Nightmare World.
Human Race.
The Human Race Kingdom bordered the territories of the Orcs, Elves, and Undead to the east, west, and north.
Its southern border, however, lay at the very edge of the Nightmare World.
There was nothing here but a vast, desolate desert.
If you crossed the desert and continued onward, you would see that it ended in a stretch of void, with a bottomless abyss beneath your feet.
That day.
The southern border.
Night.
Inside the barracks.
Two soldiers stealthily climbed over a courtyard wall and landed softly inside the barracks' mess compound.
"Did anyone see you?"
"No, they're all asleep."
"Hurry-that batch of liquor is hidden in the second cupboard. There are only two bottles left, one for each of us. Once we've finished, we need to get straight back to duty."
"What's the rush? I saw the head cook secretly stash a big package of butter in the bakery!"
The sound of swallowing rang out twice.
A short while later.
The mess hall door opened gently.
Two figures slipped inside.
The sound of corks being pulled was so insignificant, and muffled by the tightly shut door, that it became even fainter, almost inaudible.
Time slowly passed.
The night deepened.
The door opened again.
Two figures crept out of the mess hall, closed the door, and made to climb over the wall.
"Wait."
"Wait for what? It's already late. Hurry back to patrol-if the captain catches us, we'll get another whipping."
Before he could finish, he let out several drunken hiccups in succession.
The other man also slurred:
"No-my good brother, look over there."
"Where?"
Together, they looked toward the iron gate opposite the mess hall.
Indistinct figures moved beyond it, as though many people were walking back and forth.
"Those damned desert lowlifes! While their