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“My name is Alucard,” the old man bowed. “And though I may not look it, I am over a thousand years old.”
“Like hell you are,” Cameron said. “Why even attempt such a blatant lie? What’s the purpose?”
“Or,” Desmond said, raising a finger in the air. “It’s so preposterous that it’s true.”
“You’re joking,” Willa said.
“It’s possible,” Momo said, staring at the old man. The light of the kindling fire illuminated her face clearly—she was serious in her declaration.
“How?” Cameron asked her, approaching her from across the room quickly. “Have you seen him before?”
“I’ve seen enough to know it is possible,” she said. Her face remained as stone as Cameron examined her countenance.
“Fine,” Cameron said, spinning around to face the man. “Continue.”
“I understand that you want to see the world,” Alucard said. “But those that venture outwards beyond the Lasting Wall are not safe. Few survive more than a couple weeks. No one makes it through a month. Your kind is ill-equipped.”
“We have an army,” Willa stated.
“And?” Alucard scoffed. “What does that matter? It is nothing compared to what lies ahead. Any soldier in your company that has seen outside combat is either dead or damaged.”
Tristan glanced back at Momo. She was humming to herself softly as she caressed Felix’s unsevered hand, applying a strange oily substance comprising of various herbs and plants. He hadn’t even seen her retrieve it.
“Then you were there at the origin,” Desmond said. “When the three communities were first formed.”
“I saw some of it,” Alucard sighed. “Back then, you were over a few million in number, though it may seem impossible now. Most of you were slaughtered in the construction, staving off various threats.”
“The trees?” Amy asked.
“No,” Alucard said, shaking his head. “Those grew in time. They’re mine actually, to keep predators away from your homes. Felix assists me as well.”
“Wait,” Lorelai said. “Then you are our protectors?”
“Of sorts. Though hundreds of years at the same job does get dull.”
“Why? What makes us so special?”
“How ordinary you are,” Alucard laughed. “Your people...are terribly common, but there is value in that. If you continue to explore the world, you’ll find all sorts of creatures and nations, each with their own values, culture and extraordinary abilities. Some will look like animals. Others can wield magic. It is beyond imagination. An explorer’s sandbox. Unfortunately, many forget that sand can still bury a person.”
“Didn’t we have...extraordinary abilities?” Amy asked. “Back when we were building?”
“Very few of you,” Alucard said. “Your ancestors were the outcasts and rejected of each nation. You were so plain and disregarded that through time, your people came together to fashion your own society, free of the rest of the world. As you had offspring, that plainness only multiplied. Many came to destroy your ancestors once they heard of their ambitions. Some killed for sport, others because they feared your people may become a future threat. They were ruthless in their attacks and your people had no allies to speak of...but they persevered, for a society in which they could be free of suffering. By all accounts, they succeeded.”
“Nope,” Amy shook her head. “Sorry to break it to you...but nope.”
“Amy...” Cameron said.
“Quiet, rich boy!” Amy snapped at him.
“If what this man is saying is true, then we do have it great.”
“Yeah, okay,” Amy said, turning to Alucard. “I should just shut up then. Because I have food in my belly, and a place to sleep at night. Never mind that I am shunned by my own people, or the only person in the world that loved me was murdered. Forget the class system. Forget the threat of civil war. Cast that aside because I must respect the hierarchy of suffering...well, I’m not. Screw that. If we had it so good, then why are any of us here!”
“Things are not well?” Alucard scowled. “Truly?”
“We’re about to kill each other,” Amy said.
“You don’t know that,” Cameron said. “There has always been tension between the three communities. It’s nothing new.”
“You’re wrong,” Tristan said, turning to face Cameron. “In this...you are dead wrong. The way Musgrave treats its own citizens, let alone others...it can’t last. And with what happened with Robert Willow in Comida...it’s only a matter of time.”
“How are you caught up in Comida’s affairs?” Cameron scoffed.
