The next two days passed quickly for the newly named Outsiders, and they enjoyed a last meal with the El’Thani caravan. The Al’Yanda knew they were leaving today and wanted to give them a proper send-off. They brought out tables, and everyone ate breakfast together. As Zeltara enjoyed her meal, she watched Kaztos talking to Euronar and a few other Al’Yanda men. Meanwhile, Saiya and Yena were conversing with each other. It made her wish that she got to know the people in the caravan better.
Pence finished loudly chewing his meal from beside her and said, “I’m going to miss you. Life has been so exciting since you all came into our lives.” Zeltara couldn’t help but smile at the statement.
“Yes, I’m sure our collapsing half dead into your camp was the perfect idea of exciting. Not to mention all the help you’ve been.” Help almost seemed like an understatement. Zeltara knew that they’d be dead if it weren’t for the Al’Yanda’s kindness. Then, they allowed them to live with them and treated them as one of their own. That didn’t even get into how much they taught the three of them. Despite the personal distance, the caravan had carved a place in her heart.
Pence laughed. “You’ve got that right. If only any of you had been awake for the yelling that ensued. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a panic like that, outside the attack that is.” The jovial mood soured between them. Both of them shifted around awkwardly. “I can never thank you three enough for saving the caravan. My life as well. Any kindness from us feels like nothing in comparison.” Zeltara noticed Pence’s somber mood and socked him in the arm.
“Let’s just agree that we saved each other and call it even. How about we keep things positive? I don’t want to remember our goodbye being so negative.” Pence agreed, and they switched to lighter topics. The moment was peaceful, and Zeltara found herself almost not wanting it to end.
But the time came all the same as everyone finished their meals. The three had packed everything up earlier, so it was time for goodbyes. While Saiya and Kaztos gave their friends a proper goodbye, Dinaro approached her with a wide smile.
“I hope you stay safe on your travels.” He offered an outstretched hand.
Zeltara took it and said, “Well, you know just how much trouble we can find. We’ll still do our best.” Dinaro let out a hearty laugh.
“That sounds about right. I’m glad to have brought you in. The only thing I regret is not charging you more for rent.” Zeltara chuckled. “But enough about that, yes? There’s one more thing we need to discuss.”
“And what would that be?” she asked. Dinaro reached into his pocket and pulled out a small necklace. He handed it to her. It had red beads held together by a white string. At the center was a small amulet depicting an oasis in a desert. She cradled the necklace in her hand. “This is beautiful. Thank you.”
“Ah, I’m glad to hear that, but it’s not just meant to be pretty. That is a symbol. Present that to any Al’Yanda, and they’ll know that you’re a friend.” Zeltara gave the necklace another inspection before putting it away in her satchel.
“Thank you, sir. That means a lot to me.” Dinaro laughed at her touched tone.
“No need to get all sentimental, yes? You’ve more than earned it. Now, be sure to visit sometime. I want to hear about your adventures.” Zeltara had to take a breath to swallow her rising emotions. The goodbye started to hit her hard.
“Of course we will. You take care of yourselves too, okay?” Dinaro agreed as he gave her one last pat on the shoulder. She then watched as he walked back into the crowd. Zeltara walked over to Kaztos and Saiya, who finished their own goodbyes.
“You ready to go?” Saiya asked. Before either Kaztos or Zeltara could answer, Pence interrupted them.
He ran up and embraced them. “Please don’t leave. Can’t you just keep working at the caravan?” He let go when Kaztos gave him a pat on the back.
“Unfortunately not. I’m afraid that we must go our separate ways for now.” Kaztos then gave Pence a wide grin. “Don’t worry. We’ll see each other again.”
Zeltara said, “Exactly. We’re friends now, so we’ll come back to visit. Who knows, maybe you’ll be able to come along next time. Right Saiya?” She looked over at the blond girl.
Saiya crossed her arms and looked away. “Sure, you’re not that bad. We’re friends, I guess.” Despite the halfhearted words, Pence beamed at the affirmation.
“Thanks! Just be sure to come back soon, yes? I don’t want to wait too long.” As Pence backed away, one more person came forward. Zeltara stood at attention as Dollanti reached them.
“So, you three are heading out already?” He sighed when they nodded. “I wish there were more time to prepare you. The three of you are still too young. But just remember your training and stick together. Maybe you’ll be fine then.”
