"I've tried many variations, but it didn't work!"

"Lady Feuerlon, you out of this group. Get away from us."

Faustina closed her eyes. How in the world did it all come to this?

[An hour ago]

An abandoned, ghost town appeared before Faustina as the gigantic doors opened. When the students were all inside, the door they had entered simply disappear.

The whole place looked nothing like a simulation area. In fact, it looked real. TOO R E A L. A full, red moon shone brightly atop the dark sky void of stars. The whole spectacle was tinged with a sinister, blood-red hue. Bones were scattered across the concrete that had cracks and fallen slabs.

Team C comprised of 'elite' ten students that were a.s.signed to decipher which door would be the exit. The team included both Anakin and Claire.

They wasted no time, even if fear prevailed. The three teams went to their a.s.signed paths—but the monsters weren't letting them pa.s.s easily.

The first hurdle was seven or eight cyclops coming from both east and west.

"Lure them!" Anakin commanded.

Team A lit up their staves—Lumos. A simple spell of light. Cyclops are one-eyed creatures that are attracted to mana. And 'light' is something that replicates the appearance of mana. Cyclops has only one eye, which makes the tricking easier. With only one eye, the cyclops wouldn't be able to decipher what's the difference between the magic Lumos and actual mana from the bodies of the students.

This is why both teams B and C had to scatter. A concentrated populace would evoke light, which would attract the cyclops' eyes. The first strategy would be to run stealthily in smaller groups comprising of three.

Faustina was able to run with Claire and Anakin, who went East. The three of them run into the alleys; their hologram maps were opened and they were able to see the paths they would be heading.

The goal is to reach the four doors located North.

And the best choice that would increase their chances would be . . .

"Going up!"

It was a risky move, considering there might be cyclops waiting around even on top of the buildings, or some monsters that would ambush.

Thankfully, the maps were zoomable; they were able to see that there were wooden ladders etched into the walls and vines to climb through.

The three of them were able to successfully climb the small building without any hindrance from the monsters.

Higher ground would mean more view of the entire vicinity. Faustina sees that the other Team Cs were also able to climb on top of the buildings, with a considerable distance separating them.

"Good. Everything is going according to plan," Anakin Disfiegro said. "Are you guys ready? We're commencing Phase 2."

Phase 2: a.s.suming team C (the largest amount of students) was able to start to lure the cyclops with Lumos to the dead, team B should be trailing behind stealthily. Whereas team C would need to go as fast as they could to the doors and open the exit.

"We can go faster since we're on higher ground," says Claire. "But the plan would only be feasible if we would be able to leap high."

"And that means Team C would be able to use wind magic."

It was thought ahead of time. The ten elites were chosen also with their magical capability. Faustina never used wind magic to lift herself, but Orwell was an excellent wind magic-user. He had taught her several tricks on making objects float.

Faustina can make objects float—books and nothing heavier than a chair. Although she hasn't tried it in a long period of time.

"We would need only five minutes of using the magic to preserve mana." Says Claire.

"But how can we preserve mana if we're using wind to lift ourselves? We haven't studied magic preservation yet."

"Yeah. I have a hard time controlling my coordination and enchantment limits. How can we utilize wind if it'll drain our mana faster?"

Claire nodded, "that's why we're not using the wind to lift our whole body."

"What?"

"We are going to use the wind to help us overcome the gap in the building."

Faustina blinked.

"Then we're going to let the wind subst.i.tute for the missing ground?"

Claire nodded.

"Think of it as a bridge. The wind will be the one that fills in that gap that we couldn't cross. It should preserve more mana, considering we will not combat gravity. Going against the laws of nature will always put on the strain on our mana, making it drain rapidly."

"So if we only maximize our magic and use it sparingly, we will be able to pa.s.s through?"

"Yes. Although we could only use the wind halfway, considering the strain will most likely come after a while. And halfway across the ghost town, we might be able to run because the team would most likely have lured the cyclops by that time."

Faustina inhaled deeply.

"Let's go!"

Faustina held her staff, unleas.h.i.+ng a wind pressure to the gap. She leaped forward to the wind, which lifted her upwards to the other building.

Anakin and Claire landed to their feet along with Faustina.

"Good job!"

They began to run and repeat the same thing over and over again—running and jumping.

Approximately fifteen minutes they were able to cross the ghost town halfway.

"Everything's going smoothly," Anakin exclaimed.

They were now a distance away from the four doors, which had stood to the highest peak straight to the north.

Faustina panted as she held her staff firmly.

"We're going down!" Claire said, and then leaped to the ground below.

Everything was going too smoothly that Faustina felt like the level was being too easy. The plan was too flawless—and they haven't even encountered any monster. Was Team A and B that successful?

Faustina felt a lurching feeling on her gut. Things were being peculiarly easy. Nonetheless, Faustina jumped down to the ground and met with her team.

And as she landed on the concrete, a loud thud prevailed.

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.

Vociferous, heavy stomps filled the vast as the ground vibrated. Faustina clenched the wood of her medium.

Of course, things won't go too easily.

Three gigantic cyclops wearing a fur and a tribal skirt appeared before them; they held unnervingly hefty morning stars and clubs as they peered down to the examinees like they are ants.

The cyclops unleashed what seemed like an outcry—and Faustina knew it won't do them good later.

"Everyone . . ." Claire exclaimed. "We're on the offensive!"

Faustina blinked. Offensive?! With only ten of them?!

Claire thumped her staff to the ground three times.

"Ventus excuare vade!" Claire pointed her staff as a magic hex formed.

"Wind slas.h.!.+"