Chapter 63: Expeditions

  The air buzzed with murmurs of confusion, displeasure, and outright frustration. Abel gnced down at the colored slip in his hand, trying to mask the anxiety bubbling within him. He and Ronald had received a mission to explore ruins, while the others had been assigned equally daunting tasks. The Tower’s method of task allocation had stirred unrest among the recruits, both gifted and non-gifted alike.

  As they made their way to the task office, they passed clusters of recruits, their compints barely concealed behind sneers and whispers. Abel overheard a group of gifted recruits nearby, their voices dripping with disdain.

  "I can’t believe we’re being paired with the non-gifted for such a dangerous expedition. They’ll slow us down," one of them said, rolling their eyes dramatically.

  Tina, a gifted recruit who had once sided with Ronald, crossed her arms in irritation. "It’s ridiculous. As if we don’t have enough to worry about. Babysitting the non-gifted on a mission like this is a waste of our talents."

  Ronald’s jaw clenched, his eyes fshing with irritation, but he kept his focus forward. Abel, too, remained quiet, but the sting of their words hung in the air. Even now, with the Tower emphasizing colboration, the divide between the gifted and non-gifted felt as vast as ever. Abel gnced at Ronald, who walked beside him with a stiff determination, though Abel could tell the weight of the upcoming mission was pressing down on him.

  Nando, however, was less composed. His usual unpredictable demeanor had darkened into something more brooding, and his frustration was palpable. "Why am I always stuck with the worst jobs?" he muttered, his voice low. “I swear, this better be the weakest terror in the world…”

  Isabel gnced at him, offering a small, thoughtful nod, but said nothing. She had learned to expect Nando’s mood swings, especially in stressful situations. Sena, beside her, seemed calm but focused, the primal energy inside him simmering just beneath the surface. He was eager to get the details of his task, ready for whatever challenge y ahead.

  The line for the task office stretched through the hall as recruits filed in and out, each with expressions ranging from fear to outright anger. Some were clearly unhappy with their assignments, but there was little they could do. The Tower’s decisions were final, and compining wouldn’t change their fate.

  Finally, it was their turn to enter the office. The room was dimly lit, the shadows casting an eerie atmosphere over the ancient stone walls. Behind the heavy desk sat Gndel, the instructor cd in his familiar blue robe.

  His hood was pulled low, obscuring most of his face, but the harsh lines of his jaw and the faint glow of his eyes beneath the hood gave away his stern, authoritative presence. He gnced up as the group entered, his gaze settling on them with cold indifference.

  "Slips," he said ftly, his voice deep and commanding.

  Abel and Ronald handed over their blue slips first. Gndel unrolled a thick parchment in front of him, his fingers tapping lightly as his eyes scanned over the details.

  "You two are assigned to explore the ruins of the Mancia Nomads," Gndel began, his tone matter-of-fact. "The Mancia Nomads were a group that traveled across the continent for centuries, guided by their own astrology, trading rare goods and artifacts. They would often set up camp for years before moving on, but one of their final camps in the south became permanent—though it was never intended to be. The Tower has recently located what’s believed to be their st settlement, overgrown with thorns and surrounded by strange abnormalities."

  He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing. "Your mission is to scout the area, explore the ruins, and gather any information of value. This mission will be long, four to six months, and will be led by Gravedigger."

  Ronald's stomach dropped slightly at the mention of Gravedigger, an Apostle known for his no-nonsense attitude and the sheer intensity of his tasks. Abel's expression remained neutral, but a flicker of anxiety crossed his eyes. They both knew this would be no simple mission.

  Gndel shifted his gaze to Nando, who stepped forward reluctantly, red slip in hand. He tossed it onto the desk, his scowl deepening. "What’s my task?"

  The instructor opened the parchment slowly, his expression hardening as he read the contents. "You’ve been assigned to track and contain a terror that has been moving closer to a human vilge under Tower jurisdiction." He leaned forward slightly, his gaze locking onto Nando. "The terror is a gargoyle—a vicious creature that feeds on fear and can easily turn an entire vilge into stone. It has been weakened after being dormant for centuries, with a fraction of its power remaining"

  Nando’s scowl faltered for a moment, repced by a flicker of disbelief. "A terror? A gargoyle? Great," he muttered, frustration evident in his voice. The weight of the mission was sinking in fast, and it was clear that this was more than he had bargained for.

  Gndel ignored Nando’s outburst, turning his attention to Sena and Isabel. "You two have been assigned to secure an ancient mine in the western region," he expined, his voice as cold and steady as ever. "This mine has been deemed strategically important by the Tower due to its rare ores. However, there have been reports of creatures lurking within the mine. Your task is to clear the area and secure it for future extraction."

  Sena nodded, his expression focused and calm, while Isabel absorbed the details with a thoughtful look. The mission didn’t sound easy, but both seemed ready to tackle it head-on.

  With the tasks assigned, Gndel rolled up the scrolls and handed them back to the recruits. "You leave at dawn tomorrow," he said with finality. "Make your st-minute preparations today. Gather your supplies, and be ready. The Tower does not tolerate failure."

  As they turned to leave, the weight of their missions hung heavily in the air. The silence between them was tense as they processed the gravity of what y ahead.

  Once outside, Nando broke the silence with a heavy sigh. "A gargoyle... a damn terror. Why do I always get stuck with the worst jobs?" His voice was ced with frustration, but there was a hint of resignation as well.

  Sena smirked slightly but didn’t comment, already focused on what awaited him and Isabel in the ancient mine. The thought of clearing out unknown creatures excited a part of him, the primal urge for battle flickering in his eyes.

  Abel exchanged a gnce with Ronald, both of them still coming to terms with the fact that they would be exploring ancient ruins for six long months. The Mancia Nomads were a mystery, and the thought of the strange thorns and abnormalities surrounding their camp sent a shiver down Abel's spine.

  "We should get ready," Abel said finally, breaking the tension. "We don’t have much time."

  The others nodded in agreement, their minds already turning toward the tasks ahead. Tomorrow, their paths would split—each group facing its own unique dangers and challenges.

  Tomorrow, they would set out into the unknown, ready to prove themselves once more.