Chapter 171 - 166: Preparations Begin
The next morning arrived with a cool breeze drifting through the open windows of the Silver Stag.
John woke before sunrise.
For a few moments, he remained lying on the bed, staring at the wooden ceiling.
His decision had been made.
He would join the expedition to the Ashen Peaks.
Not because he was chasing adventure.
Not because he hoped to find treasure.
But because every clue surrounding the Dragon Kings pointed in the same direction.
The mountains were no longer just another destination.
They were the next step in his journey.
---
After getting dressed, John quietly picked up his research journal.
Before leaving his room, he opened it to a fresh page.
He dipped Miriam’s fountain pen into the blue ink and began writing.
**Research Journal**
**Day Five – Valenor**
*I have decided to join the Royal Exploration Guild’s expedition.*
*This decision isn’t based on curiosity alone.*
*If the records are correct, the Ashen Peaks may contain answers that no surviving book can provide.*
*Master Aldric once said that history is never truly finished.*
*Perhaps the missing pages of history are waiting to be found there.*
He paused for a moment before adding another sentence.
*No matter what I discover... I must remember why I started this journey.*
Satisfied, he closed the journal and slipped it into his satchel.
---
Downstairs, the common room was quieter than usual.
Only a few merchants were eating breakfast before beginning their travels.
Roland looked up from behind the counter.
"Morning."
"Morning."
John replied.
"You’re up early."
"I couldn’t sleep much."
Roland chuckled knowingly.
"Thinking about the expedition?"
John looked surprised.
"How did you know?"
The innkeeper poured him a cup of warm tea.
"The whole Scholar’s District is talking about it."
John accepted the cup.
"So the news has already spread."
"It always does."
Roland said.
"Though nobody seems to know exactly what they’re searching for."
John smiled faintly.
"Neither do I."
---
A few minutes later, Lythriel came downstairs, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
She immediately noticed John already eating breakfast.
"You started without me."
John laughed.
"I’ve been awake for almost an hour."
"That’s unfair."
She muttered as she sat beside him.
Shortly afterward, Sylvara and Aerion joined them.
Once everyone had finished eating, John looked around the table.
"I’ve made my decision."
Lythriel grinned.
"We know."
John blinked.
"You do?"
She nodded confidently.
"You had that look."
"What look?"
"The one you get whenever you’ve already made up your mind."
Sylvara giggled.
"She isn’t wrong."
Even Aerion gave a small nod.
John sighed with a smile.
"I suppose I’m easier to read than I thought."
---
"I’ll accept Master Aldric’s offer."
He said.
"I’ll join the expedition."
No one looked surprised.
Instead...
Lythriel simply extended her hand across the table.
"Then let’s make sure we all come back safely."
John smiled and clasped her hand.
"Agreed."
Sylvara placed her hand on top of theirs.
"So do I."
Aerion looked at the three of them for a second before quietly adding his own hand.
"For knowledge."
Lythriel laughed.
"For survival."
John added.
"For both."
The four of them shared a brief laugh before letting go.
---
Later that morning, John returned to the Royal Library.
As he entered the archive wing, Elena greeted him with her usual warm smile.
"Good morning."
"Master Aldric has been expecting you."
"I have an answer for him."
"I thought you might."
She led him through the familiar corridors.
John noticed he no longer felt nervous walking through the restricted section.
Only a few days ago, everything here had seemed intimidating.
Now...
It felt almost welcoming.
---
Aldric was arranging several scroll cases when John entered.
Without looking up, he spoke.
"You’ve decided."
John smiled.
"Was it that obvious?"
The old scholar chuckled.
"I’ve lived long enough to recognize determined footsteps."
John bowed his head respectfully.
"I’d like to accept your recommendation."
"I’ll join the expedition."
For a moment...
Aldric simply looked at him.
Then a gentle smile spread across the elderly scholar’s face.
"I’m pleased."
"I believe you’ve made the right choice."
---
Miriam entered from the adjoining restoration room carrying a neatly wrapped bundle.
"So."
"Our young assistant is becoming an explorer."
John scratched the back of his neck.
"I suppose I am."
She handed him the bundle.
"Then you’ll need this."
John carefully unwrapped the cloth.
Inside was a sturdy leather satchel.
Unlike his current travel bag, this one contained numerous padded compartments designed to protect fragile items.
There were loops for rolled maps.
Small pockets for ink bottles.
A waterproof inner lining.
And reinforced straps.
John looked genuinely surprised.
"This is..."
"An archivist’s field satchel."
Miriam finished.
"It has accompanied three expeditions."
"It’s old."
"But reliable."
John gently ran a hand across the worn leather.
The satchel bore countless tiny scratches and signs of careful repairs.
It had clearly traveled far.
"I can’t accept something this valuable."
"You can."
Miriam said firmly.
"It isn’t doing anyone any good sitting in storage."
She smiled softly.
"I’d rather see it used again."
John bowed respectfully.
"Thank you."
"I’ll take good care of it."
"I know you will."
---
Aldric walked toward one of the cabinets and removed a rolled map tied with a crimson ribbon.
"This is a preliminary survey of the Ashen Peaks."
He spread it across the table.
Unlike the faded ancient maps, this one had been drawn only a few months earlier.
Mountain trails.
River crossings.
Campsites.
Known monster territories.
Everything had been carefully marked.
John studied it closely.
"There are only two routes."
"Correct."
Aldric replied.
"The western trail is longer but safer."
"The eastern pass is shorter..."
"But prone to rockslides."
John nodded thoughtfully.
"The expedition will probably choose the western route."
"Exactly."
Miriam pointed toward a valley near the center of the map.
"The newly discovered ruins are somewhere here."
The location had been circled in red ink.
"It isn’t precise."
John observed.
"It can’t be."
Aldric answered.
"No one has reached the site yet."
---
John carefully memorized the terrain.
Years of hunting in the forests around Greenhollow had taught him the importance of understanding the land before entering it.
Mountain travel would be completely different.
Steep cliffs.
Narrow passes.
Limited escape routes.
He would need to be cautious.
Very cautious.
---
Aldric rolled the map closed once more.
"The expedition departs in four days."
"Until then..."
He looked toward John.
"You’ll continue your lessons."
"But we’ll also begin preparing you for field research."
John’s curiosity grew.
"What does that involve?"
The old scholar smiled.
"Tomorrow..."
"You’ll learn how to document ruins without damaging them."
Miriam added,
"And how to identify artifacts without touching them."
John blinked.
"Without touching them?"
She nodded.
"The greatest mistake inexperienced explorers make..."
"...is picking everything up."
John laughed.
"I suppose that’s a bad habit."
"It can destroy centuries of history."
She replied.
"So we’ll make sure you don’t."
---
As the morning sunlight illuminated the archive office, John looked at the worn leather satchel resting beside his new journal.
Just a week ago...
He had been wandering from town to town with little more than his instincts.
Now...
He carried the tools of a historian.
An archivist.
A researcher.
His journey was changing in ways he had never expected.
Outside the Royal Library, unnoticed by anyone inside, a messenger carrying the crest of the Royal Exploration Guild hurried through the streets.
In his satchel were the finalized expedition rosters.
One of the newest names added that morning read:
**John Davis — Royal Library Research Assistant.**
In another part of Valenor, Darius Voss quietly smiled as he received the same roster through his own connections.
"So..."
He murmured.
"We really will be traveling together."
The mountains were waiting.
And with each passing day...
The distance between those seeking the truth grew shorter.
---
100 ps = 1 extra Chapter
200 ps = 2 Extra Chapter
1 Golden ticket = 3 Extra Chapter