Kaztos bowed. “Of course, sir! Thank you for all your teachings. We will succeed because of your help.”
“Yeah, you're not so bad. Thanks for all the help,” Zeltara said with a smirk.
Saiya looked away and muttered, “Thanks.”
“Enough already. You can repay me by not getting killed. This isn’t something I want to say ‘I told you so’ about. Now get out of here. You’re burning valuable daylight.” Dollanti waved them away. Zeltara and the others began to leave camp for the last time. Looking back, she saw everyone they’d stayed with for the past six weeks waving off.
Zeltara and Kaztos turned away to hide the tears that threatened to fall. Saiya rolled her eyes at the sight and took the lead down the street. They followed along toward the tavern. The sun hung high in the sky as noon approached. They spent much of the morning on that big breakfast, but they should make it in time.
“Alright, let’s do one last check. Food and water?” Zeltara asked. Kaztos and Saiya checked their satchels as they walked.
“Looks good! I have at least a month of food and water,” Kaztos said. Saiya nodded in agreement.
“Same with me. I also have medical supplies for whenever any of us gets hurt.” Zeltara hummed in thought.
“Alright, how about camping equipment?”
Kaztos answered, “I have my sleeping bag and cookware.”
“And I have our tent,” Saiya added. She gave Zeltara a stern look. “Did we have to get just one tent?”
Zeltara nodded. “Yeah, we don’t have enough room otherwise. It’s not like we’re going to use it often. I imagine we will spend most nights under the stars.” Seeing Saiya placated, she continued. “By the way, have you gotten the hang of your new mediums?”
“Of course!” Kaztos said. “I practiced for hours over the past two days.” That explained the miniature earthquakes Zeltara had felt. “Though I haven’t had a chance to let loose and see what they’re fully capable of. I didn’t want to cause a disturbance.” It was a discretion Zeltara appreciated. His practice was distracting enough as it was.
“I also practiced, but tried to be careful,” Saiya said. “I didn’t want to burn anything down by accident.” Zeltara noted that. They should find somewhere to practice if they could find the time. The middle of Mousafont really wasn’t the best place.
She then held up her hand covered in a new black glove. The tips of the pointer and middle fingers each held a mana stone. “I made this in my spare time. I tried to add it to my gauntlet, but it was too bulky.” The past few days were rather frustrating for Zeltara. She could add only so much to her gauntlet before it got too unwieldy. There had to be a way to use better materials and a way to decrease the amount of space needed. It was something to think about later.
They continued talking about their training on the way to the tavern. The mundane conversation helped to keep Zeltara’s rising nerves in check. Today was an important day, and she wanted nothing to go wrong.
Before long, they made it back to the tavern. Unlike before, the place was busy. Zeltara could hear several dozen people mingling inside. Two guards stood outside, protecting the entrance. They stopped them as the three of them got close.
“Halt, the tavern is off limits to non-expedition members.” Kaztos gestured for him to handle it and smiled at the guards.
“Good morning, gentlemen. We are The Outsiders. We’re here for the meeting.” One guard sneered.
“You kids are expedition members? Like I’d believe that.” His dismissive tone ticked Zeltara off, but the other guard spoke up before she could say anything.
“Wait a moment.” The guard checked the clipboard he was holding. “Looks like they're official. Ha, never would have guessed. Well, go on in.” The other guard scoffed but didn’t say anything. Kaztos and Saiya pulled Zeltara into the tavern before she could say something inflammatory.
The tavern was more packed than Zeltara had first thought. There appeared to be almost a hundred people inside. They were all grouped together around tables or against the wall. The noise was almost overwhelming to Zeltara, and Saiya looked uncomfortable at how busy it was. Fortunately, they found a relatively clear spot near the back corner. The three settled in, leaning against the wall. It gave Zeltara a good view of everyone else there. She took a moment to examine them.
Groups differed widely in appearance and size. The smallest appeared to be a pair of brothers that looked to be from the upper district. Their armor looked impressive at first glance but was in actuality impractical. The largest looked to be a group of eight that all wore shoddy equipment. Overall, she couldn’t help but feel unimpressed. No one appeared to be particularly prepared. It was like Jindan and Quali said. Only the desperate or the uninformed seemed to be interested. Zeltara felt it wasn’t an exaggeration that they were one of the most qualified groups here.
