It happened a week later, that important news spread through the city like wildfire.
The ancient ruin of the Tehr was found in the southern jungle!
After five years without any update on the situation, this was precious information, attracting the attention of countless people among the populace. Corwyn was also one of them. Having not heard anything from his father for five years, he was dying to know what they had discovered. Therefore, he was one of the many people going to the plaza at noon, where a public explanation of the information was supposed to be held today.
The big plaza in the middle of the city looked exactly like it always had, except there was now a big stage built next to the fountain, surrounded by various guards. More and more people from all five districts were pouring in the closer it got to the event time. Amidst the crowd, Corwyn found Teo and his father, Ganrik, and joined them in waiting for the event to start. Ganrik smiled at him while greeting him.
"Hey, it's been a while! How have you been Corwyn?"
Corwyn also smiled and replied:
"It has indeed been a while, uncle! I'm managing just fine, what about you?"
"Oh, you don't have to worry about me! Business is going just fine, and Teophaistos brings some salary home from time to time too, so we have nothing to complain about."
Ganrik worked as a tailor at a well-known clothes-shop. He and his wife Lyria had looked after Corwyn when he was without his father, and he felt deep gratitude towards them.
"I hope they will start soon. Can't wait to hear what they discovered down there. Although, that's rather secondary to you, isn't it, Corwyn?"
Both Ganrik and Teo grinned at him. Teo coughed awkwardly before answering.
"Well of course I'm also curious about what they might have discovered down there in the jungle. It is a remnant of the legendary Tehr after all. But to me, how father is doing has top priority, no matter what the news is!"
The Tehr were a race that lived together with humanity for a long time on Hadika. It was said that they could manipulate Arcor in large quantities, and also taught humans how to use it. Most of today's inventions like the golems were created by them, and they had guided humanity to prosperity for centuries.
However, about a hundred years ago, they suddenly vanished, leaving nothing but their achievements behind. No history book contained the reason for their disappearance, and nearly no information was passed down from the previous generations as well. The disappearance of the Tehr remained a mystery, even to this day.
Soon after, the desert began to suddenly expand. Old water sources began to suddenly dry up, making many old settlements fall due to the danger of dying of thirst. Arcor-wells became the key to survival in the merciless desert, and due to there being only a limited number of them across the desert continent, a big civil war erupted.
Eventually, the old Desert Kingdom which prospered for centuries collapsed, leading to the foundation of city-states built around the wells. The population shrank and shrank until it reached the current level, and the governments of the cities gained absolute power over the citizens, since leaving the city meant almost certain death in the desert.
Any clues towards the Tehr were therefore highly sought, since they might contain information about their disappearance.
Corwyn continued to chat with the two, until they were interrupted by a gong, and a large group of people made their entrance from the nobles' district. Amongst them were the mayor of the city, various patriarchs, some merchants, and a group of adventurers. They slowly made their way through the crowd, towards the stage. Tumult was going through the crowd, everyone looked towards that group with expectation in their eyes.
Finally, they went onto the stage, and after a gesture from the mayor, the spectators immediately quieted down. Only after the plaza was encased in silence, began the mayor to speak.
"Dear citizens, it pleases me to see that so many of you came to see today's event! You all probably already know what this is all about. It was five years ago that we sent an expedition party into the south, investigating clues about a ruin belonging to the legendary Tehr. Now, some of them returned, eager to tell us what they have discovered. So, I shall let you wait no longer, and give them the stage!"
Having finished his speech, he took a step backwards, giving the stage to the leader of the adventurers. The leader was a tall man with loose, brown hair. He wore a simple, grey tunic, but his muscular build could be seen through it. At first, he let his gaze wander over the crowd, then he began speaking in a deep, proud voice.
"Dear citizens, I'm grateful for your presence. My name is Rogar, and I am the leader of the scout and messenger squad from our expedition party. A year ago, after a long time of an exhausting search, we finally discovered the ancient ruins everyone has only heard rumors about before!"
In response to his initial speech, the audience applauded loudly, some people whistled in appreciation. Rogar waited for them to calm down before he continued.
"My companions and I were sent back here to deliver this news, as well as to inform you all of our current situation. Please listen to what I have to say attentively!"
That last sentence left Corwyn puzzled. From Rogar's tone, it sounded like he didn't only bring good news, but bad ones as well. However, it wouldn't do Corwyn any good to speculate before hearing Rogar out, so he sharpened his ears and focused on the man on the stage, awaiting his words.
"Unfortunately, we haven't found the ruins without quite a number of casualties. Be it the desert, bandits or the wild, dangerous beasts in the jungle, many of our men have fallen victim to them. We found the ruins after staying more than 2 years in the jungle, and our number had shrunken quite a bit. Right before we prepared to send our first scouts into the ruins, we were ambushed by local inhabitants. They were fewer in number, but they knew how to utilize the terrain well, and in the overgrown jungle, there was no cover for us. In desperation, our party leader decided to enter the ruins in order to find cover, but before he did so, he sent us back in order to ensure the information of our discovery would reach this city. Luckily, we made it out successfully, and somehow got back all the way here, to tell all of you what has happened!"
