It had been a few years since the last time Telemachus went to the field. That is, not counting the trip through the sea a year ago, but even now he prefered not to think about it. He was lucky, hell, everyone that landed on Aurora Myst was lucky just to be alive. And now he was getting ready to face unkwnown paths in the deep forest, guaranteed to face at least one murderous monster. But it's not like he didn't expect it. The moment he signed up for the expedition he knew the risks; he was hoping for it, even. Something that took his mind away from the painful memories and the eternal destrucion on his homeland. Anything would be better than the war and the plague.

He left his mouse, Barney, under the care of Silas, who was more than happy with his new pet, then donated his foodstuffs to the Manager to share with everyone, and shut all windows. Telemachus didn't know how long they would be out there. The last expedition took two weeks...

His backpack had to be carefully planned. Spare clothes, sleeping bag, blanket. Water, food, a shortsword, a knife, a hand crossbow. And a book - he had to hide it deep, otherwise Rose and her team would ban it. What was the need of books when you're deep in the forest? Well, that is an easy question to answer if you're a scholar like Telemachus. Books are heavy and unpractical, but they can be the friend you need in dark places. Not only that, but the ruins Rose found had old carvings, symbols, a dead language maybe, so the Record of Dead Languages by Tobias Hakkar might help. And he had to take a field journal with him, since Rose's men were allergic to the written language.

He raised his backback and almost tipped over.

"Fuck."

It was not going to be easy, but at least the rain had stopped. The settlement was alive again, people walking around, tending to their damaged houses, feeding the pigs and the chicken, whispering about the news. They stared at him when they thought he wasn't looking. Telemachus missed the noise of children running around and laughing, but since they were all adults there, it would probably be a few years until that, if they managed to survive long enough. They were only thirty people with different backgrounds, now having to teach and learn everything they could so that the settlement might grow and maybe thrive.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

He stepped out and looked up. The heavy clouds from yesterday were gone. The wind was gone, too. The sun was warm as always - so much warmer than it was back home, and now the humidity made it hard to breath, as if they were all in an oven, slowly baking. The birds he didn't know the names of were flying around and chirping their new songs.

He started to sweat profusely the moment he left his house. Telemachus adjusted his backpack's straps and took a deep breath. From beyond the first trees of the surrounding woods he could listen to the ocean. The settlement was built in a clearing a few hundred meters away from the shore. Over here the water was of a deep blue, sometimes green; it changed as changed the dreams of the Goddess that slumbered deep below.

Their feared the sea because they were afraid that the Goddess might wake up and giant tidal waves would come destroying everything; a repeated ocurrance on the continent. Maybe she now wanted to take them back. As the goddess slumbered, there was a feeling deep in each of them, telling them that maybe they should not have left, that they were somewhere they were not supposed to.

Rose's Company was ready and waiting next to the West Gate,a fter resting for a few days. Rose was checking their equipment, issuing orders, reassuring them. She was accopmpained by four other men, experienced hunters and explorers all, but no less afraid. Telemachus could see the terrified looks on their faces. Two of them died in the Forest, and now they were heading back.

"I see you're well-prepared", Rose said, coming closer. "You sure you can use a sword and a crossbow?"

"It's not my first expedition, Rose."

"It's one thing to fight bandits and rogue squadrons in the ruins of the Empire," she said. "Another to face horrors we don't know at all."

Telemeachus shuddered, remembering.

"I worked many years for the Academy. They had no remorse when it came to experimenting with magi stones and creating new horrors of their own."

He picked her interest. She tossed a bundle of rope to one of the men.

"You never talked about that before", she said.

"I didn't want you to think I'm just a bookworm."

She nodded.

"So the rumors were true. About the fiends."

"Yes. Animals, prisoners of war..." he took a deep breath. "I wasn't part of it, but I've seen the labs. And encountered some of them in the field."

"So you know how to use a sword."

"Standard field historian training only. Any of you could easily kill me", he said, gesturing vaguely to the group. They laughed.

"That's what I though, bookworm", she said, with a smile.

She turned around and resumed preparations. Telemachus felt the urge of checking his sword, so he unsheathed it and looked at the edge against the sun. It would have to do - he spent a long time sharpening it last night.

"Let's move!" yelled Rose.