Chapter 63: Expeditions

The atmosphere was thick with tension as the five members of Room Eighty—Abel, Ronald, Nando, Sena, and Isabella—gathered on the crowded first floor of the Stone Tower. The air buzzed with murmurs of confusion, displeasure, and outright frustration. Abel glanced down at the colored slip in his hand, trying to mask the anxiety bubbling within him. He and Ronald had received a mission to explore ruins, while the others had been assigned equally daunting tasks. The Tower’s method of task allocation had stirred unrest among the recruits, both gifted and non-gifted alike.

As they made their way to the task office, they passed clusters of recruits, their complaints barely concealed behind sneers and whispers. Abel overheard a group of gifted recruits nearby, their voices dripping with disdain.

"I can’t believe we’re being paired with the non-gifted for such a dangerous expedition. They’ll slow us down," one of them said, rolling their eyes dramatically.

Tina, a gifted recruit who had once sided with Ronald, crossed her arms in irritation. "It’s ridiculous. As if we don’t have enough to worry about. Babysitting the non-gifted on a mission like this is a waste of our talents."

Ronald’s jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with irritation, but he kept his focus forward. Abel, too, remained quiet, but the sting of their words hung in the air. Even now, with the Tower emphasizing collaboration, the divide between the gifted and non-gifted felt as vast as ever. Abel glanced at Ronald, who walked beside him with a stiff determination, though Abel could tell the weight of the upcoming mission was pressing down on him.

Nando, however, was less composed. His usual unpredictable demeanor had darkened into something more brooding, and his frustration was palpable. "Why am I always stuck with the worst jobs?" he muttered, his voice low. “I swear, this better be the weakest terror in the world…”

Isabella glanced at him, offering a small, thoughtful nod but said nothing. She had learned to expect Nando’s mood swings, especially in stressful situations. Sena, beside her, seemed calm but focused, the primal energy inside him simmering just beneath the surface. He was eager to get the details of his task, ready for whatever challenge lay ahead.

The line for the task office stretched through the hall as recruits filed in and out, each with expressions ranging from fear to outright anger. Some were clearly unhappy with their assignments, but there was little they could do. The Tower’s decisions were final, and complaining wouldn’t change their fate.

Finally, it was their turn to enter the office. The room was dimly lit, the shadows casting an eerie atmosphere over the ancient stone walls. Behind the heavy desk sat Glandel, the instructor clad in his familiar blue robe. His hood was pulled low, obscuring most of his face, but the harsh lines of his jaw and the faint glow of his eyes beneath the hood gave away his stern, authoritative presence. He glanced up as the group entered, his gaze settling on them with cold indifference.

"Slips," he said flatly, his voice deep and commanding.

Abel and Ronald handed over their blue slips first. Glandel unrolled a thick parchment in front of him, his fingers tapping lightly as his eyes scanned over the details.

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"You two are assigned to explore the ruins of the Malancia Nomads," Glandel began, his tone matter-of-fact. "The Malancia Nomads were a group that traveled across the continent for centuries guided by their own astrology, trading rare goods and artifacts. They would often set up camp for years before moving on, but one of their final camps in the south became permanent—though it was never intended to be. The Tower has recently located what’s believed to be their last settlement, overgrown with thorns and surrounded by strange abnormalities."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing. "Your mission is to scout the area, explore the ruins, and gather any information of value. This mission will be long—four to six months—and will be led by Gravedigger."

Ronald's stomach dropped slightly at the mention of Gravedigger, an Apostle known for his no-nonsense attitude and the sheer intensity of his tasks. Abel's expression remained neutral, but a flicker of anxiety crossed his eyes. They both knew this would be no simple mission.

Glandel shifted his gaze to Nando, who stepped forward reluctantly, red slip in hand. He tossed it onto the desk, his scowl deepening. "What’s my task?"

The instructor opened the parchment slowly, his expression hardening as he read the contents. "You’ve been assigned to track and contain a terror that has been moving closer to a human village under Tower jurisdiction." He leaned forward slightly, his gaze locking onto Nando. "The terror is a gargoyle—a vicious creature that feeds on fear and can easily turn an entire village into stone. It has been weakened after being dormant for centuries, with a fraction of its power remaining"

Nando’s scowl faltered for a moment, replaced by a flicker of disbelief. "A terror? A gargoyle? Great," he muttered, frustration evident in his voice. The weight of the mission was sinking in fast, and it was clear that this was more than he had bargained for.

Glandel ignored Nando’s outburst, turning his attention to Sena and Isabella. "You two have been assigned to secure an ancient mine in the western region," he explained, his voice as cold and steady as ever. "This mine has been deemed strategically important by the Tower due to its rare ores. However, there have been reports of creatures lurking within the mine. Your task is to clear the area and secure it for future extraction."

Sena nodded, his expression focused and calm, while Isabella absorbed the details with a thoughtful look. The mission didn’t sound easy, but both seemed ready to tackle it head-on.

With the tasks assigned, Glandel rolled up the scrolls and handed them back to the recruits. "You leave at dawn tomorrow," he said with finality. "Make your last-minute preparations today. Gather your supplies, and be ready. The Tower does not tolerate failure."

As they turned to leave, the weight of their missions hung heavily in the air. The silence between them was tense as they processed the gravity of what lay ahead.

Once outside, Nando broke the silence with a heavy sigh. "A gargoyle... a damn terror. Why do I always get stuck with the worst jobs?" His voice was laced with frustration, but there was a hint of resignation as well.

Sena smirked slightly but didn’t comment, already focused on what awaited him and Isabella in the ancient mine. The thought of clearing out unknown creatures excited a part of him, the primal urge for battle flickering in his eyes.

Abel exchanged a glance with Ronald, both of them still coming to terms with the fact that they would be exploring ancient ruins for six long months. The Malancia Nomads were a mystery, and the thought of the strange thorns and abnormalities surrounding their camp sent a shiver down Abel's spine.

"We should get ready," Abel said finally, breaking the tension. "We don’t have much time."

The others nodded in agreement, their minds already turning toward the tasks ahead. Tomorrow, their paths would split—each group facing its own unique dangers and challenges.

Tomorrow, they would set out into the unknown, ready to prove themselves once more.