The School of Runes – Task Board – MorningEthan checked the Task Board twice daily. Information was currency—who posted what, when, and for how much told stories about the Academy's underground economy.Today, the board told a story about desperation.A commotion erupted near the central board. Students pushing back, voices rising in shock and pity."Nova finally snapped.""Fifty years stuck at Level 3 will do that.""This is just elaborate suicide."Ethan moved closer.TASK: HUNT GLOWING EYE PANTHERLOCATION: MOUNTAIN OF TAMARADIFFICULTY: EXTREME (WIZARD-LEVEL THREAT)COMPENSATION: 100 MAGIC STONES PER PARTICIPANTADDITIONAL: WIZARD'S PATRONAGE UPON BREAKTHROUGHPOSTED BY: NOVA (LEVEL 3 WIZARD APPRENTICE)SEEKING: 4 COMBAT-CAPABLE PARTICIPANTSMINIMUM: LEVEL 1 WIZARD APPRENTICECONTACT: ROOM 147, SENIOR DORMITORYNOTE: ACADEMY REGULATIONS REQUIRE 5-PERSON MINIMUM FOR WIZARD-LEVEL HUNTS. FAILURE TO ASSEMBLE TEAM BY SUNSET = HUNT CANCELED.The crowd scattered."Poor bastard's been at that bottleneck longer than most students' parents have been alive.""The panther will kill them all."Ethan stared at the posting.Wizard-level beast. Extreme danger. But a hundred stones—"—Princess Diana signed up. Can you believe it?"His heart rate spiked."She just got back yesterday. Why would she immediately risk her life?"Diana. She's back.If she has Great Wizard connections—resources, information, access—This is my chance to establish contact.[ANALYSIS: GLOWING EYE PANTHER. SPEED: FASTER THAN VISUAL TRACKING. LETHALITY: EXTREME. HOST SURVIVAL PROBABILITY: 7-9%.]Seven percent.His hand moved toward the contact strip. Stopped. Trembled.Ninety-three percent chance of death.But if Diana has access to Victor's level—if I can build that alliance—One opening at the beacon. That's all I need.He tore off the strip before terror could paralyze him completely.Dormitory – One Hour Later"You did WHAT?"Glan grabbed Ethan's shoulders, actually shaking him."The Glowing Eye Panther hunt. You joined the—" His voice broke. "That's a wizard-level beast, Ethan. WIZARD-LEVEL.""I know.""No, you don't know!" Glan's eyes were wet. "Do you know what happened to the last group that tried hunting one? They found pieces. PIECES. Not bodies—pieces scattered across half a mile because the thing tore them apart while they were still screaming."Ethan said nothing.Glan's hands were shaking. "What's the survival rate? Tell me.""Seven percent.""Seven—" Glan released him, stumbling back. "Seven percent. That's not odds, that's a death sentence.""I need to do this.""Why?" Glan's voice cracked completely. "For stones? For advancement? You can earn stones other ways! Slower, yes, but you'd actually survive!""I need the connection. Diana has resources I can't access otherwise.""So you'll die for networking?" Glan wiped his eyes angrily. "You're the only friend I have here. The only person who doesn't treat me like furniture. And you're going to die for a hundred stones and a handshake with royalty."His voice dropped to a whisper."Please don't do this."Ethan met his gaze. "I have to."Glan stared at him for a long moment. Then turned away."When?""Dawn tomorrow."Glan nodded without turning around. "Then go. I can't—I can't watch you pack."He left the room.Ethan stood alone, Glan's words echoing.The only friend I have here.His hands were shaking badly now.Seven percent. What am I doing?But he didn't put the contact strip back.Senior Dormitory – Room 147 – AfternoonNova answered on the first knock.Perhaps seventy years old, though wizard apprentices aged far slower than normal humans—he might be twice that chronologically. But the years showed in other ways: exhaustion in his eyes, defeat in his shoulders, trembling hands he couldn't quite control."About the hunt." Not a question."Yes."Nova's expression hardened. "No.""What?""No. You're not joining." He started closing the door. "Find some other way to waste your life."Ethan jammed his foot in the doorway. "You need five people. Academy regulations—""I'm aware of the regulations." Nova's voice was sharp. "I'm also