With a foggy mind, Dart slowly opened his eyes. The bright sun shone on his face, and he moaned in irritation, throwing his hand up to protect from the fierce rays. With a slight startle, he recognized a dull ache in his body, and as he gazed up at the blue tapestry stretched across his field of vision, he realized that he'd fallen asleep on the roof. The distant morning bustle of the city muttered around him, and slowly he sat up, favoring his left arm, and glanced around.
Not much was different in the daylight. Glancing up at the sun, he guessed it to be an hour or two before noon, and he marveled at his ability to sleep so long in such an unfamiliar and uncomfortable place. Sighing and rubbing his eyes, he stood slowly, doing his best to ignore the resistance in his sore muscles. A night sleeping on solid rock had not been kind to him.
It seemed warmer than usual outside, but that meant little to him; he was always comfortable in the heat. What he liked best about Tiberoa so far was that the entire country seemed to be steeped in a constant dry heat, unlike the cold or humid Serdio. Part of him hoped that their stay here would be long enough to last through summer so that he could get full enjoyment of the desert-like climate.
After a sizeable yawn, he took several slow steps toward the stairwell, unnervingly realizing that his feet had been in his boots for more than a full day. Then ignoring the discomfort, he descended the steps, emerging in Fester's dining area. He was surprised to find Fester and Albert sitting at a small dining table with two empty plates. To Dart's left was a moderately-sized kitchen area with a large wood stove and ample counter space where Fester had supplied various fruits and breads for the group of travelers.
As Dart made his way over toward the food, he all but ignored the passive greetings from the two men and merely acknowledged them with a small wave of his hand before grabbing a plate and putting several items onto it. Then he lazily meandered toward the table, pulled out a chair, and sat, dropping the plate with a clunk.
"Did you sleep on the roof?" asked Fester.
Dart blinked slowly. He didn't really feel like answering any questions just yet, but he knew that he had to. For just a few minutes, he could pretend that he'd awoken an hour ago and not one minute.
"Yes, unfortunately," he mumbled. "I fell asleep accidentally last night."
"I wouldn't mind laying out a bedroll for you for the remainder of your visit, if you'd like to stay up there."
"Thanks," replied Dart gruffly. Although he understood and was grateful for the gesture, spoken words were a precious commodity to him right now. Each one required a considerable amount of effort.
Grabbing a grape – considered a delicacy in the more temperate Serdio – Dart kept his eyes down in a feeble attempt to avoid future conversation as he ate. For a time, he was able to just listen to Fester and Albert exchange words. They seemed to be discussing some resident of Fletz who spent all his time with plants.
"He's a curious fellow," said Fester. "His house and roof are covered with plants, and he even managed to get permission to plant a garden in the middle of the city. He grows all sorts of plants, making the trek every week to gather a substantial amount of water from the nearest well so that he can water them. I don't know how he has the patience. I would never be able to keep a plant alive if I had to care for it like that."
"I think that would be an interesting challenge," replied Albert. "I have never attempted it, but I suppose it would be worth investigating."
"No doubt, if you have the time! I'm so immersed in my studies and working in the castle that I would forget too consistently. The interesting thing about Nello, though, is that he has this grand scheme to grow plants all through the barrens."
"That is a lofty goal." Albert furrowed his brow and brought his fist to his chin. "How would he do this?"
"That's the question," said Fester, pointing at Albert. "How do you grow plants in a place where even cacti don't grow? It doesn't make sense. He can't water the whole of the barrens."
They continued for some time as Dart slowly lost focus of their conversation as his mind wandered. His thoughts drifted momentarily to Shana, and then to Rose's visit the night before. He was fairly certain that it was the only time she'd actually expressed sympathy in front of him, and he'd been quite taken aback. But perhaps she was finally starting to see him as a friend.
And then there was all that he'd learned about the Black Monster. Why would it have come to such an outlying area like Neet? From what he remembered, it had been a tiny town, maybe even smaller than Seles, almost nothing more than a clearing in the evergreen forest that had surrounded it. Maybe there really was a pattern to the attacks, and Fester just hadn't found it yet. Maybe plotting them all on a map would show something. But… now that he thought of it, he wasn't even sure where Neet was.
"Fester," he said suddenly, a moment later realizing that he'd interrupted Albert mid-sentence. A flash of irritation came from the king but vanished the next second.
"Sorry," muttered Dart apologetically. "I was just wondering… Where is Neet?"
