The expedition was finally approaching the way down to the valley floor. The final bit would be through rough terrain in the form of a forest, which would not usually be so bad, if it weren’t for the five carts they had bumbling along with them.

They had all started getting used to being on the figurative road by now. And to each other. They had had some arguments on the way, about the best Classes in each category, which turned a bit ugly when things got personal. And then a feast where they all shared the limited luxury foods they had brought from home, to make up for it again.

Since then it had been smooth sailing, and everyone’s moods really seemed to be steadily improving despite being all the way out here. Mostly due to their steady progress.

If there were not so many of them they would have expected to see some dangers by now, but they had Roldy and Hyde or Sten to go on the occasional scouting trip wherever vision was more limited, just to be safe.

So far they had been more than safe, people had been leveling. The few beasts that might have caused trouble had been dealt with by Sten and he had gained the last bit he needed for his 7th level as a result, and he was not alone. None had reached further capstones, but the air was one of progression in the face of the unknown.

Livia knew that she had not done much so far, that she was far down the list of main contributors to solving the various problems they had been encountering. But that was not important in a way. She had still leveled as well, and was convinced it was because of showing confidence in Roldy.

It might have seemed like the safer option to stop waiting, to go ahead and leave without him and Sten, since they would be able to catch up or send a message by Brunner if something had gone wrong and they needed help.

But if she did that and their [Druid] showed up thirty minutes later with a plan involving the sika, who were obviously there for a reason, then it would look like you had neither confidence in one of your original members nor the communication to be in the know about the full plan. What she showed her Class that day was the ability to keep a cool head.

And it was the same sort of thing with what happened between Alfred and Albert. She could have sided with the higher-level and more senior member like some may have expected, out of habit or simply a willingness to hear him out at length. It might have seemed prudent. Not least due to the popularity of his drink and the inherent respect that came with the profession, but in the moment Livia had thought of it another way.

The few facts she knew of Albert was that his [Brewmaster] had spent his life playing second-fiddle to the near mythic [Druid] who had been a founder of Salcret. Being in such a position his whole career, he had probably spent it feeling inadequate and trying to compensate by raising his own individual skill to a level where he was worthy of being the supporting character in all those magical creations.

But the result was someone who both focused on training alone, under the tutelage of a different kind of master, and being the support to a factor that was then gone.

Livia wanted Albert to be something that Bunke did not know how to teach, the new main factor. And hopefully Alfred could be his support. In a much more independent way.

These thoughts were what led her to deciding to mash the two up, even if it had been a bit hamfisted. She had counted on her support of Alfred to force Albert to give him the benefit of the doubt, and for Alfred to get a chance to earn the [Brewers] reluctant respect.

The creation of Zlapple was the result, and the levels that came of it had switched Albert’s outlook around completely. He had now gained 3 levels in as many months, after having been stuck for an entire seven months prior to that. All thanks to his association with Livia and her [Guild].

These matters were not big in the grand scheme of things, but the small victories kept adding up, and her foundation as an authority - together with her confidence - was growing. If they kept the rest of the trip running as smoothly as things had been going so far she would be celebrating in an inn soon, considering the whole thing a resounding success. Fingers crossed.

Livia was at least superstitious enough not to speak such things aloud. Or should one say experienced enough.

[Farmer] Redd had walked up to Livia and Oscar, supported by his giant weapon, as they were waiting for Harold and Sten to return from scouting the track of forest that stood between them and the next section of grassy fields.

“Livia, I wanted to congratulate you on running a tight ship thus far. I have seen more experienced hands do a plenty worse job than this, and you should know that you can rely on me to do as I am told if things should go south,”

Livia looked at the serious man, who had been such a calming presence the whole trip, and went to give him a nod, but what Oscar said distracted her. “What are you talking about, you old sauerkraut, we’re almost 3/4ths of the way there already, and once again approaching civilization,”

Oscar had been having a swell time on the trip, helping organize everything and being like a young kid with all the different Classes all around. He had been feeling both closer than ever, and further, from selecting his final Class. Depending on the hour. Maybe that was why he was too distracted to think more carefully before spewing ill-boding words.

“If something bad was to happen it surely would have by now, just a few more days and we should be coming up on the first village, no need to be such a pessimist.”

Oscar delivered the words off-handedly and then kept munching on his hardbread-sandwich.

Redd simply smiled at the young boy, in a sort of reassuring manner, and thankfully did not seem to take any offense. But Livia decided that crossing the fingers on both hands might be just as well, to be safe.

Unfortunately that turned out not to help, at all.

When their two scouts came running back into sight they were hauling ass. Waving an arm to make sure they were spotted.

The report that reached them was of an army, of the same kind of giant ant who had assailed Salcret this past winter. Under the command of over a hundred towering Mantis. The only difference being how they sported colors in a much brighter paint. The horde did not belong here, so far from the borders of Doc Forrest. Even Redd was looking shocked at the news.

Harold was still pale after what he had seen, but Sten was at least able to speak coherently.

“They were much further down into the valley still, and did not seem to be moving much, other than in short patrols. The camp they inhabited surrounded a grouping of very round holes leading straight into the ground, it looked almost like sinkholes,”

They all tried to contemplate what that could mean, but the thought of their probable impending doom kept intruding.

The discussions that arose were hushed but insistent, and after a while most of them had turned to Livia, expecting a decision. This was uncharted territory.

“I think we should at least take a good look before we make a firm decision to turn back, if you think it’s safe Redd?”

The old man had recovered from his earlier shock and gotten some time to collect himself. Now he looked as steady as ever.

He gave her a plain, strong nod.