aware you're Level 1 with two months' training. You'll die in the first thirty seconds and drag the rest of us down with you.""How many other volunteers do you have?"Nova's jaw clenched. "That's not—""How many?""Three. Princess Diana and twin brothers. Which means I'm one short, and when sunset comes, the Academy cancels the entire hunt." His eyes were wild. "So yes, I'm desperate. But I'm not desperate enough to take someone who'll get everyone killed.""Then the hunt gets canceled and you've wasted everything.""Better than guaranteeing failure!" Nova's voice rose. "I've been planning this for months! Spent everything I own! I need people who can actually contribute, not Level 1 liabilities who—""Academy regulations don't specify capability level." Ethan kept his voice steady despite the fear churning his stomach. "Just minimum apprentice rank. Level 1 qualifies.""Technically yes, but—""So if I file the participation form and you reject me without justification, Academy review board investigates. And if they determine you rejected a qualified volunteer, they might revoke your hunting license permanently."Nova's face went pale. "How do you know that?""I read the regulations. Thoroughly."Silence stretched between them.Nova's hands trembled violently. His breathing was ragged. He looked at Ethan with something like hatred mixed with desperate calculation."What's your affinity?" His voice was barely controlled."Space."Nova blinked. "Rare. Spells?""One. [Shadow Step]. Non-offensive."Nova laughed—broken and bitter. "Level 1. One useless spell. Two months' training. And you're threatening me with bureaucratic technicalities."He walked to the window, staring out."Fifty-three years," he said quietly. Fifty-three years at the threshold. Right at the edge of breakthrough but never crossing it. Wizard apprentices can live two hundred years, you know. I'm seventy-one. Wasted a quarter of my potential lifespan—more than half my expected healthy years."He turned back."I can't afford dead weight. Can't afford someone who panics when the panther attacks. Can't afford—""Test me. Right now. I pass, Academy regulations force you to accept me. I fail, I withdraw."Nova studied him. Then smiled without warmth. "Fine. Training yard. Prove you're not completely useless."Training Yard – Ten Minutes LaterThe cage held a Chubby—horned rat enhanced for speed. Nova held an automatic crossbow."Two seconds after I open this cage. Hit it before it reaches that wall—hundred meters."Ethan took the weapon. His heart pounded so hard he felt dizzy.Miss this and it's over. Seven percent becomes zero percent.Nova's hand moved to the latch. "Ready?"No. Not ready. Terrified. But—"Ready."The cage opened—The Chubby exploded into motion. Gray blur. Too fast.[TARGET ACQUIRED. VELOCITY: 47 M/S. TRAJECTORY: ERRATIC.]Three shots.First: MISS.Second: GRAZE.Third: PERFECT STRIKE. Skull penetration. Dead.Ethan's hands shook so badly he nearly dropped the crossbow.Made it. Barely. But made it.Nova examined the corpse in silence. When he stood, something had shifted in his expression."You can hit targets." His voice was flat. "That doesn't mean you can function when something's trying to kill you. But—"He looked away."Academy regulations are clear. You meet minimum qualifications. If I reject you, they'll investigate. And I can't risk losing my hunting license." His laugh was broken. "So congratulations. You forced your way onto a suicide mission.""When's the team meeting?""Sunset. Room 147." Nova's hands were shaking again. "And pray to whatever gods you believe in. Because you'll need divine intervention to survive what's coming."Dormitory – Early Evening Ethan sat on his bed, staring at nothing.Team meeting in one hour. Then tomorrow dawn we leave. For seven percent survival.His hands wouldn't stop shaking.What am I doing? Glan was right. This is insane. I could die tomorrow. Probably will die tomorrow.But Diana—the connection—the access to resources—Is it worth my life?He had no answer.The door opened. Glan entered, wouldn't meet his