"Oh," replied Fester, surprised by the inquiry. "Northeastern Mille Seseau. Did you not know that already?"
Dart shook his head absentmindedly. Mille Seseau… he thought. It was a country north of Tiberoa, and it had a reputation of being very cold, especially in the northern reaches.
"Do you have a map?"
"Certainly!"
Fester jumped up, eager to show off a piece of his collection of parchment. He rushed into the other room, and presently, shuffling could be heard as papers shifted around.
"I must say that I am surprised you did not know where you grew up," inserted Albert. "Had you asked, I would certainly have disclosed this information before. We have expansive maps in Indels Castle."
"I didn't think about it," mumbled Dart. He was pretty sure that Albert was trying to be nice, but it felt like Dart was being accused of something.
A moment later, Fester all but sprinted back into the room with two sizeable flaps of parchment flowing about him.
"I wasn't sure which one you wanted," he said almost breathlessly, "so I brought both a map of Mille Seseau and a map of Endiness." And with a flourish, he spread them over the table, quickly brushing aside dishes until they sat precariously on the edges, prepared to fall and shatter at any moment. Albert jumped up to grab them and set them on a chair.
The maps were so large that they almost fully covered the table, with each corner hanging over the edge. All at once, Dart was enraptured by the detail. On the top rested an intricate portrayal of the continent of Endiness, the ink tracing out nearly every hill and valley of the landscape. The east held the temperate wilds of Serdio, and Dart could spy the tiny dots depicting Bale, Kazas, and Lohan. The Serdian Mountains spliced it in half, running almost exactly parallel to the Western Mountains. The rest of the continent was shaped like a tilted C, with Tiberoa making the bottom, Mille Seseau the top, and something called the Death Frontier forming the curved spine. But then, popping out of the back of the C where Mille Seseau met the Death Frontier, there spread a land labeled "Gloriano."
Leaning forward, Dart furrowed his brow as he studied the map. He'd never seen a full map of Endiness, much less one so detailed, and only a moment later, he found himself studying every inch of it. He noticed that while Serdio, Tiberoa, and Mille Seseau were filled with labels of various cities, forests, and mountain ranges, the Death Frontier and Gloriano were devoid of civilization, instead having images of monsters and ruined cities to fill the void.
The world was so much bigger than Dart had previously thought. Despite all his wanderings in the Eastern Wilds, which he now saw as a dark haze of unknowns on the map before him, his mind could not comprehend the vastness that this map implied. Not only was the continent itself spread out before him, but he also saw islands and outskirts and hints of other areas that he had never even considered could have existed. Absentmindedly, he reached a hand out and touched the map, his fingers lightly dragging over the Death Frontier and Tiberoa. Eventually he came to Fletz, nestled on the edge of the southern ocean. To the north, in the middle of the C, was a small chain of islands, and north of that lay the banks of Mille Seseau. As his eyes found the country, he began to scan it somewhat frantically, looking for his home.
"What you're looking for," inserted Fester, "is up here."
Without hesitation, Fester dropped his hand to a spot in the northeastern reaches of Mille Seseau, a place surrounded by tiny shaded trees, the smallest dot on this tapestry of the world. And there, next to the dot, Dart saw the word "Neet." His throat caught momentarily, and he leaned forward. It seemed so insignificant, hidden among the branches. And it was so far from Fletz…
"This map was made fifty or more years ago, when Neet was still in existence," said Fester. "More recent maps don't even include it. However, I have noticed that all maps made in Mille Seseau do."
And with that, he tossed the other map over and laid it on the table, masking the continent with the northern country. Somehow, this map was even more detailed than the last, with "Mille Seseau" displayed in splendid colors along the top. Noticing the crispness of the parchment, Dart could tell that this map was indeed much newer. And yet, Neet was still labeled. However, it was not the tiny, insignificant dot that it was on the last map; here, Neet was represented by a towering monument.
"When was this made?" asked Dart.
"Only a few years ago," replied Fester. "I was somewhat surprised to see the homage paid to the village, but it appears that Mille Seseau has not forgotten its past. You may find out more information if you go there. Perhaps you could find someone who remembers the event."
Dart's brow furrowed. Someone who remembers? he thought. Someone besides me?
It seemed impossible. He'd spent his entire life with people who had never even heard of Neet before, much less remembered the attack on the village.
