Chapter 3

A week had passed since Dusk was added to the team and the mapping had sped up. Giving around less than 2% of the entire area was mapped; it was going to take years. The area was roughly 400,000 kilometers or roughly 20% of the entire country of Fiore that was still unmapped to this day. The land mass was only given after several treaties with neighboring kingdoms. And the royal family never made any actual attempt in order to not offend any of the major clans. His men were busy mapping the local fauna and wildlife. This 2% was all he needed for now just for now. Dusk flew over towards him as the man in the cloak carried the heavy object. The second part of a teleportation lacrima. Which would make getting in and out of this place far easier than you'd imagine. The stand was a small object made out of slick metal that he carefully placed in the shade. Allowing it to be cool all year round as long as it wasn't damaged and he had a lacrima. Getting into this place was no problem. "So what exactly is this thing?" Dusk asked.

"A teleportation stand," he said shortly. The exceed seemed rather amused at this statement. As it kept asking questions, he gave no further response to Dusk. Slamming the metal stick into the ground he slammed into down hard. It took him several more minutes to set the damn thing up. Once secured and set up he covered the thing with some of the local fauna to blend it into its environment. And dampen (hopeful) any environmental degradation when he returned to this land. "Now then it's time to return to camp for the night. A storm is brewing and it's going to get rough."

"Aye," the exceed said happily. With that the two of them made their slow way back to the camp where all 12 men had gathered. With that they ate for the night in silence well his men did. He just took to a silent watchmenship of his men informing them that tomorrow would be the last day out here. They'd be returning to Fiore for resupplying, rest and hopefully more men to map out the area further. Dusk looked at him curiously. His men cheered for happiness and sorrow, but alas he said nothing. "So what are you doing out here?"

"Preparing," he said.

"Preparing for what?" Dusk asked, "More delicious food?"

"I see you're gluttonous. Irrelevant, this land was given to the kingdom of Fiore some many centuries ago. It has been unexplored ever since it was won. Curious, some decades ago a man. A very rich man purchased this land and registered it under his clan. Something a man of his stature would do. But died before he could explore it, leaving the world without a successor. Or so the story was told, but alas it was a lie. For he left a will once in my possession. A will that gave his fortune and land to a singular heir. One who is going to make her appearance soon. But the question I ask is where is she?" Dusk seemed puzzled, but that was all he was going to share with the strange creature with that he walked into the dark. Leaving the Exceed to look around in terror only to fly to the rest of the man.

5 Years Ago

He found these beings interesting. These humans to a dragon they were inferiors. Fickle, irrational, almost insane in his view. Pathetic, and petty were the only words to describe them, yet they had so much to teach. Magic, knowledge and power. These were his only drives to success. He stood out in the middle of the knight only a few kilometers from those rather strange people. Blood was dripping down his forehands as the creature screamed at him. Scars were aroused on its hand and it charged; he pushed his hand so hard into the creature's underbelly. Killing it with a single blow. It screamed so loudly that even a god would cover their ears.

He was running out of things to improve his strength. Stagnation was death worse than death. Because even the dead improved things in the world. It occurred to him there were other challenges, other people. Other things to spend his time on. During his brief two years with these low beings he had learned to speak their rather derious tongue. Though he was in no way fluent he could get the jest of their speech and that was more than enough. "You must have a death wish," he turned his eyes to face that woman. The only person who had ever bested him in every fight. Her skill was something he could only admire. How? She was an older woman of some age he could not describe. Dark eyes with a smile of death on her face. Unhuman in many ways yet his powers paled in comparison to her. "Punching these poor creatures to death will make you stronger, but not by much. There is so much more to the world than punching the poor creatures to death. And practicing each spell to a narrowing tell."

"So?"

"There is so much more to this world. So much you have not yet explored. You possess power without knowledge. Ability without skill. You will never exceed your current plateau without wisdom." She spoke with that ever wise tone. "You must learn to read, learn to see beyond your senses. Your ignorance shall be your undoing. And explore this world and all it has to offer."

"What do you want?" He asked the creature.

"To make an exchange," she spoke in a mixed tongue. His native tongue, Trekilvis and Asmeko. "I will teach you to pass your limits. To extend your domain even the ability to expand your life by decades. All for a promise which you will fulfill for me. I know quite a lot about Frostwing and her cursed magic which you possess. Knowledge is my passion and knowledge do I share for a cost of course."

Present

It was a slow grind, but finally the mapping was completed. Supplies were running low and so they made their ways to the boat. Dragging to the boat Dusk with him for such a creature had to have some worth of knowledge. Even helping to find the one he was looking for. He made sure the teleportation stand was in perfect condition before finally leaving with his twelve men on the dangerous way home. Navigating through the treacherous waters back to the rest of Fiore. He stood on the bow of the boat overlooking the land as it slowly faded into the distance. As the whole world turned into an endless abyss of sea life and death in a wooden boat. "And now we set towards our new destination. To find her to fulfill a promise I made all those years ago. Where oh where are you? Wendy Marvell."