eyes."Came to get my book." His voice was flat."Glan—""Don't." Glan grabbed a book from his desk. "I don't want to hear explanations or justifications or—"He stopped. His shoulders sagged."If you die out there..." His voice cracked. "If you die, I'm going to be so angry at you.""I know.""No, you don't. You don't know what it's like to finally find someone who treats you like a person and then watch them throw their life away for ambition."Glan walked to the door. Stopped without turning."Come back alive. Please."He left before Ethan could respond.Ethan sat alone in the quiet room.Seven percent. Tomorrow. Real.His fear was a living thing in his chest, growing with each breath.Room 147 – Sunset – Team Meeting Four people were already there.Two identical young men by the window. Blake stood with aggressive confidence; Jake sat studying a map with analytical focus.And Diana—back to the wall, positioned to see all entrances. Every few seconds her eyes swept the room, checking for threats.She's changed. That's trauma response.When Ethan entered, her gaze locked on him briefly. Recognition flickered. Warning: Don't acknowledge our connection.She looked away.Nova closed the door, hands trembling. "Everyone's here. Let's be efficient—I've spent enough time on speeches."He spread papers on the table, hands shaking as he smoothed them."Glowing Eye Panther. Wizard-level threat. Standard Level 2 party has fifteen percent survival rate. Our party—one Level 3 who's been stuck for decades, two Level 2s, two Level 1s—maybe seven percent.". Know that. Accept that. Or leave now."Blake's cocky expression faltered. "Those are—""Terrible odds. Yes." Nova's jaw clenched tight enough to make muscles jump. "Combat capabilities. Blake—tell me what you can do."Blake straightened. "Level 2, fire affinity. Three spells—Flame Arrow, Fire Shield, Ignition. Ten energy units. Damn good with a blade, been training since five."Nova handed him a red-runed sword. "Fire-aspected. Amplifies spells fifteen percent. Lose it and I'll kill you myself.""Jake?""Level 2. Water affinity. Water Whip for control, Ice Shard for damage, Healing Stream for support. I focus on tactical coordination rather than individual prowess."Nova gave him a blue-runed sword and three healing vials. "Use potions only if actively dying.""Diana?"She met his gaze. "Level 1. Light affinity. I use a manifested weapon."Nova's eyebrows rose. "Manifested? How many times before exhaustion?""Four. Five if I push limits.""Why are you here? Level 1s don't volunteer for seven percent odds."Diana's expression was stone. "I have debts to repay. The stones fund that obligation.""And you're willing to die for debt payment?""I'm willing to risk death for many things." Her voice was flat. "This is one of them."Nova studied her, then nodded. "Ethan?""Level 1. Space affinity. Crossbow. One spell—[Shadow Step]. Non-offensive."Blake laughed nervously. "That's your contribution? Teleporting five meters?"Nova pulled dark cloth from his desk. Unwrapped it slowly.An arrow. Black wood absorbing light. Green energy pulsing from the arrowhead like concentrated poison.Everyone stepped back.[WARNING: DEATH MAGIC CONCENTRATION EXTREME. LETHAL ON CONTACT.]"Arrow of Death," Nova said quietly. "Killed the artificer who made it. Contains enough death magic to kill a Level 1 wizard."Diana's eyes narrowed. "That's forbidden.""Everything's forbidden until you're desperate enough." Nova's voice cracked slightly. "Cost me six hundred magic stones total. Everything I owned. Family heirloom sword. Decades of savings. Gone."He set the arrow on the table with trembling hands."Bought this two months ago. Spent the last month trying to recruit people. Everyone refused—too dangerous, too crazy. Posted public task this morning because Academy gives three-attempt limit for dangerous hunts. This is my third. My last. Either we succeed or I'm expelled and wasted seventy-one years for nothing."The room went silent."The plan?" Blake's voice was quiet now."Assassination. Ethan shoots this into the panther's