The crunchy snow paves a carpet of a smooth road for the carriage. What would otherwise be bumps and jolts with every dip and clatter of the wooden seats becomes a sensational ride of comfort, albeit a longer journey.
The boy has nothing to do and no one to talk to. He simply stares out, talks to himself, and sleeps.
Jay passes me a mask and a scroll, one to conceal my identity and the other a message.
The message, to summarise, states that Julius is garnering support rapidly in his fight for the throne. What he needs the most right now is protection and he urgently needs my help.
After reading the scroll, I burn it into ashes.
...
I lean closer to Jay and ask softly. "Is the driver a native of Icaris?"
"Seems so. He transports travellers and goods across the borders frequently and has a good reputation, according to the locals."
...
I put a finger on my lips and grab Jay's hand. I open his hand and convey a warning word with my finger: Quiet.
Jay nods.
We stay silent for the rest of the peaceful journey. In the end, the transaction between the coachman and Jay proceeded without trouble.
Jay hands the coachman two silver coins and they both part with smiles.
...
His smile fades when the carriage gets far enough.
"So, what was that about?" Jay asks.
"...You don't need to know."
Jay furrows his brow and looks away. He starts to leave. "Alright, this way."
I glance back at the carriage shrinking into the horizon.
When I first arrived at Icaris, I sensed the same energy from that Iron Peak monster in many Icaris inhabitants, but in a very minuscule amount.
...I have to investigate it after I'm done.
When I follow Jay, I touch my face, thinking it's a good time to use "that". After I bribed the boy with some candy, he taught me one basic technique that is extremely useful. It does not require mana; It only requires muscle flexibility and practice. The act involves shifting the muscle structure of my face, changing my gaze and my general look.
However, I can't sustain it for a long time. Dejected, I retreat to the mask provided.
We come across more subordinates of Julius, who prepared two horses for us.
"Is that man our backup?" One subordinate asks Jay.
Jay nods and mounts a horse. "How is our liege?"
"We lost contact with him three days ago at the Trentechas Forest."
Jay widens his eyes. "Let's go! Hurry!"
They quickly ride off, leaving me behind.
"Trentechas forest..." I mumble
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
It is in the northern region of Darto; We are in the east.
I look at the boy who had the same idea as me. We release the extra horse into the wild before running on foot. Our speed zooms past the galloping clouds and leaves them in the dust.
Julius should be taking the graduation examination for Akatski Academy. The final component involves a group practical evaluation of decision-making paired with combat prowess. Each group is assigned a different objective and invigilator who secretly accompanies and grades the group.
The Trentechas Forest is a dangerous area dominated by a ferocious predator. I can already predict how everything will play out.
"Are we going to save someone?" The boy asks as he zaps from branches. The wind muffles his voice.
"Yeah."
"Mm, okay." The boy seems to be quite enthusiastic about the idea.
As our footsteps into the cobweb of crisp skinny trees. The stagnant air stings our noses with blood.
!
The boy squeezes his nose from the stench as we soon discover corpses beneath our feet. The blood is relatively fresh, it was a battle that took off not long ago.
I take a look at the boy, his expression sour.
We follow the obvious trail left behind by the rough struggle between two parties. Deeper into the forest, we encounter beasts feeding on the passed consisting of carcasses and humans.
An intense fluctuation of mana hits my senses, and I stop my advance.
"Shh! Wait."
The boy halts and notices it. "There's people ahead."
...
"Hide somewhere, I will deal with them."
The boy furrows his brow with shaking lips. "Can we spare them?"
"No guarantees," I reply.
I unleash my presence to the strangers, who immediately leap in my direction.
After some rustling, three men in black coats land before my path. A sword sheath is attached to their waist.
"Halt! State your identity and purpose!"
"...I am a hunter. I was attracted by the smell of blood and was curious."
"Turn back; This is an examination site of the Akatski Academy." One of the men says.
I nod and turn around. The moment I pretend to let my guard down, all of them attack me with raging auras.
*CHINNGG!!!*
Their blue aura erupts and dissipates after clashing with my body.
?!
Their sword fails to scratch my body, simply tearing some slit on my top.
"NO-"
One curve from my sword almost decapitates all of my assailants. I stop my blade at the last moment, merely slitting a small stream of blood down one neck.
He jumps back with his eyes wide open and breathes unstably, panting.
...Fuck this.
"Let me through," I say.
"O-Okay!" They reply and run past me.
...
I sigh and sheath my sword.
The boy comes out, looking at me in a new light. "You...are capable of sparing people?"
"...You told me not to kill."
I would never leave a loose end in the past, frequently killing everything I deemed a threat. Have I gone soft?
Or is this "humanity"?
...
But sparing some small weaklings shouldn't matter. Unless they send a Grandmaster, they cannot defeat me.
The boy silently follows me when I move ahead myself. He seems to be bothered by a train of thought.
*BOOOOOOOOM!!!!!*
An eruption of gleaming cold explodes with a deafening crack. A bone-chilling field of jagged ice, sparkling in the pale light, carves itself upon the white landscape.
I stop in my tracks, one eye twitching with brows furrowed.
"That's..." I mumble.
Trentechas Forest is named after its apex predator, a centuries-old legend among nature. Trentechas' power changes with each season, defying all odds and ends.
"They are crazy!"
"Run!"
Many people in similar attire to the previous strangers escape from the icy blast. They ignore our presence as they run for their life. The air rapidly chills with every frosty breath.
"W-What's happening?" The boy asks.
"It's the king of this forest. Someone angered it."
"Can you defeat it?"
"Did you not see those people running? Only a transcendent can evenly match it."
I've heard many stories of Trentechas...damn it.
"Let's go. We have to save Julius...somehow."
The boy nods and we quicken our pace. The atmosphere gradually chokes my lungs and everything in my sights is just white. In every step, I pray we do not encounter the legendary beast.
"Wait, Loi!" The boy stops me and points in a direction. "I hear breathing over there!"
What? I don't hear anything. But let's trust the boy.
He guides me across the tumultuous landscape, venturing past the glacier aftermath of the creature's anger.
"Here." We stop before a tall slope with layers of snow. Indeed, now I can sense life on the other side. The boy steps up before I do anything. He digs both of his hands into the snow with his palms facing outwards. A quick tug and he divides the obstacle apart, unleashing twin plumes of mist and dust.
"What?!" Someone exclaims from within.
The boy and I detect malicious intent and get on high alert until Julius' voice appears.
"Stop! Everyone, put down your weapons!"
The mist clears and I see Julius with his classmates and retainers lowering their weapons. They were hiding inside a small claustrophobic cave, bodies scratched and bruised.
Julius' smile breathes a relief. "Ah...haha...I am so glad to see you, my friend."