I created my own system

After the first quarter ended their subject professors introduced new branches of their study. And to test all the lessons they have learned they used one of the practical activities in Survival Lesson 2, as a trial for the students to practice.

The island survival practice will be evaluated based on all the subject lessons, and so the students must execute what they learn during their four-month stay in the academy.

The second day of the survival practice inside the island started with the sun rising from the east.

The morning light filters through the leaves of the trees while its warmth creeps down into the misty forest floor. The students had woken up in the separate shelters they had made. As soon as they stretched their limbs and bath in the warm sunlight they couldn't help but breathe into the cool air misted by their breath. The beauty of nature welcomes them despite the task they need to accomplish.

"Morning!"

Jillian greeted the boys who sluggishly crawled from their tent.

"What is wrong with them?" Arabella wondered seeing how haggard they look like.

"Don't mind them, Ara, those boys went on and played card games until late at night" Matilda told her while setting up their food on their makeshift table.

"Pick up yourselves and eat we will receive our first mission later from Professor Alejo" she added while all the boys could do was nod their heads.

Apollo on the other hand was as fresh as before making the other boys a bit jealous.

"Sometimes I would think that Apollo is blessed by a goddess since he always looks unbothered and beautiful"

Blair mutters while munching the fruits that the girls have found.

"Quit it Blair I am already jealous of how his skin looks glowing while we look like a pack of undead" Niko grumbles though Apollo doesn't say anything to them and continues eating.

The birds are singing to each other and from each branch of the trees they would fly and chase around the canopy. Their songs merged with the quiet sound of a stream that flows through the air. Then there is the rustle of leaves in the breeze making the morning even more peaceful despite the chaotic appearance of the boys.

Alicia stretched and stepped out of her tent, taking a deep breath of fresh, earthy air. The scent it brought gave peace to her troubled mind. As she came out she noticed Apollo's blank expression.

"Something wrong?" she asked as she sat beside him.

"It's strange," he said, then he put down the cup in his hand as he looked at Alicia.

"I can't sense anything here"

"What do you mean?" Mckenzie was the first to react attracting the attention of the entire class.

"Alicia" Apollo's voice was strangely serious while his stare was piercing.

"Can you tell me what your senses have picked up"

Alicia seeing her friend's expression couldn't help but sigh.

"Nothing, I can't sense anything here. Whenever I tried it was as if there was a huge fog that was blocking me"

Her words made the entire class vigilant.

"Does the academy know about this fact?" Keith asked while trying to control his worried mind.

"I think they do" Alicia answered making Apollo look at her.

"You think so"

"Yes so calm down"

However, despite her words, Apollo still didn't let go of his worries and continued studying the island.

Later after taking their breakfast, their professor came.

"Good morning, everyone. As you may all know aside from staying here you will all face special tasks or challenges created by all your subject professors. So today's challenge will be a test of your mapping and observation skills. You will all need to draw an extremely detailed map of this part of the island. The map needs to include key features and landmarks.

This challenge involves teamwork and careful observation, so cooperate well with your classmates. The map will serve for future operations, so aim for it to be extremely accurate. That is all and good luck my dear students"

The class, accustomed to the island environment quickly gathered around their gear. They grabbed the supplies brought by their professor and immediately took the notebooks, compasses, and measuring tools. Their survival kits were also prepared as they gear up to leave.

"Should we divide into groups to quickly finish the map?"

Braiden asked while cleaning up their camp.

"No, I think it's best to stick together, we have no idea what this place holds so it's best to stick together"

Apollo said and everyone immediately agreed with him. Professor Alejo also gave them freedom on how to accomplish the task so whether they finish it immediately is up to them.

They were not divided into teams, though their movements were fast and efficient since it wasn't their first time travelling in a forest-like area.

While they walked Apollo was still trying to scan the area using the system.

"Something is blocking me" he could only think despite pushing the system to its limit.

[I suspect this is a work of artifact]

"That is something I can't deny since I can feel the same wave of energy from the artifacts we have and the presence that flows throughout the island"

[Give me a bit more time and I might be able to pinpoint the exact location of the artifact]

"Okay, thank you" he replied though his heart didn't stop beating excessively fast.

"I thought that this island survival practice would at least relax my nerves from all the stress of following the tracks of the church, but instead it made my instinct haywire"

"What I hate the most after all is being kept in the dark, and not being in control of everything" he added while controlling his anxiety.

"Apollo" said a voice making the boy look at his back, it was Alicia.

"Calm down, not everything needs to be under your control" she advised.

"Alright, but let me continue scanning the area"

"Apollo" her voice became stern while her eyes pierced through Apollo.

"If you want to know the topography of this island then be eager to help us" she just said making Apollo snap from his idiotic thoughts.

"Alright, alright," he said in defeat

"I will go in the front then" he added as he walked right in front of the class.

Time went by and the class continued noting notable landmarks, measuring distances, and making use of their observation skills for their task.

They advanced with such ease and speed that they looked quite relaxed despite all the discomfort they encountered. The deeper they go into the island, the more Apollo notices a group of low unnatural growls that surge through the trees. This made the already paranoid boy even more paranoid.

"Did someone else hear that?" Niko asked, his voice barely above a whisper. The class halted, straining their ears to hear.

"Growls appeared to come from the thick bush nearby," Alya said while the entire class was on high alert.

Alicia signalled to the group to move cautiously while Apollo stealthily approached the bush.

Slowly the boy closes the distance, he moves towards the bush, eyes scanning shadows, and in his hand is a weapon.

Growls continued to increase, and a pair of yellow eyes shone forth in the underbrush, Apollo moved as soon as he identified it however the shadow was nimble enough to dodge him.

Seeing the mysterious beast jumping out of the bush the other students shared worried glances and ultimately retreated.

"Is it a high-ranking beast?" Agnes asked since she could barely see with Niko blocking her.

Alicia was standing in front of the groups protecting them from possible dangers then Apollo came chasing a single black silhouette.

The speed of the two was fast and almost made the onlookers dizzy however soon enough Apollo was able to corner the beast.

"Is that a.." Alya began to say recognizing the magical beast's features as it settled down on a huge old tree.

It was a sleek magical beast, a predator made out of dark fur and muscles, its eyes shining menacingly in the dappled light. It would seem to be stalking them or simply protecting its territory.

The class pulled out the handbook from their survival kit and flipped the pages, then compared the creature's appearance to the illustrations.

"It looks like a shadow wildcat," Vesta said.

"It's cute!" Jillian exclaimed while excitedly clinging to Keith's clothes.

"Should we kill it?" Aaron asked finding the magical beast threatening despite its appearance.

"It's probably just curious or feeling threatened"

"So we leave it?"

"Yeah shadow wild cats don't really attack people"

The class then slowly backed up, trying not to disturb the beast.

However as they continued to move, they saw signs of a marked territory. They have scratched trees and scattered bones and signs of nesting.

"Apollo I think we should not go any further than this"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Alicia recommended and Apollo couldn't help but agree seeing all the signs of a high-ranking beast marking the area as its territory.

"We should move now"

He ordered but before they could even move a sudden growl brought a chill to everyone's spine.