The group of five was still following in the footsteps of Santos and Khan.Vashina was worried about the rest of the group; she was reluctant to ask a favor from a Reciardo, but she had no other choice.
—Excuse me, I… I must go after my companions. I stayed behind to give them time to escape.—There's no need to go after them, they must have already run into someone else. —Santos said.—Wait, someone else? —those words echoed in Vashina— Are you saying that——Yes, I was also surprised when I learned they were here.
Santos walked with a wide smile on his face.The forest began to recede, and in front of the group, the moonlight welcomed them in splendor.A stretch of barren land spread out before their eyes. The plain, as it was called, had been famous 400 years ago as a gathering place.
Fredar, Cuar, and Vashina had once undergone the adventurer initiation rite held every three years. During the event, they camped for a week, having to hunt and find their own sustenance.Each of them had been there at different times, but all remembered the cold, hard stone they had used as a bed as something rough in those days.
Now, the plain was filled with camps and adventurers — but not ordinary adventurers, they were Reciardos. Hundreds of them moved back and forth.There were monsters, beasts, and creatures thought extinct long ago.They saw rare elves, grumpy dwarves, exotic wildlings, tritons and mermaids, harpies. All kinds of beings walked across the now bustling plain.
—This is…—Incredible…—Yes…—Are you going to stand there like trees? —Santos asked.
The three stared in astonishment.
A man carrying books, wearing round glasses and looking scholarly, passed by, noticed the newcomers, and was shocked. He wore a green robe that hid his feet and a strange hat.—My God, it's Santos! —He hurried over, looked Santos up and down, and adjusted his glasses— At last you've arrived, this is good. Follow me.—Wait… hm, what about them? —he pointed toward Fredar, Cuar, and Vashina.—Oh, right. If they go that way, they'll find the others. Bolt found them fighting a horde. —he gestured toward a green tent.—Move along…
The three followed Khan, still absorbed.
—Bolt, huh. Where is he now?—He went back to the forest. —he shook his head in disapproval and sighed— He's so euphoric that he and a few others are swinging around like monkeys from vine to vine.—Haha, and your cousin Zephyr?—Oh look, it's Shunk, hey, how are you Shunk, I'm glad to see you too, you know. —he gave Santos an annoyed glance.—Sorry, my mistake. How are you, Shunk?—Forget it —he sighed— We need to talk, it's something very serious.
As they neared the center, Santos saw what seemed to be a ring made of logs and roots. Inside, a sparring match was underway.Outside the ring, with his back to Santos, sat a burly man who made the bench beneath him look small. His messy black hair reached his waist. He wore loose cream-colored pants and a sleeveless black shirt. His hands and feet were bare.Santos stopped, staring in surprise.
Shunk, noticing Santos had stopped, followed his gaze and his expression darkened.—Vlad… Zephyr invited him after María Antonieta left the group. —Shunk said.—I see… Wait, María left the expedition!?—Yes, a week before the expedition she and another went off on a journey to the new continent.—What!? Wait, there weren't supposed to be any ships setting sail because of the dangers and the unknown travel time, right?—Yes, but for some reason, a week before all this happened, strange events began. One of them was that Ivekar's port was suddenly flooded with requests for voyages to the new continent and a lot of other things.
Santos silently contemplated the revelation he had just heard. They walked through the camp until they reached the center, where a green tent nearly three meters tall awaited them.
Camp – Central Tent
Inside, the tent was spacious, with a common area taking up most of the space and two hidden rooms at the back.At the center of the common area stood a round table with twelve chairs. Surrounding it, two tiers of semicircular stands rose like a small coliseum where the key figures of the expedition gathered.
—As impressive as always. Who are the leaders of this expedition?—Quite a few this time. Obviously, Zephyr is first as the main explorer, Bolt takes on the stronger monsters, Kassandra handles the annoying ones, Khan ventured into the most dangerous places, Livia was the chief doctor and Metrodora the chief healer, Chef ran the kitchen, Dol led the vanguard, Marco Polo and Cristob were rear and long-distance, Ross led the rescue team, Baldomero was the blacksmith, I was the historian, and many more. Sit there, I'll go fetch the others.
Santos headed to the highest tier.
Camp – East Side
The medical camp was an area full of white tents, with a large one at the end serving as the main.All the tents were empty, but inside the main one a group was being examined by the chief doctor.
Livia, the chief doctor, was an elf of stunning beauty. Her porcelain-white skin and emerald green eyes contrasted with her blonde hair, hypnotizing the whole group. Her small lips and slender figure made even women's hearts race. She wore a spotless white coat and strange garments beneath it.
—She's fine, just a moderate cranioencephalic trauma with a possible skull fracture and partial loss of consciousness. There's pupillary response, but not verbal. Possible subdural hematoma. I'll treat her myself shortly. —she diagnosed with a smile. She took a notebook and began writing— I want you to fetch me these ingredients. With the first ones make me a soup, the others take them to be mixed into an ointment.
Livia looked at the wounded girl on the stretcher with concern. Ukryo had carried her on his back to the camp when they were found by other Reciardos.Cuar, entranced by Livia's beauty, nodded at the explanation of his companion's condition.
Arlo approached and looked intently at the doctor.—Hey, my name's Arlo.—Yes, I know, you told me earlier.—Right, haha… —Arlo laughed shyly.—Are you hungry? Go to the cafeteria and eat something.
Livia bid the group farewell and left.The group let out a long sigh of disappointment at her departure.
—This is unreal, I never thought I'd see an elf in my lifetime. —Fredar said.—I thought a Goddess or something descended from the sky.—I'll be dreaming of paradise tonight.
Seeing the boys fantasize, Vashina and Nina gave them reproachful looks. They couldn't deny the unnatural beauty of Livia, who seemed to shine just by existing.Calling Livia a goddess was no exaggeration.
—I came to look for Fressa. —A man with animal-like features approached.He wore a white robe like Livia's, but clothes more suited for an adventurer underneath.—Is there any place we can rest? —Vashina asked.—Oh, don't you have tents? Come with me. —the Reciardo tilted his head in confusion— What are you doing here, shouldn't you be at the meeting?—Who, me? —the old man replied— What meeting are you talking about?
The Reciardo then began to guide the group.