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"Come on, Tarik! We don't want to be late!" "Just a minute!" he called into the hallway, scooping up his helmet & notebook & stuffing them into his backpack. "What's with all the hurry?" Olikan asked, barely keeping up with Tarik's brisk pace as the duo darted out the door. "I didn't either," he replied, "Until I was woken up at the ass-crack of dawn & told I needed to be ready within the hour." "How long will you be gone?" "I'm not sure, but I'll write back when I can." Tarik said, dashing in front of his roommate & down the spiraling stairs. "Bye, Olikan!"

"My students & colleagues!" Headmaster Viragor boomed. "I'm sure by now you've all heard the news. The Fire Barons have allied themselves with the Duelist, one of the most legendary swordsmen in all the land." A tense murmuring filled the air as the crowd whispered among themselves, the hushed conversations crackling through the air with an electric intensity. "We will not let this dampen our spirits, however." he continued. "Four among your ranks depart today in search of a suitable ally of our own. Someone with experience fighting our newfound enemy...The revered Swordmaker of the Plains. Please step forward, Malachi, Tarik, Declan, & Gami!"

Tarik stepped out of the crowd & forced a nervous smile, waving to Viragor's madly applauding audience as he joined the Headmaster & his friends on stage. "You're sweating. Try to relax a bit." Gami whispered. "I would," he replied, "If I weren't so utterly terrified." Giggling, she said, "So, big bad Tarik has stage fright, eh?" "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up." he grumbled. "I'll find some way to get you back." "I'm elated to see you try." she smirked. "Ahem! If you two are done with your little lover's quarrel..." Declan called. "It's time to go."

Giving one last wave to the still-cheering crowd, Tarik gulped as the heavy gates of the School swung open, revealing the vast expanse of trees extending for miles that was the Magi Oar Forest. The idea of leaving still scared him a bit-he had only been outside its walls a few times. "Will you relax?" Gami teased. "It's just a mission. Wood Forgers leave the School on assignments all the time." "It's still frightening to leave behind my home, to leave behind everything I've ever known, knowing there's a chance I may never return." he snapped. "You're overthinking this way too much." she groaned. "Try to think a little more positively. If we succeed in our mission, we'll be able to defeat the Fire Barons & the Duelist. We'll be revered as heroes, hailed as conquering champions!" "I suppose I didn't think about it like that." Tarik replied, the slightest hint of a smile forming on his lips. "In that case...Let's give it our all & come home to a hero's welcome."