The wasteland that had stretched as far as the eye could see since leaving Mahernas gave way to vast green hills, which were overlooked by dense woodland to the north. It was day two of the companions’ journey, and they hoped to make it to Deirnes by the end of the day.

I count myself lucky that I can return to my Vessel whenever I want and have you do the walking for both of us, Kydan… Sakhtras said in her wielder’s mind, These long trails would wreak havoc on my old bones…

Old bones? Kydan answered incredulously, You’ve been resting in that Dungeon for who knows how long! If anything, you should be out here carrying me!

You’re still a young lad! If I were to do that, I’d be depriving you of exercise- Your strength will grow through long journeys like this, growing boys like you need things like this…

I hear ya… Kydan groaned out loud, But still… This has been tough… Especially right after a Dungeon…

Meanwhile, Auros also appeared to be struggling. He was gasping for breath.

“Why… Why did it have to be hills?!”

It seems your bard friend isn’t suited to long stretches of walking, much like myself.

Seems that way. Hey, Sakhtras?

Yes?

You seemed to recognise Auros whenever he and I first entered the final room of Alfad Remeris. Do you think you two had met before or something?

Alas, I think not. Perhaps he just reminds me of an old acquaintance- Although I am quite hazy in the memory department myself. Being locked in another dimension for hundreds of years will do that to a girl…

I suppose. It’s a shame, though… I was hoping maybe you’d have some clue to who he was before all this.

Kydan heard Auros let out a defeated sigh, indicating that he too had been hoping Sakhtras would remember him. Although he seemed not to be able to hear Sakhtras’ side of the conversation, Kydan’s response told him all he needed to know.

Hai and Eswyrene seemed to be having no trouble at all journeying through this hilly terrain, Hai leading the group and Eswyrene not being very far behind. That wasn’t surprising, given the physical strength of the swordsman and the former slave.

Kydan, at the back of the group, gritted his teeth and quickened his pace to catch up to Eswyrene.

“Um… Hey, Eswyrene?” He began to speak when he’d caught up to the girl. She looked back and gave him a smile.

“Hi,” she said, “Tough going, isn’t it?”

“You’re making it look easy!” Kydan exclaimed, “I don’t know how you do it!”

“My people are naturally stronger than most, in terms of strength of the body,” Eswyrene explained to him, “Jurei has been a nation of warriors for as long as it’s been established. Children are taught to fight as soon as they can walk. It’s a necessity, for all manner of beasts also call the island home… Or so I’ve heard.”

“Wow,” Kydan replied, “So there are even Fiends as far out as Jurei, huh?”

“Yes,” Eswyrene told him, “And they’d make most of the ones you’d see here look like household pets. Survival is a strong instinct among Jureinians, because from the day we’re born we’re in intense competition with our very environment. That’s why the place is closed off, too- Self sufficiency is another huge component of our culture. It’s because a lot of Jureinians die young at the hands of Fiends or get captured and sold off by slavers… Children have to stand tall even if their parents are killed.”

“… I’m sorry if asking this is too personal…”

Eswyrene shook her head, “Not at all- You saved my life, and although we’ve only been travelling together for a short time… I trust you.”

“Thanks,” Kydan said, “So, uh… Did your father die that day when your ship was attacked?”

Eswyrene paused to think about her answer, “…To be honest, I’m not sure. It’s been a long time since I ever gave myself a chance to think about him again. I always just assumed he’d been killed, because I don’t think the slavers had him on the ship they brought me onto. Most of the rest of the trading ship’s crew were on there, but others resisted and were killed. Even if my father wasn’t killed… He wouldn’t have survived. The seas around Jurei, much like the land itself, are rife with beasts…”

“…I’m sorry to hear that,” Kydan said, “So… It’s likely you’re like me, then. An orphan.”

“Yes,” Eswyrene nodded somewhat sadly, “I often wondered as a child what it would have been like if I was back home, with my family.”

“I’m sure it was tough,” Kydan nodded, “At least I was lucky… I had a family of my own- The people of Hayvren. Each and every one of them took care of me even though I was a really bratty kid back then…”

“…But then Lendras had them slaughtered.”

“Yeah,” Kydan confirmed, “It… It was horrible.”

“To have everything you love torn down in front of you,” Eswyrene said, “Even to one who was a slave… I can’t imagine many fates worse than that.”

Kydan shook his head, “No… What he did to you was far worse, keeping you under his control and even forcing you into that Dungeon with him… You really could’ve died…”

“Kydan…” his name escaped Eswyrene’s lips softly, “You… You don’t have to carry the burden of what happened to Hayvren alone. I was carrying my burden alone before you came along and stood up to Lendras for me… So… I’d like to help you, in return… However I can…”

Kydan smiled warmly, “You already have- I never thought I would have friends or people to care about again. With the people of Hayvren scattered around now, I held on to a childish notion that I was going to bring everyone back together, but… I realise now that while we all might meet again, it’s okay to move on and set my sights on new goals.”

“…And what goal have you decided on?” Eswyrene asked him.

“I want to help as many people as I can who’ve felt the pain all of us have,” Kydan answered, his bright blue eyes resolute and serious, “Slaves, those who have been displaced from their homes because of greedy Overlords who’ve seized power for themselves and destroyed lives in turn… Maybe it’s an even more naïve goal than rebuilding Hayvren, but… I want to get stronger, and do my best to end the injustices we and so many around us have suffered thanks to the Dungeons… Using the very same power.”

Eswyrene looked shocked at his answer, “Th-That’s… Kydan, you…”

“It sounds stupid, probably,” Kydan blushed, “But… I mean it, I want to overturn the rule people like Lendras and make it so that the cycle of cruelty ends.”

“A most noble goal,” Hai cut in from in front of them, “But I wouldn’t call it stupid or naïve.”

