Chapter 1: The failed expedition

Cold, that was what that the saderan soldier could think.

After a few minutes on that inhospitable land in search of any sign of life, he fell to the ground and then plunged into darkness.

He still remembered how several soldiers begged the Legatus that fortune and glory would not be found, a few minutes in this world had shown that it was only a frozen hell without animals or plants, only ice.

Still, he trusted the Legatus' promises, they could not have waited that long for anything.

His companions had tried to advance, but not even the most seasoned beast could have endured that hostile climate.

And it all got worse when they got away from the door, a strong blizzard wiped out hope of achieving something.

Their equipment and armor only worsened everything, the physical fatigue was greater causing many to leave their weapons on the ground keeping only what could give them a little heat.

The weakest was the first to fall, their destiny was already predestined, although unfortunately, it was not on the battlefield.

He remembers mocking them, but it did not take long for him and the most experienced young people to give in, it was frustrating not even to be able to draw the sword to defend against this enemy.

Because there was no enemy to attack, only the force of nature.

He did not know what happened to the most veteran, winners of a thousand battles, but possibly suffered the same fate.

He only remembered the face of the Legatus that had sent them to conquer a dead land, he hoped that honorable knight had suffered the same fate, to die on the cold ice.

In the end, he only had to resign himself, there was no way he could save him, he had stopped feeling his limbs a long time ago so all that remained was to wait for a slow and painful death.

Thinking of dying without fighting, without fighting, defeated by nature, perhaps he did not think to have such a pathetic ending, he hoped that the gods have jurisdiction in this world and his soul can be taken to paradise.

And suddenly, a white light was on his face, he tried to open his eyes, but it was impossible for him, he was reaching paradise, Hardy had decided to accept his soul even with such a dishonorable death.

But he did not feel that his soul was detached from his body, this was completely different from what everyone theorized that happened after death.

After many minutes he was able to open his eyes, the white light grew stronger making him regret wanting to open his eyes.

The vision was blurred, but after a few minutes he collected himself, he was ready to see paradise, but he was found.

A room?

He tried to move, but his body did not respond in any way, leaving him only one option, trying to identify where he was.

At least he could move his eyes, it was a start. He noticed that he was in some kind of building that possessed artifacts with strange magic.

The minutes passed making everything more confusing for him, but at least he was also recovering a little mobility.

When he was finally able to move his head, he noticed that he was on a bed, much more comfortable than any bed in the empire.

This sensation was transformed into terror when seeing how strange transparent tubes were inserted in his arms.

He saw the beds around him and found several compatriots being treated the same.

He did not understand anything, this was definitely not the paradise that the gods had prepared for mortals, he was still alive.

Soon he heard how a door opened and two people in white robes appeared, a man and a woman.

They both walked around the room observing the saderans who seemed to be in no better situation than his.

The man quickly noticed that he was watching them, quickly both strangers walking to the side of his bed.

They looked like normal humans. Were they mages? Were they healers? Were they healer mages?

Both began to converse in a strange language, he could not understand something making him start to despair.

Several possibilities flashed through his mind about what they were talking about and what he was trying to talk about.

The saderan looked at the man and asked "Where am I?"

He hoped that at least he had an idea of what he was saying but instead the man observed the woman who gave him a confused look, he expected the man to answer something, but it was the woman who decided to open his mouth.

"Amundsen–Scott Station, in the South Pole"