EASTERN WASTELANDS

The trees sprung from roots into the air, blocking off the burning sun in the sky as a group of seventeen people, plus a monkey and a bird, rested in their shade. A weak campfire burned as a boar was getting roasted, with sweet scent of meat pervading the air. Scattered in groups, Lynne, Thalia, Fen’er, Parsia, Leana and Ryn – her second in command – were slightly isolated from the rest, sitting in the shade of a large oak.

“So?” Fen’er prompted the conversation.

“Ah, right,” Leana said, taking out a parchment and unrolling it, revealing a rough map of the Eastern Wastelands. “Eastern Frontier has been at on and off war for about a decade now,” she explained as she pointed at the borders. “But the conflict had gone up in flames over the past two years. More and more ‘armies’ are being established on the other side, and even beasts had begun forming clans. We’ve tried investigating the source, but each attempt has ended in complete failure.”

“Currently, there are two main conflicts,” she continued. “One directly at the border, and another slightly deeper in the Wastelands’ territory, over a key fort lying at a mountain pass. While it hasn’t broken into an all-out war yet, the number of dead keep growing steadily.”

“Do you even know why they began pressing so hard lately?” Parsia asked, frowning.

“No,” Ryn joined in, shaking his head; he was a lad in his early thirties, with bushy beard and hair, all stark black. He had muscular build and wore leather-clad armor, with a bow hanging from his back. “All we know is that they probably began migrating from the South in the past two years. However, we aren’t even sure about that.”

“So, what does any of this have to do with us?” Thalia asked casually.

“We’re preparing for another expedition,” Leana explained, taking a deep breath. “However, the aim this time is not only to scout out the reason behind all of this, but to completely usurp whoever is leading their siege. As Eastern Frontier is completely volunteer-based battlefront, the number of our soldiers can’t keep up with their numbers, and we’re slowly being pushed back. Considering the recent tribulations deeper in the Continent, I suspect we won’t be getting much fresh blood anytime soon.”

“So you want to recruit us for this expedition?” Thalia asked.

“Bluntly? Yes,” Ryn said. “The thirteen of us you see right now are all a part of it, and we’ve been recruiting members as we go. However, most of us are stealth-oriented Mages, and we operate best when behind the lines. So far, only Leana and Rick can be considered frontliners. In case we get discovered, we need a firmer vanguard to have a better chance of fighting back.”

“… you’re asking us to join you in a blind expedition into a part of the world we practically know nothing about, to fight forces you don’t even know exist?” Lynne said, smirking. “… inspiring.”

“… I know it sounds impossible,” Leana said, sighing as she looked at Lynne with eyes full of hope. “But it’s imperative we get some answers… and we get them fast. Eastern Frontier has been disregarded by everyone for far too long, which is why we find ourselves in the peril we are in. We don’t have enough men, and what little we do can’t even match up properly. Our supplies are running dry, and we’re being stretched out thinly across the border. If an all-out war does break out, we’d be like sitting ducks waiting for slaughter.”

“Look, we’re not asking you to join us immediately, or even to go to the expedition with us,” Ryn added after a short silence. “We’re just asking you to let us show you. Eastern Wastelands are massive – almost as large as the rest of the continent combined – and past its South border, we know virtually nothing – not even the landscape. We’ve disregarded it for centuries because we rarely had interactions with anyone past nomad tribes living close to our own borders, and now we’re being blindsided. Just let us show you, and you might change your mind.”

“Give us time to talk about it.” Lynne said casually as he raised his gourd and drank the last of the wine in it.

“Yeah, sure.” Leana said, getting up. “Let us know when you’re done.”

Ryn and her cast a hopeful glance at Lynne and others as they walked over and joined the eleven others. They sat in circle around the boar, slowly beginning to eat in silence, while Lynne and others remained underneath a shade of a massive oak tree.

“So, what do you guys think?” Lynne asked.

“We’re headed there anyway,” Parsia said, leaning back against the trunk of the oak. “We may as well help them out a bit.”

“You’ve never even told us why we’re headed for Eastern Wastelands,” Fen’er said, looking at Lynne. “Maybe now’s the good time?”

“Oh, right, sorry,” Lynne said, coughing lightly. “I’m headed there to find a True Dragon.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Yeah, invading army of beasts is cool and all, but mention seeking a True Dragon and you get all the stares.” Lynne complained as he sat upright.

“You’ve really gone insane, haven’t you?” Thalia asked.

“Must have.” Fen’er added.

“Definitely.” Parsia concluded.

“Ah fuck you, you all are insane! What’s wrong with looking for a Dragon? They’re pretty neat creatures with wings and wisdom unmatched! Hell, I’d love to have one as a mount or a pet!”

“… you do realize that if any Dragon heard you talk they’d swallow you whole in an instant?” Fen’er said.

“Wait-” Thalia interrupted as she suddenly realized something. “How certain are you that there’s a True Dragon there?”

“Fairly. Why? Do you think he’s the reason for sudden migration?” Lynne asked.

“Well, if all beasts and other races were to run from something, wouldn’t it make sense that something is unbeatable by their standards?” Thalia said.

“All the more reason we shouldn’t go looking for a fucking Dragon.” Fen’er added.

“… do you have a plan?” Parsia asked, looking at Lynne with serious expression.

“I always do.”

“No you don’t.”

“Okay, I don’t, but this time I’m pretty sure I do.”

“What’s the plan then?” Parsia probed.

“Step one: locate the Dragon. Step two: befriend the Dragon. Step three: profit from the Dragon.” Lynne explained plainly.