But just as she was ready to write the whole room off, her gaze caught a group of four near the back. They comprised two men and women of East Domini appearance. Unlike the rest in the room, they seemed to be prepared. Each wore quality armor and carried weapons that were well cared for. They held serious expressions and waited silently for the meeting to start. They were the group most likely to have been adventurers before this.
A yank of her shirt sleeve drew her attention. Kaztos let go and pointed to the bar. Zeltara turned to see Jindan, Quali, and two guards talking amongst themselves. She settled in, ready for the meeting to start. Just a minute later, the group turned to the crowd. Jindan said something that Zeltara couldn’t pick up over all the noise.
She could just hear his second attempt. “Attention please! Could you settle down?” Unfortunately, the crowd failed to hear his instructions, happy to talk amongst themselves. Zeltara noticed Quali grow angry and climb up onto the bar.
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“Shut up!” Her shout carried through the room, silencing everyone. They turned to face Quali as she glared throughout the crowd. “We’re starting the meeting. So shut up and listen.”
Jindan cleared his throat as Quali got down. “Thank you, Quali. I see that not everyone who signed up arrived, but no matter. Instead, I would like you welcome you all as members of the second iteration of The New Horizon’s Expedition. Our gracious Duke Mousador has recruited you for one purpose. To save Mousafont city.”
His declaration brought an air of tension to the crowd. Several groups seemed nervous. The room was silent as the captain spoke. “The world we find ourselves in has completely changed. Ever since the cataclysm, we have found ourselves adrift in a new land, with no knowledge of the world around us. What lies just beyond the city limits could be anyone’s guess. Mousafont must now deal with new challenges that threaten its very survival. Complete anarchy outside our walls, an influx of refugees that jeopardizes the stability of the city, and ever-dwindling supplies. The fact of the matter is, if these problems aren’t solved, Mousafont will run out of food in less than six months.”
Fear set in among most of the crowd. Perhaps none of them realized the severity of the situation. Of the direness this new world brought. They continued to live inside the city’s walls, told everything was fine. To hear that they are unlikely to survive the next year must have been horrifying. Zeltara found herself thankful not to be so ignorant. The wasteland taught her about the new reality they found themselves in.
“Now, with the population surge Mousafont has experienced, the guards cannot do anything. They must focus on maintaining order within the city until more can be properly trained. That’s where we come in.” Jindan made a signal to Quali, who reached down for something. “From this day forth, all of you are adventurers under the banner of The New Horizon’s Expedition. Our goal? To save Mousafont! Your task is to find resources for the city to use. Settlements we can trade with, natural bodies of water to replenish our water reserves, and farmland for us to settle and grow crops. Our observations show that none of these immediately surround the city, so you must go further into the unknown and discover them. Now, any questions so far?”
The crowd murmured among themselves. Soon one voice called out, coming from a teenage boy in dirty street clothing. If Zeltara didn’t know better, she would have assumed that he had accidentally wandered in. “Excuse me, sir. But what about the first expedition? I heard rumors about something happening to them.” Jindan grimaced at the question.
“Ah yes, the first expedition. Well, that one was a complete failure. Almost nobody came back alive. Unfortunately, this is likely to be just as perilous as well. I ask that you be careful out there. The city’s survival hinges on your success.” His words did nothing to comfort the boy. If anything, he looked panicked now.
Another voice spoke up from the crowd. “I can’t do this. I didn’t realize it would be so dangerous.” He appeared to be a distressed young man dressed like a laborer. He held up a pouch. “Here, take your money back. I don’t want any part of this.” Jindan’s expression hardened.
“Sorry, but your participation is now mandatory. Once you signed up and came to this meeting, you agreed to be a member. It’s too late to back out now. Once this meeting is over, you’ll have until the end of the day to leave Mousafont. Otherwise, you will be forced out or imprisoned.” Voices rose in protest.
“So, we’re just exiled from the city now? How is that fair? I’ve lived here my entire life.” Jindan turned to the speaker, a young woman who seemed to shiver in her boots.
“We will allow you back in once you’ve helped Mousafont. Only one trip is mandatory. You can leave the expedition afterward. However, if we find out you are falsifying information, you’ll be detained.”
“I’m not throwing my life away for this. Let me out of here.” A man in affluent clothing made his way to the door before Jindan whistled. The two guards from outside entered and blocked the exit. Four more guards came in from the kitchen and spread out around the room. The man tried to get past, but one of the guards punched his face and dropped him.
