The vacations were over, and little by little the impressive number of students massed in the institute's corridors had resumed their course. Most had returned from a short break of barely a week, and everyone was well aware that what laid ahead was even more important.
The training camp at Pinevale was now within reach, and their departure was scheduled for the following day. As had been planned, they would all be leaving in staggered shifts, with a mix of first-years, second-years and third-years.
Even if Devion wasn't necessarily thrilled to find himself with all the more or less good acquaintances he'd made so far, he'd found Sol again, and despite his ever so nonchalant and disinterested attitude, Devion was very happy to be reunited with his friend.
Sol had seemed much happier when he found Devion trying to jump out at him. The spectacle had been quite comical: Devion had narrowly avoided his friend's forced hug and Sol ended up lying on the ground with his face in Umbra's fur, Devion watched in amazement as Umbra chewed Sol's hair.
All was well at Orpheion. Everyone agreed that the eve of the big training session would be a happy day, with everything going smoothly. The students knew that their current days represented the beginning of an unknown threat that would appear at the least opportune moment.
The students knew that they might not all return from Pinevale.
Devion had found Sol. Carla had found Maya. The Scholar Assembly was complete again. The teachers were all trained and ready to do whatever it took to bring their students to the top and help them become even stronger.
Jaz had circled Orpheion three times to make sure that no student was missing and that the first batch of classes was ready to leave the next day. For this first departure, 1C, 2B and 3A classes would leave together.
For the selected students of this departure, those who would not participate in this first batch but in the following ones, among those Devion knew at the academy, were as follows: Elena Artheimer, Nell Corvenne, Lyra Locke and Lucan Clavum. Although he was glad to be spared that crazy Nell, there was another name on the roll call that made him annoyed.
Caspian was indeed one of the participants in the first expedition.
This last day before the big departure had mainly served to make the big preparations: for the students to pack their bags, to be trained in the possible dangers they might face.
Thepra was a land full of surprises and dangers, and even the best magicians in the kingdoms had to be prepared. The day had quietly gone by, and the first-start students were only waiting for one thing: the end-of-day meeting to give them the final information and, above all, the composition of the teams.
Cristael, like Jaz, was quite stressed and had checked at least twenty times the informations written down for the accompanying teachers, the number of students, the teams and also the list of creatures that could appear in Pinevale.
The list of dangers was long, but the itinerary had been calculated with absolute precision, and such training was priceless, and would undoubtedly greatly increase everyone's skills, or at least bring them face to face with real-life situations of danger. The danger was there, but Cristael had made sure it was manageable. That was all that mattered, and everything was in place to ensure that this training camp went off without a hitch.
"Cristael." Jaz stood in the doorway. "We have to go, the students are waiting for us."
"Let's go." Cristael replied, reorganizing her thoughts, which had begun to wander.
The two magicians then strode purposefully towards Orpheion's largest hall, where a large number of the academy's students were waiting for them.
This day would be the first in a long line; it was time for things to change.
"Dear students, I'm delighted to meet you again today on this eve of departure for the training camp to be held this year at Pinevale in the Kaelian northeast."
Every student was hanging on the headmistress's lips, eagerly awaiting the main information they had all been waiting for: the length of the stay, the accompanying teachers and the teams of magicians.
"First and foremost, I'd like to remind you that no misconduct will be tolerated and that the slightest problem will result in your immediate return to the institute and may even lead to permanent dismissal."
Cristael's voice was the only audible sound, the students held their breath fully aware that the woman's words were not idle talk.
"Well, it's time to reveal the information you're most looking forward to. First, I'm going to ask Professors Kel Shapper and Merily Mendoz to join me."
At last, the companions for this expedition had been revealed. Devion was a little disappointed that Professor Angus Steele wasn't part of this roll call, but with these two professors, the first batch of students on the start line was far from being at a disadvantage. Professors Shapper and Mendoz were very talented magicians.
Agitated, Kel took to the stage, walking swiftly, bowing his head slightly to greet each student with a big smile as he rubbed his disheveled and completely untidy mass of hair. Who could believe that this curious man, a tad hyperactive and very messy, could be such a powerful wind user.
"Hello! Oh hello miss! How are you?" Kel Shapper continued his walk to reach the stage where Cristael and Jaz were standing while politely greeting the students he passed.
"What disorganization, it's not very reassuring." Violet sighed, throwing herself backwards with her arms crossed.
"Shh, Violet! Someone might hear us!" Charly replied, hiding his eyes with his hands, pushing back the many curls that fell into his eyes.
A splendid young woman followed. Her dark blue hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, and her midnight eyes swept the assembly. A trail of frost followed her. She was more discreet and colder than Kel, but Merily's effect was no less striking.
