Steel and Mana-Chapter 408 – The Journal

The first night we spent in the Beast Land was quieter than I expected.

I mean, there was the usual sound of the wind and the rustling of the tall grass, but all the voices and noises that one could hear were made by us. As for animals? None. I couldn't hear a cicada, a bird, or any type of critter scuffling around us at all.

Staying up late, I leaned on the railing while standing on the observation deck, gazing out into the moonlit plains towards the forest, where I was sure something was looking back at us. Or maybe just my mind was playing tricks on me... perhaps both. I couldn't help but smile a little, having a thought emerge in the back of my head. Maybe it was like this, being an explorer, what they all felt in my old life, way before my time, arriving at a new continent.

The exception was that no indigenous cuties were waiting here to put a flower necklace over me and invite me into their tent. Not that I would do that; I am already full. But, looking would be allowed... I guess.

"Leon?" a voice called from behind me, making me turn, looking at Merlin, who was walking up to me with a thick notebook in his hands.

"Did you copy it already?" I asked, knowing what this was about, and I was surprised he had finished it so quickly.

"It wasn't a thick journal," he nodded. "I spent the past few hours going through it, copying everything so we could have a backup. Some of the pages are damaged beyond repair, true, but most of the text survived and can be logically filled in where it can not be read."

"That sounds good," I nodded, signaling him to follow me as we talked, heading towards my cabin. "And?"

"Well," Merlin opened the first pages of his own notes. "They walked around a lot," he began, furrowing his brows. "It took them multiple weeks just to complete The Walk we had sent them on, mostly because of their fear and desperation that slowly turned into apathy. It says they hesitated when they reached the Gods' Formation, thinking it was going to strike them down. The writer describes it as a wall of living light and says they began to pray before attempting to cross it. They thought they were walking into certain death."

"They kinda were. That was the whole point of their punishment," I nodded. "I never expected them to return, even if I hoped a bit. So finding this is already a lot."

"Sending them off with ample supplies did pay off." Merlin chuckled as he continued, flipping pages, skipping those parts he deemed unimportant. "They passed through unharmed, of course, just as we did. No resistance, no reaction from the Formation, not one that they could notice. I will ask the twins tomorrow about that because I felt nothing either."

"Did you speak with your previous incarnation?"

"Only once," he answered, looking at me, "He never felt anything either."

"Hm... I see." I hummed, scratching my chin while entering my cabin, and we sat down on my sofa.

"Anyway, once they were on the other side... There was nothing happening. They camped on the plains for months. No monsters came, yet they expected them to hide inside the tall grass. After a few panic-driven nights, they also noticed that there were no birds. No animals at all."

"So, it is not the result of the two long winters," I murmured, throwing that idea out because they were sent forth before those even happened.

"Maybe, but I am not sure it is not linked with the winter snowfall," Merlin explained, making me curious as I let him continue. "They searched for food but found nothing. The rations they had were running out, and they knew they couldn't go back. One of them suggested just ending it, but it seems that their drive to survive was stronger, so... the notes didn't end there." He muttered as he turned a few more pages. "Eventually, they followed one of the rivers. That's when they found the first sign of life: fish. Massive ones, by the description. One entry calls them 'scaled sheep' because of their size and weight and how stupid they were."

"Huh. Stupid-stupid or the type that is not used to human presence?" I asked, making Merlin shake his head as he had no idea.

"Could be both, but it saved them, at least for a while, because they could capture one, bare-handed, and drag it ashore."

"I am surprised the fish didn't turn into a shark and eat them instead." I chuckled faintly, noting that we may try to bring a few of those back with us for study.

"That’s not all." Merlin tapped the page while speaking. "A few weeks after settling by the river, they saw the first monster, too. The one who kept writing the journal says it came from the forest. It was big, slow, covered in bone-like armor from head to toe, and as tall as the castle walls..."

"Now, that is more like what I expected to see here."

"Yeah, and then, another one emerged, different and faster, half of its size, walking on two with sharp-clawed arms. The two ignored their group and instead attacked each other. The writer didn't describe the battle much, but he did mention that they were frozen in place and watched the fight. It was like witnessing the end of days, and they were going at it until one of them finally died."

"The boney lost?" I leaned forward, guessing."

"Nope. It was the one to survive, smashing the smaller one to death. But here comes the interesting part! The victor didn’t eat the other’s flesh, even though they expected it, especially spending that much energy." Merlin said with shining eyes. "Instead, it dug into the corpse, disemboweling it until it found the core... and then it consumed only that."

"So they hunt each other, just like any animal, but not for their flesh..." I whispered, leaning back, and finally had confirmation of an idea I was already thinking about.

"It also looked at them," Merlin went on, making me blink my eyes, glancing at him before I could be lost in my theories. "It looked directly at the group... and then it left. Walked back into the forest."

"It didn’t attack?"

"No."

"Probably because they weren't mages."

"My thoughts exactly," Merlin agreed. "This makes things... a bit more complicated, though."

"Not really," I shrugged. "We already talked about this when we considered the reasons why they try to come over, including the possibility of a lack of 'food.' My guess is that the reason why only small ones came first was the result of not appearing appetizing enough. Then, as I introduced more and more things... the smell of food also became more and more alluring."