Carefully, he rolled back the top map and stepped back to take in the world. His hometown was so far from Fletz, so many miles that he considered it would take weeks or even months to travel all the way around to it. But perhaps if they could book passage across the Illisa Bay, they could more than halve the journey. Closing in on Tiberoa, he saw the other city that Albert had mentioned before, a port city called Donau on the northern coast. If they left now, they might be able to make it all the way there in only a couple weeks, one if they really hurried. Then a couple weeks on a ship, and maybe another week of travel…
"I would be very intrigued to visit Mille Seseau after we have finished our business in Tiberoa," said Albert. "That country has a rich history as it is, even without the added detail of such an attack."
"It is true," nodded Fester. "Mille Seseau was the center of much of the Dragon Campaign, according to legend. They have the best and most complete records of what is believed to have happened. But pray tell, what is your business in Tiberoa? I'd assumed that it was to investigate the Black Monster." He gestured toward Dart, who plopped into a chair.
Oh, yeah, Dart thought dismally. Lloyd.
Carefully and hesitantly, Albert replied, "We are looking for someone. He caused quite a stir in our circle of the world, and we believe there may be something else happening. Something bigger. And we need to ensure that nobody else gets hurt."
"Killed, he means," interrupted Dart as Fester turned a surprised eye to him. "Lloyd killed people. 'Causing a stir' doesn't quite cover it. And we're here to return the favor." A hint of his old, unbridled anger had slipped into his tone.
A flash of concern crossed Albert's face, and Fester raised an eyebrow. Immediately dropping his gaze, Dart shrank back into his chair. The rage had built so quickly that he hadn't been able to stop himself. Somehow brushing aside Lavitz's death as a "stir" had been too much for him. But that rage had only ever served to hurt those around him. He closed his eyes, seeing Shana in that bed in Indels Castle, bandaged from head to toe. His anger receded just as his left arm began to throb again.
"Sorry," he muttered, although he wasn't sure if anyone heard him.
"I see…" mumbled Fester, glancing between Dart and Albert.
"It… is true," said the king, beginning to fidget slightly. "This man killed many people, including one of our closest friends. But there was more to his scheme, enough to affect nations if left unchecked. We knew that he was coming to Tiberoa; we came to investigate any potential plans he might have."
"Who is this man?" asked Fester, his scientific curiosity taking over him once more. Then realizing his potential imposition, he paused, throwing up an apologetic hand, and said, "Of course, if you would be comfortable telling me."
"I do not suppose it could hurt…" muttered Albert. Then more clearly, he said, "His name is Lloyd. A tall man, with hair the color of platinum, strong enough to be labeled the winner of the Hero Competition."
A doorknob turned, and Dart heard the front door open in the other room as someone came into the house, clambering footsteps falling heavy on Fester's wood floors.
"Greetings, friends!" called Haschel's abnormally cheerful voice. His footsteps came closer until he appeared in the doorway, a wide grin on his face. "How goes it?" Noticing the maps unfolded on the table, he added, "Cooking up some grandiose schemes?"
"We were just discussing Lloyd with our kind host," announced Albert.
"Ah, yes," replied Haschel with something of a forced solemnity. "Our favorite person."
"Where have you been?" inserted Dart. "I saw you leave last night." From his perch on the roof, he'd been able to see Haschel's dark figure marching away from the house under the light of last night's moon.
"I'll tell you when you're older," said Haschel with a grin and a wink.
Raising an eyebrow, Dart's mind ran to Haschel's friendly encounter with Kaffi the day before and wondered if the two events were related. Haschel did seem to have a perk in his step.
"As we were saying," inserted Albert, giving Haschel an eye before turning back to Fester, "We are hoping for a chance to find Lloyd somewhere in Tiberoa. It is imperative that we find him soon, before he has time to enact his scheme, whatever it may be."
"Do you have any leads?" asked Fester.
An awkward pause took over the room, as Albert and Dart realized that they had no clue where to start looking for him. They'd asked around one bar in the capital city, but how much of Tiberoa would they have to cover before they even found a hint? Suddenly an uneasy feeling settled over Dart's gut, a familiar one reviving long nights of contemplation and irritation during his fruitless five-year hunt for the Black Monster. How long would this take exactly? He dropped his eyes to the map, to that tiny dot hidden in the forests of Mille Seseau, to that singular connection to his past. How long until he would be able to go there?
"I see," muttered Fester once more.
"This may seem a strange question to ask," said Albert, "but is there any way you could help us with this? Is there anything going on in Tiberoa that seems suspicious, or anything that has happened within the last few months that was abnormal?"
Fester turned pensive. "How long ago did this fellow leave Serdio?"
