Our world will never reach its full commercial and development potential until the circumnavigation of the globe is carried out as something common. Today, this is, in my opinion, the biggest obstacle to our development as a society.

However, I do not see how such problem can be solved. After all, although Fiandel and Rendall are willing to facilitate such an undertaking, there is no save place to dock on the other continent with a trip to the East. Any boat that tries to go to the lands of the Independent Tribes will suffer annihilation and torture. Anyone who dare to set foot in the Wastelands will succumb to the magical convergences and monsters arising from natural disorder. And even theorists do not dare to suggest passing through the Phantom Continent. It is better to be left without development than to give up our lives and the lives of our loved ones. After all, no one can go to the continent that was abandoned by the Entities.

Wanessa D’or – Geologist and Map Maker

*

A dryad with tanned skin and a deep scar on the cheek opens her eyes and immediately feels the unpleasant smell of something similar to a latrine.

And, if the smell was not enough, the sunlight is aimed directly to her face, passing through the window without curtains and making it impossible for her to continue sleeping.

Aware that sleep will not be possible at the moment, she tries to get up, but her body does not respond the way it should. A sharp pain in her back and a tremendous headache caused by the hangover from the events of the last day force her to lie down again.

During this movement, her head collides with a piece of furniture placed in the middle of the room. Only then she remembers where she is: The cafeteria of “The Cicada’s Song” inn. The table that her head just found was the same one thrown by the big guy that Dan decided to use to show off his strength.

-That crazy bastard… - She murmurs, trying to stand up again, reeling with every muscle used in the task.

-You look terrible.

There he was. Looking as good as when she first saw him a few hours ago. He was brand new, as if he had not been through nothing. She, on the other hand, woke up in pieces in the middle of the cafeteria after a night of fights, arguments and a lot of drinking to calm the tempers.

-How are you awake? – She looks out the window of the cafeteria, in an attempt to estimate the time by the position of the sun, but she gives up after the light hits her in the face.

-I was preparing for our trip. – He indicates the room. – After everything that happened yesterday, I knew I would have to do it myself.

Ohana approaches him, dodging the various unconscious bodies along the way. Like her, several drunks fell asleep on the floor of the cafeteria and, from the face of the innkeeper, who watches from a distance, they were not taken out just because there were too many and the staff were afraid to deal with them after the night before.

-Where are going? – She asks, rubbing her eyes and shaking her head.

-As if you can’t remember what we agreed yesterday… - He waits for a few moments, but she does not answer and he decides to refresh her memory. – We are going to Haern’s court and, then, to Naeva, before going to my destination. – He maintains his smile. – Luckily, we have a ride that will take us through the two kingdoms. From Naeva we will have to improvise again, though.

She frowns.

-Did you find someone who is doing the same route as us?

-Not at all. – He jumps between the bodies and get to the door. The dryad follows him. – I myself did not intend to pass by Haern and Naeva, but I will go with you so you can accompany me to my destination later. And as for our ride… Well… A bet is a bet. He lost the fight, so he is obliged to help us.

-What are you talking about? – Slowly, the memories come to her mind and, when Dan opens the door, she remembers everything: The bet, the fight and the agreement made after the result.

Dan, still smiling, opened the inn’s door. On the street, a carriage with two passengers awaits them.

One of the passengers is a woman with pointed ears and an aristocratic look on her face. Her appearance is that of a beautiful lady, dressed in vibrantly colored and fashion-cut fabrics. She has a round, white hat on her lap. There are small signs of age on her face, disguised by light layers of makeup. Ohana, taking the seat next to her, admires the colors of such elegant garments. Only the trained eye of a merchant would recognize flaws in the cut of her shirt or the poor quality of her coat. Sitting with a straight back and stoic countenance, she receives them with a polite nod.

-I was informed that we will be traveling together for the next few weeks. – Her voice is high pitched, something that seems to be amplified by Ohana’s hangover.

