Rise of Tyrus

A crisp wind swept across the southeastern plateau as Blue Dawn made their way along the rocky trail. Tyrus adjusted his pack straps, grateful for the break from three days of steady travel.

The landscape stretched endlessly in all directions—weathered stone and hardy scrub that seemed to go on forever. In the backdrop, mountains with snow-capped peaks that seemed close to piercing the cloudless sky. Ahead, the faint shimmer of heat haze wavered while sunlight stung the back of Tyrus's neck.

"According to the map, we should see our destination at the sight of a cluster of rock spires on top of two mounds," Fiona called down from atop their single horse. Beneath a wide-brimmed hat, her sleek brown hair was tucked away, braided neatly and falling over her shoulder. Shadows veiled half of her face.

"Must be nice having the best view," Reo said, walking alongside the black-coated creature. "Some of us are down here dodging sharp stones and these damn ankle-biting crawlers."

"I'm navigating," Fiona said, consulting a map spread across the horse's neck. "Someone needs to maintain our heading and watch for landmarks."

Reo snorted. "Navigating? That's your story? I bet claiming that saddle this morning had more to do with avoiding sore feet after just one day's ride."

Tyrus gave the pair a quick look. Fiona's stamina had always been her weakness out in the field, a fact that Reo never tired of pointing out with gentle malice. The horse had been a practical necessity rather than a leisure, though Fiona would never admit as much directly. If anyone, usually Grant, commented on her stamina or offered advice, Fiona would wave them away, insisting it would improve with time, no extra work needed. Unquestionably, Fiona was completely off-base regarding herself.

"The place we're looking for is in a basin," Fiona continued, pointedly ignoring the jab while her cheeks colored slightly. "Defensible, but we could get trapped if we're not careful."

Grant scratched the bristles on his chin as he walked. "The contract listed beasts within the lesser and standard ranges hiding in said basin. Possibly enhanced by their surroundings, but nothing we haven't handled before. Do expect there to be magical beasts if that is the case."

"According to whom?" Reo asked. "Half of our contracts this season were mislabeled. Remember those 'harmless' rock spiders? Instead of dealing with two, it was a whole nest! Even to this day, I'm still finding webbing in the most random places in my gear."

That contract nearly cost Reo a foot when he accidentally walked over a web trap hidden beneath dust and pebbles. The branch intelligence had been outdated, listing mature rock spiders as juveniles and missing an entire colony. Tyrus and the others never expected that a branch could make such a glaring mistake. Then again, their experience outside of Valis was lacking, and it was their first time visiting a branch that wasn't in the capital.

Maybe his expectations were probably too high, shaped by years of dealing with the well-funded and professionally staffed Valis branch. Because of that, he moved on with an open mind, knowing that not every regional branch functioned the same. It made sense that a branch within the capital would be head and shoulders above the rest.

Igneal strutted near Tyrus with a blank expression, unbothered despite beads of sweat dripping from his face. His crimson hair was longer now, the front hairs hanging low enough to brush against his thin eyebrows.

"This should be different," Igneal said, arms resting behind his head. "Three separate caravans reported the same creature in the general vicinity. First-hand witnesses are more reliable than most sources."

Reo grumbled at Igneal's words and glanced to the side, watching Fiona inspecting the map. He rolled his eyes and did a brief hop, snatching the paper out of her hands. Fiona frowned as she squeaked out a little 'hey' while Reo straightened out the map, holding it up to the sun.

One region of the High Plateau came into view, a place dominated by layered gray rocks. A little northwest of there was where the expansive grasslands appeared alongside the pristine lakes and red bison. And even farther there lay the frost-filled Northern Mountains.

Other than that, Blue Dawn was located in the bottom region of the High Plateau, currently taking a common travel route used by the nearest towns. It had the fewest beasts on the trail, so travel between points was safe. Though nowadays, beast activity had been active as of late. So now, travelers were less keen on taking a route considered relatively safe and had looked elsewhere.

However, on the map, there weren't all that many safe routes. To the east lay Mevena Scar, and access beyond that was forbidden, or at least extremely difficult to traverse on your own. The only available roads to travel around the Lethos Empire lay west and south.

Of the remaining directions, west was the best bet. The south contained difficult terrain such as swamps and highly elevated rock outcrops crawling with nasty beasts, so many avoided that area, especially since the lizardmen tribe in the Wasteful Wetlands lay in wait for more victims. North was a death wish; the journey was long, and the stories told of glacial temperatures that could freeze the marrow in a person's bones. That and the blood-thirsty giants, trolls, and other horrors patrolling its peaks.

West really was the best of the three options. It seemed relatively safe, offering rolling hills and meadows instead of steep cliffs or thick mud. So long as one avoided the forests teeming with beasts, the only things one had to worry about were bandits and grazing herds.

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"I think I see the hills you were talking about," Reo said. Then, the corners of his mouth turned upward. "Oh yeah, those two are big, alright. Probably the biggest I've ever seen. What about you, Tyrus?"

Tyrus tilted his head. "What, the mounds? I've seen bigger. Why do you ask?"

Before Reo could answer, the stallion clopped over, and a long staff bonked the short man on the head.

"Stop teasing him like that," Fiona warned. "I don't want you corrupting Tyrus' mind, Reo. There are fates worse than death, and one of them is having a personality like yours."

Reo rubbed his head, though he didn't seem particularly hurt. "What, I can't have some fun around here? We've been walking around this damn place for at least an hour, with crawlers thinking it's a wise idea to climb aboard my legs as if I'm a coach. I'm not a free ride, you know?"

