Chapter 409 - Preliminary Expedition

Appreciate your patience guys. Things are far more in order now! I've still got one more change to make to the previous chapters, so I will provide an update on the changes in the next chapter. There are no major changes to the story. The main one is that rewards from the armoury and inquisition vault are slightly different and presented in different ways, but I'll explain that fully once the chapters are updated on Patreon. Hope you enjoy the chapter :)

The day of the preliminary expedition came too soon. Hump’s training was going well, but there was only so much he could do in so few days. He had made a little progress with his soul, and more progress with the new spells he had acquired. If a battle took place, he could use Thought Acceleration, and given preparation time, Grasping Hand. If the day went to plan, however, there would be no fight.

There had been a briefing each day with Lady Anara and the other parties, discussing the artifacts they would use in the Remnant Realm, routes each party would explore once they arrived, along with what they knew about the place already. Most importantly, they were developing mission plans for various scenarios. They would be utilising locator beacons similar to those in Sheercliff City—if anyone found trouble, they were to activate the one representing their number. The closest parties would reinforce. Once they had spent some time familiarising themselves with the Remnant Realm and the area around Elenvine, then came the matter of actually finding the warlocks.

A matter that might require them to spend days, if not weeks in the desolate place. Something Hump was not too excited about. But at least there, surrounded by nothing but sand and rock, it would make it far more difficult for anyone to find him for his spellbook. And if they did… well, his party would be with him, and there would be nowhere to hide.

Hump and his party entered the ruins of the ancient wizard temple through the same bakery they had first departed its tunnels. The area surrounding it appeared vastly different now, however. Defences had been erected, fortifying the position against any that would try to use it without permission, as well as against an attack that came from within. There were some nerves and excitement in the air as Hump passed through the small doorway, guards, soldiers, and civilians watching as he passed. He was with the Chosen—the warriors that would avenge the people of Elenvine and slay the warlocks that had caused them so much grief, and Hump saw the worship in their eyes. Knowing what he did, it felt wrong, but today it would serve its purpose. It was an excitement that Hump understood. All the people gathered to ensure that the expedition was successful had either suffered under warlock attacks in Fort Nordric or been here in Elenvine when it had been ravaged. Now, finally, they would find a way to fight back. It might take weeks or months, but they would find the warlock stronghold, and they would destroy it, even if they had to scour every inch of the Remnant Realm first to do so.

There was a haunting beauty to the ruins of the old wizard temple, its splendour dimmed by the passage of time. Essence stones floated high in the vaulted halls, their bright glow illuminating the ancient space in an unnatural white light. Shadows danced across crumbled walls and fractured stone, but beneath it, Hump saw the beauty of what must have once been a grand building of wizardry and magic.

Blue paint still clung stubbornly to portions of the walls, faded and scuffed with age. Shapes that might once have been detailed murals now blurred into abstraction; their subjects lost to time. Bookshelves, cracked and grey with age, still lined a few parts of the wall, though their contents had long since been replaced with cobwebs.

“This place looks a whole lot nicer now that there aren’t any warlocks in it,” Hump whispered to Bud, his gaze roaming the wall. His voice carried in the grand hall.

“You would think that,” Celaine said, even quieter so as not to disturb the stillness that Hump had just intruded on.

Hump glanced backward at her, her green eyes shimmering in the dimly lit tunnel. “You don’t agree?”

She shrugged. “It’s interesting, and more than a little eerie.”

“Couldn’t agree more,” Emilia said. “How much knowledge of ancient wizardry do you think the warlocks salvaged from places like this?”

Hump had wondered the same. The gods and their followers had likely sought to erase as much as they could, to prevent mortals from rediscovering forbidden secrets, but some knowledge must have survived. Wizards would have found a way to safeguard their treasures—the knowledge they had spent their lives discovering.

“We’ve already seen three wizard temples in the Remnant Realm,” Hump said. “And then this one here in Elenvine, another near Fisher’s Lake, and one more in Fort Nordric. There could be dozens more scattered across both realms.”

Celaine frowned. “If most are in ruins like this, I doubt they’ll find much.”

“Maybe,” Hump said, unconvinced. “But wizards are tricky folk. Books could have been hidden in secret vaults, and artifacts buried deep underground, concealed by heavy veils. It’s not about what’s on the surface; it’s about what’s waiting to be uncovered.”

“Now that’s a terrifying thought,” Dylan muttered.

“We’ve no shortage of artifacts of our own,” Bud pointed out. “Is it really such a concern?”

Dylan raised an eyebrow. “Vivienne once told me about relics she helped excavate from ruins. Most of what they found was harmless—moving pictures, self-filling wine vessels, windows that showed distant places. But some were… less benign. One was a sword that could slice through anything solid but passed harmlessly through flesh, only to burn the victim’s soul. One of the excavators lost sensation in the tip of their finger after brushing the blade.”

Bud tilted his head thoughtfully. “That doesn’t sound too bad. Dangerous, sure, but manageable.”

Dylan shook his head. “That was just one weapon. There was a crystal ball they found once, filled with unstable energy. In its dormant state, it was harmless, but applying essence to it activated the core. The result? An explosion powerful enough to destroy everything within a mile.”