At those words, Corwyn's heart leaped into his throat. He waited for news about the whereabouts of his father for so long, and now he had to learn that there was no guarantee he was still alive right now. With an anxious expression, he turned his head to look at Teo and Ganrik. Their faces were grim as well. Teo shot him a worried glance every now and then.
"Sadly, we don't have any information about what happened to the expedition after they entered the ruins. But we definitely won't let their efforts be in vain. I will form a second expedition party, in order to go back to the ruins and investigate what has happened to them. We will head out in one week, so anyone who wants to join has to notify us until then. I hope that there are some adventurous folks here who want to support us in this mission!"
This time, the audience cheered even louder. Several people declared their support and intention to join the expedition.
"Well then, this is all I have to say for now. For more details, come to our base and talk with us. We will explain our plans as detailed as possible to anyone who is interested."
After that sentence, he turned around and left the stage, followed by his companions. The mayor addressed the crowd once again, but Corwyn wasn't in the mood to listen to him. He pondered about what he had just heard, and what he should do now.
His father might be lost in the jungle or even might be dead. That realization weighed heavily on Corwyn's mind. He managed the smithy to this day in hope that his father would return one day. But now, this hope felt like a distant dream. He shivered at the thought of his father never coming back.
"...Corwyn? Corwyn, are you alright?"
It took him a moment to realize that he was the one being talked to, and he abruptly turned his head to the right. Teo was calling him, his worry evident on his face. Ganrik too looked at him with a concerned expression. But Corwyn couldn't express what he felt right now, so he just said "I'm sorry, I need to go..." and spun around, walking home at a fast pace. Right now, he just wanted to be alone and digest the vast amount of thoughts going through his head.
Teo called out to him, but he ignored it. He passed by various people in the plaza, bumping into some passer-byes occasionally. However, he wasn't bothered by that right now. He ran through the streets, finally reached his house, and immediately closed the door behind him. Then, Corwyn laid down on the bed, tears flowing down his face. At this moment, he felt utterly lost at what to do, and could only drown his sorrow in his pillow.
Just a mere week ago, he was determined to keep believing in his father's return, never giving up on him, but now, that confidence had vanished from his mind. At present, he felt like the longer he stayed here in this house and waited for him, the more it would eat up his heart from the inside. He had given his all in the management of this smithy and the improvement of his skills these past five years, in the hope of welcoming his father back one day and showing him what he had achieved. However, it was all meaningless now.
Corwyn continued to cry. He cried all afternoon, releasing his pent-up emotions he held back for so long. By the time he had calmed down, it was already nightfall. Corwyn was still lying on his bed, facing the ceiling of the forge. Up there, he could see the same nostalgic stone, covered in smut from the smoke, that he saw every day. This was the place he lived in, that he protected with his blood and sweat, but now that he knew that his father would maybe never come back, could he still remain here like nothing ever happened?
His thoughts ineluctably went to the jungle in the south, and what was hidden inside there. Corwyn never left Quorin, so he had no idea how the outside world looked like. The same must have been true for his father until five years ago. What did his father see out there? What did he feel? Such questions entered his mind unhinderedly, raising the curiosity in his heart. He suddenly wanted to see the outside world. He wanted to see what lay beyond the desert, what secrets were hidden there.
Corwyn sighed at those desires of his, growing stronger by the minute. He wanted to go, really badly even. At this very moment, there was an expedition party recruiting members, which could bring him there. But leaving the city meant leaving behind all those things that were precious to him. This forge, the legacy his father left behind for him. Teo and his parents, who were dear friends of his, even close to family. And the business he so painstakingly built up, the very reason his father had to leave him back then.
Conflicting desires rose within Corwyn's heart. One pressed him to leave, the other urged him to stay. He rolled around in bed, over and over, in an attempt to solve this conflict. But no matter what option he chose, he couldn't make up his mind if it was the correct decision.
After rolling around for a good 20 minutes, he finally calmed down, having reached an inner agreement with himself. Thinking this over rationally would get him nowhere. In this situation, he should follow the way his heart desired most.
Corwyn took in a deep breath, exhaled, and deep within his inner self, he made a decision.
The next morning, Corwyn went over to the military district, like he had done so often. But this time, his aim was not the training grounds, but a certain building in the eastern corner of the district. It soon came in sight. In front of him lay a two-story building, with green flags, hung upon the wall, fluttering in the morning breeze. Multiple tables were visible through the open double doors, used by various people, immersed in their discussions.
Corwyn entered the building with firm steps, and shouted:
"Is this the base of the expedition party?"