The moon hung low over Grin Hollow, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. Most of the city’s inhabitants were asleep, save for a few night owls at *The Laughing Skull* and one nervous young scholar working late by candlelight.

  In the heart of the Academy of Science, Mervin hunched over a cluttered desk, surrounded by maps, charts, and prototypes of his latest gadgets. His bags were already packed, stacked neatly in the corner, but sleep eluded him. Tomorrow, he would embark on a journey to the edges of the world—a venture both thrilling and terrifying.

  The sudden knock at the door made him jump, nearly upsetting an inkpot. "Who’s there?" he called, his voice betraying his unease.

  The door creaked open, revealing two familiar figures. Potabeau strode in first, his usual grin plastered across his face, followed by Azrath, who looked as stoic as ever but carried a faint air of weariness. Both were covered in the dust of travel, their cloaks weathered by wind and salty air.

  "Evening, Mervin," Potabeau said cheerfully, plucking an apple from a nearby bowl and tossing it in the air. "You weren’t planning on leaving without saying goodbye, were you?"

  Mervin blinked, staring at them as if they were ghosts. "Master Azrath? Potabeau? What are you doing here? I thought you were still near the coast, building your new city!"

  Azrath stepped forward, resting his staff against the wall. "We were. But when we heard about your expedition—and the breakthroughs you’ve made—we decided it was time to return, if only briefly. Grin Hollow has changed in ways we couldn’t have imagined, and much of that is thanks to you."

  Mervin’s cheeks flushed with a mix of pride and embarrassment. "I’ve just been... continuing what you started, Master."

  Potabeau plopped into a chair, kicking his feet up onto a nearby crate. "Nonsense. You’ve taken it further than we ever could. Animatonics? Skeleton engineers? Don’t even get me started on that mechanical raven of yours—genius work, by the way. I’ve seen it scare off crows twice its size my whole way through campus."

  Mervin fidgeted with his glasses, unsure how to respond. "Thank you. That means a lot, especially coming from you two. But... do you really think I’m ready for this journey? What if I fail? What if I can’t prove the world is spherical?"

  Azrath approached the desk, placing a firm hand on Mervin’s shoulder. "Every great discovery comes with risk. Failure is always a possibility, but so is success. The fact that you’re willing to try—willing to leave the safety of what you know—that is what makes you ready."

  Potabeau leaned forward, his grin softening into something more genuine. "And besides, Merv, even if you do fail, you’ll have some great stories to tell. Trust me, half the fun is in the ridiculous mishaps along the way."

  Mervin couldn’t help but smile at that. "Like the Bone Wagon?"

  Potabeau threw his head back and laughed. "Exactly! See, you get it!"

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Azrath let out a quiet sigh, though there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. "What Potabeau is trying to say, in his own roundabout way, is that we believe in you. And more importantly, Grin Hollow believes in you. You’ve already proven that you’re capable of great things."

  Mervin nodded, his confidence bolstered by their words. "Thank you. I won’t let you down."

  Azrath stepped back, his expression softening. "You’ve never let me down, Mervin. And I have no doubt you’ll make discoveries that will change the way we see the world."

  Potabeau clapped his hands and stood. "Alright, enough of the heartfelt speeches. We’ve got a big day tomorrow—well, you’ve got a big day. Az and I are just here to cheer you on and maybe steal some of Lilacs’s snacks before we head out again."

  Mervin laughed, the tension in his chest easing. "I think she’d notice if you raided her pantry."

  "Not if I’m quick about it," Potabeau said with a wink.

  As the three of them shared a rare moment of camaraderie, the candle on Mervin’s desk flickered, casting their shadows across the room. The young scholar no longer felt the weight of the world.

  The following day, Grin Hollow was awash with excitement. For the first time since its founding, someone was embarking on a grand voyage beyond the known regions of Hallowhaven. Mervin, the newly appointed Dean of Necromantic Sciences, stood facing the edge of the growing crowd within the town square, nervously adjusting his glasses as Lilac and Autumn made a spectacle of organizing his journey.

