Kapitel 19: 19 Camp
"Guys, we need to look for a clear ground to set up camp for the night." A group consisting of five boys and three girls were walking aimlessly into the woods. This was Ben's group.
"I don't think what the hunters did was right, it was completely unfair." One of the girls said with a sad face. She is a friend if Mia, Vanessa.
"So what? What else can you do about it? If you knew you can't take it then why did you become an elemental swordsman, huh?" One of Flash's henchmen, Parker said.
"It's swordswoman you dumb head" Vanessa retorted back.
"No one says that." Parker fires back.
These two are clearly nemesis as they have been arguing their entire way. There are times where Mia would have to remind Vanessa to keep her calm, while on the other hand Parker would always feel like he has won the argument. When dusk arrived they got lucky to have found a spacious place 10 meters in radius.
"Ben, Vanessa and Jeremy, you guys go get some woods to make the fire." Flash told them.
"Yeah sure." Ben didn't have any problem with the decision so he accepted right away. The same couldn't be said for both Jeremy and Vanessa. They still left nevertheless.
"Is it me or is Flash purposely picking on us." Jeremy grunted packing his woodpile ready to return to the camp.
"Why do you say so? What's wrong with fetching firewood? It can get quite dirty but you could see different sizes of stick. There are big sticks, long sticks, and really, really short but fat... "
"Okaayyy, we get the point Vanessa!" Jeremy's whole face became beet red from god knows what.
"What? Did I say something wrong?" asked Vanessa in confusion.
"Oh no, you did nothing wrong, in fact you said everything right." Ben saw Jeremy's reaction and burst into laughter. 'looks like his mind went really far this time' Ben thought to himself.
In the camp Flash was the first to set up his tent with the help of his lackeys. Their tent was big enough for three people to stay inside. Mia also had a tent for three which three girls in the group will stay in. Ben brought the last batch of firewood along with Vanessa since Jeremy refused to tag along for the second round. They were both chatting and smiling together as they came towards the camp. Everyone was in shock seeing the two smiling happily, Mia stared at them for only a few seconds before reverting back to her usual calm face. Jeremy, himself was in a lot more shock than anyone else, his mouth was a wide O at this moment. Ben dropped the wood and came closer to where Jeremy was setting up the tent for both of them.
Ben couldn't help but notice the way Jeremy kept staring at him. "Is something wrong with my face? I'm not growing flowers on my face, am I?" Ben asked.
"No, but I do think you're growing a lot of guts," Jeremy replied "come on, let's get this tent set. It's only for the two of us." No longer minding Ben he urged Ben to give him a hand.
The tents were set and the bonfire lit, everyone had taken their ration of food they brought. Some had bread, cake, meat and so on. The team has been walking nonstop since the time they left the 'school' till the bottom of the mountain without having anything to eat along the way. Ben saw the way they ate, he calculated there wouldn't be enough for them to eat by the sixth day the resources from the mansion comes. That's if the resources do come. But what could Ben do? Until then. Ben picked up his beef jerky and began munching on it.
The atmosphere was quite lively with everyone eating their ration. They tried getting along with each other, well except Vanessa and Parker. Jeremy would sometimes join the talks between the other groups but they wouldn't give him an answer, by the looks of things he didn't mind. Ben however, was quietly listening to their chattering.
***
"You almost scared the shit out of me. What were you thinking captain Marko?" An angry voice came from inside a big rock, if you were to look closely you will find out this rock was actually a camouflage.
"Instructor Han, if I hadn't done what I did, do you think your students will take this training seriously? You had even gone ahead to tell them that they will be protected, that really pissed me off." Captain Marko replied angrily to instructor Han.
Inside the rock tent six people sat round a large table to discuss.
"Haha! brilliant plan captain Marko, brilliant plan." instructor Han no longer became angry and was full of joy. Less than a minute later he returned back to being gloomy as he asked. "Most of the students won't be able to handle the fierce beasts when they see one, what are we going to do then if something was to happen?" Instructor Han asked hurriedly.
"No need to worry Han, my men are everywhere in this woods, as long as no one goes too deep or into higher ranked fierce beasts area they'll be fine." Marko said confidently.
Swoosh
A dark figure suddenly materials where the camouflaged rock tent without making a single noise. Only when he spoke did they notice someone was with them unknowingly.
"Captain, almost all of the students have fallen asleep. Should we release the Shadow squad?" The man was completely in black, not even his eyes could be seen under the hood of his cloak.
"Give them one more hour, then you can release them." Marko said without turning around.
The three instructors were all startled and almost attacked the man in black but hearing Marko replying, even an idiot would realize he worked for Marko.
"Ah, I never did like those of the Thief profession. I am never able to tell when they appear." Han complained.
