“So you have decided to leave?” Malcolm Specter asked his son as he came to look at what Logan was tinkering with. Logan had just [Enchanted] a length of green and brown vine with a strengthening and durability enchantment. Logan figured it was fancy enough.

“Well I figured it was time to fly out of the nest,” Logan said, as he inspected the coil of vine-”rope”.

“You think you can fend for yourself out there?”

“I guess we’ll find out.”

“I assume you are going to return after your expedition?” Malcolm said.

“No father,” Logan said, still keeping his eyes fixed on the rope. “I’m going to abandon Freya here and live my days out alone befriending the cats and blue monsters.”

“Do you think we would get along better were it not for your humorous antics?”

“What do you want, father?”

“I am assigning you an escort.”

“You— what?”

“You have proven yourself capable, which is all the more reason to protect such an asset,” Malcolm explained, his cool hawk eyes never leaving Logan. “But you are not trained for combat.”

“You’re going to assign goons on me?”

“Only one,” Malcolm said. “Think of me what you will, but I know you well. Any more than one would hurt your fickle pride.”

“I learn from the best.”

“My pride is earned, Logan.”

Logan hated to admit it, but that remark hurt him a bit. He’d die before letting it show though.

“I’ll take Simmons,” Logan snapped.

“You will take who I assign,” his father said. “Simmons is no longer a combatant. You will be assigned agent Balmer.”

“No,” Logan said.

“Yes,” Malcolm said. “In addition, a group searching for gatherables and hunting animals will join you. In addition to a force of my combatant agents. They will follow you to the ruins you seek, to ensure safe passage.”

“I do not,” Logan said slowly, accentuating every word. “Need a babysitter.”

“I will do as I see fit to keep a valuable asset useful,” Malcolm said. Logan detected a weariness behind those words. He narrowed his eyes, but his father betrayed no further weakness. Malcolm Specter regarded his son silently for a moment before adding. “Do your part and return back safely.”

Logan gave him a look. But his father had a poker face made of stone. Logan sighed. He’d have to take this one on the chin. If it was one thing he had learned when dealing with Malcolm Specter, it was that picking your fights was important.

“Fine. I’ll take Balmer. I needed a firemaking tool anyway.”

*

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Next morning their crew of adventurers left the camp with little ceremony. Almost half of their group was part of the expedition. In addition to Logan and Balmer, there were four more agents and a bunch of doctors and civilians. Half of them looked like they didn’t want to go, but the bushes of berries nearby were almost eaten, and they couldn’t rely on fish only. They’d need to hunt game and search for spots where mushrooms, berries, roots and such grew.

According to Malcolm Specter’s plans the gatherers would follow Logan and Balmer to the ruins with the rest of the crew and then be escorted back by the agents close to the camp. This was simply to get them oriented. They would need to get experience in simply moving about in the area surrounding the camp. Half of the doctors and civilians in gathering duty looked like they weren’t keen to go anywhere.

“Hey!” Kat exclaimed, her red messy hair standing out from the crowd that was watching them leave. She had her hands wrapped around in cloth. Her knuckles were especially well padded. “I’m coming too.”

“What do you think they need you for?” Freya snapped next to her.

“To be a thigh pillow for your man of course,” Kat said and grinned at Freya.

Freya bristled.

Malcolm turned to Kat. “You plan to help with the hunt? Your class is a fighting oriented one.”

“It is,” Kat said. “That’s why I’m going to stick with your son and protect him.”

“Logan,” Malcolm said. “Do you accept?”

Logan shrugged.

Freya took a step forward. “Logan!”

Logan came over to Freya and hugged her. “Frey. Do you trust me?”

“‘Course I do,” she muttered. “But I don’t trust her.”

“Hate her all you want. I don’t care,” Logan said.

“Hey!” Kat said. “I’m right here you know?”

“I’ve loved you since I was ten, you idiot,” Logan said. “You really think this ditz has a chance?”

“This ditz is going to give it her best shot,” Kat remarked, grinning at Freya.

“Only at ten,” Freya gave him a mock glare. “I’ve loved you since I was eight.”

“Liar,” Logan grabbed her by the shoulder.

“Nuhhuh,” Freya said. “It was when you had that snow castle made for me in that hockey ring.”

“Oh yeah,” Logan said. “Can’t say I had much to do with that. I just ordered father’s people to do it and they were dumb enough to listen.”

“I was eight,” Freya said and smiled lightly. “I was easily impressed.”

Logan kissed her forehead. “Better she comes with me than stay here to drive you up the wall. We don’t have that many walls to begin with.”

Freya chuckled. “Fine. Come back safe.”

“I will.”

*

Traveling through the jungle was a very mellow experience. They did not run into any of the black and blue monsters that Levemoth spawned. No green cats or other predators bothered them either. Must have been the size of their group for the latter one. The curious squirrel-monkeys watched their concession, gibbering to each other.

They saw some creatures resembling deer, but those escaped their sight the minute the hunters tried to approach them. Also, Logan could sense another presence watching them, and whenever he thought he detected movement in his periphery, he turned to look, but never saw anything.

“How many bullets do you even have?” Logan asked none of the agents in particular.

“What’s it to you?” One of the goons answered in an unfriendly tone.

“You could just tell me.”

The agent hawked and spat and walked a few paces forward.

Logan scoffed. “You’re going to be better off throwing spears until we can figure out bows.”

“We are well aware of the strange physics at play here,” another agent said. This one was large and dark haired. Jefferson was his name…? Maybe.

“You guys should wait until we find some crystals, so I can make enchanted spearheads for you guys,” Logan said.

Maybe-Jefferson grunted and the conversation died.

Fine. Starve then, idiots.

But for now there was no starving to be had. A green panther was foolish enough to jump at them from the bushes and Logan quickly took it down with his scythe-rang. They had Balmer build a fire and ate every morsel that the beast had to offer. Sure they had some berries and cooked fish with them, but they’d rather save them for as long as possible.

After a couple of hours they arrived at where Logan had fended off those three scythe-fiends. It was the safer option. The other ruins had the giant Numa-crystal which would be a massive boon, but there was also that splitting monster the size of an elephant guarding it. There was no way they would be able to defeat it. Fool it and trap it? Maybe, but it was too risky.

The afternoon sun was burning hot on them and Logan looked forward to entering the cool ruins. They stood at the doorway overtaken by vegetation in the passing of time. But it was clear the sharply cut stone was man-made. Or at least made by someone…

Logan turned to the agents. “You sure you idiots don’t want me crafting spearheads or something for you?”