“Get back to your seat now or it’ll be my sword next.” The man scrambled back to his spot. From the corner of her eye, Zeltara saw Kaztos take a step towards the confrontation. Saiya stopped him by grabbing his arm.
“What are you doing?” Saiya said. Kaztos turned to her.
“We need to do something. He doesn’t deserve that kind of treatment.” Zeltara turned and put a hand on his shoulder. They didn’t need Kaztos to start something now.
“What are you planning to do then? They’re not going to listen to you.” Kaztos didn’t answer.
Saiya added on. “He signed up for this and showed up. This is on him at this point. If he doesn’t want to be a part of it, he can go find some empty field and report that back.” Kaztos seemed to struggle for a moment before his shoulders slumped.
“It’s just not right. He doesn’t deserve this.” By now, the crowd was settling down. Perhaps they realized that there wasn’t any getting out of this.
Zeltara said, “You’re right. It’s not. But we can’t do anything about it right now.” She tried to think of something to say. Anything to get the depressed look off Kaztos’ face. “But if we keep our heads down and do our jobs, then maybe we can do something in the future. Remember, one of the best ways to move up in the world is to be an adventurer. We just have to prove ourselves among the best.” The words felt inadequate. A vague promise that realistically wouldn’t be obtainable for them. Still, Kaztos cheered up all the same.
“You’re right! Thank you, Zeltara.” Saiya motioned towards the bar.
“Pay attention. It looks like they’re starting again.” The crowd was silent. The tension was thick enough that Zeltara felt she could cut it with a knife. Jindan looked around to see if there were going to be any more problems.
Seeing nothing, he continued his speech. “Well, now that we’re on the same page, I’ll continue. Quali?” He motioned to the desk woman, who unfurled a large paper against the back wall and secured it. A map with a town labeled Mousafont stood out on the leftmost section of it. Zeltara opened her journal and began copying the map down. It’d be useful in the future. “This map contains all the limited information that the first expedition brought us. As you can see, the wastes stretch on a north-south line just west of here. I would advise to avoid the area. There doesn’t seem to be anything out there. Instead, I recommend going east.”
His finger moved to the middle of the map, where grass and hills appeared to be drawn in. “Now, just east of here are miles of plains. The first expedition failed to find anything here besides some old ruins a day’s walk away. Fortunately, it appears to be safe to travel, so no need to worry.” He then gestured further north, where dozens of trees were drawn in. “To the north of the plains lies a vast forest. No one from the first expedition traveled more than a few days in because of a lack of supplies, but there could be something further inside.” Zeltara decided to keep that in mind. Because of their enchanted storage, they could probably travel further than anyone else here. But were several weeks of tracking through a forest worth it?
Jindan then motioned south, where the map was blank. “We are currently unsure of what lies to the south. Several adventurers reported back about other groups making their way down there, but none returned. I urge you to be cautious if you explore that way.” Finally, he turned the group’s attention to the rightmost section on the map. There, laid some elevated land formation with a mountain range behind it.
“This here is our greatest area of interest. It’s a vast plateau several hundred feet in elevation. It would be too dangerous for you to climb, so please don’t try. At least two expedition members died trying to do so. However, as far as we can tell, this is our path to the east. The mountain range boxes this entire region off from the rest of the world. It would take months, if not longer, to go around them. However, there appears to be a potential break in the mountains to the northeast. The problem is that this potential path is at the top of the plateau. Our primary goal is to find a safe and accessible place to reach the top.” Jindan grimaced as his finger shifted to a drawn-in entrance in the plateau wall.
“Now, this is an entrance to a cave system into the plateau. From the reports we’ve received, we believe that there is an exit that leads to the top of the plateau. One large enough to allow trade and supply caravans to pass through. However, I ask that you don’t enter there unless there’s no other choice to advance.” His words brought a moment of pause to the room.
Zeltara couldn’t help but ask, “Why shouldn’t we go in there? It seems like the most direct path.” Jindan turned to her, his expression grim.
“Because of all the casualties the first expedition suffered, we believe that this cave system is responsible for around seventy-five percent of them.” The statement seemed to suck the air out of the room. The question of how silently hung amongst the crowd. “There were few survivors, but from what they said, there is a monster that lurks in there. Something that cut through the expedition members, whether they tried to fight or run. Once it set its sights on you, there was little chance of escape.” Zeltara could almost feel herself breaking into a cold sweat. What could be capable of killing dozens of armed people like that? Was it all at once, or were they picked off one by one?
