“Sir, did you summon me?” the Kevin voice excitedly reported after eagerly rushing to the front of the long train of people trudging through the barren, rocky terrain.

  “Yes,” we sullenly replied. “Thank you, Kevin. I need your input on something.”

  “Anything, sir!” the chipper young man enthusiastically exclaimed.

  Lifting an eyebrow at his open ended offer, we can’t help but see the far younger, more trusting version of ourselves reflected back in his far too eager energy. If we do fail, then perhaps this next generation can still succeed on the path that we’ve pioneered? No, that’s not right. We won’t fail. We can’t. We refuse.

  “The elder has confirmed all our interpretations of the book,” we hesitantly explained, a long lived exhaustion nearly conquering our ability to speak at the mention of that damnable man.

  The other team members in line cock their heads at the mention of him, eager to overhear any little details that may spill out from conversation.

  “That means that the deep penetration experiment into Anatoly’s domain is approved. However, …”

  “You need a volunteer to pierce the veil?”

  “Yes,” we lethargically confirmed, half rings of darkness resting beneath our tired eyes and sagging our skin down due to the immense weight of everything. “An incredibly dangerous responsibility, but also a necessary one.”

  “Of course, sir. I’ll do it!”

  “Kevin, no. That is not how this works. Never, ever accept a deal without fully understanding the consequences. No matter what is offered. The role must be explained first.”

  “No, I don’t think so, sir. I trust you. We all do. I’m sure that anyone here would volunteer for this without a second thought.”

  “Not me!” the Brian voice shouted from the other end of the baggage train. “Those bullet points were terrifying. Ethereal disentanglulation? Do we even actually know what that means?”

  “Shut up, Brian!”

  Gritting our teeth, we angrily push down the building rage. It’s not their fault. This isn’t directed at them. However, it still feels as though the slightest agitation may cause us to explode. We can’t allow it to be aimed at the team. Have to keep it together until after the mission. It’s too important.

  “He is not incorrect, Kevin,” we declared, barely managing to keep the dour tone away from our careful instruction. “And no, we do not. We can only trust in Richter’s long and careful research. That is, until we perform the experiment for ourselves. Keep that in mind.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “The proposed defenses are experimental. The proposed treatment for failure is experimental. The proposed means of execution is experimental. It can’t be emphasized enough just how many unknowns there are here. Almost every single detail of the plan. Such is the nature of that… place.”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “Of course, sir. Risk taking is my thing! You’ll see. I’ve somehow always managed to come out on top before. Only the occasional bumps and scrapes. That’s why you picked me, isn’t it?”

  Our shoulders slump, our stomach sinks. Why is he making this so difficult? It’d be so much easier if he hated us. Resented us. Distrusted us. If I had to overpower and force him to reluctantly do my will. Why must they all believe in us so blindly? Like little puppies incompetently searching for their lost parents. This world is dangerous. The people here are dangerous. We are dangerous!

  “No, I picked you because of your thoroughness and attention to detail. That is what the team needs for this role. With enough luck, you will truly become that brave hero that all the pubs keep singing about. The one that brings us all home.”

  Cringing at our usage of the guild’s cruel wording, we can feel the unspent acids in our stomach welling up. However, it’s what works. They use these stupid lies on the travellers because it works. Long, long ago, it also worked on this wretched, old soul as well. All must be born through the fire of lies before attaining any real height on the ladder. Such is its nature.

  “Sir, you flatter me. I’ll do it!”

  “Ugh,” we accidentally sighed out in frustration, briefly slipping character. “Right, I won’t need a real commitment until after we get back and finish the detailed planning. Simply consider this a formal request to join in the upcoming research, verification, and acceptance protocol meetings.”

  “Of course, sir. I’ll be there on time and eager to learn!”

  “Dismissed.”

  The willowy young man enthusiastically raced back to his place in the line. So much excess energy, ready for any surprise. Maybe our doubt is wrong. Maybe he really can succeed?

  “Good show, sir,” a short, burly man studiously stated, marching up beside us. “The team needs exactly that sort of brilliant leadership.”

  Struggling to suppress the reflexive lift of our lip in disgust, I look the appalling liar directly in the eyes, spitting an invisible, electric intensity his way.

  “Of course, sergeant. That is why I am here. Leadership. Removing obstacles. Identifying threats.“

  “Certainly, sir! And count on me to take care of all those pesky, little details. No need to stress or worry. You did say that the mission is definitely a go, sir?”

  “I suppose that conversation was not exactly a private meeting out here in the deep wilds. Yes, it is.”

  “Certainly not, sir. Even all the little goblins out there may now know of your plans. Ha! What a thought.”

  Liar! We religiously preach and warn of the importance of carefully trusting so often. Then how did I ever allow this vile perjurer onto the team? Guild rat. Tool of the beast! It’s much too late to remove him without the tower’s adamant objection. I can’t lose their support. Without them, attempting even a small part of this mission is impossible.

  “Quite possibly, yes. Although those insignificant things are hardly a concern to a team of our caliber. After all, I have trained them to be very good at removing pests.”

  “Only Linus the Infinite would speak of the goblin scourge as simple pests! Ha!”

  The entire team laughed at his calculated, conniving comment. Laughed! We can’t allow them to support him any more than this. We can’t risk him betraying the team at our weakest moment. We can’t allow that! We must protect them.

  But how? We can’t say too much, or he’ll know. Therefore, the guild will know. The team is far too naive to properly keep its mouth shut. Unless I’m carefully selective on the exact details of what the elder told us? If we’re very, very careful to control how they interpret it, then maybe it can work. The team must be set in a particular direction, not necessarily told exactly what they’re looking for.

  No, no, how can that work? That order won’t make any sense to anyone willing to take the deal. They’ll instantly reject it. The silly, stupid puppies will swarm straight back to my side to support our madness. To their vicious, terrible, abomination of a master.

  “Infinite or not, let us return to wilds discipline. We have allowed this disorder on the line long enough. March!”