[News]

Arriving at the centre of the camp with Agnes, Claude was met with an ocean of people. Faces lit with excitement and hope cheered with great fervour, their voices merging into a loud roar.

The atmosphere was a mix of celebration and anticipation.

"What's causing this...?" Intrigued, Claude wove through the crowd.

His status as an emissary made people step aside, allowing him to move forward with ease. He could feel Agnes's curiosity as well from beside him, her eyes scanning the crowd for answers.

At the forefront, he spotted Karl, animated and gesturing wildly, his eyes shining as he spoke to the gathered crowd.

Karl's energy was contagious, and the people around him were hanging onto every word.

When Karl saw Claude, his eyes widened with joy. He jogged over, his excitement palpable.

"Claude! We found it! We found the ruins!" Karl's large hands gripped Claude's shoulders, shaking him with enthusiasm.

Realizing he was getting carried away, Karl let go and continued, "It was there... by the Northern Ridge. A ruin." Karl's hands trembled. "Claude, I'm sorry to ask, but could you help us explore it?"

His eyes flashed with an apologetic plea. He truly didn't want to burden Claude, but the future of his people was at stake.

Claude's mind froze momentarily upon hearing the request, he almost immediately wanted to shout out a refusal.

He had no wish to further endanger his life in this foreign world, and he especially did not desire to confront the bloodborne whom he had heard about.

All Claude wanted was to wait a few years for either the danger in his world to pass or to gain enough strength to return.

But saying no felt... cowardly. He had already deceived these people for his own gain; abandoning them now would only make him despise himself.

Claude mulled over his options before hesitantly looking at Karl. "Could you give me some time to think about it?"

Karl's disappointment was evident, yet he understood that his request might affect Claude's divine mission as an emissary.

Furthermore, Claude was under no real obligation to help them and place his own life at risk.

"That's fine. We'll start preparing today and set off tomorrow. Initially, it'll just be me and the village guard." Patting Claude's back, he added.

Hearing a shout from behind him Karl turned his head back before looking at Claude, "I guess I need to get going. Ha! It's going to be a busy day for all of us!"

As Karl walked away, Claude's conflicted feelings intensified. After a brief talk with Agnes, he retreated to his tent.

Once inside, he plopped onto a chair. With his hands clasped together and his head resting on them, he pondered.

'To go... or not to go...' His thoughts soon devolved into these words repeating themselves.

There were benefits and downsides to either choice. As he kept thinking, the choices seemed more and more difficult to choose from.

'If I go... I would not only be repaying a favour, but I would learn more about this world. Karl also mentioned finding knowledge in these ruins, which may help my mental energy grow... But then again... I don't fancy the idea of dying...' He contemplated inwardly, still undecided.

His thoughts soon turned towards the camp.

He remembered the hope and joy in the people's eyes when they saw him as Solhart's emissary.

He remembered their ambition in wanting to have a place to truly call home.

He remembered the gruelling training carried out by the village guard in protecting the people in the settlement.

His hazel eyes began to glow with intensity.

Bang!

Slamming his fist against the desk, he exclaimed internally, 'I have to go! If I can't help these people... How can I protect those I care about in the future? How can I become stronger?! How can I get my revenge?!'

Clenching his fists, Claude found his resolve solidifying. He couldn't simply run away from danger all the time. 

Not again...

Marching out of his tent, he found Agnes and asked where to find Karl. Upon getting his answer, he immediately headed to Karl's tent, which was surprisingly modest.

"Karl?" Claude called out. He heard rustling from within the tent before Karl came stumbling out, confusion giving way to vigour as he saw Claude.

However, his confusion vanished as he saw Claude standing there and was soon replaced by vigour. 

"Claude?! Have you thought about it?" Karl asked with hope-filled eyes.

"I agree." Muttered Claude.

For a moment, Karl just stared, his mouth agape as if he'd misheard. Then, gathering himself, he managed, "Could... could you repeat that?"

"I said I agree to join you on the expedition!" Claude repeated his words, this time with a greater intensity. He not only wanted Karl to hear his resolve; he wanted to tell himself. He needed to make sure he wouldn't waver in his decision.

Karls's eyes comically widened as a bright smile stretched across his face. "You agreed?!" He still couldn't believe it. Yet, seeing Claude's determined eyes, Karl finally believed it.

