“Are we there yet!?” I shouted. My childish voice screaming out, ‘Are we there yet’ every couple of hours was definitely not something I would have been proud of before we left for the Cape, but Urilas vague outlines and directions meant somebody had to say it. It certainly wouldn't be Lita, either.

My voice was almost completely lost in the thick swirling snowstorm surrounding us, the wind humming loudly as the cold snow pelted against our thick zipped-up fur coats. Why was it snowing so heavily during a season called Suncrest? Because we were in the north, of course! No matter the predicted weather, you could expect thick snow at any time all year.

“Quite. I said we would arrive shortly,” Urila replied.

“You said that two hours ago!” I shouted, Irritation in my voice. I wasn't one to curse or lose their wit, but I was seriously annoyed.

Since leaving Icemans Road, we had been traveling for nearly thirty hours now, only taking one short break for rest. Although Lita and Urila had the physical strength from their status to continue like nothing, my butt was beginning to hurt like hell from sitting on Raatrox all day. My feet were getting pins and needles constantly, and I needed another bathroom break or rest period two hours ago when Urila, ‘once upon a time,’ said we were ‘nearly there.’

“Young mistress, we have arrived,” Said Lita, instantly swapping out my earlier irritation with anticipation. I just wanted to see something that wasn't a field of white. My eyes were beginning to adjust to a feeling of nothingness I had only felt while trapped. Who would've known seeing just white wasn't so different from seeing only darkness?

I could just about make out the outline of a tall building coated in ice in the distance. Made from what appeared to be ice bricks, its color was snow white. No wonder it had been so difficult to spot even with its height, towering into the sky. What really caught my eye was its unique shape, shaped like a spiraling lance, ending in a sharp tip in the clouds.

“The Academy.” Said Lita. She was probably watching my gaze wander to the massive building.

So that's the Academy I am to attend, well the building certainly did pique my interest.

As we got closer, more and more of what Snowpeak Cape had to offer became visible. A solid ice wall encased the city's surroundings, towering nearly fifty meters in the air. I doubted such a wall could have been built with anything less than magic. I could barely make out the roofs of snow-covered buildings poking their heads above the walls. Blurry figures that appeared to be humans could be seen roaming the top of the castle walls. I assumed those were guards.

“Dismount” Said Urila.

Resigning Raatrox, all our Udines disappeared into light particles, dissipating into nothing.

We would walk the remainder of the journey. After all, we didn't want to risk being questioned too much on the udines. We had our fair bag of excuses, but avoiding questioning altogether was for the best.

The rest of the journey to the city gates went about unimpeded. My only groaning pain being that I was beginning to reach extreme drowsiness.

What I had assumed to be near fifty-meter-high walls suddenly felt much higher in front of me as two guards stood motionlessly by a large Ice Gate. I couldn't see a smaller gate for individuals, which should have been standard. Opening such a massive gate whenever somebody needed entrance to the city seemed asinine.

“HALT” The voices of Two big armored men rang in my ears. Standing stock still in the cold winter snow by the gate, they held two large white lances. The lack of people by the gate reflected the early morning we were in. Most people were probably still sleeping.

“If you want entrance, please show us either your country ID or a relevant guild ID evaluated as green by the council.” One of the guards said. Pretty straightforward, all citizens of the country were given a Country Id at birth, something many refugees would die to get their hands on. The Guild Ids he mentioned were probably for the adventurers, merchants, or craftsmanships guild. The major guilds, basically.

“The fewer questions you ask, the better,” Urila said, holding the same silver medal with a snow owl engraving he had shown Regan.

Why not just show him our Country Ids and attract fewer gazes?

“A-apologies, please, follow me.” One of the men stuttered, surprised by the medal Urila brought.

Following the guard, he led us to the corner of the ice gate, where an engraved circle radiated a warm purple glow on the gate. Taking out a small circular orb, the guard pressed it against the door, and soon a strong light shone from the circular opening.

“Entrance for three permitted.” The guard spoke.

A hazy transparent opening soon took its place, Expanding to resemble a small door, its insides enshrouded in a blurry mist.

“Please send my regards to the duke. His hard work and research have made the lives of many here much happier.” The guard said, stepping out of the way and bowing his head.

“Hmm,” Urila said, frowning.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Walking past Lita and me, he passed through the blurry door.

Following in his steps, we soon followed.

As soon as I stepped through the misty door, almost as if the mist only existed outside, A complete view of Snowpeak Cape, the snowy capital, showed itself before me. The tidy cobblestone streets were neatly lined for carriages and pedestrians as soft lamplights illuminated the frost-covered but beautiful Gothic architecture surrounding us. A few citizens could already be seen preparing for the day, as some armored adventurers, street merchants, and other regular civilians could be seen stepping through the harsh blizzard as if it was light snow or drizzle.

Magic? I thought to myself.

Even though the pavements should have had thick layers of snow from the blizzard, it was somehow only lightly covered as some carriages effortlessly traversed the open streets.

Piercing the skies from up close, the academy seemed even more extravagant and tall. Even though we were only at the entrance of the city, the academy seemed to still want to make its presence known as it eclipsed most buildings before us.

“You got here a bit earlier than I thought.” A familiar voice snapped me back from my reverie. Walking towards us was a hooded figure draped in a thick black coat. As he stepped closer, I caught a bit of black hair sticking out under his hood.

“F-father,” I said, surprised.

“It's been a while, my daughter. You've grown up so much.” The voice said, taking off his hood. My father's familiar face appeared before me. His void black hair and shimmering gold eyes were still the same as mine.

