CHAPTER 31

TO DEADLANDS

Hans knocked on his grandparents’ doors and bolted inside the quarters. “Hey! Gramps. How are you doing?” His eyes searched for Rudolf since there was no response. But soon an answer came from further inside, and he turned his head.

“Spare me with your fake gestures, brat. I heard a pretty interesting nonsense. You forfeited from Glory Wars. Care to explain?”

“Hmm! For starters, it’s not nonsense. I volunteered for Deadlands—”

“Yeah, that was the nonsense I was talking about, brat. Deadlands volunteering for third-years is just free labour. You don’t get to do any exciting things. Possibly, you won’t even be able to leave the Node perimeter.”

“Isn’t that good?” Hans laced his words with sarcasm. “I’ll be safe inside the Node, right?”

“As if. You probably want to go to the Deadlands—”

“Trang! You are wrong this time, Grandpa. Facing a red demon. I’m not that crazy… or strong for the matter.” Hans explained. “I’ve heard of Red Monks. I’m just scouting the group to see if they are worth their grand name—”

“Hera’s squad… that’s a pretty big name in Deadlands, Squeaky. But I wonder if she’ll let you in. Your father and she had an intense rivalry… And I’m pretty sure the score between them wasn’t a tie but in her favour.”

“I heard. She out did him many times—”

“And which fancy bastard sing that to your ears.”

“I’ve my sources. So, you have no problems me volunteering in Deadlands, right?” Hans asked, his tone earnest.

“If I object, will you not go?” Rudolf chuckled.

“No, I’ll go anyway.”

“Then, what’s the point of asking? You were just informing.” Rudolf sighed. “For the fact that I know, you won’t be facing any dangers around Hera, so I won’t stop you.”

“You have that much confidence in her—”

“She can whip anyone’s ass if she wants to. Unlike your father, who uses several techniques and his sharp wits, she is the definition of absolute power.”

“Have you fought her?”Hans inquired with curiosity, causing Rudolf to shake his head from side to side. "Nope, she only goes up against those who bug her," Rudolf elaborated, "She's super chill unless someone pushes her buttons; then she'll show you what she's made of.”

Rudolf warned, “So, squeaky. Don't even think about doing something silly, okay?" His gaze consistent on the little troublemaker, "I'm not just giving you a heads up; I'm practically begging you.”

“That’s not why I’m going there, Gramps, don’t worry.” Hans tried to pacify his old man. He was going there for quite the opposite reasons. Dietrich asked him to make a good impression on her so she’d want him to join Red monks and possibly teach him a thing or two.

However, Rudolf was worried, Hera wasn’t someone who’d get provoked easily, even with Hans’s antics, and knowing her personality the chances of her doing something to his little boy were close to zero. But common sense doesn’t work when his foolish grandson was involved so his worries were legitimate.

Hans, on the other hand, was coaxing Sierra because Rudolf’s word he could somehow ignore, but not hers. “I respect your choices. I can’t keep you under my wings forever. So take care of yourself, my child.” She hugged him tight and added, “You should try talking to Vanessa too. She was most worried… her experience with Deadlands was …not good.”

“I think she’d overreact…”

“That would be a reasonable reaction.” Sierra cuddled his back, and Hans left with good vibes to Vanessa’s place.

He knocked, and she swung open the door dressed in clean clothes.

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Her brown hair was damp, droplets clinging to each strand, carrying the lingering fragrance. Having just finished her shower after the tasks as the dean’s aide, she smiled at Hans. "Sure thing, come on in," she said, wrapping a towel around her head in a welcoming gesture.

“So, you are going to Deadlands?” She asked, her voice calm.

“Yeah.” Hans was ready to persuade her with everything he had. He even practiced before a mirror.

“Good luck then.” She responded with a warm smile, sending Hans’s prepared reasons to the trash bin. “I can’t be the one holding my dear brother back. So don’t worry, it’s a place with a lot of experience, but I personally think you won’t be getting any as a third-year volunteer.”

“I want to go.” Hans said, his expressions free of any worries.

“Then, you must heed my words very carefully. Stick to the rules; they're there for a reason. Don't go questioning your superiors, and you'll make it out fine. And most importantly, come back in one piece," she said, ruffling his hair affectionately.

