"Half-cocked plans rarely go well. That's why I either go in fully-prepared or not at all, that way I either have a plan for the undoubtable circumstances that will pop-up, or I don't have any expectations for a plan to work in the first place." – An experienced philosopher

Alex often finds himself at the back of the pack. Not due to any type of physical deficiency, no, that is not the case at all; In fact, he finds that the rest of the group tends to tire far faster than he does. He sticks towards the back for a couple of reasons, one is the glare that Able gives him when Alex stands in front of him, another, the forewarning of the terrain, mostly though he enjoyed being able to take a bit more time to enjoy the scenery. The ability to mosey about in the untamed wilderness is something that Alex had done before, but never within the safety of a group. Being with his newly discovered comrades lifts a burden that Alex didn't even know he possessed. Overall Alex is quite happy with his place in the moving order, but from the frequent glances that Able would still make towards his location, Alex is not sure if Able is.

Alex looks to his right at the still-rising sun, and sighs as he continues trudging along, back-pack slung on his back.

'It's going to be a long walk.'

Alex looks over to Nadr and waves, she smiles back at him before continuing along.

'At least today should be the end of the worst of it.'

Alex soldiers on, slightly lagging behind the group.

The sun traces its arch across the sky to its peak, and a few hours after it starts its descent, Nadr motions for the group to stop.

When they had started their trek in the forest, it had been quickly made clear that Nadr was the most adept among them at traversing it. When questioned about her prowess she had explained that the majority of her childhood had been in the woods with her father before she left for the academy. Ever since then, she had been placed at the front of the pack, and in charge of leading the group.

So, when she signals them to stop, they quickly do so.

She motions them to follow her and whispers.

"It seems like we're unlucky today. There is a pretty steep descent ahead, and the footing doesn't seem as stable as it should be. If I were to guess it's probably the fault of the rain from a couple of days ago. We can try to find a more stable path, but it shouldn't really be a problem as long as I lead the way and you all follow. The good news is, is that this means we're getting closer. So, are we good?"

The group nods, and seeing this, she starts down first, carefully measuring her steps down the slope.

Godert looks back to the rest of the group, before following her closely behind, mimicking her movements as best he can. The rest of the members continue in this manner, with varying degrees of success until the entire group starts down the descent.

A few hours down the rocky descent later, Sherry notices something. She quickly and excitedly yells out to the group while pointing out into the distance, "Hey, look over there!"

This earns her a chorus of Shhh, which prompts her into an ashamed silence. A few moments of birds chirping, a creek's gurgling, and the breaths of the group, and everyone gives a sigh of relief. Nadr walks over to Sherry before chastising her.

"What were you thinking! You know that loud noises attract the kind of creatures that we don't want anything to do with?" Nadr whispers furiously.

Sherry hangs her head in shame for a moment, before pointing back behind Nadr at a mountain peak in the distance.

"But we can finally see the mountain you described, besides we haven't encountered anything like that the entire time we've been hiking through here, are you sure they even exist?"

Nadr gives Sherry a flat look for a moment, before giving a silent chuckle.

"Just because we haven't encountered them doesn't mean they don't exist Sherry. In my opinion, we've been lucky, and I really hope that luck holds. We've lost our magic, and we're all sitting ducks. Maybe Alex could provide some sort of physical resistance like what he did back at the academy, but I wouldn't count on it making much of difference," Nadr's gaze softens, "Though I agree it is heartening that we're getting closer, don't be so loud about it."

Alex becomes surprised and brightens at Nadr, mentioning him. His expression then darkens as he realizes the implications.

'Does she mean that whatever's out there is worse than those creatures at the academy… That could be really dangerous.'

Nadr makes her way to the front and resumes her descent.

"Best not to worry too much about it though, we're close enough now that we should make it out of the really dangerous parts by tomorrow. Even so, it's better to not test our luck any further, so we should all be quiet. Let's get moving."

Nadr trudges ahead, and the rest of the group follows behind.

