place is quarantined."

After what felt like a long time, he finished. Seeing that everyone was still paying attention, he gave a slow, approving nod.

"Your official exam or group missions will begin tomorrow. Today, your only task is to acclimate. Rest, circulate your mana, and get used to the weight of the air. Think of it as letting your body learn to swim before we throw you into the deep end."

It makes sense that their exam will start tomorrow. The Instructors will probably check all the first layer before they can conduct any exam.

"Before you disperse, you'll each receive one of these."

He motioned towards a fellow official.

The other elf nodded back, took out the plain box from their storage item, and began to pass thin, flexible black bands.

The elf official handed Kyle his band. He observed that the band was made up of matte material and each had a single blue gemstone on top of it.

"This is your tracker and distress beacon." Elf Aredhel Orthor explained as everyone examined their bands.

"The gemstone is mana-reactive. Under normal circumstances, it simply allows us to monitor your general location within the permitted zones for your safety."

He paused, letting his words sink in.

"If you find yourself in genuine, immediate danger—and I mean real danger, not just spooked by a noisy squirrel, you channel a pulse of your mana directly into this gem. It is designed to be sturdy; it won't break by accident.

"Only a deliberate infusion of mana will activate it. Once activated, it will send a powerful, localized distress signal. Your assigned Senior Guide or the nearest Instructor will be alerted to your precise location and will mobilize to extract you.

"This is your lifeline. Do not lose it, and do not activate it frivolously. False alarms waste resources and put others at risk. Now, put them on. Wear them at all times."

Kyle slipped the band onto his left wrist. It adjusted automatically according to his wrist size. The blue gem glinted dully under the strange crimson sunlight.

After that, the Junior Instructor from Kyle's bus stepped forward and spoke,

"We have a bit of unexpected luck. The renowned mana researcher, Arcanor, is currently in residence at the central outpost. He has offered to give an informal lecture this evening on the adaptive properties of Hushwood flora and its interaction with dense mana fields. Attendance is purely optional. It's not a graded event, but it's a rare opportunity to learn from one of the leading minds on frontier magic. The choice is yours."

A buzz of interest spread among the more academically inclined students, such as Serena and Cylas from Class C.

"Alright, follow me. I'll show you to the temporary dormitories."

The group fell into a loose, trudging line behind him, heading toward a different direction from the cluster of Research Outposts.

———————

Kyle stepped through the arched entrance of one of the smaller mushroom-like Domes, which resembled the research outpost but were significantly smaller in size.

These dorms are temporary portable tents made by Draven Technology.

After he entered, he was immediately surprised by the interior, which was far larger than it appeared from the outside.

He was a little worried when he saw the outer structure of the dorm, since the Instructor had told them that 10 students would need to share one dorm. But looks like he don't need to worry.

The interior was vast, with the entire living area featuring a high-arched ceiling and polished wooden floors in earthy tones. The walls curved gently, made up of the same stone as the exterior.

The common area features several low couches and cushions arranged in the center, with doorways leading to other rooms.

"Space magic." Cedric muttered beside him. He could clearly sense the subtle, complex wave of spatial mana that expanded the interior far beyond the limit.

Reo whistled loudly, his voice echoed slightly as he said,

"Whoa! It's so big."

From behind them, Cassian snorted, then burst into laughter.

"Nice choice of words, Reo." He said, elbowing the wind spearman.

Reo blinked, confused for a second, before his face reddened and he shoved Cassian away.

"Shut up, man! You know what I meant!"

Lyra rolled her eyes beside Sylvie. "Boys."

"There's more than enough space for all of us to sleep comfortably."

Eleanora observed, walking further in and peering through one of the doorways.

"It looks like there are separate bedrooms."

Lyra followed and opened the doors. "Four bedroom." She confirmed.

"We can split them up. Pairs for the girls, pairs for the guys. It's perfect."

Everyone murmured in agreement. The group consisted of Luna, Sylvie, Lyra, Eleanora, Serena, Reo, Cassian, Cedric, Kyle, and a quieter boy from their class named Tomas, totaling ten members.

