- The professor's office was quiet, except for the faint tapping of a pen bouncing off a page. The still air of the room was almost stifling. After a few moments, there was a small moan of frustration and the pen was dropped on the paper. Clare leaned back with a sigh, folding her arms as she glared down at the blank page. She knew she shouldn't go ahead with her plan - there were too many factors, too much unknown. People could get hurt... and for what? 'For the most influential scholar in my field.' She thought glumly. Doctor Peter Horn had gone missing a month ago, lost in Above. It wasn't unusual for Dr Horn to be gone for months at a time, but he'd promised to stay in touch with Clare during his latest expedition. Something must have happened to him, and nobody seemed to care. The authorities Above refused to even glance in the direction he'd gone and the authorities Below decided it was outside their jurisdiction. The scholar sat in silence for a few more minutes, before suddenly leaning forward and snatching up her pen. She scribbled in determination, before putting her pen aside and letting out a sigh of defeat. It had to be done.
Within a week, Clare had gathered the expedition team she needed to follow Dr Horn. She wouldn't make the same mistake he did, however - her group was far larger, to begin with, and consisted of more than just colleagues and bounty hunters from Below. It was a strange group, certainly, but Clare was now filled with hope. After a quick journey to Above, the team set out in a convoy of carriages to the Lost Lands. It was difficult for her to find directions or a guide, and she was shocked by everyone's reaction when she explained where they were going. It would seem the Lost Lands were unanimously avoided by all the races Above as no one who ever entered came out again. Clare tried to not let these rumours disturb her - surely it was more likely that the terrain was too difficult for early explorers to bother with. After days of travel far beyond even the valley of the Kirin, they finally arrived to the edge of the Lost Lands.
Upon arrival, Clare was shocked by the terrain they were greeted with. Beautiful rolling plains stretched out in front of them, with thin pine forests to their left and enchanting fields of wildflowers to their right. Clasping her hands together in determination, Clare turned to beam happily at her team.
"We've finally arrived, but there's no telling where Dr Horn would have gone - he was never one to be predictable," She added with a sigh. "So, let's split into groups to cover more ground. Let me know which way you're headed, and we'll meet back here before nightfall, got it?"
She paused for a moment, her gaze lingering on some of the younger university students that had come along.
"And if anything - anything - goes wrong, get a magic user to send up a flare and come find me. Do you understand? Do not travel far and do not take risks. Find me."
Surely if they took it slow and safe, they wouldn't go missing like the first expedition. Right?