As if on cue, scratching noises from near Reo's feet popped up. A hole the size of a hand appeared on the ground, and a creature with six spindly legs and two rocky pincers climbed out. It skirted toward Reo and used its forelegs to climb onto his boot, sometimes slipping, until it reached his ankles. Reo sighed and pulled his leg slightly and jerked, sending the poor creature soaring and tumbling a few paces away. Now on its stone shell, it spun around in circles, trying its hardest to get back on its legs.

"Get used to it," Fiona said. "If a crawler sees the perfect opportunity to move from one place to another without wasting energy, it'll gladly take that chance. In a way, they're just like us humans."

Reo looked Fiona up and down. "That description perfectly suits you, given you're on a horse and all."

Fiona just shrugged, a smirk playing on her lips, as she snatched the map from Reo and nudged the stallion into a trot.

What was that all about? What did she mean by corrupting my mind?

He looked to Grant for a better understanding, but the tall man shook his head and set his eyes forward. Tyrus then glanced at Igneal, who caught him staring and just gave a slight, almost imperceptible, shrug. The cryptic gesture did little to quell the mounting questions swirling in Tyrus' mind. Knowing Reo, what he said must've been weird or something Tyrus had no business of knowing. Somewhere along those lines, he guessed.

Besides, on the topic of corruption, his mind already contained a bit of that. It's been a while since he had a weird dream about the past or had some disembodied voice speaking to him from the abyss, all thanks to the treatment he's been receiving from Cecilia. The problem wasn't entirely gone, and the process was long and arduous. The healer explained it as gardening, removing all the unwanted weeds and pests. It wouldn't be long now before the remnants of Wanderer disappeared.

In a split second, his expression darkened at the remembrance of Wanderer, but that quickly washed away when he shook his head. Dwelling on the betrayal offered no benefit, especially given what he learned about his savior.

So, he mentally plucked away any mention of Wanderer into the darkest recesses of his mind and continued onward.

***

A deep pit spread below them like a massive bowl carved from living rock, its vertical walls enough to provide natural fortification while remaining accessible to determined travelers. Thick vegetation that should only be seen on the upper portion of the High Plateau grew at its base, thriving in the filtered sunlight. It also claimed the skinny road that led deeper into the pit, making it impossible for a carriage to traverse.

At the basin's center lay the ruins of what had once been a town, though time and neglect had reduced it to a maze of collapsed buildings and debris-filled streets. Even from this distance, Tyrus could see that the destruction hadn't been random—some structures remained intact while others had been reduced to rubble. From where he stood, it seemed as if the village was swallowed in the cruel embrace of Mevena herself.

He narrowed his eyes and said, "Dead ends, narrow paths, and many obstacles. It's practically a trap."

Grant leaned forward, squinting down at the city. "Looks like it could hide a whole nest of beasts."

"Or worse," Reo muttered, his eyes darting around the pit.

"We won't know until someone gets eyes on the ground," Fiona said.

A few heads turned to Tyrus, eyeing him expectantly. Tyrus wasn't surprised, having already prepared for the question. Actually, his hope was that they'd seek him out for a reconnaissance mission. It gave him a good feeling to know people counted on him, whether the task was large or small. Feeling useful made him feel like he was contributing more to the group's success.

Tyrus faced the group and gave them a quick nod. He was just starting down the overgrown road when Fiona called him.

"Hold on, Reo will join you as well," Fiona said.

Reo eyed her with a skeptical look. "Why? Tyrus can do this on his own."

"Normally, I would send you out to scout ahead of us, but this time, I want Tyrus to apply his skills in real situations with a partner," Fiona explained, folding the map and tucking it under her arm. "You're fast, but he sees things you might miss. I've caught glimpses of his scouting capabilities, and I bet he can benefit from this. Think of it as a learning experience for both of you. In a way, he reminds me of you, Reo."

"Sure, I don't mind," Reo said, glancing at Tyrus. "Just don't expect me to carry you if you twist an ankle down there."

Tyrus gave him a flat look. "I can manage."

"Good," Reo said with a grin that was equal parts playful and challenging. "Then try to keep up."

Fiona's gaze lingered on both for a moment before she gave a curt nod. "Don't take unnecessary risks and be back in an hour. If you run into trouble, signal. We'll move in fast."

After giving them the thumbs up, Tyrus adjusted the cuffs of his enchanted coat currently in its short form, tightened his boots for good measure, and started toward the overgrown road. Reo followed in stride next to Tyrus, his steps somehow not making a sound on the uneven ground.

The road dipped quickly, the cliff walls closing in like jagged jaws of stone. The air cooled and thickened with the smell of moss and old earth, a clear contrast to the dry plateau above. Wind hissed through cracks overhead, but down there it was muffled, the sound of their boots crunching gravel seeming louder than it should.

After the road took a sharp curve, Tyrus and Reo slid down the end of the road and landed onto a street overrun with grass pushing through cracked stone. Bits of rubble littered the path, and half-fallen walls leaned precariously, threatening to collapse with the slightest disturbance.

Reo suddenly began lowering his hips and standing back up, all while stretching his arms. He twisted his torso until his back gave a sharp pop until there was nothing else to pop.

Tyrus glanced up the road, ears twitching at the sound. "You're loud enough to wake the dead."

"If anything down here hears me, it means they weren't asleep in the first place. Besides, it's about confidence. You walk like you belong, you don't get noticed."

"Is that how it works?"

"Sure does," Reo shot back, crouching briefly before springing into a silent stride. He swiveled on his heels, scanning the area until his eyes landed on a nearby alley with tall weeds serving as cover. "I think I warmed up well enough. Let's get this thing over with."