The weather had turned for the worse, with a storm that had been going strong for the whole night. Fortunately, by the time of their departure, the tempestuous winds had ceased, leaving only a steady rain—though the gloomy atmosphere felt somewhat foreboding.
The group arrived at headquarters with enough time to properly dry themselves and steel their nerves. It was finally time for their last quest! With that collective thought, they all waited patiently for Kain’s arrival.
It didn’t take long before the Canidae arrived, his wolf-like fur glistening with water droplets. He paused for a moment as their eyes met—perhaps surprised they had arrived before him—and then approached them.
“Good morning. You’re probably the most punctual team I’ve had to test.” He declared as he shook his head, like a dog shaking off its wet fur. Ascalon briefly considered petting him, but quickly realized that it would have been one of the biggest mistakes in the history of bad decisions, so he vanished the thought.
“Good morning, Mr. Kain!” Lilithra responded with clear excitement, always the bundle of energy, while Selorien nodded as he yawned, tired as usual. Ascalon bowed respectfully, as Kain spoke up again.
“Since you’re here so early, let’s speed things along. Follow me.” Kain commanded as he suddenly headed to the hallways, without waiting for a reply. The group hurried after him and navigated the headquarters innards, taking some unfamiliar turns, until they finally arrived at an enormous indoor garage.
The spacious area was filled with different vehicles, from military models like the ones Ascalon had seen a couple of times, to ordinary yet luxurious cars. Kain ignored most of them and headed to a specific point in the garage, where a large white truck awaited. Around the vehicle, multiple people were moving equipment and chatting animatedly.
One of them noticed the group approach, and quickly got closer to meet them halfway. Ascalon opened his eye wide in surprise as another familiar race came into view. It was a lineage of small, yet sturdy beings. Their long beards and resilient nature were some of their defining traits, though they were mostly known for their mining endeavors and their unmatched skills at the anvil! In his world, they were known as dwarfs.
“Good morning Kain! Are these the ones?” The dwarf asked with a curious gaze, his amber eyes shining as he inspected the group. He began stroking his long, brown bear just as Kain replied.
“Yes, they’re the ones that will escort you. Miss Lilithra, Mr. Selorien, and Mr. Ascalon.” Kain introduced, while Lilithra waved happily. Selorien nodded disinterestedly, and Ascalon bowed as expected.
“Nice to meet you, kids! I’m Ragna, Senior Researcher with the Interdimensional Fauna Researchers!” Ragna presented himself as he puffed out his chest, a content smile beneath his beard.
“Nice to meet you as well!” Lilithra said with enthusiasm, causing the dwarf’s smile to widen.
“Nice! Proper people for once!” Ragna laughed at his own words, the meaning behind them lost to the group. While they pondered about what he could mean, the dwarf gestured for them to follow.
“Come, let’s get you acquainted with the team!” Ragna chirped, while Kain interjected.
“They’re in your hands.” The Canidae stated before turning around and leaving. His choice of words left the group wondering whether he was referring to the researcher team or themselves. Perhaps both? Ascalon pondered as he followed after Ragna.
As they grew closer to the truck they could make out the rest of the team. There were about five more researchers, and four military men—easily distinguished because of their uniforms. The soldiers were armed with guns, and a military vehicle was parked alongside the truck, suggesting they would be assisting with the escort mission.
As for the researchers, they all wore long white coats. One of them was a tall, lean Leporian. This one’s ‘animal’ side was more pronounced, as his entire face was covered in black fur, with a small, pink nose in the center. His gray eyes caught a glimpse of them, and he smiled awkwardly.
At his side walked a blonde girl around Lilithra’s age, her bob haircut bouncing with each step she took. A pair of thick glasses framed her green eyes, and her face was adorned with a wide smile as she waved enthusiastically at them.
Not far behind her walked a taller middle-aged man, his graying brown hair tied back in a ponytail. He was carrying a box with the label ‘fragile’ written all around it, his brown eyes firmly fixed in the path ahead. The bags below his eyes were a clear sign of exhaustion, suggesting he slept poorly, while his frown added to his weary appearance.
Struggling to carry another box was a smaller figure—not quite a dwarf, as she sported no beard, but clearly not an average human either. She had brown hair long to her waist, voluminous and very fluffy-looking, and her big, blue eyes looked panicked as she tried to keep her balance. Her form resembled Athanya’el quite a bit, though her hair was way shorter!
Lilithra gasped at the sight and quickly approached her. “Can I help you?” She asked with clear concern, startling the small girl.
“Please!” The small one pleaded, pretty much shoving the box onto Lilithra. She took it and smiled, as another man interjected.
