The forest loomed before them like a black ocean of trees; each branch tangled with mist. Moonlight barely reached the ground; it only caught the edges of the twisted trunks and made them gleam like bones.
Sensei Hashiro stopped at the entrance, arms folded.
"This," he said dryly, "is the Forest of Fear."
Kaitara frowned. "That sounds welcoming."
Tiatsuri peered into the gloom. "Sensei… are we actually going in there?"
Hashiro grinned, that sly, knowing grin of his. "You are. This is your final training."
"What?!" the siblings shouted together. "Didn't you say the training after the Smoke Lord fight was the last one?"
"Did I say training?" he said innocently. "I meant a test—a test of courage."
Before anyone could protest, he lifted his hand. "Storm Technique: Short Hurricane!"
A sudden gust slammed into the three of them. Leaves burst into the air, and before they could even draw breath, the students were thrown straight into the forest's mouth.
The wind died, and silence devoured them.
Hatashi landed lightly on one knee, shaking off dust. "That sensei is unbelievable."
Kaitara's voice echoed through the darkness. "I'm going to kill him when we get out of here!"
"Focus," Hatashi said, adjusting his sword strap. "We need to find an exit."
Tiatsuri squinted into the black haze. "Easier said than done when we can't see a thing."
A faint rustle answered him. The forest whispered in languages no human could understand. The air felt heavier the deeper they went.
"I'll make some light." Hatashi formed a quick seal. "Dragon Technique: Orb of Flames."
A sphere of fire blossomed above his palm, casting flickering light over their faces. The trunks around them gleamed wetly, and shadows bent into strange shapes.
Tiatsuri copied him, conjuring his own orb. "Much better."
"Let's split up," Hatashi decided. "If this place tests courage, it's probably tailored to each of us. We cover more ground that way."
Kaitara hesitated, crossing her arms. "Split up in a haunted forest. Brilliant."
Tiatsuri smirked. "Scared?"
"Not at all," she shot back. "In fact, let's make it a contest. First one out wins."
"I'm in."
Hatashi sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Fine. But stay alert."
They nodded, and with that, the trio parted—Kaitara to the left, Tiatsuri to the right, and Hatashi straight through the middle.