Jindan cleared his throat. “Like I said, I ask that you don’t go that route. Instead, explore to the north or south first. Walk along the plateau walls to see if there’s another path. But please don’t throw your life away. The city’s survival rests on your success. Now, are there any more questions before we finish here?”
The room remained silent. By now, most of the people looked like they were on their way to the gallows. Zeltara felt that for most of them, it wasn’t that far off. Besides a few groups, most seemed ill-prepared for the journey ahead of them. They didn’t realize what they were signing up for outside of a few hushed rumors. No wonder Quali tried to stop people. This seemed like a death sentence for most of them. Did they even have enough food and water to make it a week outside the city walls?
The Duke must be desperate to throw this many lives away for the slightest chance of success. Was it a heavyhearted decision for the sake of the city, or an attempt to maintain the legitimacy he had that this crisis threatened? Based on what Kaztos described of the man, Zeltara had an idea of which it was. She found her mind drifting to Dollanti. Did he go through something like this? Was he like one of the panicking men in this room, trying to find a way out but unable to do so? A man abandoned by the world, but who survived despite the odds. No wonder he ended up so cynical. Zeltara wished she could do something to help, but it was like she told Kaztos. What could they do in this situation?
Seeing nobody respond, Jindan said, “Alright, then let me finish it with this. It may not seem like it now, but this is a privilege bestowed upon all of you. Yes, this will be a dangerous journey you are undertaking, but this is Mousafont’s greatest crisis. It needs every single one of you so that it may continue to be the glorious city of the past. For those of you who diligently complete this mission, a comfortable life awaits you. This city will honor you and give you a just reward for your efforts. But to those who go above and beyond, an even greater prize awaits them. The Duke would bestow pension pay, property, and perhaps even the ultimate honor.”
Life finally returned to the crowd. For the first time since the meeting started, hope seemed to fill them. They began talking amongst themselves, a fire being lit underneath them. Zeltara wasn’t that far behind. Everyone could read what Jindan was implying. It only happened to the greatest adventurers of the past. To those who rose above the rabble and became living legends. Ascension.
“There’s no way he could be promising what I think he’s hinting at,” Saiya said. “A duke doesn’t have the ability to give Ascension. It’s rare even for a king to do. For them to even give hope for it.” She shook her head. “The Duke is ambitious, perhaps crazy.”
Meanwhile, Kaztos was practically vibrating with excitement. “This is perfect. An Ascension would be just what my family needs. Something to wash away our great sin.” Saiya scoffed.
“This could just be something he said to give hope to the rabble here. He didn’t even mention it directly. Even if it is true, I doubt we’d be eligible.” Zeltara couldn’t help but chuckle.
“That’d be something. An elf getting ascended. Think of how many people would lose their minds over it.” Though it had a nice ring to it. A nice, if unrealistic, dream.
“That just means we’ll have to work ten times as hard as everyone else. If we keep overcoming anything in our path, then they can’t deny us,” Kaztos said, a steady calm in his tone. Saiya still appeared skeptical.
“Maybe, or they’ll keep the door slammed shut against us, no matter what we do.” Kaztos grimaced at the likely prospect. Ascensions were rare enough as is. The last one Zeltara knew of was during the sixth crisis almost thirty years ago.
By now, the crowd had calmed again. Jindan waited a moment and went to finish his speech. “It’s good to see you all willing to serve your city. Now, it’s time to head out and rediscover the world!” Jindan then motions to a guard next to him, who picks up an open crate and sets it down onto the bar. “Please, each of you pick up a New Horizons Expedition Badge. You’re not required to wear it, but please keep it on you. It’ll allow you to enter the city again if you have information. It also gives you the authority to represent Mousafont to a limited degree. If you find any settlements. Present them with the badge and ask them to send a delegation back to Mousafont to negotiate. Tell them we’re willing to trade resources and protection in return for food and water.”
One by one, groups stepped up and grabbed their badges. Zeltara waited until the line thinned before approaching, Kaztos and Saiya following behind. She reached the crate and grabbed three badges, handing the others to her friends. The badge was made of leather, with the symbol of a sunrise in the center. The words New Horizon’s Expedition were sewn in along the top with Mousafont City at the bottom. Someone could easily sew it onto an upper sleeve or shirt pocket. Zeltara considered it for a moment but decided against it for now. Instead, she placed it into her satchel. Kaztos and Saiya followed suit.