Bud exhaled slowly. “Alright, that’s a bit worse.”

“And that’s just the stuff we know about,” Hump said, grinning. “You also miss the implications. They took the time to make moving pictures and self-filling wine vessels. So magic was so readily available and common that they used it for common, daily items that were mass produced. Think about all the artifacts that were lost, hidden, or destroyed. Who knows what’s still out there?”

Bud gave him a suspicious look. “Why do you sound excited about that?”

Hump shrugged. “This is the problem with you Chosen. No curiosity. No desire for discovery. If we found a cache of such artifacts, we could help wizardry return to the time of legends.”

Bud’s expression darkened. “Do you really think it’s wise for people to be walking around with artifacts capable of wiping out city districts?”

Hump frowned, the thrill of his imagination tempered by the knight’s practical concern. “Of course I don’t mean the artifacts of war! When you put it like that, it doesn’t sound very fun—”

“Exactly,” Bud said.

“—but…” Hump continued. “There was an entire civilisation that stood with these weapons.

Nearby, Nisha began to wander off, her eyes locked on the gathered crowd ahead of them. Excitement surged through her. Hump watched with a smile as she edged closer to the group, her tail wagging slowly, huffing slightly to try and get their attention. She’d been restless at the Rike Estate, confined to its grounds for far too long. Hump had expected her to be nervous about entering the Remnant Realm again, but it seemed being cooped up for so long had rid her of any such thoughts. All she was thinking about was rushing up to meet people and flying through the empty skies of the Remnant Realm.

A surprise, but a welcome one. During their last visit, Nisha had been on edge. Part of Hump had considered leaving her behind, but she needed the experience and having a view from above might help them to actually find something in the barren lands.

As Nisha stepped too far off, Hump called her back softly. “Nisha, stay close.”

She turned to him, her body sagging with disappointment, bright eyes looking mopey as she skulked back to his side. Hump hid a smile—once they were out in the open, all such disappointment would be gone.

As Hump and the others gathered with the other parties joining them on the preliminary expedition to the Remnant Realm, Hump was handed a blank sheet of parchment that he was informed was the map they would be working on. Faint runes were just about visible around the edges. If it worked, it would be able to take what the wielder saw and transform that image into a detailed map, that could then be combined with a master artifact later. With dozens of parties working together, it should give them a detailed layout of the area in the Remnant Realm that was closest to Elenvine.

The staging area filled quickly. Hump exchanged greetings with the familiar faces amongst them as the murmur of conversation grew louder, footsteps echoing off the stone walls. Marcela’s party approached, Nisha darting over to greet them with her usual excitement. At the head of the group was Marcela, her presence commanding as always. Len, the barrier sorcerer and Chosen of Avaroth, followed closely, appearing completely calm as he did his best to ignore the eager Tamsin at his side. The berserker had her twin axes strapped to her back and a manic grin on her face. Faelor, the magic archer, and Kendric, the hammer wielding brute followed at the back.

Tamsin’s grin widened even further as her eyes fell on Emilia. “Emilia! It has been too long.”

Emilia gave a tight smile—the berserker had become strangely obsessed with her ever since she had defeated Tamsin in a duel during their voyage to the Infernal Halls. “We were fighting together barely a week ago.”

“A week of boredom!” Tamsin protested. “I do not like the cities here. I was told I could not even carry my axes out on the roads. Can you believe that? Where I am from, to walk without a weapon was to ask for death.”

“Where’s that?” Hump asked, curiosity sparked.

“The borderlands,” Tamsin said shortly.

Faelor came to stand beside Hump, extending a hand in greeting. “She doesn’t talk about it much,” the man said quietly. “You wont get more than that.”

“I see.” Hump nodded, piecing it together. The Fallen Lands had only been growing larger, consuming Alveron’s lands. It wasn’t hard to guess that Tamsin’s homeland had been one of the casualties. She wasn’t alone in that tragedy; countless people had lost everything to the encroaching corruption.

Chatter in the room died down as the Marshall arrived, Lady Anara striding into the room with her own party, her boots echoing in the large chamber, and a vicious smile on her lips. The flower druid looked like she’d been draped in poisonous plants, her robes made up of vibrant pinks, deep purples, and stark yellows. Her staff was of wood, but for the pink orb dangling from its head.

“Morning everyone. Morning,” she said. “We have a big day ahead, but let us hope it is not too exciting.”

There was an exchange of greetings as she conferred with squad leaders and staff, ensuring everyone was gathered and had what they needed. Hump stood to the side as Anara took her place at the head of the group, right in front of the spell array where the rift to the Remnant Realm would open. She turned back to face them, hard eyes passing over the crowd of Chosen and adventurers.

“I will not speak long, for we have planned extensively,” she said. “Today, we expect no trouble, but we shall be ready for it nonetheless. You have all been selected for your capabilities and proven experience in combat, so I will not be pedantic. Trust in each other, look out for the squads closest to you, and do not take risks today. Remember, the goal is merely to explore the immediate area around the old temple. If a fight can be avoided, avoid it. ideally, we end today with the warlocks none the wiser to our presence.”

