Chapter 8
Thick fog.
The stale smell of damp soil.
Moist air rushed into their noses, and the tension pressed heavily on their shoulders.
The Shadow Forest.
A place where even sunlight could barely enter.
Just as its name suggested, it was as dark as night even during the day.
The trainees of Section Five stood at the entrance, unable to hide their fear.
"Everyone, enter the forest!"
Bengle's voice exploded from behind them.
His sharp command forced the hesitant trainees forward.
Even then, no one wanted to move first.
They felt as though once they entered, they might never come out again.
Then...
Step. Step.
A boy standing on the left side of the group walked forward without hesitation.
"Th-Theron!"
Renil called from beside him.
Theron did not answer.
He simply entered the Shadow Forest.
Perka followed.
"Let's go too."
"Yeah."
Tioren followed him.
"W-Wait for me!"
Renil hurried after them.
Only then did the other trainees slowly begin moving into the forest.
Whoooooosh!
A rough wind passed through the darkness.
Once inside, Theron carefully looked around.
Because of the darkness, the trainees would naturally become separated the deeper they went.
Almost no light reached the forest floor.
Visibility was terrible.
They needed a torch first.
"Perka. Stay close enough that we don't lose sight of each other and find a thick branch. We're making a torch."
"A torch?"
Tioren spoke.
"Finding a branch is easy enough, but what about fire? And just setting a branch on fire won't make a proper torch."
"I'll handle the rest. Just find the branch."
"...All right."
"I'll look too."
Tioren moved carefully in the opposite direction from Perka.
Renil looked around nervously.
"W-What should I do...?"
"Stand right here. If you wander around and get bitten by some poisonous insect, you're finished."
"O-Okay..."
Renil swallowed.
His face was already pale.
Theron looked behind him.
They've already split up.
Most trainees were probably moving with roommates or temporary allies from other rooms.
There were fifty trainees in Section Five, but even within that group, several smaller factions existed.
Still...
The larger the group, the worse the conflict will become once they find a Moltir Flower.
It had nothing to do with Theron.
He stripped the outer bark from a nearby tree.
Underneath was a layer that was dry but still held a little moisture.
When peeled thinly, it almost felt like soft leather.
It should be around here.
Theron searched the damp ground around the base of a thick tree.
He was looking for oily mold that grew on wet, muddy surfaces.
It would have been easier with light.
For now, he had to depend on his memories.
Around ten minutes later...
"Found it."
Beside a gray stone stuck in the ground grew black-purple oily mold.
Theron took the inner bark he had peeled and gently pressed it against the mold.
Again and again.
The bark slowly absorbed the oil coating the mold.
"Theron."
"Will this work?"
Perka and Tioren returned carrying thick branches.
Theron nodded.
"That's enough."
He immediately wrapped the oil-soaked bark around one of the branches.
Then he used a flint stone he had found on the way.
Click! Click! Click! Fwoosh!
A small spark caught the oil.
Flames quickly rose.
It was a crude torch, so it would not last very long.
Fortunately, Theron still had extra oil-soaked bark.
"We'll use only one torch. We need to conserve everything we have."
"...Okay."
"Got it."
Renil stared at Theron with admiration.
"Theron... you're seriously amazing. How did you make a torch that fast...?"
Ever since Theron had helped him during the morning run, Renil's attitude had completely changed.
Before that, Renil had often looked down on Theron.
Now he relied on him so much that his gaze was almost worshipful.
Theron ignored the comment and took the lead.
Moltir Flowers were actually easier to find than most trainees expected.
The problem was what happened after someone collected one.
After experiencing it once, very few people wanted to try again.
They realized just how dangerous and terrifying picking a single flower could be.
And that's when...
Most trainee groups would begin turning against each other.
They would fight over flowers someone else had already collected.
Theron illuminated the path with the torch and slowly moved deeper inside.
Fortunately, the light kept most poisonous insects away.
"Be careful. There are quite a few poisonous insects around here that can cause paralysis."
"Poisonous insects? Will we die if we're bitten?"
"They'll only cause mild paralysis. It doesn't last long, so the poison itself usually isn't fatal."
The problem was the predators that appeared while you were lying helpless on the ground.
Theron led the group deeper into the Shadow Forest.
There were Moltir Flowers closer to the entrance as well.
But Theron wanted to avoid unnecessary conflict with the other trainees.
They're easier to find deeper inside anyway.
He did not rush.
He moved carefully.
Time passed.
Because of the darkness, they could not move quickly.
Whenever they heard the roar of an animal, they lowered themselves and waited until it passed.
The journey took longer than expected.
Then...
Squelch.
Squelch.
The ground became wet and soft.
A swamp finally appeared before them.
Moltir Flowers often grew in places like this.
Then...
"..."
Theron glanced behind them.
Renil tilted his head.