"It's a great skill though." Another instructor chimed in.
"I still won't like them... where...? See what I'm talking about? He's left. Whatever, Marko, what's this about A Shadow squad your Thief spoke about." Asked Han.
"They are part of our hunters squad. They are mainly helpful to infiltrate places normal Hunters can't enter in the fierce beasts and demon creatures territory without being noticed, and if they were noticed, like another Thief, it is impossible to catch them." Marko explained carefully to the instructors.
"They are meant to steal the foods of the students, not all of course. This will make it a bit challenging," A female Hunter in the tent with them said but seeing the other instructors faces she continued, "besides they should have known how to hunt, no?" she asked.
The instructors faces were all green. 'How on earth are they suppose to survive without food?' This was the thought in all three instructors head. The students would only receive their first refill in the next five days, and with the little they have being taken away in the first day. A lot of the students might even give up or probably faint from hunger. Unless they hunt for food that is. The question is, how many knows how to hunt.
***
In the camp ground, the group put out the fire and were all heading for their tents to sleep. Ben was shocked by what they were about to do and immediately asked.
"Aren't we going to appoint someone to be a watchman or a lookout that will take turns before sunrise?" Ben asked them.
"Seriously Ben? we're at the outer circle of the mountain and there are zero to no creatures whatsoever around. What are you scared of? Don't tell me you want someone to watch you while you sleep? hahaha... " Parker said mockingly.
Flash's group burst out laughing hearing Parker's comment, even Jeremy was laughing. What Ben had suggested must have sounded like the most stupid thing they have ever heard. Ben frowned, this was protocol. As a member of the boys scout this was something that shouldn't be toyed with.
"I don't think it's a bad idea though." Jeremy stopped laughing when he saw the deathly glare from Ben.
"He's right, somebody needs to stay awake to be the lookout." Mia's weird made the three stogies to stop laughing.
"Alright, then who's going to be the first lookout, " after calming down himself down Flash asked the group, no one responded to be the lookout, "Okay then Ben, since this was your idea why don't you be the first lookout and after one hour come wake someone then he or she will take after you, huh?" Flash asked sarcastically to Ben.
"Oh forget it, I'll go first." Jeremy spoke indicating he'll be the lookout.
They all agreed to the setting them went back to their tents. Thirty minutes later light breathing could be heard showing that people have fallen asleep. Among the three tents only one didn't have anyone sleeping. Currently Ben was the least bit sleepy. He realized with the help of his Universal plane and his abundant elemental energy allows him to hardly get tired. The same works for elemental swordsmen but you'd have to become a fourth level elemental swordsman to accomplish such feat.
Ben wasn't going to meditate like always for fear of having his elemental energy leaking out. The slightest gathering of the flame element could burn down his tent. He had accidentally once burnt his king size bed because if it. He also believed the others would notice the change. Since he can't meditate he dived into his Universal plane to understand more.
The Universal plane was abundant but empty and dark it was without life. This was where all magic power could be stored and unleashed. As he kept moving all over the Universal plane he made to understand that his future advancement in his path to wizardry will not be easy at all. Because it is like an actual universe stars could be seen, although not much they were there. The issue was the distance. Ben felt like he had to really travel across the galaxy just to reach the closest Starfield.
While Ben was still immersed in understanding his Universal plane he suddenly heard rustling from outside the tent. Ben woke up and was ready to attack whatever was coming.
"Lucy scan the perimeter."
"Beep. one target approaching, it's a man about your age according to his bone structure, with the pattern of his heart beat that should be Jeremy." Lucy spoke for the first time in a long time.
Ben was relieved so he relaxed, good thing that wasn't a bear or demon creature, Ben thought.
"Dude, dude wake up... Ben wake up." Ben sighed hearing how noisy Jeremy was.
"Dude are you done?" Ben asked with sleepy eyes obviously pretending.
"I can't stay up any longer. Go finish my other half and continue yours, I'm gonna crash now." Jeremy says immediately falling in his bed mat.
"Seriously Jeremy?" Ben says a bit annoyed.
"There's just fifteen minutes left, you can handle it (snores)" Jeremy started snoring. Ben couldn't handle someone who is already in another dimension. So all he could do was to complete both his and Jeremy's watch time.
The coals are almost done turning to ashes as the fire went down, with the wind blowing it to the air. Sounds of howls and beast cry would occasionally be heard from time to time, but one could tell how long it would take before they can come to cause any trouble.
Spread across the mountain base shadowy figures flashed around the camps set up by the students. Occasionally moving in and out from their tent carrying with them bags filled with the students food stuffs, leaving behind a negligible amount for them. Instead of calling it carrying it's more of stealing. These are the shadow squad the man from the Thief profession had spoken about.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein