Origin

There was some shock still flowing through my body hearing that he knew the Yosten River. Anyone I asked never even heard of it and they lived in the region. But I guess it’s been gone for centuries now. No one even remembers it or lives in the Wastes. So forgetting was easy to do.

But he knows it. This was the chance that I needed! I’d be able to find Origin finally. The quest that I had been on for months now would finally end. What would Ministra say when I found Origin? Would I even be able to speak to Her? This still all worked on the assumption that I’d be able to get anything helpful from Her. Was She still watching us, until the end?

The fresh morning that I woke up in the Searc camp reminded me of two things that I forgot. First and most obvious, I had agreed to work with the military of a foreign nation to complete my goals. How that would turn out remained a mystery and worry. I couldn’t allow my excitement to wash away a due amount of concern for my well being and future.

Last and even more importantly, knowing where the river was didn’t actually change the fact that it stretched through the length of the Wastes. Even with this limiting our search area, it was still going to be a lot of ground to cover. I hadn’t found anything. Origin wasn’t going to be found today. We simply narrowed our focus.

The Commander assigned a small band to me. I presumed that he had others searching as well, but the extra eyes would be welcome. Though I had to wonder if part of it was that he worried I’d run off or find it without telling him. Which I considered and then rejected. I honestly should just leave, but I didn’t. If I ran away, I’d still search and they’d find me again. It wouldn’t do any purpose to flee now.

I would see this to its conclusion. I would learn the truth.

“You’re the Speaker?” I nodded to him, not that I saw any women in the camp. So it should be more than obvious. I’m the only woman in the camp. I should be more worried. That realization started a sweat that wouldn’t finish for the whole day. “I’m Rothe and my men have been assigned for your search of the dried river.”

“Rothe. I’m Speaker Eshikra.” In my worry, I sounded far more strict than I intended. Looking back to the group of men, they were all in leathers with swords or spears on hand. It seemed like a few had bows, but kept packed away for now. Nearly ten in total, that was a lot of men. “Have you been part of the search before?”

When I asked there was a murmur or maybe a grumble from the men at flared up Rothe. He only glared back at them to get them to stop. Once he restored military order, he returned to me. “That’s right. We’ve been leading the hunt for Origin. Commander Herst said you know where to look.”

“The river, nothing more than that. Unless you can estimate where a city would have been settled on the river.”

“Having never seen it, I can’t say that I would Speaker.”

“But you know where it is?”

“Yes, the Commander has given us a map of the area the river used to be in.” I’m getting the feeling that Herst didn’t know the river well. We’d have a large area to look around. But I could work with this.

“Let’s start looking then.” I gave way to Rothe, who marched out as the men circled around me. It was a little uncomfortable being completely surrounded by strangers. It didn’t help my building sweat and increasing pounding of my heart. I just tried to focus on the task.

Day 1 or 42, I don’t know which to use for this. I guess it’s a continuation of my search. The map that Rothe showed me was vast. Even larger than the area I already had searched. This was going to be a long hunt. And nothing came of the first day, no surprise.

Day 46, we’ve tried to refine the search mapping out how the river might have flown in the past. Unless someone can see from a high vantage point, the changes to the terrain are too slight to see from the ground. This is going to be nearly impossible. Time has been cruel to this place, just like man.

Day 51, Yorn had an idea to scale one of the nearby rock structures for a view. It was dangerous, but he managed to map out the northern area up river for us. It’s helped greatly in limiting our area. Team morale definitely improved with that data.

Day 53, I thought we found something. I got everyone excited for nothing. I can’t look at anyone. I just know they’re angry with me.

Day 54, it was something. Just not very useful. Rothe told me that it was Ganiza writing. Probably a sign post or store. It was too faded to learn anything. But it was proof. Just not the sign of Entif we needed.

Day 57, the river bed is more visible in this area. It must have been deep through this part for time not to have worn it down yet. I can’t even see the top anymore when I stand inside. We’re hoping that this might have been where Entif was. The logic was sound. We just needed a clue.

Day 59, Koure found some broken pottery, we think. It was just shards faded into white now. Everyone’s faces lit up when we saw it. It’s not a temple or Origin, but it’s hope.

Day 60, we found more old relics in the riverbed. Rothe has ordered extensive digging. We’re going to be staying for a while.

Day 61, there’s something under the earth, but time’s made it impossible to read. Every dig finds something, but it’s all just broken things. No structures. What happened to Entif?

Day 63, everyone’s convinced that we’ve found Entif. The amount of relics we’re finding every time we dig is too much of a coincidence. But where is the temple? Where is Origin if this is Entif? It’s buried too under endless dirt and sand. Will we ever find it?

Day 66, just more deadends. They’re just digging at random hoping to find anything. I can see darkness starting to creep into everyone’s eyes. How long will they last?

Day 73, we’re never going to find Origin. How long have we been digging around this damn hole already?

Day 85, I overheard Benth today talking to Koure. Things are worse than I thought. I didn’t realize that they had been in the Wastes for nearly the entire start of the year. Troop morale is collapsing. What is Commander Herst going to do?

Day 94, I think tomorrow is going to be my last day. Everyone’s exhausted and worn out. Even Koure stopped working. How is Rothe still going? Is he even going back to camp?

I wiped away some sweat and rubbed the rough cloth over my face to clear out the grime. Sand kept trying to get into my clothes, but the wrappings kept it out. Some welcome tricks that Koure taught me. It made the digging more bearable.

As I took a drink from my canteen, I checked over on Rothe. We didn’t have much reason for digging in this location any more than the other hundreds we’d put into the earth. Sometimes we’d find pieces of a home or structure and we’d all get excited together to unbury it. Disappointment would follow as we couldn’t find any signs of Ministra. It was an all too common cycle. And yet, he just kept going. What drove him?

Just when I finished, returning to my part of the digging, I caught him stopping. Did the frustration finally hit him too now? Everyone had their limit. Yelling and orders stopped doing anything. It just had to be volunteer.

“Eshikra! Eshikra! C’mon over here!” There was a surprising panicked tone coming from his voice. What happened? I’ve never heard Rothe like that. The stoic Sergeant was actually showing signs of emotions when he wasn’t around the campfire. But his voice had urgency that made my feet move on their own. I had to know.

I didn’t even drop my shovel as I hurried to his side of the large trench we created. Rothe was just standing there staring at something. “What is it, Rothe? Something wrong?”

He slowly turned to me and grabbed my hand. There was a slight shake that shocked me. “Please, tell me I’m not dreaming.” His firm hand pulled me over close. I nearly fell into his arms if I didn’t catch myself.

Correcting my stance, I looked towards what he was pointing at. My eyes widened almost immediately upon seeing that familiar rounded lettering and triangle symbol. I squeezed his hand back as I nearly felt my heart jump out of my body.

The Temple of Origin! We had found it!