A few hours later, and the sun creeps closer to the horizon. The group stops to rest multiple times in this period, and from what Alex hears of Able questioning Nadr, they're making good time and should arrive at the border well before nightfall. Godert, on the other hand, asked Nadr how they keep a border in a forest like this, the answer he gets surprises Alex.

"Well, you would see soon enough anyways, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to give you a heads up," Nadr smirks for a second, "I'm not really surprised you don't know, considering how little is known about the forest and all. With how recently the border changed it is really no surprise that you're ignorant. In fact-"

"Please get on with your explanation, you've rubbed the fact I don't know in my face enough," Godert says while giving Nadr snobbery a disdainful glare.

Nadr sighs before giving Godert the response he desires, "Fine then. There is a duality between the two sides of the border. While the forest isn't that dangerous on the other side of the border, which means calm waters once we cross it, this side is known for its frequent cases of travelers traversing it never showing up again. These differing danger levels and environments only really exist because of the chasm that splits this forest in twain. The chasm itself is actually quite large and extends through a good portion of the continent, but it widens here. This is also where the new border was drawn in the treaty between the Albent kingdom and the western duchy."

"Why does this side have the more dangerous creatures though?" Sherry asks after having listened in to their conversation.

Nadr raises an eyebrow before her face morphs into one of realization, "Ah, right, you never took the geography and magic class did you?"

Sherry shakes her head.

Nadr gestures to Godert, "It's simple enough, Godert would you care to explain?"

Godert grumbles for a second, "Well, it has to do with how the magic concentration lowers as you approach the outer edge of the continent. The closer to the center, the more powerful the creatures, the more fertile the grounds, and the better training grounds for higher-level mages. Surprisingly though, there are far more conflicts in the outer regions than the inner, probably due to the rampant magic beasts. If you want further explanation you can pester Nadr or ask Able, as for me, I'm going to take a nap while I've still got the time. Thanks for the information Nadr, see you all in 20."

Nadr turns to Alex and Sherry, "It really is a surprise that the Albent kingdom was able to keep this much territory over the border managed and under control, especially with how aggressive the western duchy is."

Alex having heard Nadr discuss the treaty, wonders if she knew anything more about the war's conclusion, so he takes a stick and starts writing in the dirt. Once finished, he goes over to Nadr who is currently having a conversation with Sherry and pulls on her sleeve and points to the question he wrote in the sand.

She takes a few moments to read it before responding, "I'm sorry, Alex, but I don't know much about the conclusion of the war on the Albent's side. I did hear about the ambush on the manor, but I don't know how the leadership changed. The only reason I know about the border is because I caught a pair of my teachers gossiping in the hallway before, well you know…"

Nadr takes a moment before patting Alex on the back.

"I'm sure you'll find something after we cross into the Albent kingdom. For now, I think that this break has gone on for a bit too long," Nadr snickers, "though I'm sure that Godert would disagree, too bad he's not awake to."

Nadr eyes grow serious and dart around their surroundings and finding nothing rest back on Alex.

"We should get moving, the quicker we get across the chasm, the better."

Nadr then walks to wake up Godert from his nap beneath one of the trees.

Alex looks at Godert's slumped form before Nadr awakens him.

'That cannot be comfortable'

He then joins the rest of the group, they pack up any supplies they took out for their break and continue down the gentle slope.

Not more than a few minutes later, does Nadr go up a slight incline before suddenly stopping and then laughing.

"Well, it looks like I misjudged how far we went. We're here, folks." She waves her hands, gesturing in front of her, "This is the 'chasm between worlds' as my father liked to call it."

Godert, being the second closest in the group, reaches the sight next, commenting, "Well, if we were that close, I guess we didn't really need to take a break then."

Able scoffs as he joins Nadr and Godert.

Alex follows them and joins them to take in the sight. His eyes widen for a few moments.

Water flows into the chasm from minor brooks on each side, pouring into the abyss. Roots a greenery dance along the sides, but neither reaches in. Only darkness can be seen of its depths, the scarce light of dusk only adding to the dark and mysterious aura.

After being taken in by the mystifying starts to ponder the scene.

