The Golden Throne

"Well that's a bummer. Don't worry, I will take care of your sister. She won't die, it's my assurance.", Liu Feng reassured him.

"And yet for some reason I don't feel the slightest bit better", Alderan retorted.

"Oh please. You should know that she is the safest in my hands. That shadow guard of yours isn't allowed in, and he probably won't be of any help anyway. You should start putting your money in the right place.", Liu Feng said.

"Just shut up. Oh! and by the way. What the hell is this about you and Amelia? I hear rumors that you are together? What the hell is everyone talking about?", Alderan asked, with his body seemingly turn larger.

"Looks like that brother protection instinct is still there. Now, would you trust some stupid rumors, or would you trust your room mate?", Liu Feng said, winking his eyes at the word choice. 

"With the way that you have behaved with me so far, why would you even think that I would not trust the rumors over you?", Alderan said.

Liu Feng jumped on to his bed. "How could you say that? I am heart broken. I'll go to sleep."

The next morning,

All the freshmen of all the classes went to the training grounds. They were separated into groups based on their classes, so Liu Feng was in the same group as Amelia and Arad. Their group was led by Cordelia, Marcus, and two professors that Liu Feng had never seen before. Cordelia started telling the group the instructions. Her tone was strict, and Liu Feng could see that everyone there was aware of how serious the expedition was, because for the first time, Liu Feng saw all of them listen to each and every order, and had a very serious look on their eyes.

"Damn! It looks like I'm the only one who doesn't know about the seriousness of the magical forest. Why does no one tell me anything?", he wondered to himself.

"This expedition is not a joke. The monsters there are unfathomable, and some of them could wake up to the smell of humans. Every year, people die without question, and this year will not be any different. You have to make sure that you will run away if you face a monster that is not recorded on the monster catalogue. If it is not in the catalogue, no person has lived to tell the tale.", Cordelia said.

All the students nodded.

"Alright. Now you will all follow me and will report if you see something suspicious. This expedition will be a week long, so I hope you like sleeping on the floor. You will also be responsible for all the work to be done, and if anyone refuses to do so will have a problem with me."

All the students shouted their approval, and the group began their journey into the forest. The entrance to the forest was at the east end of the academy. It felt as if the entire east wing was created so as to protect the rest of the academy from the entrance. Maybe they were preparing to protect the academy incase a beast horde had come from the entrance. The group started walking into the muddy road further into the forest, and the sight of the academy slowly disappeared. 

The students were all brought up in a sheltered environment, and even stimulated fights could in no way compare to a real one. Everyone was afraid, yet excited to face a magical beast on their own. They went into the thicket, and could smell the humidity in the air, as well as blood.

The magical forest had its own hierarchy; it was based on survival of the fittest.

Arad quickly came near Liu Feng, "Cousin, I am afraid that I have to leave early. My presence will be a problem to you, as it will draw out stronger monsters from the depths, and even I will be unable to fight them, much less protect you. What should I do?"

"Tell the teacher in charge that you are ill. If they want to check your temperature, fake it by heating yourself. They won't expect it because no human can withstand fire inside their bodies.", Liu Feng thought about it and quickly found a solution.

Arad nodded and did the same. Cordelia took his temperature and was surprised.

"Well, I thought that you were chickening out, but I heard great things from your self-defence teachers. You really seem ill. I don't want to throw away a life that can be saved. Marcus, take him back and meet us at the camp point.", she said.

But, it seemed that all the students did not buy it. They looked at Arad with hate, mostly the boys. It seemed that in the small time that Arad was in the campus, he made his fair share of enemies. Some of them even starting booing at Arad.

"You chicken. You did something, and now you are leaving, you coward. I know you. Maybe even Liu Feng-", the boy stopped after seeing Liu Feng's murderous face.

Both Marcus and Arad went back to the campus, and the students continued forward. They reached a clearance where Cordelia said that they were going to be staying the night.

"Now listen. I have already arranged a schedule for the night's watch. But because Arad has left early, someone has to fill in. Liu Feng, he is your cousin, and therefore your responsibility. Take all his shifts."

Liu Feng nodded without protesting. It was his fault that Arad left after all. All the students then got to work in building the tents. Liu Feng could complete it in no time, and since everyone had their own tents, he went over to Amelia's to help.

But, Liu Feng was not the only person to have the idea. At Least half of the boys in the class went over to Amelia and the other girls to help, and some of them didn't even start theirs! Liu Feng shook his head and went back to his tent.