The wastelands, a land heard about in Halkeginia only through rumor, a land allegedly across the great deserts of the elves. A land that is supposed to be so dangerous and deadly, that the most powerful of beings steered clear of it. And a land so dead, nothing can traverse it and survive. And now the Ostrand flew above it.

All the nonessential crew where atop the Ostrand main deck, staring down at the bleak land below them, in both wonder and worry. Near the back of the deck Louise leant against a wall and looked out at the landscape as well, the gears in her mind turning endlessly.

The land below them was a sick one. Grey sand and dirt clung to the ground held in place by the corpses of foliage and the petrified remains of dead trees. Not a sound came from these dead wastes, and even the wind seemed not to blow in between the trees. No animals could be seen anywhere, and not even a fleck of bright color poked through. Occasionally they would catch sight of pools of sickly purple liquid that occasionally bubbled. But from quick tests by scouts with flying familiars it became apparent that theses pools were to be kept away from.

For two days they flew over the bleak and unchanging landscape, everyone's emotions becoming a mix of fear and anticipation. On the third day the dig site was sighted in the distance directly in the center of the wastes, and the crew cheered in anticipation; for before them was the Nightscreamer's corpse.

Poking out of the wastes the corpse loomed over all around it, a giant purple and silver spire that shot up out of the ground at an impossible angle. Its entire surface was covered in black burn markings and massive holes and pits. It was obvious from its shape and condition that its corpse had degraded over time, as massive pieces of it where all around. Off in the distance large two large black and purple needles stuck out of the ground, looming nearly as ominously as the corpse itself.

Louise leaned over the edge of the Ostrand railings and scowled at the dreadnoughts wreckage in front of the ship. "Saw, it does not look good, how bad is it?"

"Unable to accurately assess damages without closer sensorial inspection." answered Saw from inside the ship.

Louise scowled as the ship began slowly dropping toward the only expanse of open land around, a clearing directly beside the wreckage. With how damaged it looked at a distance and how anxious and anticipate most of the crew was, she worried that Lady Montmorency would want to start excavating immediately. The worst case scenario was the one in which someone found a way inside the ship. Louise doubted they would, but the worry was there.

Taking advantage of most of the crew being present Lady Montmorency stepped out of her cabin and onto the main deck, quickly firing a quick shot of water above the students to grab their attention. Once the noise had died down and their gazes turned to her, she began. "Everyone, if I could have you undivided attention, please. . . . . Thank you. This is what this expedition is about, finding this creature! Yes! This was once a living creature it is said, a creature called the Nightscreamer, a creature that brought the elves once to their knees. Now we have found its corpse, and once we unbury it, we will gain great power for all of Halkeginia!"

Man of the students on the deck let out cries of happiness.

"We shall land momentarily, so everyone with set up duty's, get ready. We will set up a camp just outside of the Ostrand and use it for storage. Those with scouting duty, I suggest you prepare as well. Everyone knows what they need to do. Let's make this happen, people!" Lady Montmorency called out to the crew, and in seconds the deck became full of people scrambling to get to their posts and prepare for the ship to land.

Louise scowled as everyone on the deck moved around like insane little ants, though Lady Montmorency's one comment proved useful to her. If everyone was to be camping outside of the ship, it would allow her to move around with more ease during the night, and would allow her to get close to the dreadnaught and asses its damage sooner. All she needed to do was-..

"Vallière!"

"Louise turned to find Kirche standing to her side with an angry look across her face. "Yes?"

"What are you doing just standing around here? We have things to do as well!"

"How so, people will be setting up stuff once we land, it's not like we need to do anything yet."

"Yes we do! Or did you forget what Siesta told us yesterday, that once we landed the kitchen would be moved out of the ship as well to make the creation of meals easier?"

"Er, wait when did she-?"

"Let's go already! You may be useless at magic but the least you can do is carrying supplies out!" Kirche yelled as she forcibly grabbed Louise's wrist and dragged her off the deck and into the ship's interior.

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Lady Montmorency stepped back into her cabin and closed the door, letting out her breath as she did. "It is done."

"So how soon till we land then?"

Lady Montmorency turned to see her daughter sitting at the dining table, a small wine glass of water in front of her. Letting out another small sigh Lady Montmorency took the seat across from her daughter as she spoke. "Mr. Colbert is landing the ship presently, and I've already given the order that once we land the camp will be set up with haste."

"So the ship won't be used at all then?"

"Only for storing extra equipment. Mostly extra kitchen food, as the kitchen is even being moved out once we land. Hopefully this gives us the advantage in finding who did away with Maria."

"I'm sure it will, mother. Moving around a camp of tents may seem easy, but it will allow us to find proof that Louise Vallière did indeed kill her."

"I hope so, I hope so."

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The elven elder stood beside his white horse and ran his hand across its mane, calming it as his second walked up. "So you lost sight of them here?"

"Yes, sir." The elven warrior said with a nod. "I lost sight of them as their ship began descending on the horizon.

"I see. Then they likely have already found its corpse. Leave the horses here and let's go. We shall give them the ultimatum, and one day to pack-up and leave. If they disregard our request, they shall be killed without mercy."

"B-but won't it take us a few days to reach the corpse on foot, sir?"

"Yes. But the horses would not survive, so we must go on foot. Now."