“Thank you again for your service. I release you into the world beyond. Please make your way to the gate before sunset. I look forward to hearing of your success.” Finally finished, Jindan sat on a stool behind the bar and began quietly conversing with Quali and a guard. The crowd slowly left the tavern, talking among themselves.
Zeltara felt her wrist grabbed and turned to see Kaztos pulling her and Saiya towards the exit. “Let’s go! We need to make ground immediately!” Kaztos exclaimed while dragging them to the exit.
She couldn’t help but laugh. “Slow down, Kaztos. We can wait for the crowd to disperse.”
“Nonsense! We need to get ahead of everyone else. How else will we beat them to glory?” It figured Kaztos would get pumped up over the speech. Zeltara rolled her eyes, amused by the situation.
The same couldn’t be said for Saiya, who growled as she tried to reclaim her hand. “Let go, Kaztos! I don’t want to get crushed trying to squeeze through the door.” Kaztos didn’t answer or release his grip. Zeltara and Saiya suffered from the pushing and squashing as they were forced through the door.
After a minute, they managed to make their way through. The early afternoon sun greeted them, and Zeltara had to take a moment for her eyes to adjust. She then noticed that only half of the expedition seemed to head toward the gates. The others dispersed in different directions. Whether they were trying to get last-second supplies or abandon their duty, Zeltara didn’t know. She didn’t give it much thought. The momentous moment ahead held her attention.
It took only a ten-minute walk for them to reach the city gates. To think, it’d been only six days since they’d arrived, and they were already leaving again. Zeltara supposed it was something she had to get used to. They would be traveling a lot from here on out.
They seemed to be among the first to arrive as the guards stood ready on either side of the closed gate. As they approached, one guard took a step forward and held up his hand.
“Halt! Leaving Mousafont is currently prohibited. State your business or leave.” Zeltara got her patch out and presented it to the guard. He examined it for a moment before guffawing. “Ha! You’re a part of the expedition?” He waved to his partner. “Hey, come take a look at this.”
The other guard approached and saw their patches. He let out a mocking chuckle. “They really let anyone into the expedition, huh? They’re just a bunch of kids. And one’s an elf, the other’s pretending to be a Molinar of all things.” Zeltara gritted her teeth as the two laughed at them.
“What’s the big idea? Do you think you can mock us? We’re adventurers now, so don’t mess with us!” Her words only made the guards chuckle harder.
Kaztos said, “I’ll have you know I am a Molinar. And at least were going out to save the city. It’s more than what you are doing.”
One guard got their laughter under control and said, “More like sending you off to your deaths. I heard what happened to the first expedition, and want no part of it. Feel free to get lost in the wilderness and get eaten by monsters. I’ll enjoy my nice warm bunk.”
“Enough,” Saiya said. “Are you going to let us through or is it too complicated for you two dolts to handle?” The two guards finally settled down.
“Alright, no need to get so snippy. I do wish you lot luck, futile as it probably is.” The two guards walked to the gate, and each opened a door. “Now get out of here already.”
Zeltara and Kaztos grumbled as they followed Saiya through the gate. “Why does everyone like to make fun of us? Just because we’re not the picture of regular adventurers.”
“Ignore it. Don’t let them ruin this,” Saiya said. Zeltara took a breath and calmed down. She was right. This was a moment of celebration.
Looking over the vast wilderness in the distance, Zeltara allowed the day’s excitement to fill her again. “We made it. After all that we went through, we’re adventurers now.”
“That’s right!” Kaztos said. “But this is just the beginning of our journey. I’m sure that we’re going to face even greater challenges on our path to the top. Let’s go face them head-on!” Saiya shook her head.
“Let’s not rush into things. We need to come up with a plan first.”
“Good idea,” Zeltara said. “Does anyone have suggestions?” A cough interrupted them. They looked to see a refugee sitting outside his tent.
“Could you spare some food?” He asked. Around them, hundreds of refugees stared at them. Ah, it looked like they’d forgotten something.
“Let’s get going,” Zeltara said as Kaztos handed the man some food. The stares got more intense. Like sharks smelling blood in the water. “We can make a plan once we've made some distance.” Zeltara took the lead as they walked down the road, hungry refugees eyeing them from both sides.
Now that we're through the prologue, whose your favorite main character?