I had repeatedly asked myself how I would feel when I met my father again. It had been over four years, after all. I had simulated in my head time and time again how I would smack him across the head and tell him how he made his wife cry all these years. How much of a burden he had put on her to raise me alone. Yet at this moment, every thought seemed to dissipate into nothing, melting like the soft snow around us.

Dashing towards my father, I hugged him tightly, barely wrapped around his abdomen.

“I missed you, Father,” I whispered. As soon as I saw my father, the only feeling that rushed through my heart was warmth, longing, and–relief.

“I missed you too, daughter.” returning my hug, my father softly patted my head—affectionate warmth within his eyes.

“I regret my weakness and failures in undertaking this mission. Every day I tried to figure out ways to return home. I know how disappointed you must be with me, Tene. How sad and upset your mother would have been.” My father spoke directly in my ear as he crouched to my level.

“I–don't know what I can do to allow you to forgive your worthless father.” my father said.

“Hahahaha” Giggling softly, I looked at my father's woeful form. How I hadn't been able to predict I would have no hatred in my heart for him before was a good testament to how much I understood myself sometimes.

“It's ok, Father, save your current attitude for when you meet Mother,” I replied—pulling myself away from my father's embrace.

I guess the saying that a child loves their parents almost unconditionally isn't completely inaccurate after all.

Giving me one final head pat, my father warmly looked at Lita as he went to her side.

“You've become a wonderful woman, Lita,” My father said while caressing her hair.

“Mmm,” Lita said. I could tell she was doing everything she could to hide her emotions.

“It's ok, Lita.” My father said warmly.

Returning his gesture, Lita gave my father a warm hug. Not lacking to mine in the slightest, She might have even missed him more than me.

I could see gazes watching us from afar. Had I hugged my father the same way? I felt heat slightly rush up to my face.

Speaking about watching. Urila was watching our entire exchange–a little too closely. He almost never kept his attention in one place for that long.

“Urila,” I said, trying to grab his attention.

“Huh?” As if snapped from a trance, he quickly looked away. Trying to pretend as if he wasn't just ogling them closely.

“You must be Uril. The duke had said much about you before my mission— I can see those rumors were built on solid ground.” My father said. Disengaging from Lita, he turned his attention back to Urila.

“Thanks for delivering them to me. It will be a while before I can make my presence known.” My father said. It seemed my father was still hiding from somebody or something.

“...I did very little,” Urila said. Well, he certainly wasn't lying there.

“Humble as well, I see. Well, let's not stand around here for too long. Follow me, I'm sure the duke already informed you of the remainder of your mission?” My father asked.

“Yes,” Urila replied.

----------------------------------------

Haaa. Lying on the springy, soft mattress, I couldn't help but sigh at the sheer difference between this room and the room we had stayed at previously at Regan's. Both were Inns, and both were similarly priced from what I had heard from my father, yet the difference in quality was like night and day. From the mattress that didn't feel like you were lying down on bricks down to the clean, polished wooden floors and well-decorated white walls.

I guess this is the difference between a capital city and a slum village. Or perhaps a miser owner and one that took his customers as first priority, I should say.

“So, how much have you told my daughter?” My father said as he sat down beside me and lightly rubbed my hair.

“Reach Snowpeakcape and wait for reinforcements,” Urila replied. I had already assumed the plan was pretty terrible, to be fair, so it was a breath of fresh air hearing that wasn't the full extent of it. But why hide the details from just me in particular?

“Hahaha, I'm surprised you came along with just that.” My father said.

“Mother didn't exactly leave me with much room for negotiation,” I replied.

“...Well, knowing your mother, I knew she would prioritize your life over hers. So I informed the duke to restrict as much information as possible so she wouldn't come into harm's way.” My father said.

“The threat you were informed of though is very much real and dangerous. A threat to our very bloodline.” My father tone shifted at the mention of the threat, becoming cold and alarming.

“No, a threat to the entire continent itself. I had left on a mission to pinpoint and destroy an organization attempting to free an ancient being.” My father said.

“I assume you failed,” I said jokingly.

“Very much so. The leader hid behind an ensemble of fakes, constantly slipping my grasp until they succeeded.” My father replied.

“The being released?” I asked. I more or less had a good hunch towards the answer, though.

“Samsara, one of the ancients, sealed by our ancestors over a thousand years ago.” My father replied.

“Our ancestors?” I asked. I knew we were once one of the most powerful families in the country but neither Lizette nor my mother would ever clarify further when I asked.

“... Youre still just my little girl Tene. When the time is right, we'll tell you, then you can decide if you want to still carry your family name proudly on your back.” My father said. I could hear a tinge of sadness in his voice.

“For now, Samsara is my duty as the current head to deal with. You, my daughter, just need to keep improving on yourself and your abilities, make lifelong friends, and enjoy your time as a youngster.” My father said, strongly meeting my gaze.

“For now, your safety is of the highest priority. We’ll do your class unlock at the next opening at the guild. Your mana signatures look like it's far since surpassed the amounts a regular ten your old would need for the unlock. Your peers at the event will surely be jealous.” My father said proudly.

“Afterwards, Urila and I will continue the hunt for Samsara while waiting for a particular person from the Capital, our reinforcements.”

“Only one person?” I asked.

“Samsara still hasn't recovered all his strength from his sealing. He needs the blood of a renhart to fully undo the seal.” My father said grimly. So it would be coming after either me or my father, the only true-blooded Renharts to my knowledge.

“As for the man sent for reinforcements, let's just say it's an old friend of mine.” My father said.

Why is my father's face turning red?