"I believe… four months?"
Had it only been that long? Four months since Lavitz's death? To Dart, it felt like it had happened yesterday, and yet somehow also a lifetime ago.
"No, nothing so recent," said Fester, stroking at his chin as he shuffled through his memories. "However, I must remind myself of your incredibly recent arrival before I express how astonished I am at your ignorance of the current blight on our country. For many months now, Tiberoa has been plagued with bandits. From the reports I've heard, Fletz seems to be almost the only place still left untouched, and I suspect this is only because of the royal guard. This may not be what you're looking for, but it is the most important event."
"Oh, yeah!" exclaimed Haschel. "Kaffi said something about bandits. I… forgot to ask what she meant."
"Yes, this explains our strange reception," mumbled Albert thoughtfully. "Everyone has been treating us with suspicion since we have entered Tiberoa. Even you, my friend." He nodded toward Fester.
Fester chuckled. "A group of ragtag travelers certainly leaves room for caution in a world run by bandits."
"A bunch of bandits just decided to… take over a country?" remarked Dart.
"Not quite. They're surprisingly organized. All the bandits that I know of all belong to the group called the Gehrich Gang."
"Gehrich…" muttered Haschel under his breath. "That name sounds familiar, but I can't pinpoint why."
"Perhaps you heard it in passing, or perhaps Kaffi mentioned it to you."
"Maybe…"
Brushing aside Haschel's comments, Albert asked, "Why has King Zior not taken measures against this threat?"
Fester sighed. "He tries, but his attempts are largely unsuccessful. He can barely get a shipment of food to neighboring villages, much less root out an infestation. And you didn't hear it from me, but he is also, unfortunately, intently focused on his daughter right now."
"Princess Emille?" Albert's ears seemed to perk up at this mention.
"Yes," nodded Fester. "That has been another strange occurrence here, although not as relevant to your cause. She has been acting strangely for a while now. More aggressive, less… proper. It was subtle at first, but lately things have been taking a turn for the worse."
"That's an understatement," scoffed Haschel. "According to Kaffi," he added hurriedly. "She told me about the new bill that's been proposed."
"How much time did you spend with her, exactly?" pried Dart with narrowed eyes.
Haschel winked at him. "Enough."
Waving his hand as if he couldn't be less interested in this deviation from the topic, Albert said, "What is this new bill?"
"Trade throughout Tiberoa has been strained at best," began Fester. "For many months now, since the bandits have been causing a stir, all but what has been labeled 'essential' trade has been shut down and actually outlawed. The princess's new bill aims to fix that and make trade viable and open to all."
"That seems like a good thing," noted Dart.
"Yeah, but there's more," said Haschel. "It also makes it illegal for the general population to attack bandits in any situation. It claims that only official Tiberoan guards can, or something like that."
"Yes, exactly," nodded Fester. "Superficially, it seems like a good thing. However, if trade routes are opened to revitalize the economy, the rest of the bill says that every merchant will have to hire what is essentially a royal guard for their journeys… or risk being completely wiped out by bandits."
"Not to mention that most cities besides Fletz do not have official guards," said Albert thoughtfully as he stroked his chin again.
"If the king approves it," continued Fester, "it will be law by the weekend. Princess Emille should make the announcement of the result in two days. You are welcome to stay until then if you so choose. Or, if you would prefer not to risk internment by defending yourselves against bandits, perhaps you should leave now. I hear the barrens are teeming with members of the gang."
Standing, Dart announced, "The sooner the better. We should leave today."
"Perhaps… that is not best," eased Albert. He hesitated as Dart waited with a quirked brow. "I realize that it may seem counterproductive, but I believe there is something to this. Perhaps we should wait to hear the announcement before we leave."
"But we could be halfway to Donau by then!" he protested.
"Albert's not wrong," interrupted Haschel. Dart turned an irritated eye to him. Haschel shrugged and said, "It does seem a little fishy. And Lloyd has had his hands directing state affairs before. What if this has something to do with him?"
Sighing, Dart let his eyes fall to the map. Again, he focused on the forest and the word Neet hidden within it. But he knew that he had to finish what he started. Lavitz wouldn't want him rushing out of a situation that he could possibly help.
"Fine," he conceded.
Without bothering to hear any of the following conversation, he turned dismally toward the doorway and meandered into the living room, somehow expecting to find Rose and Shana despite their uncharacteristic silence. When he found them absent, he supposed they had escaped the house full of men and gone out to enjoy the city. Plopping onto the couch, he chuckled to himself. The idea of Shana bounding around a new place was not foreign to him, but the mental image of Rose exploring Fletz was.
