Of Ice, Death & Monsters

Chapter 5: For Galfania Awaits

A week passed by, and now it was time to head out. It was mostly spent researching in the library and then hanging out with the small group of friends I found myself with while barely sleeping in between.

Honestly, I didn’t have friends for the longest time to spend time with other than John, although he was busy a lot of times, and the few times we saw each other were for rent money.

The experience was new, although all we did together was eat and train for a bit. However, there was one person whom I hung out with a lot, and I didn’t want to consider him a friend.

“Oh, you’re here early.” Matthias sat in front of me in the library as he was taking his laptop out.

“…Yeah, I woke up early.” I made sure to wake up early and choose a different table in the library where he usually researched to avoid meeting Matthias.

It’s not that I wasn’t grateful for him helping out, I really was. Matthias was also extremely pleasant, very kind-hearted, soft-spoken, easy to be with, and sometimes playful. And every single quality stated made me even more annoyed that I desired to make the catboy suffer.

But I couldn't, it would just be wrong. I knew that, but there was still this hatred inside of me that stirred every time I saw him happy.

“Well, that’s good, we’re going to be leaving early tomorrow morning. Do you think you’re ready?” He peeked out from behind his screen as I was more focused on typing and copying notes into a journal I kept.

While computers and phones were generally better, the harsh climate of Galfania, coupled with the fact that network services don’t reach the area, made keeping information via technology a lot harder, if not just downright impossible.

“Uhm… well, I guess I have to be, I have my clothes, weapons, Magick, and most importantly, I have all my books ready.”

“Excellent. I’m glad to hear that, it’s nice to see people are going to be prepared.”

I just nodded along as I pulled up more papers on Galfania. I’d been researching it all week; luckily, the database here was full of every single bit of the expeditions from the past thousands of years.

All the knowledge on Galfania, however, was based on when the nation known as Balthalem was colonizing the continent. It took over a few hundred years before they were driven out by the monsters in a brutal war. Most of the stories of what happened came from the few survivors of the war.

“How much is true…” I mumbled a little to myself as I scrolled down the stories of the survivors describing the monsters in Galfania from giant bovine beasts to the famed Azhdaya, a three headed dragon that was the Steed of the Queen of the Damned, Irina, or so the legend goes.

‘Maybe we’ll be able to ride a dragon there… that would be so cool.’ I thought to myself before turning to Matthias.

“Well, I believe nearly all of it to be true. There’s a reason why Galfania is special, after all. We can’t even have satellite footage of it, too! Imagine that it’s a total mystery no matter where you look, digitally, in folklore, and even in history.” Matthias smiled, rocking his head back and forth while he typed away on his laptop. He was so excitable that it was annoying.

“Yeah, I guess so… but why doesn’t that make you worried then? What with all the mountain and country throwing going about.”

“I believe those to be the exaggerated parts; they probably were just large land masses as big as around a small hill or maybe even a mountain. Probably from all the trauma they received. And a mist that could literally erase you from the world? Magick can’t exactly be that powerful now, can it? Well, in some cases, it can be, but it takes a lot of preparation and engineering for it to be like that.”

A small smile crossed his face as he tilted his head. “And, once more, we have our own Magick now. Hundreds are by our side, aided by Epithet. You should stop worrying about things, Peter, relax~”

I grumbled for a bit. Maybe he was right, maybe I was over-stressing this a lot more than I should have.

However, I just leaned back and sighed. It was my big chance, and I just didn’t want to blow it all away. For a few moments, I stared at my computer screen, all those long days and nights researching had caught up. I could see large eye bags imprinted onto my face, and I could finally feel sleep reaching out for me.

Man, did it bring back memories.

“I think you need more rest. Your enthusiasm is appreciated, but your health comes first.”

I grumbled for a bit. He was right, but I hated that he was right, and I wanted to continue not to prove him wrong but to try and show who was superior.

“I’m fine… I can do this. I’m almost done anyway.” I stretched my arms up.

With a sigh, Matthias snapped his fingers, and suddenly my body was lifted by an invisible force that bound me.

“W-Wait put me down-” Under me was Jane, who wore something akin to a sweater with a pencil skirt and stockings, her hair braided to one side.

“Jane, take him to a room, please, and Peter, don’t worry, I’ll take care of your stuff. I’ll see you soon!”

“What- hey! Put me- I’m not done yet!” I tried to flail around to no avail, both because I was tired and because the force moving me was too strong.

“Stop moving, you’re going to make this harder on yourself than it already is.”

I paused for a moment and looked down at Jane. “What do you mean by that?” I kind of knew where this was going, but at the same time, I was still ever so curious.

“Isn’t it obvious? You purposefully signed up for a death mission… You and all the rest of the idiots that joined up… no one can be that desperate.”

I rolled my eyes at that, not this again. I already doubted my own choices every day; this time, I was going to be adamant. “People can be that desperate. That’s why you have the idiots like me running around.”

We made it up to the hallway, passing by a few others who stared at the situation before they shrugged and walked by, thinking it must be some kind of detainment.

Jane sighed and made a clicking noise with her tongue. “So what got you here then? Gambling? On the run? In debt?”

“The last one.”

“Oh? What gang owes you this kind of money? Mafia, cartel…”

“John…”

A small silence was shared between the two of us as we stared at each other in a frozen awkwardness.

“Like, John-”

“Yes, the one here, he's a friend of mine. I live in one of his units; I owe him.”

Jane began to frown and stared at me as if I were eating out of the trash. “...It’s John; he’s not gonna be cutting your fingers off any time soon; why really do you need this money?”

