Farewell Green Lands

 There was a strange atmosphere in the classroom. Ivor seemed to be holding back a deluge of annoyance and bit off every word he spoke.

“This will serve as the final exam of the year. You’ve had several opportunities to demonstrate your abilities outside the Academy but this time it will be different.” He stopped talking and looked up and down at all of his students. There was no sound during his pause, even the breaths were held. “We will be going to the wasteland.”

At that several gasps were audible. Samuel exchanged glances with Yorath and Arianwen. There was no question that their eavesdropping had already warned them of this. Samuel looked at Madoc who didn’t know anything about it. The bored expression he wore before was exchanged for an excited one and he fidgeted in his place.

“There is no need to go into excessive detail but the fact is that there has been a rise in the number of creatures coming from there and terrorizing the surrounding lands including villages of our own kingdom. As the Academy, we have been tasked with figuring out what is going on and if necessary eliminate any obstacles. It should go without saying that every monster counts as an obstacle, so you will be able to use your powers to their limits.”

The students were listening in silence, then began to whisper in excitement at the last part. It wasn’t something most of them had been allowed so far. Not that we have that much power to begin with, given how weak our artefacts are.

“I don’t think I have to explain that this is a much more dangerous expedition than any you had undergone so far. You will be accompanied by several lecturers, including me. I expect all of you to obey any command we give without question. Your life depends on it.”

The announcement of the mission turned into one of the longest lectures they had ever been made to endure at the Academy and despite not doing any physical labour, Samuel felt completely exhausted by the end. Some of the students cheered at their opportunity, while others showed fear and agitation over their future.

“What do you think is happening?” Arianwen asked in a low voice as they were making their way back to the dormitory. She glanced around with a conspiratorial expression which made Yorath sigh despite the fact that he was just as anxious. What they had heard made it clear it was no ordinary task.

“There is no way to know for sure,” Yorath said.

“It could be just a thing of bureaucracy. Some official decided it was a good idea to send the students out rather than mobilising the military,” Samuel guessed. It seemed at least partly connected to what they had overheard, tough it seemed like a long shot.

“I see,” Yorath said. “I understood the so called orders from above to be from the leadership of the Academy rather than the government.”

Samuel mumbled in assent. He felt the necklace through his shirt and was wondering whether it was a good idea to bring it along. His thoughts have been drifting towards it more and more. What if it distracts me? On the other hand just taking his hand away from it was a difficult task. Leaving it behind would be inconceivable. Besides, if there was ever a moment when he might need to make use of the great power it held within, it was the wasteland raid. He grasped the amulet even harder. You are mine, mine forever.

“Madoc,” he whispered across the room. There was no reply. Perhaps he was already asleep, though ever since that fateful night he didn’t want to talk to Samuel any more and would ignore his attempts at conversation.

Samuel sighed. Despite their resolution to do something about Madoc, it was not easy to get his foot in the door. I can’t afford to get distracted now. It will have to wait until we get back from the mission. Despite the many thoughts swirling through his mind, he slowly drifted to sleep.

He was lost in deepest darkness, abandoned by everyone. He wandered aimlessly, using his one hand to feel the uneven walls around him. Wails of pain sounded all around him and were driving him to despair. After he became too to move another step and every motion seemed to resist him, he collapsed. A moment later a great humanoid silhouette stood above him. It offered him a hand and despite it being several times larger than Samuel, he was able to take the strange misty hand into his own. The sense of great power filled him and the darkness was dispelled. He was bathed in golden morning light.

He woke up and had to blink several times as a ray of sunlight had shown directly into his eyes through the open window.

As they moved through the city, their procession drew a crowd of locals. Some of them started cheering for the passing wizards. There was a small number of people, however, who looked at them with something akin to disgust.

“Ignore them.” The voice startled Samuel. He found Carys walking next to him. She smiled at his reaction. “There will always be people who don’t like you. It doesn’t matter if you’re a wizard, a guard, a beggar or a miller. Whatever lead them to their feelings, you shouldn’t give them a reason to hate you.” She began moving to the front of the line.

He was baffled by how she always seemed to know exactly what he was thinking. We aren’t even all that close. The night they talked during their previous travel sprang to mind. Besides that they had rarely interacted. At the Academy she was always just a professor. That being said, at the Academy he hadn’t really made any effort to talk to her either. Somehow it felt that it was important for him not to distance himself from her.

“Wait,” Samuel called and hurried after her. “Can I ask something?” She nodded. “It’s about this operation. I don’t get it. It just doesn’t feel right.” He spoke in a lower voice so that the conversation stayed between the two of them.

Carys frowned at that. “I can’t really tell you anything useful. Nothing would help you. However, I must say this one thing.” She got closer and her voice was barely above a whisper. “You should be careful about who you voice your concerns to. Not everybody has your best outcome in mind.”

Her words irritated Samuel but he understood her meaning. More than that, he felt like despite her reticence, he could trust his teacher. It wasn’t something he could say about any other member of the Academy staff or anyone from outside his closest friends for that matter. Contrary to his own nature he reached out with desperation before she was able to move on once more.

“Thank you professor. I will take your advice. However, I have already decided I will trust you. Please take care of us on this quest. I’m sure we will be in good hands with you.”

She looked positively shocked at his statement and he had to hold back a chuckle. Even the time she had opened up to him, she hadn’t been this affected. After she took a moment to regain her composure, she looked straight into his eyes with the most determined and honest expression he had ever seen on her.

“I will keep you safe.” Despite the gravity of her conduct, her words were brief. Her eyes told him she wanted to say much more but was not able to. With that she left him behind and briskly walked away.

“What was that about?” Yorath asked as he and Arianwen caught up to him. Samuel stared after Carys for a while before responding.

“I don’t know. I think we can trust her.”

“Really?” Arianwen asked. “She always seemed so impersonal during her lectures. I never liked her.”

At her strong statement both Yorath and Samuel looked at her and she lifted her hands defensively.

“Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying I hate or even dislike her, I just don’t feel a connection to her.”

“That makes sense,” Samuel said. “It was only interactions outside the classroom that changed my mind about her.”

The caravan trudged along the main road from Tanwyth towards the edges of the Kingdom of Bryntir. I wonder if any bandits would be foolish enough to attack us like this.