Perhaps he should get out and see the sights. After all, he had two days to waste away. And for him, they couldn't pass quickly enough.
The crowd was abuzz with expectation, murmurings about the princess rippling across as they all waited for Emille's appearance. In the courtyard before the castle gates, Dart stood with his arms crossed, shoulders tight, as he glared up at the balcony at least forty feet above his head. The past two days of doing nothing had left him craving adventure, or at least fewer people. And having six strangers bumping elbows with him every few seconds was anything but that. Glancing around, he saw Albert still next to him, somehow excited and smiling despite the horde pressing in on them. Haschel, Shana, and Rose were somewhere nearby, but Dart didn't have the drive to try to find them.
The stone courtyard where everyone had gathered was blocked on one side by a massive wooden gate, above which was a brilliantly blue balcony, currently guarded by two Tiberoan soldiers. On the other side of the gate, past their view, hung a lengthy bridge stretching all the way to the distant Twin Castle perched on the side of the mountain. The twin spires could be seen overlooking the city and surrounding countryside like a silent sentry.
Presently, movement could be heard from the bridge, the sound of a dozen heavy boots hitting wood slats as the princess and her guards approached. The crowd shifted from noisy bustling to still whispers.
Another minute or so passed, everyone listening intently to the footsteps of the soldiers, until at last the princess could be seen on the balcony above the gate, two guards positioning themselves on either side of her.
Somehow, Dart was taken aback by her appearance. She was indeed beautiful, her dark skin matching that of her constituents, her features delicately carved. Her black hair was well-cared for, falling in tight waves over her shoulders and back, rolling down over the thin straps of her stunning dress. Clearly made from the finest fabrics Tiberoa had to offer, it shimmered in the sunlight, almost tricking the eyes. Dart couldn't tell if it was a light pink or just simply white.
But this is not what had Dart puzzled. He'd grown accustomed to life in a palace: the way nobles held themselves, their slight mannerisms that made him think that he was somehow inferior to them, their sometimes over-generous smiles… But this princess, despite her noble birth and royal blood, seemed to carry none of these quirks. Were he in the same position, Albert would have had his shoulders back, arms raised in welcome, a warm smile on his face. Emille's shoulders drooped slightly, her brow was quirked in an expression of judgment and disdain, and she wore a scowl that would frighten any commoner. She gazed out at the people, her dark brown eyes flashing in irritation, as if she couldn't stand having to condescend to speak to them.
Dart turned a quizzical eye on Albert, who seemed equally bewildered and confused.
The rest of the crowd, however, seemed unfazed. They waited in silent anticipation of their ruler's words.
After a heavy sigh, Emille spoke.
"I'm sure you all are waiting for the verdict on the new bill," she said.
Again, something was off-putting. Her words were not nearly as carefully articulated as Albert's, or even Emperor Doel, not to mention her lack of greeting.
"I am here to tell you that it has passed."
She waited for a moment for the news to sink in as a rumble ran through the crowd. Several within Dart's eyesight turned and began to whisper furiously to those around them, and Dart got the feeling that they all felt slighted but nervous before the princess.
"Now, now," said Emille with an eerily threatening tone. Almost instantly, the crowd silenced, and a grin turned the side of the princess's mouth before vanishing an instant later. "What this means is that trade has reopened across Tiberoa, and we can now get the goods we need to survive. This is sure to push forward our economy, which has been having a hard time. And, we have increased security for those who are traveling throughout Tiberoa, both merchant and civilian alike. So don't worry!" Emille drew up her shoulders and forced a wide smile over her lips. "Together, we will defeat the bandit menace and go back to the way things were!"
She waited in silence for a few moments before hesitant claps started toward the front of the crowd, spreading slowly until everyone had joined in. Then in one swift movement, Emille spun and marched away, disappearing behind the gate as her soldiers followed her out.
Albert inched closer to Dart and muttered, "Something is very wrong here. That—"
"Your Majesty!" shouted a voice. They both turned, bewildered to find a woman pushing her way through the crowd toward the gate. "Princess!" she yelled again.
She seemed around Albert's age, but was clearly pregnant, the shape of her swollen belly visible under a loose cotton dress. In her hand was a piece of parchment clasped tightly in her palm, lifted desperately toward the balcony where Emille had stood just moments before.
"Emille!"