“Because they’re our people,” Tristan said.
“No, they’re not. They’re—” Cameron stopped himself. Everyone in the room looked at him, waiting for his response, but he waved them off. With a huff, he joined Momo in tending to the giant.
“That’s what I thought,” Amy said.
“Then...what will happen?” Alucard said. “Wait...you’re not a band of stragglers?”
“Well,” Desmond laughed. “We are, but we were also commissioned. On paper, we’re to explore the world, bring back supplies and innovation. Amongst ourselves, we’re seeking answers to our personal struggles, and perhaps a way to long-lasting peace.”
“We have been so focused out here that we never thought you may turn on each other inside,” Alucard said.
“We are hundreds of years removed from our ancestors,” Tristan said. “We’re a different breed.”
“Don’t tell me there are more explorers...”
“There is one more group,” Willa stated. “They would have left by now, but they’re going in a different direction.”
“Are there more forming?”
“There could be. Especially if the civil war occurs. The communities will fracture, and the people will seek a new home, just as our ancestors did.”
“I have a congregation of hundreds,” Lorelai said, “waiting for me to find them a home. That’s why I’m on this exploratory mission.”
“But...you are not prepared,” Alucard said. “You can’t. You can’t live out here.”
“As much as it hurts,” Lorelai said. “All children must leave home one day and make it out in the world on their own.”
“Oh, my,” he said, placing a hand to his forehead. “This is...this is troubling.”
“Why did you decide to protect us?” Desmond asked. “A self-inflicted calling?”
“Centuries ago, my master...he told me that if any good would come of this world, it would rise from your society. He asked me to watch after you, until you proved yourself ready to go out into the world, but...I have neglected my duties. I should have been guiding you from the background. At least watching over you to see when your people matured. Instead, I’ve focused on keeping external threats at bay, and I...I have begun to wander, leaving Felix to protect you in my stead. It’s been years since the last predator came close to the Lasting Wall, so I’ve begun focusing on myself, seeing sights that I’ve long forgotten. I’ve...I’m sorry.”
“This isn’t your burden,” Lorelai said. “You are an individual too. You have the right to be happy.”
“No,” Alucard said. “No, not with the power I possess. If my master said that the key to world peace lies within your people, I should have stayed.”
“Are you an Ancient?” Lorelai asked.
“No, no,” he said, shaking his head. “I can be killed like any man.”
“Then your burden needs to be shared.”
“This has been sprung upon me,” he groaned, clutching his face in his hands. Felix whined from the corner at the sight of seeing his master weep.
“Regardless of your mission,” Tristan said. “We also have ours. We’re here, and we’re moving forward.”
“Even if it means death?” Alucard asked.
“There are worse things waiting for us back home.”
“Then...it must be time. My master’s words are coming to fruition. Even if the prophesied chosen are not amongst you, or in the other expedition, they are near...either currently living or in an upcoming generation.” Alucard took a deep breath. “I must prepare accordingly and save as many of you as possible.”
“From the forest?” Cameron asked.
“The trees of this forest can be subdued with a simple spell,” Alucard said. “I am speaking of the other nations that will catch wind of your exodus. They will want to test you.”
Momo stood to her feet. “I won’t let that happen.”
“As impressive as you are, you’ll need more than your power to stop them all. All of you,” Alucard said, looking at each of the group one by one. “All of you will have to grow, and rapidly. In your own way, with your own talents, you must strive to reach a level equivalent of hers. And you must protect each other, if you wish to survive.”
“Where will you be?” Lorelai asked. “Will you reunite with your master?”
“He is long dead by now,” Alucard said. “I will take his place in staving off the largest threats to you and the world at large. In the meantime, I will continue to have Felix protect your communities from the outside.”
“You mentioned spells,” Desmond said. “Is that magic? I’ve heard stories of spellcasting as a child, but they were oral tales, passed on throughout my family.”