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Oi, even by my standards that’s absolute shit.” the monkey joined in as well.

“Even the mightiest bird isn’t egotistical enough to think that plan would work!” the bird gawked.

“Ugh, just trust me, okay?” Lynne grunted as he got up. “I’ll let them know we’ll tag along for a while. Is that okay?”

“… ugh, fine.” Thalia grunted as she lied down and closed her eyes.

“Sure.” Fen’er did the same.

“Something’s off about them Lynne,” Parsia said. “They’re most-likely hiding something.”

“Of course they are,” Lynne chuckled. “It wouldn’t be Leana if she didn’t.”

Lynne waved them off as he walked over to Leana and others and asked her to come with him. The two of them walked good ways off, nearing the edge of a nearby cliff as they stopped next to one another, staring into the horizon.

“We’ll tag along--”

“Yaay!”

“-for some time.”

“Oh,” Leana sighed dejectedly but quickly recovered. “That’s fine. It’s better than nothing.”

“How’d you end up here?” Lynne asked her. “Weren’t you supposed to leave the realm?”

“Ha ha, so you figured it out?” she laughed lightly as she looked up. “Back then, I did leave. I came back about a year ago or so when I heard what’s going on here. Better question is… what the hell happened to you?”

“A lot of things,” Lynne explained simply, smiling wryly. “But, the best question is, what are you truly up to?”

“Hm?” Leana looked at him innocently, causing Lynne to nearly burst out in laughter.

“Damn, you’ve gotten even better,” he sighed as he sat down, legs hanging off the edge. “Your charms do fade off, you know? Past the pretty, there’s a convulsion of ideas and plans you’re not sharing.”

“Did you just call me pretty?” she sat down next to him, smiling warmly.

“Aye, I have,” Lynne chuckled as he looked at her. “You’re like a gold-coated piece of shit.”

“… ah, didn’t anyone tell you it’s not nice to call girls pieces of shit?” Leana leaned back, smile from her face disappearing.

“Listen to me carefully Leana,” Lynne’s voice grew deeper as he looked at her. “Whatever your game is, I honestly couldn’t give two shits about it. However, if you do anything to either one of my friends, I’ll flay you alive. Got it?”

“… hah, listen to Lynne, self-proclaimed moral ground of the world,” Leana chuckled. “Threatening a little, innocent girl so cruelly.”

“Of course not,” Lynne suddenly smiled brightly. “I’m threatening that conniving bitch living inside you. As long as you keep her in, we’ll have a merry journey. Besides, when have you ever been innocent? By the time you were fifteen, you knew just the right people to screw to get what you want. I wouldn’t call that exactly innocent.”

“We do what we must to survive, Lynne,” Leana narrowed her eyes slightly as a strange glint flashed through them. “Look at you as a prime example. You used to be just an ordinary, innocent kid who’d vomit justifying ideologies at even the mention of Magic. Yet, now? I can smell a stench of blood so hard from you I’d nearly swear it was someone else who took over your body.”

“My dear, dead grandma used to say--”

“--you never knew your grandma.”

“--that the foulest of souls live in the kindest of smiles. Do you know why I enjoy playing with people, Leana?”

“To piss them off?”

“Well, yeah, partially. But in part, also, because I enjoy seeing the root being they are. Once you strip all the masks, all the fake smiles and expressions, once you strip them naked of all their defenses… I enjoy seeing who they are.” Lynne suddenly got up as he looked at her deeply. “It’s different when it was my close friend in question. I trusted you back then, you know? Even after I learned the only reason you hung out with me was an attempt to get me to study Magic, I still trusted you had my best interest in mind. Imagine how it was when I learned that, underneath all those masks, fake smiles and tempting vices, you were just a selfish whore. Whatever your true aim is for this expedition – and if I know anything about you, it’s probably some treasure – I don’t care. That is, as long as you don’t wrap us up into the whole thing.”

“You don’t think people can change, Lynne?” Leana asked, getting up herself.

“I do.” Lynne said, smiling. “Which is why I’m giving you a chance to prove me wrong. Prove me that you’re no longer Leana you used to be. Prove to me that you’re this new person, a person who truly cares for the well-being of others, which is why she’s fighting a thankless battle.”

“She’s not right for you, you know?” her voice grow softer as it stopped Lynne from walking back.

“I know.” he said, lowering his head.

“My offer still stands,” she leaned in closely to his ear, whispering. “You could be yourself with me, Lynne. You, too, can dive into your own selfish nature and stop pretending to be something you’re not.”

“… I never pretended,” Lynne said, chuckling. “Merely skewed others’ impression of me. And, if you bring the two of us up ever again, I’ll shove a spear right through your throat so you’ll never speak again.”

“Ouch. You really don’t know how to talk to a lady. Tell me, do you love her? Or do you think you love her? Or is it that you want to love her, but don’t know how to?”

“You know,” Lynne said, glancing at Thalia. “If I told her half of what we just talked about, she’d kill you on the spot. Quite tempting to be honest.”

“You sure she could?” Leana said, giggling.

“You’re a brilliant schemer Leana, and one of the smartest people I’ve met in my life,” Lynne said calmly. “But a strong Magus you’re not. Trust me on that one.”

“…”

“Well then,” he said, smiling brimming on his face. “Go and let the others know. We’ll rest some and then depart for the East. This will be fun.”

“…”

The two returned to their groups with Leana casting occasional glance at Lynne, her eyes filled with complex emotions. The groups fell silent as the nature sang its song and sky danced across the sky, drying the day away.