The mission looked simple on paper.
Rank B.
A short escort to a village east of Vailor, crossing a lightly forested region with no recent history of attacks. Nothing out of the ordinary.
But this time, the goal wasn't just to complete it.
It was to observe.
Since Scarlett's integration, the group had become more stable. More aligned. But stability in a controlled environment didn't mean efficiency in the field.
That's what I wanted to test.
We left early.
The weather was clear, the path dry, with no signs of unusual movement. The caravan was small, made up of two merchants and a light load.
Nothing that required real effort.
Lyannis walked closer to the merchants, keeping the mood light with occasional conversation.
Rai'kanna stayed slightly ahead, focused on the path.
Vespera and Elara covered the sides, as usual.
Liriel stayed close to me.
Scarlett… positioned herself naturally between the center and the rear.
Without instruction.
Without hesitation.
I observed.
"You already know where to stand," I said.
She didn't look directly at me.
"It makes sense."
"It does."
Liriel commented quietly.
"She learns way too fast."
"That's her pattern," I replied.
The journey continued without interruption for almost an hour.
No attacks.
No deviations.
But the test wasn't just combat.
It was consistency.
Coordination.
Environmental awareness.
At a certain point, Rai'kanna raised her hand slightly.
Signal.
Everyone slowed down.
No questions.
No noise.
Vespera was already looking to the right.
Elara adjusted her position.
Scarlett didn't ask.
She simply shifted her stance.
Alert.
"Movement," Rai'kanna said.
Low.
Controlled.
I felt it shortly after.
Faint.
But present.
Two.
Not a real threat.
Small beasts.
Elara confirmed.
"Low risk."
"Handle it quickly," I said.
Rai'kanna advanced.
Direct movement.
Clean.
Two creatures came out of the vegetation, fast but disorganized.
She didn't hesitate.
Two strikes.
Precise.
Silence again.
Scarlett observed.
Didn't intervene.
Correct.
Lyannis resumed talking to the merchants as if nothing had happened.
Vespera relaxed slightly.
Liriel looked at me.
"Stable coordination."
"Yes."
We continued.
The village appeared on the horizon shortly after.
Mission complete.
No effort.
No flaws.
But that was only the first part.
On the way back, the environment changed.
Subtle.
But different.
The wind felt heavier.
The silence… less natural.
Scarlett noticed first.
"Something's wrong."
"Yes," Vespera confirmed.
Rai'kanna was already more alert.
"This isn't a common beast."
Elara closed her eyes for a moment.
"Intelligence."
Liriel added.
"Organization."
I had already identified it.
"Goblins."
But not the common kind.
The movement pattern was different.
More controlled.
More… strategic.
Lyannis stopped walking.
"This isn't good."
"No," I said.
The first attack came from the side.
Fast.
Coordinated.
Three appeared at the same time.
Improvised weapons.
But correct positioning.
Vespera intercepted one.
Elara blocked another.
Scarlett reacted to the third.
No delay.
No hesitation.
Short dodge.
Direct counterattack.
Immediate takedown.
Rai'kanna pushed forward.
More appeared.
Now six.
Then eight.
Irregular formation.
But functional.
"They're testing," Liriel said.
"Yes," I replied.
"Then let's respond."
I moved forward.
But not alone.
Rai'kanna followed on the left.
Scarlett on the right.
No command.
Natural coordination.
The goblins tried to surround us.
Mistake.
Elara opened space with precise magic.
Vespera eliminated those trying to flank.
Lyannis provided support, keeping the more vulnerable out of danger.
Liriel controlled the pace.
Scarlett moved well.
No exaggeration.
No unnecessary advance.
Just efficiency.
At one point, two goblins advanced on her together.
Synchronized attack.
She read it.
Minimal retreat.
One missed.
The other opened a gap.
She took it.
Short movement.
Both went down.
Rai'kanna glanced over.
"Good."
Scarlett didn't respond.
Focused.
The fight ended quickly.
But not easily.
Silence returned.
This time heavier.
Liriel analyzed the terrain.
"They retreated in an organized way."
"Yes," Vespera said.
Elara concluded.
"That's not common."
Lyannis looked around.
"So that was just a test?"
"Probably," I said.
Rai'kanna cleaned her blade.
"Then they'll come back better."
"Yes."
Scarlett stepped closer.
"How many?"
"We don't know yet."
"But it's not a few."
"No."
Silence.
But now different.
It wasn't light anymore.
But it wasn't heavy either.
It was… focus.
We returned to the mansion without further attacks.
But no one fully relaxed.
When we arrived, the group naturally gathered in the main hall.
No one sat down immediately.
It was clear.
The test had ended.
But something bigger had begun.
Liriel spoke first.
"The group is working."
"Yes," Elara confirmed.
"No critical flaws," Vespera added.
Rai'kanna looked at Scarlett.
"You held up well."
"That was expected," she replied.
Lyannis smiled.
"Now you're truly part of the group."
Scarlett didn't respond.
But she didn't deny it.
I looked at everyone.
"This wasn't random."
"No," Liriel said.
"They were too organized," Elara added.
Vespera concluded.
"Someone is controlling them."
Silence.
Rai'kanna crossed her arms.
"So the break is over."
"Yes."
Scarlett looked at me.
"That was just the beginning."
"It was."
She nodded.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
And at that moment…
it was clear.
The group was ready.
But what was coming…
would not be simple.