“They must have been passing down stories of what your ancestors had seen,” Alucard smiled. “And yes, I am a Sorcerer.”
“Can I learn?” Desmond laughed.
“Not unless you come with me.”
“Oh,” Desmond said, looking back at Willa. “Well, I think I will stay here then.”
“All this talk of magic and worldwide threats,” Willa scoffed. “It’s all theory to me until I see it for myself. As of right now, all I care about is the danger in front of us, so back to the original question...why did Balin betray us?”
“He is a spy,” Alucard said. “I can’t confirm a hundred percent, but that is my belief. Your community gets them from time to time, but I’m usually able to catch them when they attempt to contact their benefactor.”
“But this time was different,” Amy said. “You were away.”
“I thought Felix could handle him.”
“Hold on,” Cameron said, coming back to the group. “When I came across Balin in the forest, he and Felix were talking.”
“Talking?” Alucard scowled. He snapped his fingers at Felix, and the giant walked over and bowed his head. Alucard placed a hand on the giant’s forehead and closed his eyes. “Hmm. Yes...I see. This is troubling...it appears Balin has intimate knowledge of this forest.”
“He’s been out here before?” Tristan asked.
“From the way he’s speaking, I’d say several times. Oh, this is troubling.”
“That means he’s very good at his job,” Willa said. “Do you have any weapons we can use around here?”
“Wait,” Alucard said. He opened his eyes and released Felix from his touch. “I think it is best if you leave. If my suspicions are correct, Balin aims to inform his superior of your departure.”
“To what end?” Desmond asked.
“Hard to say. It might be simple knowledge acquisition. His master could be thinking of slave labor, or how to exploit whatever abilities you may have. To the rest of the world, you are a brand-new element, a resource to be mined and exploited.”
“We can go,” Tristan said. “But I think it’s best if you tell us some of the things we’re up against.”
“Okay, but quickly,” Alucard said. “The elves are close—to the north. Stay away from them. They are an archaic nation and very hostile to outsiders. You can identify them by their pointy ears. Um, there is a swamp nearby that you must avoid. Let’s see...the Phoenix nation is very powerful, but they are far away to the southwest so you may not need to know much about them yet.”
Amy placed a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay. We’ll find our way.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Desmond retorted. “We should learn all we can.”
“He’s started into the list of distant threats. The close ones have been identified.”
“Still, let him continue.”
“We’re not going to get stronger by being told what is bad and why. We need to get out there and experience it.”
“Fighting a dummy won’t sharpen your swing,” Momo murmured from the corner.
“The Great One speaketh,” Amy said.
“I’d like to know more,” Desmond said. “You all go on ahead. I’ll catch up.”
“No, we’ll leave together,” Tristan said. “We can give you a few more minutes.”
“Then we’re going to ignore the warning?” Cameron said, stepping in front of Tristan. “Balin could be on his way back with reinforcements. We need to leave.”
“Not without Desmond,” Tristan said. “And besides, he’s right. Learning of a few more threats is worth the risk.”
“Oh, now you want to lead,” Cameron snapped.
“It’s not about what I want. It’s what I should do.”
“You’ll get us killed.”
“You don’t know anything. Not unless your father told you so.”
“Don’t get personal. Don’t try to cover up your inadequacy. My actions are what got us to the cabin, and to the Sorcerer. Not you.”
“I disagree.”
“Let’s put it to a vote.”
“How troubling,” Alucard said from the background.
“I’m with Cameron,” Willa said. “The longer we wait, the more danger we’re put in.”
“We’ll keep it simple,” Cameron said. “If you’d like to leave, come with me by the door. Tristan sighed as every member of the group made their selection. In the end, Cameron, Willa, Amy and Momo were prepared to go, while Lorelai and Desmond stayed behind with Tristan.
“You shouldn’t split up,” Alucard said as Cameron’s group went out the door ahead of him.
Cameron glared back at him and scoffed. “You act like we know each other.”
Then he slammed the door behind him.