“...Because I don’t want to be useless anymore, alright… I did my dues; I was a… middling decent person. I didn’t do anything too wrong, I completed college, high school… couldn’t get into any jobs I want, and I’d rather not just keep working for minimum wage until the day I die.”

I narrowed my eyes at Jane, a pleading look deep in them. “I want to be known, to make… something of myself….”

“Hah, so throwing your life away for a quick death is better than just waiting for a new opportunity. There’s always another day, another time..” She stopped in front of a door and opened it, revealing a room inside with a small bed at the end.

“...I don’t want to wait anymore; I want to do this.”

Jane sighed yet again, rubbing her forehead. “You’re lucky… some of us didn’t have much of a choice in this; some of us have to do this…”

Her voice trailed off as she rubbed her wrists. “And it’s a shame to see someone who has that luck throw their life away just for this chance.”

I gave her a half-hearted shrug as I lay on the bed. “I just… want to do something… anything, no more wasting away, no more…”

“Alright then, your funeral, I guess. Good luck.” She gave another sigh as she walked out of the room, closing it as I looked up at the ceiling, completely silent before closing my eyes, Jane’s words repeating themselves in my head as I fell asleep.

The next morning came in a flash. It was finally the big day. The moment everyone was preparing for.

All at once, the building began to air out an announcement.

“In 12 Hours. We begin to travel to those chosen; we shall escort you to your designated vehicle and assigned squadron.”

I groaned whilst I rubbed my eyes, looking around, I found my luggage of clothes as well as my bag with my laptop inside. At least Matthias kept his promise. I thought to myself for a bit before the door opened up, revealing a tall humanoid robot with butler clothes on, reaching out to him.

“Peter Sai. You have been chosen. Follow me to your assigned vehicle.”

Taking a deep breath, I wordlessly nodded and began to follow the butler droid while carrying all of my stuff.

I looked around, finding the same model of robot guiding others down towards the basement parking lot that was not filled with cars, but now more like the armored vehicles you’d see used in the military.

I felt a little uneasy by this, but also a little comforted. There was a sense of safety and security when one would look upon these types of vehicles with all their armored plates and minimal windows.

The robot butler opened the back door, revealing Mollie as well as Derek and Topher on benches, holding their guns as they waved and grinned.

“Looks like you’re with us. Guess John put in a good Name for you. Come on in.” Mollie reached out to me as I took her hand and climbed inside, where I peered into the driver's seat, finding Charlie behind the wheel with Henry beside her.

“Looks like everyone is ready. Let’s get a move on.”

With that, Charlie stepped on the gas and drove with the rest of the armored vehicles out of the parking lot and back into the world at large. Everyone’s hearts were pumping, and a smile even crossed a few of their faces. It was finally here; no more preparations needed, and no more days to wait.

We drove through the city, and even if they couldn’t see the outside, we could feel as if we were being watched and stared at, yet we couldn't confirm it. Everything felt so tight, as if we were being constricted and grappled, yet it was such an intoxicating feeling, almost breathtaking even.

For several minutes to even an hour, this continued until finally we arrived.

“Alright, we’re by the ship, going up.” The armored truck rode up a ramp, and I heard the sound of crashing waves nearby.

This was going to be the first time I’d ever leave the country, much less the continent. I never had enough money, nor did my parents ever take more than a few dozen miles from where they lived for a vacation.

A restless feeling stirred in me as I tapped my foot nervously on the floor while I looked around. Everyone else didn’t seem to have this feeling. They all looked rather excited than anything else, with smiles on their faces and even making small comments and jokes from time to time.

I should have been excited, too; I should be pumped up and ready for action, but even then, there was just something unsettling I couldn’t push away from myself.

Once they were inside the ship and parked with the rest, everyone got out of the truck and walked right up to the main deck, where several men and women aboard were standing in lab coats.

Among them were familiar faces he saw at the restaurant back on my birthday. One of which was Rook, now in a black suit as he gave me a side eye, not even saying anything, or even gesturing to him. He walked past me as if I were just another worker on the ship.

I even saw John and Matthias; they were currently using a robot to help guide the cargo into the inner ship. He was about to walk up to them both before a familiar voice spoke behind me.

“Ah, can you feel that air!” Godwin was wearing a brown coat with a scarf around his neck. He adjusted his glasses while patting me on the back.

“Marvelous, great weather, not a cloud in the sky. The sea is simply waiting for us to take it! What do you think, Peter?”

“Uhm, I think it’s fine, I guess… can’t believe you remembered me.” I awkwardly just accepted the pat as I looked around, trying not to make eye contact.

“Greetings, Professor Godwin Sir.” Charlie and Mollie both saluted the head of the operations, and he did the same with a grin on his face.

“Good to see you; everyone is ready to roll. We’ll be there in another week’s time, but I suspect that we’re going to be encountering the natives and dangers of Galfania much sooner!”

He laughed as if what he said wasn’t something to worry about but something to look forward to.

Topher and Derek both carried a crate with the help of Henry. Overhearing the conversation, they turned to Godwin. “Bring it on then; at least we got something to do on the ride over.”

Henry swiftly smacked them on their heads, causing them to both smile and grumble as the man sighed. “Sorry for these two…”

“No worries, that’s exactly the kind of spirit we need moving forward!”

Godwin suddenly conjured up a cane out of nowhere, twirling it around as he walked forward to the very mast of the ship.

The Professor then raised his cane up into the sky, causing everyone to face him in wonder and confusion.

But all he did was simply grin and twirl their cane even more. “To adventure, and glory… and an unforgettable story. Is everyone ready to roll?”

All at once, everyone cheered, even me, as I forced a smile upon myself, holding my breath and mumbled.

“Alright… Here we go.”