“Sorry about that, let me carry it.” A tall, bulky guy exclaimed as he grabbed the box from Lilithra, who looked slightly dejected. The newcomer had a pair of bull-like horns on his head, his muscular body contrasting with the rest of the researchers— though the long coat made it clear he was part of the group as well. He had blue eyes just like the smaller girl, and his expression was stern with a frown.
“Ehem! Everyone, please gather around!” Ragna’s voice suddenly cut through the air, drawing everyone’s attention. The researchers gathered as per his request, eyeing Ascalon and his friends with inquisitive stares.
“These are our escorts for this trip! Ascalon, Lilithra, and Selorien!” Ragna presented them with a smile. “Now, this is Lidia, our Junior Researcher.” The dwarf stated as he pointed at the blonde girl, who waved energetically. “At her side is Julian, our biome expert.” Ragna continued, this time gesturing toward the Leporian, who nodded slightly.
“Those two are Lilly and Damian. She’s our catastrophe specialist, and he’s our veterinary scientist.” He nodded toward the muscular man and the smaller person. Damian nodded as he crossed his arms, while Lilly waved shyly.
Stolen story; please report.
“And here’s our head researcher: Dr. Irwin!” Ragna finished presenting them all, showing particular respect toward the last member. Everyone exchanged a polite ‘pleased to meet you’, and then Irwin took the chance to speak.
“I appreciate you coming to help us with our research, even if you’re only doing it to complete your quest.” The man said in a tired tone, though his words sounded sincere.
“We’re happy to help!” Lilithra replied with resounding enthusiasm, earning a mix of suspicious and warm looks. Irwin flashed a slight smile before continuing.
“Please follow either Ragna’s or my instructions carefully, since our research can get dangerous.” He explained as he raised a finger, his eyes narrowing slightly with exhaustion.
“We focus on studying dungeon fauna, both inside and outside their ‘habitats’. As you probably know, this time we’re heading back to Hedistrung’s remains.” Irwin sighed and fixed his glasses, which had begun to slip. “We could run into monsters and other issues… so please, stick to our instructions.” Irwin exhaled once again, likely worried.
From Ragna’s earlier remark about them being ‘proper people’, and Irwin’s attitude, Ascalon guessed that they were used to dealing with more uncooperative teams—though that was just a hunch.
“Don’t worry! We’ll do our best!” Lilithra assured with a cheerful tone, while Ascalon and Selorien nodded in acknowledgment. Irwin smiled slightly and turned around, addressing the rest of his team.
“Alright everyone, finish packing up so we can head out. Remember it’s rainy outside so we’ll have to drive carefully.” Irwin clapped his hands and the researchers continued loading boxes and equipment into the truck, under the vigilant stare of the silent soldiers.
Lilithra offered to help, and her friends quickly joined her to assist the scientists, speeding up their preparations. Once everything was packed, Irwin spoke up again.
“Now then, I need someone to go with Damian in the cabin. The rest of us will ride in the back.” He said as he eyed Lilithra’s group. She responded without the slightest hesitation.
“Could you go, Selly?” She pleaded to her friend, who exhaled deeply and slumped his shoulders. It was likely she had chosen him due to his exceptional eyesight, Ascalon thought.
“I guess.” He replied unenthusiastically, though he would’ve likely preferred going in the cabin anyway—less people to mingle with, after all. Lilithra beamed at him, while Irwin acknowledged their decision.
“Alright, let’s set out.” The head researcher declared, as Damian and Selorien headed for the cabin, while the rest climbed into the vehicle through the back. While helping them carry their luggage earlier, they had witnessed the interior of the truck was actually quite spacious, with several seats for the team’s comfort.
Ascalon and Lilithra sat on the right side, alongside Lilly and Julian, while the rest took the opposite side. Not long after, the truck hummed to life, its interior vibrating slightly as it started moving. At the same time, the soldiers boarded their own vehicle, and the large doors to the garage opened, allowing them to head out.
Soon, they found themselves traveling through the soaked streets of New Lumingard, crossing the city until they reached the outside world. All the while, they could hear the pitter patter of raindrops against the vehicle, which coupled with the soothing rhythm of the truck made for quite the cozy atmosphere inside.
As they traveled, the scientists conversed animatedly, occasionally including both Ascalon and Lilithra in the conversation with curious questions. At some point, Lilly had asked Lilithra what kind of Guild she planned to lead. Lilithra cheerfully explained her goals to the researchers, who showered her with warm stares.
It didn’t take much for her to gain her trust, as she was simply a lovable sort, and Ascalon felt incredibly happy about it. They asked some things about him too, having heard the rumor that he was a wanderer, though they were mostly mundane questions guided by intrigue rather than anything in specific.