  "Are you *sure* about this?" Mervin asked, clutching a rolled-up map covered in his scrawled calculations. "It’s just a theory, you know. What if I’m wrong and the world isn’t spherical? What if I reach the edge and just... fall off?"

  Lilac crossed her arms, her tone flat but resolute. "Then we’ll fish you out and tell everyone you went looking for a giant turtle instead."

  "Very funny," Mervin muttered, but he couldn’t hide the flicker of amusement in his eyes.

  Autumn, perched atop a crate of supplies, grinned as she tinkered with a strange contraption in her lap. "Relax, Merv. You’re not going alone, and you’re certainly not going unprepared. Between my gadgets and Lilac’s, uh, *generous* contributions, you’ll be ready for anything."

  Mervin glanced at the growing pile of equipment: crates of preserved food, navigational tools, heavy furs for the icy regions, and barrels of water with Animatonic yokes to stay unfrozen even in the coldest conditions.

  "Generous is one word for it," he said, eyeing the sheer volume. "I was planning on traveling light."

  Lilac raised an eyebrow. "Light doesn’t keep you alive when you’re crossing an endless stretch of ice or fending off whatever lives at the poles."

  "And speaking of fending off trouble..." Autumn hopped down from her perch and gestured to a line of skeletons standing perfectly still at the edge of the square. "I’ve lent you some *assistants* for the journey."

  Mervin’s mouth fell open. "Skeletons? Really? I’m trying to explore the planet, not terrify everyone I meet."

  Autumn waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, don’t be so dramatic. You could rise just any skeletons—but these are outfitted with my latest inventions! They’ll carry your supplies, set up camp, and even do basic calculations. Think of them as walking, bone-clad multitools."

  One of the skeletons stepped forward, holding out a clipboard in its bony fingers. The word “WELCOME” was scrawled across the top in wobbly handwriting.

  Lilac smirked. "See? They’ve even got a sense of humor."

  Mervin groaned. "You do realize this is going to cause all sorts of rumors, right? ‘The necromancer's apprentice takes an undead army to the ends of the world.’ I’ll never live it down."

  "Better to be infamous than forgotten," Autumn said with a wink. "Besides, you’ll thank me when they save your life in the middle of nowhere."

  Mervin sighed but didn’t argue further. He turned to Lilac. "I suppose you're not talking me out of this either?"

  "Not a chance," Lilac said, handing him a small, well-worn notebook. "This belonged to my brother. He used it for his own travels. There’s nothing useful in it anymore—most of the pages are blank—but it might inspire you to write down your own story."

  Touched, Mervin accepted the notebook, carefully tucking it into his satchel. "Thank you. I’ll take good care of it."

  By the next morning, the entire town had gathered to see Mervin off. His caravan, led by zombie oxen with glowing green eyes, stood ready at the edge of Grin Hollow. The skeletons, now outfitted with winter gear (purely for aesthetic reasons), moved efficiently to load the last of the supplies.

  Potabeau, standing on the sidelines with Azrath, waved enthusiastically. "Don’t forget to send us postcards! Oh, and if you meet any snow witches, try not to annoy them!"

  Azrath rolled his eyes. "Ignore him. Just focus on staying alive and proving your theory. The rest can wait."

  Mervin nodded, his nerves giving way to determination. He climbed onto the lead sled, gripping the reins tightly.

  "Good luck, Merv," Lilac called. "We’ll keep the Academy running until you get back."

  "And don’t forget to take notes!" Autumn added, waving. "Science waits for no one!"

  As the caravan began its slow trek northward, Mervin looked back one last time at the town that had become his home. The cheers of its people echoed in his ears, filling him with a mix of fear and excitement.

  The journey ahead was uncertain, but because of his friends Mervin felt ready to face the unknown.