He clasped Claude's shoulders again, but this time with a gentler, more respectful grip. "Thank you, Claude. Your help means the world to us."

Karl's smile turned serious. "Next, we'll gather everyone for a briefing later today. There's a lot to discuss and plan."

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In due time, a large group gathered around a bonfire at the centre of the camp, consisting of Karl, Claude and the village guard.

The orange flames danced around, vaguely illuminating the faces of those present.

Karl stood at the front, drawing everyone's attention.

"We've finally found the ruin," Karl began, his voice steady. "This ruin represents hope. It represents a chance for us to find a new home, a place where we can rebuild and thrive. But this opportunity comes with its risks. The bloodborne—those vile creatures— may compete with us should they also find ruin. However, we needn't worry..."

He looked at Claude momentarily before continuing. "... Because the Emissary has agreed to join us in conquering these ruins." 

The crowd murmured, a look of relief and joy appeared on their faces as they heard that Claude was joining them. 

Following this, the group discussed the exact plan for tomorrow. 

"How long is the journey?" Someone asked.

"It will take us a full day to reach the Northern Ridge," Karl replied. "We'll need to start as soon as we all wake"

"What should we bring?" Another spoke soon after.

"Pack light but ensure you have enough food and water for at least three days," Karl instructed. "Bring any weapons you have and make sure they're in good condition. Oh! And, for you Claude, you don't need to bring anything, you can use our things."

Hearing Karls's words Claude looked around and found no one held any objections and felt relieved.

Despite the strange growth in his physical strength, at the end of the day Claude was physically a 12-year-old boy.

He didn't think he would be able to lug such a heavy load on his back on a long journey.

"Who should stay behind in the camp?" This time Peter was the one who queried.

"We'll leave a small contingent of guards to protect the camp," Karl assured. "The rest of us will go. We need as many able-bodied individuals as possible."

Karl concluded, "We leave tomorrow. Get a good amount of sleep, gather your equipment, and be ready. Our future depends on this."

The meeting dispersed, and everyone made sure to return to their homes and prepare for the excursion.

Before heading back to his tent, Claude looked around and saw that the activity of the camp had settled down.

Thinking that he might as well practice his magic before sleeping, he wandered to a more remote part of the camp.

After casting the only Tier 0 spell he knew seven times, his head began to buzz as a sense of dizziness overcame him.

Wobbling back to his tent, and, without wasting time, he collapsed onto his bed.

Lying on his bed, he stared up at the tent's ceiling lost in thought once the sense of dizziness eased slightly.

Thinking of the expedition tomorrow, he felt slightly unnerved.

He didn't even know what to expect tomorrow.

What did the ruins look like?

Would they fight these 'bloodborne' monsters people kept raving about?

Would anyone die?

With these thoughts floating in the back of his head, Claude soon lapsed into a deep slumber.

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The next day, Claude stood at the edge of the camp surrounded by the village guard, their expressions a mix of determination and anxiety. 

"Boys!" Karl stood before them as he shouted, "Are you lot ready!?"

"YES!" The response was loud, but Karl knew he needed more from them—more fire, more unity.

"Listen to me, each and every one of you. This day, this moment will be etched in the annals of our village for generations to come! Today is not just another day."

"No, today is the day we rise from the ashes of our despair, the day we break the chains of our seemingly hopeless situation! Each one of you, standing here, is not just a guard. You are a beacon of hope, the builders of a future that our village so desperately needs."

He took a step forward, his eyes locking onto each of the guards as if he were drawing strength from each one of them. "Today, we fight!" His voice was a battle cry, filled with a fervour that sent a shiver down their spines.

"YES!" The cheer was louder, filled with raw energy and a hint of the fire Karl sought to ignite within them.

"Today, we conquer!" He continued, his fist punching the air.

"YES!" The response was deafening now, a collective roar that echoed through the camp, shaking the very ground they stood on.

Karl paused, then raised both his arms high, his voice rising to a thunderous crescendo. "Today, we forge our future!"

"YES!" The final cheer was an eruption, a powerful wave of sound that seemed to sweep away any lingering doubts in their hearts.

It was more than a battle cry; it was a declaration of intent, a vow to shape their destiny with their own hands.

For them, their family and their friends are back at the camp- they must succeed!

With those words, they set off towards the Northern Ridge.