Sofia stood across the street from the Buchanan residence, studying the house through a pair of small binoculars, and it was impressive. Three acres of perfectly maintained grounds, a modern architectural masterpiece of glass and stone, the kind of place that screamed wealth and success.

“She’s not here,” Dane said beside her. He’d just returned from circling the property.

“I talked to the groundskeeper. Mrs. Buchanan left early this morning. Headed to the airport.”

“Damn.” Sofia lowered the binoculars.

“It seems we are late; she had already left for the Kreeshan Valley.”

“Kreeshan,” Sofia said, her heart sinking.

They retreated to a coffee shop two blocks away to regroup. Dane ordered tea while Sofia pulled out a battered tablet and started searching.

“Kreeshan Valley,” she muttered, typing.

“Kreeshan Valley archaeological survey. Martha Buchanan Kreeshan…”

Search results populated the screen. Academic papers. University announcements. A brief news article about a research grant.

“Here,” Sofia said.

“Kharsen University Department of Archaeology announces major expedition to Kreeshan Valley sites in the Greenrave Isles. Led by Dr. Martha Buchanan.”

“Greenrave Isles,” Dane said.

“That’s what, two thousand miles south?”

“Twenty-one hundred. Across the Paesifa Sea.” Sofia scrolled through more results.

“There’s a commercial flight twice a day from Kharsen to Port on the main island. From there, it’s overland travel to the valley sites.”

“Do we have money for tickets?”

Sofia checked the resistance emergency fund on her tablet. The balance made her wince.

“We have enough for two one-way tickets. Barely. We’d be stuck there unless we can find work or convince Buchanan to help us get back.”

Dane sipped his tea, thinking. “If we go, we’re committed. No backup plan. No easy escape if things go wrong.”

“Things are already wrong,” Sofia pointed out.

“The witch squads are actively hunting resistance cells. Corrin is probably dead or captured by now. We can’t stay in Kharsen. So we either run somewhere and hide, or we go after Buchanan and actually try to accomplish something.”

“Fair point.” Dane set down his cup.

“Book the tickets. Next available flight.”

Sofia worked the tablet for a few minutes, navigating through booking sites and payment systems. “Done. We leave in four hours.”

They spent the remaining time gathering what few supplies they had stashed around the city. A change of clothes each. Some preserved food. Basic camping gear. Everything had to fit in two small backpacks. Traveling light was essential.

The flight to Greenrave took six hours. Sofia and Dane sat in the back of the aircraft, trying not to draw attention. Every time someone in a uniform passed by, Sofia’s hand moved, as if she were ready to fight.

But the flight was uneventful. Just another pair of passengers among hundreds.

Port Greenrave was smaller than Kharsen but still substantial. A coastal city built around a deep-water harbor, with fishing fleets and cargo ships crowding the docks. The architecture was different here, more influenced by tropical weather patterns. Buildings were designed to catch ocean breezes, with wide balconies and slanted roofs for rain runoff.

From the airport, they took a bus to the edge of the city and then hired a transport to Kreeshan Valley. The driver was a man in his fifties who asked no questions and drove with steady competence along winding roads that climbed into volcanic highlands.

As they traveled, the landscape changed. Coastal plains gave way to forested hills, which gave way to rocky slopes dotted with strange vegetation. The valley itself was a massive geological scar, a rift on the surface that stretched for miles.

They travelled for a couple hours, and going around the hills, they found it.

From the rim, Sofia could see the excavation sites below. White tents, equipment, and small figures moving with purpose.

“That’s as far as I go,” the driver said, stopping at a lookout point.

“The dig sites are another three miles down that trail. You sure you want to walk it?”

“We’re sure,” Sofia said, paying him.

They shouldered their packs and started down the trail. It was steep and rocky, winding back and forth down the valley wall.

While they were walking down, Sofia asked, “How should we approach her? Do you think we can trust her?”

“As much as I heard about her, I can tell that she is a differnet person. And im sure she will not report us to the witch council.”

“How are you so sure about it?”

“She had gotten in a lot of trouble with the Witch Council for not reporting on dig sites. She had done her own individual research, leading her to become a known personality in the media. Her wife, Kate Buchanan, was the one who helped her whenever she was in trouble.”

“But this is different.”

“I know.”

“That’s why we should tell her the truth and show what we have. I’m sure she will believe us, as the person who is searching for truth.”

By the time they reached the bottom, both of them were sweating despite the cooler temperature at this altitude.

The excavation camp was larger than it had looked from above. A dozen tents arranged around a central work area. Tables covered with tools, maps, and specimen containers. A generator humming in the background, powering lights and equipment.

And there, standing at one of the tables examining something under a magnifying lens, was Martha Buchanan.

She looked exactly like her photograph. Blonde hair pulled back. Field clothes covered in dust. Completely absorbed in her work.

Sofia and Dane approached slowly, not wanting to startle her.

“Dr. Buchanan?” Sofia called out when they were about twenty feet away.

Martha looked up, surprised. Her eyes moved from Sofia to Dane and back again, taking in their travel-worn appearance and heavy packs.

“Can I help you?” she asked. Her tone was polite but cautious.

“We need to talk to you,” Sofia said.

“It’s important. It’s about what you’re digging for. About the Rupture.”

Martha set down her magnifying lens.

“I’m sorry, who are you? This is a restricted research site. How did you even get here?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep