January 14th, 1588 - Eastern Bean Territory Bean physiology is still a mystery to us. We have only been able to confidently determine three facts: drone Beans have human corpses inside of them; individual beans are able to move and communicate independently of one another; and Beans are highly susceptible to changes in temperature.

Barry,

This is the last letter I will be sending until you respond.

I understand that you are frustrated with Uncle Humbert, and have been for some time; I have also been frustrated with Uncle Humbert’s actions in the past, though I have had the civility to discuss them with him instead of acting like a child. What I do not understand is why you must take out your frustration on everyone else around you. I have been nothing but supportive of you since mother and father’s death, and you repay me by returning to the front lines against both mine and Uncle Humbert’s wishes without so much as a letter?

I did not stop you when you denied Uncle Humbert’s assistance, nor when you decided to join the military, nor when you agreed to defend the city of Dijon. I stayed in Rohrdorf, waiting patiently for you to return. I understood when you said that you were too busy to meet Joseph last April, and, to an extent, I understand why you did not return following the Bean attack on Dijon. However, what I do not understand is why you decided to return to the front lines. You are only putting yourself in unnecessary danger, and for what? To prove a point? To push us away?

Uncle Humbert told me about your argument after the attack on Dijon. He feels that your decision to return to the front lines was a direct attack on him. I am starting to agree with him. You are not a child anymore, Barry; why do you insist on acting like one?

I am not mad, just disappointed. Even if you want to pretend that we are not, we are still family; all of us. Uncle Humbert and I will be waiting for you in Stuttgart when you decide to come to your senses. I expect a full apology.

If you die before you see me again, I am going to make you regret it.

Sofia.

Schmidt wasn’t used to riding a horse; he was getting a rash from the constant rubbing of the saddle against his legs and his muscles were sore from the effort of keeping himself balanced.

The scouting party had passed the ruins of Dijon on January 12th. They had decided to keep their distance from the city, though they could clearly see the destroyed sections of the wall where the abnormal Ashen Bean had attacked. The ruins were devoid of life, both Bean and human. The faint smell of death hung in the air outside of Dijon, though he didn’t see any of the bodies that had fallen outside the eastern gate. He had felt sick as they passed, patting his horse’s neck for comfort.

That night, they had set up a simple camp near a small group of trees in the French countryside. They split into two watches; Schmidt and Greg took first watch, while Rob and Marvin took second. Schmidt’s watch was mostly silent, though he and Greg eventually reopened their discussion about spirit and valor as the night dragged on. When the conversation dulled, Schmidt explained some of his old theories about the Beans, which evolved into a discussion about what the Bean’s goals were. Neither of them were able to decide on anything.

The next morning, they continued to head west. As they rode, hills became more frequent and the roads became less worn. Until Marvin pointed it out, Schmidt hadn’t realized how quiet it was. No birds sang, no squirrels chirped; it was quiet besides the soft breeze through the trees and the clopping of their horses’ hooves.

Everything seemed so normal. The cities still stood, the wind still blew, the sun still rose and set, Beans didn’t cover the ground; the lack of activity and the eerie quiet was the only thing that separated Bean territory from the countryside outside Rohrdorf.

By the evening of the 13th, the scouting party was beginning to get comfortable heading west. Rob had seemed comfortable with their trip from the beginning, though Schmidt thought that it may have just been an act. Marvin remained quiet through the majority of the trip, riding at the back of the group and keeping to himself. Greg stayed at the front of the group, rotating between discussing the philosophy of war with Rob, who seemed lost through the majority of their discussions, and theorizing about the Beans with Schmidt. Over dinner that night, they discussed their mission and decided to continue for one more day before returning to Besançon and giving their report to Kaplan. Schmidt had first watch with Marvin that night, who only spoke to wake Greg up and switch shifts.

They had left their camp late on the morning of the 14th. After about an hour, a city came into view and they debated whether or not they should scout it. It was similar to Dijon; deserted of Beans, humans, and corpses, though this city’s walls remained intact besides the broken southern gate. They decided against scouting the city and continued west.

As the sun rose to its peak, Schmidt’s rash was becoming unbearable. They rode over the increasingly uneven roads, cresting small hills every few minutes, just to ride back down to the foot of another hill. The anxiety that they would find something had lessened since they left; they hadn’t seen anything that would put them in danger in two days.

And so, they continued through the French countryside, planning to turn back at the end of the day.