Framework of the Frontier, Sain Artwell [read me a book .TXT] 📗

experience? If a conversation did this to her, is hand holding going to implode her brain? Maybe she needs a little while to figure it out.

William didn’t want to push it and risk making Ember uncomfortable.

“It was nice meeting you mister Ranger.” Nevija’s tail brushed his butt as she traipsed by. “I do hope that us acting like scaredy cats didn’t leave the wrong first impression.”

“No, well, it wasn’t the best impression, but I understand…” From what little William had skimmed off of the Ranger’s rulebook that morning, it wasn’t illegal for adventurers to leave others behind so long as a draft was not called. Even then, the thought of demanding others to risk their lives for strangers was not something William was comfortable with yet — if ever. “I’ve seen my fair share of situations where running away would’ve been the smart move.”

“Bye-bye mister Ranger. Thank you for saving us.” Raia caressed his arm in passing, shooting him the same sultry stare as her companion.

William cleared his throat. “Yep. See ya.”

The kitties waved until their ears vanished in the mediterranean shrubbery, which sprouted wild amongst the pale boulders dotting the rocky seaside cliff. Before leaving the train tracks behind, William helped Trotto remove the chimera corpse from the broken trees. Luckily, the troll was kind enough to haul it for him.

Down hill, the steep decline became a sheer drop. The coast was a scribbly mess of porous caverns, wave-sculpted ruins teetering precariously over the sea, and pearly beaches washed by rowdy waves. From up high where they stood, William could see the remnants of an ancient city continue beneath the turquoise ebb of the sea, overgrown by algae and coral.

A breeze balanced the hot noon sun perfectly. The salty air was to the earthly scent of the Frontier’s shrubland what cheese was to olives. Colorful bugs and teensy birds zipped between the brambled branches of succulents and stunted fir.

Cursed Frontier my ass. This place is a paradise

William’s gaze glazed. A trio of large black birds soared over the mountains in the distance. Free and majestic.

“William, this way.” Ember pulled his tunic. A sight of her detached him from the enchanting vistas.

“How is this place not inhabited?” he asked, ”Sure, there’s chimeras and monsters, but couldn’t the Nibirian Empire send an army to swipe it clean?”

“Maybe? I think they need the soldiers for actual wars. Also, there’s more here than magical beasts and traps. Biggest problem is the soil. It’s been cursed by magical items left behind and causes most of the plants to carry corrupted magic or even curses. Enough colonies have been wiped out over the years to make anyone think twice about making a home in the Frontier. It’s mostly adventurers who come here looking for that once in a lifetime discovery like the one that Letter King found.”

“A shame. It’s a nice place.”

“It is,” Ember agreed.

William noticed Orien’s gang heading the opposite way from Nevija, backtracking the rails. “Wait, we’re going that way?”

“Nastall is this way.” Orien glanced over her shoulder. “Those cunts must be heading to Ur’liuh or some secret camp. Lotsa adventuring bands like to set up their own hideouts, ‘cos you can’t trust strangers not to stab you in your sleep. There’s no law out here aside from what your strength can carve.”

“Were no laws. We have a new Ranger in town.” Trotto reminded his triton lover as he schlepped the chimera on top of two dead trunks. William would need to thank the guy later, perhaps buy him a beer or a barrel in whatever passed for a bar in this town.

“That’s the main reason why I didn’t dare to come here before. A lawless town is not the best place for lone travelers.” Ember laughed nervously.

William stared at her with an inquisitive grin. “Right, you’re here for an expedition… Let me guess. Some amazing archeological discoveries to save the world? Or a way to cure the Cursed Frontier? It has to be something fluffy and wholesome.”

“No such thing. I’m not so noble.” Blush returned to her. This time with a shade of shame. Ember kicked lichen with her hoof, pursing her lips in a disappointed frown. “I’m nothing but another greedy loser who couldn’t face reality, made big boasts, and staked it all on finding a genie. If I fail here now, I’d never dare to show my face back home anymore.”

“Genie huh?” William scratched his growing stubble.

Ember hurried to correct herself. “Sorry. That’s a metaphor. I didn’t mean a literal genie, but something as rare. Haha, I wouldn’t mind finding a genie either though!”

“Right. Heh, never would’ve taken you for one to get into trouble with boasts. I mean no offense, you just give off this kinda ‘responsible and humble aura’.”

She hid her panicked giggle-snort behind a palm. “Ah-he-he, stop. Please don’t praise me. I’m not! Nothing like that.” Ember twirled a dirty golden lock of her hair around a finger, biting her lips as she struggled to stifle her fading grin. “Every girl has their buttons you know. Some people at Adamant Archives knew mine. When I failed to requisition the funds for a research mission here they made fun of me, and dumb old me went and swore that I’d go by myself if I had to — that I wasn’t the weakling they knew and that I’d prove I was right for once.”

Ember pulled down on her ears. “Sooo embarrassing…”

William rubbed her shoulder. “Hey, that’s not too bad. At least you’re owning it. You know, I quit my graphic design degree when juggling work and school got too much. I didn’t dare to take more loan for it when everyone back home told me it was a useless shit degree. I don’t know why I believed them. It was actually a really good job, but my folks were just… backwards as