skull. One shot. Perfect accuracy. We ambush before it knows we're there.""And if he misses?""We die." Nova's voice was flat. Dead. "All of us. Screaming. Which is why he won't miss."Perfect. No pressure."Success means one hundred stones each. And when—if—I break through to wizard, you get patronage. Resources. Protection. Access." Nova's hands shook badly now. "Failure means corpses scattered across mountain slopes."He pulled out papers. "Academy requires death waivers. Sign or leave."Blake signed. Hand unsteady.Jake signed. Careful signature.Diana signed. Perfectly steady.Ethan signed. Hand shaking."Dawn. Western gate." Nova's voice was barely controlled. "Three days to mountain. Then we hunt. Prepare however you need to. Say goodbyes. Make peace."His eyes were haunted. "Seventy-one years old. Fifty-three years stuck. This is my last chance. Don't waste it by dying stupidly."Academy Grounds – NightEthan walked back alone, fear eating through his chest like acid.Tomorrow dawn. Seven percent. Real now. Too real."Ethan."Diana stood in shadows."Walk with me."They moved toward the Preserve edge. Away from witnesses.Every few steps, Diana's head turned. Checking. When a night bird cried, her hand moved toward her weapon manifestation point before she caught herself."You shouldn't have joined," she said quietly."Neither should you.""I have obligations forcing my hand. What's your excuse?"Can't tell her the truth. Can't hint at the mission."I need resources. Connections. You have both." Ethan kept his voice pragmatic. "Blake and Jake are doing it for family honor. You're doing it for debt payment. I'm doing it for advancement."Diana studied him. "You joined a seven percent survival hunt to network with me.""Yes.""That's either remarkably ambitious or remarkably stupid.""Probably both."She was quiet. "This isn't training. The panther kills experienced hunters. Nova's desperate—desperate people make fatal mistakes. Seven percent means we probably all die.""I know.""Do you?" Her voice sharpened. "Two months ago you barely survived the Wall. Why the sudden willingness to die?"Because I need access to Victor. Because the beacon has to be destroyed. Because Earth depends on finding one opening."I'm not willing to die. I'm willing to risk death for something better than scraping for stones my entire life."Diana studied him for a long moment."Stay close during the hunt. When things go wrong—and they will—I can buy you seconds. That might be enough.""Why protect me?""Because I need allies who haven't been corrupted yet. You're ambitious but honest about it." She paused. "That's rare."She walked away into darkness.Ethan stood alone.She thinks I'm just ambitious. Good. Has to stay that way.His hands were still shaking.Seven percent. Tomorrow morning. Can't back out now.Can't sleep either.He walked back to the dormitory, fear growing with each step.Dormitory – Late NightEthan lay in bed, staring at ceiling.Sleep wouldn't come. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the panther. Imagined dying. Imagined failing.Seven percent. Ninety-three percent death.What if I'm wrong? What if Diana's connection isn't worth my life?What if I die tomorrow and Maya never knows why?He had no answers.Just fear.And morning approaching whether he was ready or not.Western Gate – DawnFour figures waited in morning light.Nova—seventy-one years old, fifty-three years of failure weighing on trembling shoulders.Blake and Jake—forced by family honor to risk everything.Diana—seeking something none of them fully understood.All desperate. All gambling on seven percent odds.Ethan joined them, fear a living thing in his chest."Let's go," Nova said quietly. "Three days to mountain. Then we find out if fifty-three years of failure ends in breakthrough or death."They walked through the gate as sun rose.Behind them, the Academy continued without them.Ahead, a wizard-level beast waited.And Ethan walked forward anyway.Seven percent survival.Has to be enough.Has to be.His hands wouldn't stop shaking.But he walked forward anyway.
