Aldoursaea: A Journey Within

Chapter VII: On Heroad Pass Once Again

It's been a shy of a month since Arch set his first steps at the Nullbound Explorer Command.

He will be given his be briefed with his first mission, today. In the brightly lit meeting chamber, the air buzzed with anticipation as the explorer unit gathered for a briefing. Gaius, Thadeus, Lyt, Tamsen, and Arch were seated around the large wooden table, waiting for Eldrin to begin.

Eldrin gave a nod. "Well, let's start!" he announced, his voice calm but commanding. Tamsen, standing near the door, promptly locked it and pulled a lever hidden behind her.

Arch tensed, half-expecting some grand mechanism or hidden entrance to emerge. Instead, the lights dimmed, and a line of crystal lamps along the wall flickered to life, casting a soft, bluish glow around the room. "That's a letdown", he thought.

"You'll want to put on the mystlens," Tamsen suggested, handing a pair of the enchanted glasses.

With the mystlens on, Arch's view of the room shifted. A trail of mana, invisible before, now appeared swirling above the table, streaming from a crystal orb embedded in the ceiling. The mana threads twisted and formed shapes, gradually assembling into an apparition map of the region. Various landmarks and paths illuminated, highlighting mission routes.

Eldrin turned to Arch. "Your mission is to assist the Ministry of Public Utilities in securing and supporting their work on Heroad. The ministry has been rebuilding the road for essential supply routes, but the region around Treewors Forest is prone to ambushes and...other hazards." He paused, giving Arch a meaningful look. "That's where we come in."

As Eldrin spoke, the mana on the table formed into an image of Treewors Forest, depicting its dense canopy and the Heroad cutting through its center. Arch's mind flashed back to his last encounter on that road, recalling the ambush he'd faced from the notorious Cane Bandits.

"Or maybe," Arch thought to himself, "it's a chance to settle the score with those Cane Bandits."

Eldrin continued, seemingly aware of Arch's thoughts. "This is a 'traveler-level mission, just enough to get your grasp on our field work and neutralize manageable threat, possibly. To ensure you're fully supported, Ranger Lyt will be accompanying you. He'll observe your work, assist if needed, and provide counsel on any decisions along the way."

A map projection on the table shifted again, this time showing the southern patrol route. "A patrol party from the Lumen Patrol Outpost will rendezvous with," Eldrin added, pointing to a marked spot on the map. "And an apprentice mage from the College of Mages will join as well, to assist with the work of the Ministry."

Tamsen cleared her throat, adding, "You'll all be wearing explorer hats and masks to keep your identities hidden. Since there are other parties involved and given the possible interactions with rogue elements, it's best to lessen identity contact."

The room fell silent as the mana projection faded. The briefing was complete, but the air of anticipation remained.

As the team dispersed, Tamsen handed Arch a 'spectralcast' containing the mission's finer details.

Across the chamber, Jarek stood ready with a utility belt lined with essential tools. "Got everything you need here," Jarek said, smiling as he fastened the belt on Arch, pointing out the compartments for embermist, blurrshade, and mystlens.

Meanwhile, Thadeus remained at the table, waiting for his own mission briefing. Arch caught a few words as Eldrin leaned toward Thadeus: "Grimgor" and "Vanguard."

Thadeus groaned, rolling his eyes. "What a downgrade! Come on, Eldrin, I'm good to go!"

Eldrin smirked, patting his friend on the shoulder. "If we weren't short on staff, I'd lock you in here for another week to rest".