Thaddeus yawned as the professor announced the instructions of today's event. He hadn't had the best night, but it'd been passable, and he assumed he was ready enough to do the test. He'd heard about the test from his family, of course. They knew, as they always did, about what certain schools did for certain things, and they'd payed close attention to how groups were divided. Thaddeus knew all about this exercise, so he was pretty bored, and began thinking about the other day when he'd entered.

[i][color=orange]Well, there're good people here at least.[/color][/i] Thaddeus thought.

He'd met some friendly people and became acquainted to some, sort of.

[i][color=orange]I'm already glad I came here instead of Atlas...[/color][/i] Thaddeus thought.

Thaddeus's eyes wandered slowly, bored as all heck. He managed to spot two people he'd interacted with who, despite being distinctively short, were surprisingly hard to spot in a crowd. One even had heavy clothes and the other had white hair, and he was glad that he at least found people he knew. He gave them a wave, but they apparently didn't notice him. Maybe they just didn't want to be associated with him? It happened sometimes, though usually not before he told them certain things...

[i][color=orange]They probably just think I'm weird.[/color][/i] Thaddeus thought, shrugging internally.

"Now take your positions." Ospin said.

Thaddeus was snapped out of his musings to see that the rest students had begun making their way to the launch platforms. Thaddeus hurried over and picked a free one at random. He was between 2 people he didn't know, and it was clear that they were prepared for this.

[color=orange]"Well, this'll be an experience."[/color] Thaddeus said, trying to lighten the mood.

He took a sidelong glance at the two, but couldn't discern whether or not they heard him. Their turn to be launched was coming soon. As he looked, it was coming to the person on his left.

[color=orange]"Good luck, I guess!"[/color] Thaddeus said to them before they rocketed off.

Thaddeus could feel the launch pad beneath him move, and he knew he had a little time before it shot him off into the forest. He turned to the person on his right and waved a curt goodbye.

[color=orange]"Meet you down below!"[/color] He said cheerfully before bending down as launch pad primed itself. [color=orange][i]If I do this, I'll end up there...[/i][/color]

He sprang up as the pad lifted under his feet, rocketing into the sky. Thaddeus yelled out in delight as he soared higher than the others.

[color=orange]"This is what I wanted!"[/color] He yelled in middair.

Suddenly, he was buffeted by winds, slowing his flight forward, slowing his momentum.

[color=orange]"Oh, whoops."[/color] Thaddeus said.

He began freefalling into the forest, wind whistling in his ears. Remaining calm, he spread his limbs in an attempt to slow his fall.

[color=orange][i]I'm gonna need a big tree...[/i][/color] He thought.

He looked below him and saw that there was one close to his right. He tried to guide himself to be directly over it before drawing his sword with his right hand. As he came down to the tree, he wrapped his other hand around the hilt.

[color=orange][i]That might be a little too close for my liking...[/i][/color] Thaddeus thought.

Thaddeus held his sword out, edge first. As he came to the top of the tree, Dragon Slayer cleaved into the wood, cutting through the middle of the tree. Thaddeus's body jerked at the sudden loss of momentum and he torso smacked into the tree.

[color=orange]"Ow!"[/color] Thaddeus cried.

For a few worrying seconds, his sword continued to pass through the tree like butter. His descent began rapidly slowing, however, his momentum from the fall rapidly draining. As he slowed down to a stop, Dragon Slayer threw splinters into Thaddeus's face before coming to a sudden stop. Thaddeus's body jerked and he grunted in surprise, dangling several feet in the air, before Dragon Slayer came loose and dumped Thaddeus on the ground. Thaddeus fell in an unceremonious heap before springing up to brush dirt off his clothes.

[color=orange]"Ugh."[/color] he said, spitting dust out of his mouth. [color=orange]"Splinters."[/color]

He quickly brushed himself off before checking his surroundings.

[color=orange]"Well, not too bad a place to land."[/color] He said.

He was in a seemingly featureless section of flat forest, which was convenient for him. Trees were scattered around him evenly, which only made it more generic.

[color=orange]"I wonder where the ruins are."[/color] Thaddeus said out loud. [color=orange]"Maybe I could climb a tree?"[/color]

Thaddeus looked up at the tree he'd just landed on. Dragon Slayer had made a mess of it, and it'd practically split in half. Thaddeus shrugged and turned around to find another tree.

[color=orange]"I'll need a whole tree. And taller this time."[/color] He said as he walked into the forest.