"These dorms are actually built to hold up to fifteen in a pinch." Cedric added, examining the sturdy construction of Darven technology.

Just then....

The main door swung open again, and two more figures stepped inside.

Zahra strode in with a bright, unapologetic smile, towing a reluctant Elizabeth behind her by the wrist.

"Hope you have some room for us," Zahra announced, dragging Elizabeth with her.

Luna's black eyes lit up immediately with mischief. She clasped her hands together, and her voice dripping with faux innocence, she said,

"Oh, Senior Elizabeth! What's this? You can't possibly live under the same roof as your fiancé before the wedding! How scandalous!"

Elizabeth's onyx eyes twitched. She stopped resisting Zahra's pull just long enough to shoot a blistering glare at her friend that clearly said,

"I told you not to do that."

Kyle's own eye twitched in sync with hers.

'This little.... Germlin.' He thought, shooting a tired look at Luna, who just grinned back.

Zahra completely ignored Elizabeth's death stare and let out a hearty, booming laugh.

"I like you!" She suddenly declared, pointing at Luna. "I think we're going to get along fantastically."

She turned her smile to the rest of the room.

"And it was me who dragged Lizzie here. Hope you've got some space for two more. Oh, silly me, I didn't even introduce myself properly! You probably already know Lizzie— Elizabeth. I'm Zahra Sterling, Rank 3 in Second Year."

She gave a little theatrical bow.

"We do mind." Serena said bluntly from where she was already inspecting one of the bedrooms, not even looking up.

"....."

"....."

An awkward silence hung in the air for a second before Kyle let out a nervous laugh.

'Way to make things awkward right out of the gate.'

"She's, uhh... joking, Senior. You can ignore her."

He shot a glance at Serena's back, which she ignored.

"Yes, of course, there's plenty of room. You're both welcome." Cedric also added smoothly, as a diplomat.

Zahra beamed.

"Thank you, Cedric! You're a gentleman."

Elizabeth also gave a nod and thanked everyone.

"Hey, my mana band's not working."

Reo said, tapping on the dark screen of his mana band.

"They won't work here. Neither will any standard communication devices. The mana density is too high and too chaotic. It interferes with the delicate mana circuits and transmission signals." Elizabeth explained.

"Oh, man." Tomas, the quiet boy, groaned. "How am I supposed to spend time without a phone?"

A few others nodded in sullen agreement.

'So, we can't contact the outside. At least not by normal means.'

Elizabeth gestured toward a simple, analog clock mounted on the wall with visible gears behind a glass face. Its hands ticked with a steady, mechanical sound.

"If you need to tell time, you have to rely on purely mechanical devices here."

It's currently 3:18 pm.

Kyle's mind snapped back to the junior instructor's announcement.

"The researcher Arcanor's lecture is at 3:30. Is anyone planning to go?"

Reo immediately flopped backward onto a couch, making it groan.

"I'm good, gonna rest up. Gotta be in top form for whatever hell they have planned for us tomorrow."

"Same." Cassian said, dropping beside Reo. "My brain's full from just breathing this air."

Lyra shrugged. "I'll pass too."

Sylvie also shook her head shyly, and Tomas just waved a dismissive hand.

At the end, only a small group was interested:

Serena, Eleanora, Luna, Cedric, Kyle, and Elizabeth.

Luna bounced over to Zahra.

"You sure you're not interested, Senior Zahra? It sounds pretty cool!"

Zahra waved a hand, already making herself at home on the couch.

"Nah, I'm good. Research and lectures aren't really my thing. I'm more of a hands-on, hit-stuff kind of girl. You kids have fun!"

Luna nodded and gave a bright smile, pumping her fist in the air.

"Alright, Let's go!"

Kyle shook his head, a reluctant smile on his face as he watched her antics.

———————

[Author's Note: Please reread the last chapter. I added some more 200 words in Anastasia's POV.]