Feeling her hand in his head, Hans nodded. “See, thats how one should react. She is supporting me even if she don’t want me to go. Tsk! Tsk! And look at Deli, throwing tantrum.” Hans was comparing them, forgetting the reasons behind their actions were completely different.

It was the fateful day when Glory wars contenders, a team of 25 people were scheduled to leave for the special training in Sunfall. Only ten was going to represent while the other fifteen was going to comeback with nothing in their names. But this was the risk they are willing to take. It was their last chance to get some fame and made their name known to the the world.

“So she’s still grumpy.” Hans said to Chris while aiming his words at Delimira. She was listening but wasn’t in the mood to reply to Hans, so he further added, “Oh come on Winters, I’ll bring your scale back… didn’t you say you sold it to someone in Concordia node—”

“Chris.”Delimira finally spoke, “tell the flapping-ugly-bastard to mind his own business.”

“Woah, I became ugly too. Tsk! Tsk!” Hans teased her and she stomped ahead without arguing back.

Sighing, Hans turned to Chris, “Take care, buddy.” He patted Chris’s muscular arm.

Chris was already taller than him before and now his growing features were showing too. He was soon reaching adulthood, so his changes were quite noticeable. “She’ll come around, don’t worry.” Chris patted back.

“I know. Its just fun annoying her.”

“Only you can think of this, buddy.” Chris remembered how curt she bit back when he tried teasing her. Bidding farewell, he ran towards the SpaceDoor.

Thelma Ward, the youngest professor and the Seekers’ castle master, was in charge of them this year. She was also responsible for their training in Sunfall. She was asking for a headcount and when everyone was present. They stepped through the SpaceDoor and vanished.

“Volunteers of Deadlands, third-years. Come here.” A skinny man, in his mid-twenties, shouted with a mana-enhanced voice.

“So that’s my call,” Hans muttered and paced towards the calling man.

Soon, he found out a total of eight lowest-ranking members of his class, and ironically, he was the last ranked according to grades of the previous year. If they’ve gone accordingly, he deserved to be here.

When everyone was present, the skinny man introduced himself. “My name is Karl. I’m one of the guards of the Concordia node. Before we depart, I need to tell you something. There are certain rules you need to follow. First, follow the rules like your life depends on it. This upcoming four months will test your pride.” He scanned the staring faces. “It’s good there is no noble among you…ha…my fucking luck.” He bit his tongue as he saw Hans, not some backwater noble but the Parvian imperial.

Understanding his reaction, Hans asserted, “Don’t worry about me, I’m just a volunteer not whatever-bomb you are thinking.”

“…Ha… it’s not my headache.” Karl mutters and continued where he left off, “So follow the rules and you’ll return with your passing credits. And…under no circumstances, you’ll leave the node. Grind that into your head because we were only responsible for you inside the node. Deadlands is a dangerous place… a place you can die with a snap. So if you want to back out, this will be your last chance.”

A hand raised among the eight. A sickly looking boy, who was head taller than Hans asked, “How is the hierarchy of Node. We were told to follow hierarchy.”

“Hmm… I thought you raised your hand for backing out. Hierarchy… every node has similar structure. At the top we have Nodemaster, following down are commanders then captain and lastly the recruits. You’ll be below them called Volunteers.”

Hans raised his hand this time. “What about Red monks?”

“Hmm… so you are trying to become one. Well, its good to dream big.” Karl answered politely but his tone was sarcastic. “Red Monks is a separate unit of Concordia Node. It only answers to Nodemaster Hera.”

“Not even Captains or commanders—”

“Yes, Red Monks members has power all over them, only Nodemaster sits above them.”

Hans nodded, he wanted to confirm this. His aim was to interact with Hera and possible persuade her to teach him to be a proper mage as Dietrich wanted. He wasn’t keen on becoming part of any faction or group since he was already Part of Parv. However, if meeting this Shaerra or Hera would somehow makes him stronger, that’s a different story then.

As Karl paused, expecting further inquiries which never came, he proceeded to request signed permission slips from the students, a necessary formality signed by both parents and guardians. The document clearly stated that any risks to their safety would be their own responsibility, absolving the Node of any blame—a routine protocol for minors venturing into the dangerous Deadlands.

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