“No, neither would I,” Eswyrene agreed, her violet eyes fixed on Kydan with admiration, “You… You know firsthand what it means to suffer, and how quickly a corrupt ruler can take everything from innocent people.”

“Exactly,” Hai said, “You know the devastation that even a minor player in the global network of rulers can inflict… Yet you have the resolve to fight it. That has awakened in you, Kydan… I think coming face to face with Lendras is what triggered it.”

“I’d agree,” Kydan nodded, “Seeing him, and the way he treated not just Eswyrene, but the both of you… It made me realise what my true path should be.”

“Most admirable,” Hai said, “And watching you… Well, it inspires me to follow you, and to help you.”

“He’s right,” Eswyrene said, “You might not be there yet… But my mind’s eye… It can see what you’ll become, and the things you’ll achieve.”

Kydan looked shocked, “Y-You both really think so?” He’d half expected them to laugh it off and call him crazy.

Of course they do, Sakhtras interjected, And so do I. Everyone around you has seen what you have to offer, and caught a glimpse of what your future holds… It’s what makes them want to follow you.

Kydan smiled at Hai and Eswyrene as the three of them stopped right before the entrance to the woods. They had made it to the top of the hill and were now catching their breath. The view from up here was amazing- Kydan looked down and saw the vast stretch of hills beneath him, and the sparse wastelands they’d been travelling through looked to be a hundred miles away from up here. Mahernas itself was a tiny dot on the horizon, and other smaller settlements could be seen in all directions.

Alreese… I’ll probably be leaving here soon.

That would probably be the logical step, yes, once we acquire that Dungeon map V told you about.

Yes, that and free any remaining slaves left at Fort Rosharien. I’d assume Lendras’ lackeys are still running the place in his absence, so we’ll have a fight on our hands, I’m sure.

Correct, Sakhtras sounded as though she was looking forward to it, I haven’t been in a true battle in a long time! It’ll be good practice, you know, for the two of us fighting together.

We’re planning to wander into the stronghold of our old enemy, and you’re calling it good practice?

Of course! Sakhtras responded, You have nothing to worry about. You won’t die, so long as I’m here! You can rely on Sakhtras!

… Wait a minute…

“Where’s Auros?” Kydan said aloud, and was answered by the wheezing of the bard as he slowly made the last of his ascent up the hill, dragging his feet as though they were about to fall off.

“Here… I’m… On my way, lad…”

“I kind of pity him,” Eswyrene smirked, “Poor guy.”

“Hey!” Auros protested, “I’m… Not… To be pitied…”

“Is it okay for him to be this out of shape?” Hai asked.

“I think he usually gets around via carriage,” Kydan explained, “We actually first met aboard one.”

“Why… Couldn’t we… Have taken… One?”

“I don’t think carriages even go as far north as this,” Kydan said, “They wouldn’t be able to travel on this terrain, or through the woods, given that there’s probably a lot of Fiends beyond here.”

“Ah… Fiends… Wonderful…” Auros didn’t exactly look ready for a fight, “Can we… Take a rest?”

He finally made it to the top and collapsed at the feet of his friends, yawning wearily.

“We’re making good time,” Hai said, “So we could definitely afford to stop.”

“Hai… Old friend…” Auros smiled up at him, “You are a benevolent… Master…”

At the other end of the woods lay the sleepy village of Deirnes. It had a mill, a few shops, and other than residences, not much else. On its outskirts, though, there was a large cave.

And in this cave, a certain group had set up their base of operations.

“L-Leader!” A dark-skinned man wearing a black garb had just returned to the cave, “I have news from beyond the village!”

At the back wall of the cave, a younger man fixed his gaze on the new arrival. He sat against the wall, on a carpet, and around him was a small mountain of gold pieces. To his right stood another man who looked uninterested, and to his left a woman whose fierce eyes also pierced the nervous-looking newcomer.

It was the woman, red-haired and with a permanent scowl on her face, who spoke first, “What news would you disturb our leader with?”

The young leader, who looked to be barely more than a teenager, and who wore the same black garb as the rest of his companions, waved an arm lazily, “Let him talk, Malra,” the young woman looked somewhat scorned but nodded.

The man on his right remained silent but smirked at the woman being dismissed by their leader.

“Very well,” she said, “Speak!”

“Overlord Lendras appears to be dead,” the man said, “He set out to conquer the Dungeon Alfad Remeris, but it would seem someone got there first.”

The leader looked shocked, “Really? And you’re sure of this?”

“Yes, a merchant from Mahernas arrived here just this morning, and according to him, the city is in an uproar! The Dungeon disappeared, but… So did the Overlord!”

A wicked grin danced across the young leader’s face, “That prideful old bastard must have bitten off more than he could chew.”

“It would seem that way,” Malra also wore an expression of opportunistic cunning, “So… What do we do?”

“Call the rest of them back,” the young man told the visitor, “First… We celebrate the death of that wretched old fool… And then we pick off every last one of those who would still cling to his name!”

Malra laughed icily, “Revenge will be sweet, and who better than the Ravens to wreak it?”

The man to the right of their leader sighed, “You two really are cut from the same cloth. Oh, well… Guess I’ll have to do my part as well. Although it’ll be a pain…”

The leader laughed, “You never change, Rendt. This is what we’ve been working towards… This is why I formed our little group…”

“What’re you waiting for?!” Malra pointed at the other man who was still standing at the entrance to the room where the leader and his two generals were, “You have orders! Bring the others back here, now!”

“At least we’ll get to drink all night before the big day,” Rendt said, “That’s what I’m really looking forward to.”

“And you’ll be able to drink all you want once the vermin are cleared out of Fort Rosharien, my friend,” the leader told him, “This is the start of a new era… Where we will be the ones at the top of the food chain!”