(Zrudread University)

(Forest Lord Kingdom Park)

"Hello class," a calm and melodic voice rang out from an unknown location.

"I hope everyone is ready for the midterm exam."

"Don't worry because since this will be your first exam for this course, I will be marking you all fairly leniently"

One of the trees in front of Sophie opened up to reveal a gorgeous woman dressed in a skirt made from purple leaves.

Her skin was an ashen grey colour with small bumpy scales that ran up the sides of her arms along with a slender tail almost like a whip that jutted out of her lower back.

But perhaps the most noticeable thing about her appearance was her facial features.

She had three eyes that were dark orange in colour with small pink pupils and a lack of a noticeable nose.

Professor Ward had developed a reputation among the first year students for being very friendly and kind.

She would never refuse to meet with a student after class and her willingness to explain the material again to anyone who didn't understand made her a popular lecturer.

"I'm a bit nervous," Luna leaned over and whispered into Sophie's ear.

Her three headed hell hound Blackie was currently off to the side playing with Moon.

After a fairly rocky beginning the two beast pets had hit it off and now enjoyed each other's company.

The suns were now a bit lower in the sky as it was late afternoon and the combat beast class had gathered together to take part in the exam.

"Yeah, I did some training with Moon earlier today but." Sophie whispered back but stopped when she saw the professor looking at them.

Professor Ward shot the two chattering girls a stern gaze and then made an announcement,

"Now please follow me to the examination site and we will begin the test."

Thick green vines appeared beneath her feet and the professor moved through the forest with startling ease.

"Come on Moon let's go!" Sophie called out to her little furball who was currently sitting on top of Blackie's middle head.

Squeak! Squeak!

Moon flapped his wings joyfully and jumped on top of Sophie's shoulder where he gave his mommy a pitiful look.

"Alright you can have just one," Sophie rolled her eyes and handed Moon a sugary treat.

The training session this morning had honestly been a mixed bag.

Moon had been able to get pass the first and second parts of the obstacle course but when faced with the two mechanical guards.

He was hit several times by their laser rifles as his aerial maneuverability skills still had a lot to be desired.

It wasn't a good result but considering that Moon was still a baby, there was quite a bit of time to improve.

Sophie didn't think that Moon and she would get high marks in this exam but at the very least they should be able to pass.

"Keep up those you at the back!" Professor Ward yelled as a couple of students fell behind.

The forest terrain was getting more difficult to navigate as the professor was leading them away from the well paved trail and heading deeper into the forest.

Thick tree branches and insidious vines with thorns scratched the students as they followed the beautiful professor.

Blackie was not having a good time but that was to be expected considering that the hell hound stood at a whooping twelve feet in height with three heads that occasionally spat out small flames.

The vines and trees were in the way of his massive frame so eventually the tired hell hound just started to knock the trees down.

Boom!

An ancient oak came crashing to the ground as Blackie's left head uprooted it and shoved it to the side.

Luna looked mortified and was afraid that her pet's actions would annoy Professor Ward but there was no reaction.

The noble girl was unsure of what this lack of reaction meant but took it as silent acquittance, so she didn't order Blackie to stop.

Crash! Crash!

Several of the other students with bigger pets followed suit and soon a path of destruction was created through the forest.

What most of the students didn't know is that when they left one area full of uprooted trees, a thick green vine would erupt from the soil.

This green vine would then penetrate the outer bark of the fallen trees and the poor plants would then wither at a rapid rate visible to the human eye.

In mere seconds they would be reduced to ash and dust.

The vine would glow an eerie colour and then enter the soil where it would spew out a thick gooey material.

This gooey material rapidly expanded and soon a tree identical to the one that had just disappeared would grow from the soil.

Professor Ward was a member of an alien species known as the Treegaloic who spent most of their lives in the forest.

The vast majority of the members of this species were content to live on their home planet of Boiseryiea where they were considered to be minor deities.

They had the ability to destroy and regrow plants.

Their culture revolved around protecting and healing nature.

Sophie's promotion to the qi tide stage meant that her senses were now sharpened and improved so she was well aware of the cycle of death and rebirth happening behind them.

She could not help but give Professor Ward another glance, it was really amazing the different forms of life the universe held.

Truthfully, Sophie was even a little bit jealous of her teacher

I mean who wouldn't want awesome nature powers!

Two hours passed by and the endless scenery of trees and exotic plants were starting to get a bit boring.

Luckily for the students who were beginning to get a bit exhausted, Professor Ward stopped at a large open track field.

The field contained a gigantic metalloid structure that was shaped like a dome.

Towering walls made from this black metallic material formed a barrier to prevent the students from gazing at what lay inside.

There was a large opening at the front of the metallic wall with enough space for even the largest pet to fit inside.

Professor Ward waited for a few moments to allow her students to take a couple of breaths and then begun to speak,

"I have thought about what type of exam to have this year and my department head suggested a maze."

"I will call names in a random order and once your name has been called please send your pet inside the enclosure."

"There is a separate exit on the other side of the dome and your goal is to direct your pet using the blood bond and guide them through the various obstacles placed inside."

"This exam will test your ability to send commands over a long distance as well as testing your ability to exchange senses."

Murmurs and whispers broke out among the students as the details of the exam had been revealed.

On the surface it seemed rather straightforward but considering that most students had only established their blood bonds fairly recently.

This would be difficult.

Being able to receive images, tactile sensations, sound and even taste through the blood bond required a lot of concentration from both parties.

Professor Ward raised a slender fair hand in the air and waited patiently for the class to quiet down.

"Okay we will begin with the first student," she pulled out a sheet of paper and cleared her throat.

"Not me first not me first. not me first," Sophie closed her eyes and chanted softly.

"Sophie Peterlor!" came the loud cry.

Fuck.