-It will be our pleasure to travel together. – Dan immediately occupies the last place in the carriage, next to a big warrior who, at the moment, has a swollen face and gives a embarrassed smile to his companion. – My name is Dan and this is Ohana. I’ve been told you are on your honeymoon, isn’t it?

-Yes. – The elf looks pleased with the topic. – I got married almost a month ago.

-Right, Vincent told me all about the wedding. It sounded amazing.

-Oh, did he tell you? – The elf gives her husband a cold look. – Before or after getting drunk to the point of being beaten up in a fight?

-Well… - Dun stops the sentence and get back to the introductions. – It is a pleasure to meet you…

-Helena. My name is Helena of Fibo. The pleasure is all ours.

*

Arthur closes his fist around the spear, breathing slowly and heavily. Each inhale is a movement of the chest. His eyes search the ruins, looking for something in the shadows that creep between the corners and small spaces in the concrete.

-It is not here.

The voice that sounds beside the boy is coming from the elf’s lips. Rinlia is Arthur’s only companion in the darkness of the border between the capital of Fiandel and a small, uninhabited forest nearby.

Yvanna, Thiago and even Galaaz were forbidden by the elf to accompany the mission given by King Njalmar. After all, numbers would not help in any way in a battle against an incorporeal being.

Even the elf was there only to protect him from some other threat that could arise in the region. This region has a very unpleasant atmosphere. The king did not give Arthur much information before ending the meeting, saying only that the place had been home to a family of farmers and their employees in the past, but had to be abandoned after the incorporeal attacked.

Currently, what remains of the construction are some concrete blocks, remnants of the main house. Much of the materials were stolen, leaving only part of the skeleton of what was once a large farm. Pastures and fields are now nothing more than grass infested with insects.

-He may be gone. – Rinlia says in a low voice, seeing the broken walls where the mud spread and the destruction of time becomes part of the story told by the landscape.

-Or he can be stronger and hiding. – he grumbles. – Right?

The elf does not with to confirm Arthur’s pessimistic suspicions. The rumors about the incorporeal near the capital dated from years ago and, despite sending search groups and doing investigations, such creature was never found, despite the unmistakable signs of its presence.

This could happen for two reasons (in Rinlia’s opinion): The first was that the incorporeal was very good at hiding; the second was the one she feared. After all, amidst the broken walls and the terror inspired by the legends could be hidden the unwillingness of soldiers to search for the fugitive. That could be the necessary opportunity for the incorporeal to grow uncontrollably.

-Rinlia? You look worried. – The boy tries to guess the feelings of the elf. She is surprised by it.

-I’m… I’m thinking about how to approach this mission, that’s all. – She points to the small trail ahead. – Let’s go.

The smell of earth and silt bothers Arthur’s untrained nose. Several times he puts his free arm in front of his face, but the muddy ground and the ruins in the path prevent him from continuing like this for a long time, having to seek balance so as not to fall.

In his mind, the only plan he has managed to formulate since the ritual seems ridiculous and only a total lack of options makes him commit to going through with it. And, right now, he feels Akemi’s absence. A constant he did not like to notice. The reality, however, is that he would feel much safer if she were nearby. Even more with Rinlia so close. To carry out the plan with the elf nearby, besides being something imprudent, it seems dishonorable. The commander had captivated his friendship and the idea of trying to deceive her seems petty.

--You can’t be so tense. – She says, walking closer to him. – It is important to be aware of everything, but some calm is necessary to win battles. Otherwise, you may be too nervous to think before attacking or to dodge an obvious movement.

He agrees with a nod. Still, his mind is thinking: What if he was unable to do what was necessary? Would he have to fight Rinlia? No. He would not do that. She was the same as Akemi. She offered her help and friendship to him.

-Arthur? Is everything alright? – She is worried by his expression. – Are you feeling some kind of magic or-

-No. – He answers. – It does not work like that, at least until now. I am just a little nervous.

-Ok. In that case, we will continue our search in that direction. – She points to a path between the ruins. – We will go towards a small valley and, later to some hills that are infested by small mammals. It would be the natural path for anyone who wanted to avoid the capital.

