From Moving Crates to Killing Gods-Chapter 69: Field Trip

"Gather Kira, Finn, Coco, and Phinyx in the common area. I’ll join you shortly with the necessary materials." Damian was already moving, pulling specific maps from the mess on his desk with dexterous efficiency.

"What about Rolen?" I asked. "Shouldn’t he come too?"

"Rolen can’t go." Damian replied without looking up. "His ability is letting us reproduce passive mobs faster, and if people start surviving the exile, we might need as much food production as we can get. That’s more important right now than anything else... and frankly, his skills aren’t combat useful anyway."

I snorted. "So in all these months of training, he’s just made more and more meat?"

"That’s his entire contribution, yes." Damian confirmed flatly.

"I mean, I can’t complain." I shrugged. "I eat a lot of meat."

After that, I went to find the others.

I already knew where they would be doing their morning routines. Kira was taking care of her plants, Finn was practicing his silver manipulation, Coco was experimenting with doing dark water, and Phinyx was meditating. They all looked up with different degrees of curiosity as I approached.

"Damian wants us in the common area." I announced. "We’re planning an expedition into the wasteland."

Finn’s eyes widened. "Outside? All of us?"

"To create some kind of navigation markers." I explained as they gathered their things. "So we can find our way back to Argent from anywhere in the wasteland without relying on Finn."

"That sounds like a good idea." Kira said, brushing soil from her hands. "I’ve been wondering how far the wasteland extends beyond what we can see."

"I can feel an excited vibe in the air around us." Phinyx declared, standing in one fluid motion. "Field trip energy."

Coco looked not as eager. "But outside means Corruptors, lots of them."

"It also means we’ll be better prepared for exile season." I reminded him. "December isn’t that far away."

That sobered everyone. Four months until the next group of twenty one year olds would be forced outside the barrier, most to die, a few to return as Ones. The thought of Mia facing that fate had become a driving force for all of us, especially for Finn.

"If we’re creating outposts, we need to make them defensible." Finn said as we walked toward the common area. "Places people can use as shelter if they’re stuck outside."

"And we need to mark them so they’re visible from a distance." Kira added. "Maybe I could grow some plants as markers?"

As they discussed possibilities, I felt relieved. I’d been carrying this worry alone for too long, the fear of being randomly dropped in the wasteland with no apparent path to home. Now, at least, we were taking steps to address it.

Damian was waiting when we arrived, several rolled maps tucked under his arm and a serious expression on his face. He gestured for us to sit, then spread one of the maps across the table at the center of the room.

"Allaran has raised an important point about our vulnerability in the wasteland." he began without introduction. "We rely too heavily on visual contact with Argent’s spire and on Finn’s ability to sense silver. Both can fail under certain conditions."

The others nodded, already understanding the problem.

"We should establish a series of outposts at strategic points around Argent." Damian continued, indicating locations on the map with precise taps of his finger. "Each will serve as a reference point, allowing anyone who can reach one to orient themselves toward the Citadel."

"How will they be marked?" Kira asked, leaning forward to study the map.

"That’s where your abilities come in." Damian replied. "Finn’s silver manipulation can create distinctive structures. Your vegetation control can establish living markers visible from a distance. Coco’s water manipulation can create barriers of dark water to keep the Corruptors away. And Phinyx’s vibes can support you on the expedition."

"And me?" I asked when he didn’t continue.

Damian’s eyes met mine, and I saw something there that might have been concern on anyone else’s face. "You, Allaran, will ensure the outposts remain free of Corruptors. Your combination of Switch and Quickstep makes you uniquely suited to eliminate threats quickly and efficiently."

My role was clear. I was the weapon, the protector. The others would build, and I would kill whatever tried to stop them.

"When do we start?" Finn asked, excitement clear in his voice despite the danger, he probably wanted to help Mia in every possible way.

"Tomorrow." Damian said firmly. "Today you will prepare. Gather supplies, rest, study the maps. Once outside the barrier, mistakes become costly."

We spent the next hour reviewing Damian’s maps, memorizing the planned locations for our outposts and discussing strategies for their construction. The first would be close to Argent, within visual range of the barrier, a test run before we ventured further into unknown territory. Each subsequent outpost would extend our safe zone further into the wasteland.

As we finished and began to disperse to make our preparations, Damian caught my arm, holding me back after the others had left.

"Allaran." he said quietly, his voice pitched for my ears alone. "Whatever reason you have for suggesting this, whatever you’re not telling me, be careful. The wasteland is unforgiving of secrets."

I met his gaze steadily, revealing nothing. "I just want to be prepared."

"As do I." he replied, releasing my arm. "As do I." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

As I walked back to my room to prepare for tomorrow’s expedition, I felt the yo-yo in my pocket, a small weight against my thigh. The vow remained silent. But for how long? And when it activated next, would our outposts be enough to guide me back?

I didn’t know. But for the first time in weeks, I felt like I was doing something productive about the problem rather than just waiting for disaster to strike. That alone was worth the risk of venturing outside the barrier again, this time deliberately, with purpose and plan rather than being dragged at random into danger.

Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new dangers. But it might also bring the breakthrough I needed.