Someone raised a hand an Anara nodded toward them. “What if we really want to kill some warlocks?”

There were some chuckles.

Even Anara smiled. “As tempting as that may be, try not to get carried away. I know that you’re angry—I’m angry too—but we are war, and what we lack more than anything is information. Which is where we come in. These warlocks have us at a disadvantage. Their targets are clear, and they know exactly where we are while they are hidden from us. We must change that. Together, we shall give Alveron the information they need to finally fight back. The gods are with us, my friends. They guide our path, as they guided me and mine back to Elenvine when we were needed. Stay true to that path and victory shall be ours.”

The hall was abuzz with cheers and chatter after that. Hump felt the energy in the air like a physical force, the powerful auras of Chosen and practitioners awakened by Anara’s speech, stirring Hump’s own soul.

“Prepare the rift,” Anara instructed the Chosen of Loften ready nearby. Immediately, the artifact brimmed with light, and the spell array came to life, runes shining with essence.

Hump and his party gathered with Marcela’s. She would be their squad leader for this expedition, and alongside them Randall Ferrand’s party would fill in their third space. It was a surprising decision, but it seemed that the young lord had impressed Count Daston with his desire to right his family’s wrongs. His party member, Lady Madeleine Orston was from a respectable family herself, and Hump was more than confident in the rogue, Skander’s, skills. Hump thought it would be good to have them at his side, and if thing went well, he might still ask Skander for advice hiding himself in Elenvine.

A sudden hum of energy rippled through the room, prickling Hump’s skin. The black rift opened before them, a jagged wound tearing through reality and revealing the Remnant Realm beyond. The air vibrated with unfamiliar essence, an oppressive sensation that made Hump’s heart race.

Lady Anara was the first to step through, her party following close behind. The marshal’s movements were calm and precise, her authority evident in every step. Each group would follow in turn, with strict instructions to remain in formation and activate their locator beacons in case of an emergency. They were to spend six hours in the Remnant Realm, mapping the terrain and testing their equipment.

When their turn came, Hump stepped forward alongside Marcela’s party. The rift loomed before him, swirling with darkness. With a steadying breath, he walked through.

It was like passing through water—liquid and cool, yet intangible. On the other side, dry, stale air brushed against his face, and the familiar barren landscape of the Remnant Realm unfolded around him. The wizard temple they had emerged into was eerily similar to the one beneath Elenvine, yet everything felt... wrong. The essence here was distorted, heavier somehow, pressing down on Hump’s shoulders like an unseen weight.

Signs of the previous battle were still visible—cracked walls, scorch marks, and faint bloodstains—but much of the temple had been cleaned and organized. Excavation efforts were underway, with workers cataloguing artifacts and clearing debris. Hump was surprised to see the defences established on this side of the rift, though he supposed it should be no surprise. The entrance to the temple had been turned into even more of a fortress. Chosen and soldiers manned the walls—five-hundred strong. If the warlocks were to come back through this rift, they’d need an army.

With orders already prepared, Hump and the rest of the expedition left the temple and stepped out into the dry, barren lands of the Remnant Realm. An endless expanse of sand and jagged stone surrounded him on all sides. The pale, grey sky was cloudless, and even the red sun seems faint. Immediately, Nisha took off, bellowing a great roar that drew the attention of every person around. Those on the walls pointed and yelled.

“Wizard Humphrey, if you would be so kind as to keep your dragon a little quieter, it would be very much appreciated,” Anara called to him dryly.

Hump felt his face grow hot at the chuckles around him. “Of course, Lady Anara. My apologies.”

Celaine smirked at him and gave a shake of her head. “So embarrassing! Tessa would not be impressed if she saw where her training had got you!”

“Tell that to Nisha,” Hump said.

“A dragon is only as good as their keeper,” Celaine replied.

Hump snorted, eyes drifting back to the sky where Nisha soared above, a black streak in grey sky. A smile came to his face—she was spectacular.

“The support teams and I will be ready if any of you run into trouble,” Anara said. “Remember the plans. Work together. And may the gods be with you all. I will see you in a few hours.”

The group set off, their footsteps crunching against the uneven ground. Hump’s artifact map shimmered faintly in his hands, its runes beginning to glow as it recorded their surroundings. There was a vast, desolate world ahead, and Hump really wasn’t too keen of being a part of it.

“Well, this is just delightful,” Dylan muttered, staring out at the barren land.

“From the sounds of it, we’ll be here a lot over the coming weeks,” Bud said. “Better get used to it.”

“Helpful,” Dylan grumbled. “Very helpful.”

Hump smirked. “We’re getting paid for it. A job’s a job.”

“I’d feel better if I thought we’d find something,” Dylan said. “Wandering through emptiness isn’t exactly my idea of fun.”

“You never know,” Hump said. “This was a living world once. There could still be secrets waiting to be discovered.”

“Or shades waiting to eat us,” Celaine added.

“Definitely that,” Hump said with a nod.

“I wouldn’t mind them trying,” Emilia said confidently. “Let them come. I’m itching for a fight.”