He nods again, following the elf in the direction indicated. On the way, they pass several trees and flowers that are completely unknown to Arthur. At a point, he had to stoop to look carefully at a mushroom that seems to move next to an old tree.

-That is the “small traveler”. – She announces, noticing his gaze. – It is widely used in medicinal diffusions, mostly detoxification to some poisons, but, if you want to know my opinion, it is much more useful as a decorative plant.

-Is it… Walking?

-Oh, yes. It has really small roots and it usually spends the whole day and night looking for the best spot next to a bigger tree. But they don’t get very far after they grow up.

--Small traveler… there is nothing like that from where I come from.

-Oh, I remember to read somewhere that there are plants on Earth that follow the sun. Is not the same thing?

-A plant that follows… Oh, are you talking about the sunflower?

-Maybe. – She shrugs and go back to walking. – Are there many plants on Earth that follows the sun?

-No, I don’t think so. – Arthur smiles. – But it is not the same thing as a mushroom capable of walking small distances. It’s just… A plant that follows the movement of the sun. It is not magic.

-And what is the thing that allows the plant to follow the sun?

-I don’t know. – She gives him a satisfied look. He does not want to lose. – But I’m sure there is a scientific reason for it.

-Oh, there must be, right? Oh, the science. Humans here are used to using this argument often. After generations, the great-great-grandchildren of travelers seem to believe that there is dishonor in accepting magic or science, depending on who you ask. Humans often forget that they are the same thing.

-The same? – His tone is incredulous.

-Yes, the same thing. It is all part of nature. Science is just magic that humans can explain according to natural rules. Look at the flames of a campfire, for example. If it was created by the spark of two stones, the flame can be explained scientifically. If it was created by an enchantment, it cannot be explained scientifically. But what happens if the spell is deciphered? If your rules are explained from an elementary point of view?

-Are you telling me that a sunflower is magical?

-And that a “small traveler” is scientifically analyzable. To call it magic or science is a matter of point of view.

-That is a little too convenient.

-What do you mean?

Arthur interrupts his walk and Rinlia imitates him. Gradually, the boy’s expression changes and, in his mind, he makes some associations.

-I mean that… If you are going to apply that reasoning to something like plants, you can also apply that to things that really matter.

-Like what?

-Like all the branches of magic, for example.

-I don’t think I understand.

-If magic is something that science just couldn’t explain yet, then, why isn’t there an effort to understand it? The incorporeal magic, for example. Why fight and kill instead of trying to study and manipulate?

-Oh, I see now.

-And it looks like you don’t have an answer.

-What do you expect me to say? – She is not angry. Her face shows weariness instead. – That if you try hard enough, you can achieve something that no one has ever achieved before? That is possible to live in peace and harmony with the incoreporeals? Please…

-Don’t you think that there should be at least some consideration? We are both here trying to find and kill one incorporeal when-

-When what? – She interrupts him. – Are you going to tell me that you think no one has ever discussed the possibility of dealing with them without violence? That no one tried to search for a solution? What kind of people do you think have lived on this continent for centuries until now? You came to this world a few weeks ago, Arthur. You still have a lot to learn. But even before you learn something, let me give you a clue: Incorporeal beings kill corporeal beings. There is no possibility of coexistence or some other choice. It is a reality that none of us can avoid. It is not on purpose or with evil intent. If you put an incorporeal near a corporeal for too long and you will see disaster.

-I don’t think that is true. – He counters.

-Why not? Do you have any evidence against it? – She smiles. – Do you think there is no consequence to keeping an incorporeal close to us?

The boy hesitates.

-Arthur? – The elf’s gaze immediately changes. She opens her eyes wide and takes a step back. – Arthur, please tell me you don’t-

-The incorporeal is nearby. It is here.

Arthur looks through the shadows of a ruin in the borderline between the fallen buildings and the small forest.

At that geographical point he could feel, without any shadow of a doubt, a magic similar to that of Akemi, moving slowly, but surely, towards them.

*

*