"Maybe." Merlin frowned, thinking about it. "Maybe the beasts at the edge of the land, living close to the Gods' Formation, are the desperate ones. The weak ones and not the rulers of this land."

"Could be." I agreed as I drummed my fingers on the couch, "It wouldn't surprise me if that was the facts of the matter."

"What if," Merlin offered, "they consume the others' cores to evolve?"

"I do agree that it is the most viable theory," I muttered, "Which means that the strongest monsters out there aren’t just strong because they survived but because they consumed another, like a walking black hole."

"Black hole?" Merlin asked, prompting me to give him a quick rundown of what I meant. "Oh... I see! Hmmm... If that is the case, when they consume a core, they grow in size and in power. I wonder if there is a limit to how big they can get. Or how strong..."

"There is always a limit. There has to be a size that is simply no longer viable to maintain." I argued, crossing my legs while thinking, "Even if they are monsters, nature likes equilibrium. No matter, it is nothing but guesswork. What happened to them after that?" I asked, finally steering the conversation back to its main topic.

"They died," Merlin said flatly as he flipped to the final pages. "They felt the winter coming. It is described that the air changed, and it started with how the rivers slowed. It began coming from the mountains, and the whole wall began glowing in a blueish-white color. First, the waterfalls froze, and then it began spreading as every river turned to ice. Their last entries are... grim. They knew they wouldn’t survive, and when the heavy snowfall began coming down, the rolling clouds blocked out the sun, and they had no shelter to hide behind. There is a short entry detailing that the coldness was worse than anything they ever experienced."

"And then?" I asked, but he just shook his head.

"Then nothing." He closed the book with a quiet sigh. "That was their end. They most likely were buried under the snow not long after."

"I see. Too bad..." I exhaled slowly. "We’ll give them a proper burial after we return and clean their names," I said. "Make sure we inform their families and children that they were pardoned, and they should no longer feel any shame for what their parents did."

"Understood," Merlin nodded, standing up. "I will also announce it in the newspaper after getting home."

"Good. Let's go and try to get a bit of sleep. We are going to build a fortress here, so... we better get used to it."

...

....

......

It was not long after morning when the news reached Lancelot that a group of horsemen had arrived from the direction of the heart of the empire. Fort Kirhaan shifted its tone at once around the Avalonians, showcasing that whoever had come had to be important. Soldiers began moving from the walls, and officers barked orders to clear the central yard. It didn't take long for Lancelot to learn that it was because the arrival of a delegation from Dagar Khun was no small thing, as they were akin to witnessing the ruler himself making a visit.

From the high rampart, Bakhi watched as the golden banners of the capital bore the mark of the Kahn himself, knowing the answer his emperor made was of the highest importance to send his personal guard here. There were no fewer than thirty riders, accompanied by a large command cart drawn by four massive, black horses. He watched as an armored envoy at their head dismounted before Commander Vekhon, who waited on the ground with Lancelot at his side, had been invited there ahead of time.

Since their spar, Vekhon’s demeanor had shifted dramatically. Where before he bore an edge towards the Avalonians, now he held himself with a disciplined formality. His ribs still ached a little, but the bruises earned in defeat were not something he would be insulted by. He lost... fair and square, and he was not a child to throw a tantrum about it. Especially not now that his Kahn's people have arrived. He greeted the delegation with a deep, respectful bow.

"By the will of Tula-Kahn Rhanak, we greet the warriors of Avalon," the envoy declared after looking at Vekhon once, then gazing at Lancelot as he removed his helmet, revealing an older man with streaks of silver in his braided, black hair. "We are sent to escort the honored envoy, Lancelot of Avalon, to the capital. The Kahn wishes to meet with you personally."

"My greetings," Lancelot didn’t flinch at the formality, returning a slight bow as he inclined his head. "I accept the invitation with pleasure, honored envoy."

"And your escort?" the envoy asked, nodding at Pion and the five towering, skull-helmed Avalonians lined up behind him.

"Golden Envoy of the Throne," Commander Vekhon spoke before Lancelot could. "They ride as warriors of equal honor. Their commander bested me in the conduct of a warrior, and their prince bested me in the yard as a warrior. I vouch for their discipline and strength."

That declaration coming from him surprised even Bakhi, who stood at attention, gulping a little. Vekhon’s public endorsement carried weight, and knowing who was saying it was enough for the envoy, who responded with a slow, acknowledging nod.

"Very well. Their presence will be noted and accepted. We ride at midday; the Kahn is very much curious about the news coming from beyond the Dead Lands."

With the formalities concluded, the delegation dismounted and began readying fresh mounts and supplies for the journey, taking them from the fort without asking for them. Not that anyone would say no to them. While it was happening, Pion signaled the others, who began checking their gear without a word. As midday neared, Bakhi approached Lancelot just as he adjusted his clothes, ready to climb into the carriage that was sent for him to carry him to the capital.

"I admit," Bakhi said quietly, "I didn't expect Vekhon to speak on your behalf."

"He is a warrior," Lancelot replied, grinning. "I did." Then he glanced sideways, keeping up a small smile. "You worried about how the capital will receive us?"

"I do." Bakhi nodded. "The Kahn is a hard man to impress and will be worse than the Commander."

"I'm not afraid," Lancelot answered, making Bakhi sigh, shaking his head.

"I am not worried about you or your men. I am worried about us..."