'I really don't want to fall into something like that… How the heck are we going to cross it?"

Alex turns his head to both sides and sees that the chasm stretches into the distance, but a bridge or some other way to cross does not make itself known.

'Well, I'm sure that Nadr and the group have some idea of how to, otherwise, this whole trip would be an exercise in futility. I sure hope not, I wouldn't want to have to make the trip back…'

Alex takes one last look at the scene before shaking himself from his thoughts and moving to catch up with the rest of the group, which had already started moving closer to the chasm.

Nadr coughs to get the group's attention, and all eyes fall on her.

"Now that we're here, it should only take a simple spell…"

"You mean the same types of spells that we are no longer able to cast to any degree of competency?" Able says while giving Nadr a dry look.

Nadr eyes meet Able's for a moment and the implications of what she just said sinks in.

"I'm sure she just misspoke Able, she must be quite being the navigator and all, and I doubt that we would all overlook such an important detail. There is a bridge or something nearby, right Nadr?" Says Godert.

Nadr, who had been looking despondently at the chasm, is shaken back into reality and starts trembling.

"Guys… I-I'm S-Sorry, but I d-don't think there is."

Alex sighs.

'We're really just going to have to turn back like that? After spending what must have been weeks traversing that forest… All for nothing?'

Nadr fiddles with her fingers for a few moments, the confidence that she had once exhibited gone when confronted with the cold hard reality of their situation, but she still manages to regain her calm.

"The chasm is known for many things… among them, the almost inability to make a stable crossing, even the one that is used for trade and to connect the Albi and western duchy utilizes a flight magic system, it's part of why the western duchy didn't invade further…"

'What could cause something like that?'

Able's face contorts' in rage, and he yells at Nadr, "So, you're telling me that here we are. Following you." Able gets right in Nadr's space before jabbing his finger at her, "Trusting you to get over the chasm, and you forget to mention that the only way over is with magic." Able gets even closer, causing Nadr to fall back, her frightened demeanor surfacing once again, "Magic, which we can no longer use!"

Godert steps in between Able and Nadr, "Able, that's enough."

Sherry then says, "Please keep it down, we don't want to attract anything. Besides, Able, that's enough."

Able spits on the ground and glares at his companions.

"You know that this probably means the death of us, and a preventable one if Nadr had taken the time to lead us through her plan and how to cross the chasm? There's no way we made it here without having something tailing us; I'm right, Nadr, aren't I?"

Nadr gives a slight nod.

"In fact, I'd bet it's a right miracle we made it this far," Able points to the forest, "We go back in there, and we die. If we still had out magic, it might be a different matter, but if we still had our magic, we wouldn't be in this situation in the first place."

Godert looks at him for a moment, "I know that this seems like a dire situation, but there's no reason to shove all the blame on Nadr. We were the ones that never asked, and it isn't productive to play the blame game right now. We need to come up with a plan that doesn't involve getting eaten by some forest creature."

Able looks at Godert, sighs, and then stalks off.

"I know, but I need some time to cool off and think, we can try to come up with a plan later."

As Able walks a bit of a ways from the group Godert and Shelly comfort Nadr before grilling her on any other information that they need to know. It is an informative few minutes, and Alex learns quite a bit, but nothing he hadn't already suspected with the previous conversation in mind. Apparently, there was not a high likelihood of them making it this far with their current combat potential- something that Alex had not known when just setting out with the group- but now that they're here, making it back would be an even dimmer prospect. What is new, though, is that it might be possible to fashion a bridge, as long as they cross it fast enough to get across before the abyss 'devours' it. Alex is not sure what Nadr means by 'devour' and is not too eager to find out. They'd probably know tomorrow as they plan on resting for the night before any attempt is made. They set up camp with the chasm at their backs, Able joins in about halfway through, looking much calmer than he had before. Once the camp is finished, they all retreat into their tents except for Able, who has the first watch.

As Alex lays in his bed, he ponders the abyss, the academy, and his current situation.

'Well, we'll just have to see tomorrow.

And with that, Alex falls asleep.