This last cry of desperation was met with nothing but silence. No doubt the princess was beyond hearing at this point, if she hadn't been before. But as the people pushed past the woman, giving her disdainful or mildly sympathetic looks, tears sprang from her eyes as she approached one of the burly guards by the gate.
Dart and Albert exchanged a glance before moving toward her, pushing past a score of people on their way.
"Please, just send this to the princess," she was pleading. "I don't need to go in. I just need her to see this. She's the only one who would care enough to help!"
"I'm sorry, ma'am," said the guard. "We aren't couriers. Nothing goes into or out of the castle without the say so of the princess or the king."
The woman pursed her lips and drew herself up to her full height, which was still over a foot shorter than the guard. "Fine," she spat. "I guess the royal family really has stopped caring about us."
The guard gave a look that fully communicated his complete apathy toward the accusation as the woman lifted her head, her curly black hair bouncing behind her as she stomped away, clenching the note in her fist. Dart thought he saw the hint of a tear in her eye as she did so, but her determined frame said nothing of it.
"Ma'am!" called Albert, and the woman glanced behind her. Her eyes grew suspicious as she saw them, and her pace quickened.
"We're not bandits!" shouted Dart. To his relief, the woman paused, taking another look at them. Thankful for his clean and armor-free wardrobe, Dart took several pointed steps toward her, trying to put off a kind exterior.
Her frame tightened as she grew more alert, but she didn't run. Albert moved closer with Dart but followed a step behind.
"Why are you so desperate to talk to the princess?" he asked.
"Why would I tell you?" she answered shortly. "I don't know you, and I don't know if I can trust you. How am I to know that you're not bandits? By taking you at your word? A bandit's word means nothing."
Dart paused then said, "Fair point. I guess you can't know. But whether or not you believe me, we're here to help."
She winced, her hand flying to her side, no doubt in response to a heavy kick from her child. "I don't need this right now," she muttered before turning and walking away.
"Please!" called Albert. "Just tell us what you meant by 'the royal family not caring anymore.'" A strange desperation was carried in his words, and Dart glanced at him. His eyes were alight with curiosity and concern.
Again, the woman stopped and turned. She peered at Albert, considering his plea, before finally saying, "Why are you so worried about it?"
"Because I have spent my life believing that Princess Emille was generous and caring, while she and her family did everything that they could to help their citizens. I cannot believe that that is the princess of whom I have heard so many wonderful stories."
She nodded slowly. "Yes. She used to be. I knew her as the princess you're describing. But that is no longer the case. The royal family has turned against us. The change was subtle, but the difference is pronounced. Fletz is a safe haven in this country because of the royal guard, but anywhere outside…" She paused and dropped her gaze. "I am from Donau, and I haven't heard from my family in months. They were supposed to be here for the birth, but they can't travel safely. And I would not ask them to."
"I see…" muttered Albert. Then more clearly, "Thank you for your time."
The woman nodded, turned, and swept away into the city.
Watching her go, Dart's heart fell. The people in this country were being overlooked and cast aside. And yet, he'd been so focused on his own goals and ambitions that he hadn't stopped to consider what he could do to help these people. As Lavitz had believed, his power presented a significant amount of responsibility to help those around him. Something surely wasn't right here in Tiberoa, although he couldn't quite pin down what that might be. But of one thing he was sure.
"We can't stay here anymore," he announced. "We haven't heard anything about Lloyd, and we won't get anything done in this city."
Albert nodded. "I agree. Perhaps we will have more luck elsewhere, as Fester suggested."
"What's going on?" came Haschel's voice behind them. They spun to see the rest of their group approaching, Shana standing close to Haschel, Rose with her arms crossed, a sour look on her face.
"We're taking a trip," replied Dart.
"Finally," breathed Haschel. "Don't get me wrong! It's been great here. But I'd love to be on the move again."
"Where are we going?" inserted Shana.
"There is only one other large city in Tiberoa that is of note," announced Albert. "We will make for Donau tomorrow morning."
Despite his determination to get to the bottom of the strange happenings in this country, the thought of getting that much closer to Neet was still an exciting prospect for Dart. Even if that was the extent of their journey, seeing Donau would mean seeing his eventual path. Right now, he supposed that would have to be enough.
Author Note: School's kept me busy, but I've been excited to keep moving forward with this story. As the end of the school year approaches, I'll have more time to dedicate to this passion project of mine, and I'll be pushing out chapters more often. For now, please enjoy this one, and wait with bated breath for the next!