After a long journey, the rain began to recede and some sunlight started to peek out from behind the clouds. The landscape surrounding their convoy began to shift to more inhospitable lands, letting them know they were quickly approaching their destination. It was then that Irwin cleared his throat and clapped once, causing everyone to focus.
“We’re nearing the ruins.” He declared with a serious tone. “I will be counting on you to do some reconnaissance before we unload the truck—just in case.” Irwing explained, making a lot of sense. Ascalon nodded thoughtfully, while Lilithra raised a clenched fist in the air.
“Leave it to us!” She spoke in a reassuring tone, her words earning a few smiles around her.
“Thank you girlie! The soldiers aren’t allowed to leave our immediate area, so they can’t scout ahead for us.” Ragna chimed in from his seat, stroking his beard as he smiled cheerfully.
Ascalon pondered about the matter, thinking that at the very least the researchers would be protected by the soldiers. Still, he was determined to see them back safe and sound, just like Lilithra!
As Ascalon’s conviction flared, Irwin peeked outside the window while producing a black device from his pocket and speaking into it. “Damian? Around here is good.” He said aloud and the truck slowly came to a halt.
“Here.” Irwin extended his hand and offered Lilithra another communication device. “Use this to let us know how it looks out there. And please, be careful.” He added, as Lilithra carefully picked up the gadget.
“Don’t worry!” She chirped excitedly, her head turning toward Ascalon. “Let’s go!” She commanded with a smile, and Ascalon nodded. Then, they both left the vehicle.
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Inside the truck, Lilly spoke in a hushed voice. “Are you sure they’ll be fine…? Even if there are some rumors around them, they’re applying for a D-rank… isn’t that like the lowest?!” She questioned in a concerned voice, her gaze following Lilithra and Ascalon through the window.
“I too was surprised when Kain told me D-rank applicants would accompany us…” Irwin began, sighing. “But he assured me they’re reliable, and I trust that grumpy dog’s judgment.” He smiled, and Lilly sighed in relief.
“Alright… I just don’t want to see them get hurt. They seem like nice people!” The small one smiled sheepishly, and everyone nodded in agreement. Still, their doubts were understandable.
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Outside, Ascalon and Lilithra walked past the cabin, where Selorien waved at them lazily. They waved back and continued, treading through the highway as they examined the eerie surroundings.
“It’s really creepy… don’t you think?” Lilithra spoke to break the silence, her eyes darting around the remains of what used to be a normal city.
“Indeed.” Ascalon replied, smiling gently to try and reassure her. “I can feel some critters around—though they seem to be wary of us, perhaps due to your amulet.” He added, causing Lilithra to beam with excitement as she produced her ominous, tear-shaped necklace.
“I’m happy it’s been working properly! But I wanted Lyra to appraise it…” She sighed in dejection, concealing the amulet down her hoodie’s collar. “I miss Lyra… I have the urge to pet her head…!” She pouted, and Ascalon placed a hand on her head, causing her to blush.
“I can understand the feeling.” He said with a chuckle, with Lilithra giggling beside him.
“Still, we should be on our guard.” Ascalon declared, prompting Lilithra to frown and focus.
“You’re right! I wonder how far we should scout ahead, though…” She wondered with a finger pressed to her chin, her gaze traveling far into the ruined landscape. Ascalon silently pondered at her side, and their footsteps carried them far from the truck.
Fortunately, Ascalon couldn’t sense anything truly dangerous hiding in the ruins, other than lowly beasts that didn’t even dare approach them. After about half-an hour of scouting, their communication device rang with Irwin’s voice.
“I believe that’s far enough. How is the situation out there?” The man asked from beyond the gadget, and Lilithra raised it to her face to reply.
“All clear! Though it might rain again!” She warned cheerfully, and Irwin chuckled.
“Alright, wait for us there. We’ll arrive shortly.” The scientist assured, and the device went silent. Lilithra and Ascalon exchanged content looks, and waited patiently until the truck, accompanied by the soldier’s vehicle, slowly arrived.
“Great job!” Ragna complimented them as he jumped out the truck, carrying a box in his hands. The rest of the researchers promptly followed. Lilly looked particularly enthusiastic, accompanying Julian with carrying some equipment. Ragna and Irwin were discussing where to set up a makeshift camp, while Lidia and Damian studied the immediate area.
Selorien popped up shortly after, looking as tired and carefree as usual, and the group was whole once again! Now, alongside the soldiers, they just needed to guard the researchers while they worked, however long that would take.
Surely, things would go without a hitch, and they would be back in New Lumingard in no time… probably.