"She's so beautiful!" Maya said to Carla.
"It's not the first time we've seen her, you know?" Carla replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, but she always looks the same." The girl turned her head to signal her neighbor to follow her gaze.
Carla indeed saw all the students transfixed by the young teacher's beauty. It had to be said that it was easier to tell that Merily Mendoz was at the Transcendent stage than Kel Shapper was.
Soon enough, the two teachers had joined Cristael and Jaz on stage. The headmistress was able to resume her speech once the commotion had died down. The students eagerly awaited the rest of the announcements.
"Professor Shapper, Professor Mendoz, thank you. I'll resume now. As you know, the camp leaves tomorrow and it has been decided that it will last two weeks. The groups of students who haven't left yet will leave when you return."
A few grumbles of disapproval, due to the short duration of the stay, were heard, which annoyed Jaz, who stepped forward to speak before Cristael cut him off.
"As you know, this is the toughest training camp we've ever organized in Orpheion, and it will be the best training you've ever had. Obviously, if you don't like it, you don't have to go or even stay at the academy."
The commotion gave way to silence again.
"I'm now going to announce the different teams we've formed. You will be divided into teams of six with three first-year students, two second-year students and one third-year student. I am going to start calling each one of you. Herras Blanchard."
Devion, half asleep, looked up abruptly. Cristael, however, continued with the list that made up his rival's team and Devion was not called. He breathed a sigh of relief, which made Sol laugh beside him.
"Sol Wolfrad. Carla Artheimer. Galahad Morwynn."
Sol and Devion looked at each other as the next team was called, of which Sol was now a member, accompanied by Carla and Galahad. Cristael continued her list naming the two second years and the third year who would be accompanying them, names completely unknown to the two teenagers.
"At least you've got a great team." Devion exclaimed, placing both arms around his head.
"Yes, for sure! We'll meet up in the evening anyway. At least I'm not with that other idiot Blanchard and neither are you." Sol replied, glancing quickly at the redhead sitting further away. Herras noticed them instantly and glanced back shamefacedly before Devion nonchalantly stuck his tongue out at him, which irritated him even more and caused Sol a real fit of giggles.
All the students in the assembly had practically been called up and Devion was losing a little patience. Was Cristael calling him last on purpose? So that he wouldn't stand out as much, since the excitement would increase as the students got to know their teams for the next two weeks.
No, surely not.
Cristael was calling Devion in last because she'd probably been thinking long and hard about who she could team up her adopted son with and, above all, who would be best placed to deal with any problems that might arise as a result of the totally random activation of his void powers and strange voices.
The team to which Devion would belong would undoubtedly be a very special one, and the dark-haired man couldn't help but gloat at the idea of the powerful magicians with whom he would soon be teaming up.
He turned his head and met Carla's gaze, who was staring at him without really realizing it. He smiled and winked at her, causing the princess to blush. She quickly looked away and stood up straight, embarrassed.
"Are you all right?" Maya asked.
"Yes, yes I'm-"
"I'll call the last team."
Silence returned to the room even though the students were clearly less silent than they had been at the very beginning of the announcements.
"Devion Boëlthorn."
Sol gave his friend a slight nod of encouragement.
"Maya Locke."
A smile spread across Devion's face. Maybe he had a bit of luck after all. Maya stared at the dark-haired man and nodded respectfully in greeting.
"Vladymir Sorris."
Maybe not so lucky after all... Devion spotted Vlad in the distance, his two strange pet ghosts standing respectfully on his right and left shoulder. The boy chuckled and Devion felt a shiver of discomfort run down his spine.
Well of course Cristael was going to put a Scholar Assembly member on his team, that was to be expected.
"Thyra Coenburg."
A group of students cheered from the back of the room. In their midst was a pretty young girl with sleek white hair and gray eyes. She looked rather tall and elegant. A certain sweetness was present on her face and, wearing a big smile, she beckoned her group to calm down. They all responded with squeals of delight.
"Does she have a fan club or what?" Devion asked aloud, without really realizing it.
"Yes haha." Sol laughed.
"Do you know her?"
"Who doesn't? She's a star at the academy! Let's just say she's very popular but don't let appearances fool you, she's very talented."
Devion didn't lift a finger and waited for Cristael to continue her speech.
"Ezekiel Sylvharan."
New cries or rather howls of admiration, this time exclusively feminine, came again from another part of the room. A young man with blond hair stood cross-legged, one elbow resting on the arm of the chair and both hands intertwined. He exuded a surprising presence.
Clearly very popular with the ladies, he gave off an extremely strong magical aura, and it was certain that this young man with blond hair and red eyes was much more than just the ladies' hero.
"And finally, Caspian Robertson."