"Winter must be really chilly around here !" Said Alessia while they were tearing down the camp once more.

"Also, lucky us, it seems that the sun will be on our side a while longer. I was dreading rain, it would have ruined the road!" Alexis was looking at the horizon, not a single cloud was visible." We should have enough time to leave the difficult part of the mountain range before things turn sour." He added.

The man dressed as if he couldn't feel cold. He was currently sporting a a light linen shirt with brown trousers that should only be worn down in San Vale or Margen on a sunny day, taking a stroll around the city, and not whilst lost on a chilly mountain range in the middle of the countryside. 'If I were to try that,' Joan thought 'I would become hypothermic!'

"How long will the descent take? Roughly?" The historian asked, Alexis winked at Alessia who puffed her chest with pride and invited her professor to follow her to the carriage.

"Considering our speed since we have left Eagle Point, the state of the road and the topology going forward..." She showed him all the information necessary with the aid of her maps. "It should take us no more than four days." The cartographer turned to Alexis looking for his approbation, he nodded.

The man perhaps did not know anything about the science behind his travels but he knew how long this type of trip usually takes him, and he could base his estimations on experience. Something as valuable as science.

"Should take us three, but four is the safe answer." He stretched his arms and Joan realised how muscular he really was. "Are you both ready ? We should get going now." The driver continued, Joan tore his eyes away, afraid he would be caught staring.

"Well I am ready and Miss Alessia is definitely getting ready to go back to sleep." Observed Joan, amused, as she began putting pillows inside the carriage.

"All ready indeed!" She said before entering.

They leftvthe place in high spirits, yet two days down the road l, the weather began to take a turn for the more humid. Wich was not the best. They had hoped for warmth and sunny skies it became chilly, then the wind arrived, bringing clouds from the East. The air became heavy and Alexis' hair started to frizz.

"I advise you to start wearing clothes that protect from the rain." Alexis told them on the morning of the third day. "It looks like it's about to break out !" As he finished his sentence a low growl echoed overhead before exploding very loudly. Alessia jumped in surprise and Joan reflexively covered his ears.

"This one was very close !" Alessia's face had turned pale

"Do not worry, we'll be fine." Alexis put on a cloak and brought the hood up. "We should move your luggage to safety, it looks like it's going to be a downpour!"

They moved everything inside, wich resulted in alessia having to sleep on her bags. It was obviously uncomfortable and 'dare I say, painful' she added while lying on them, Joan had no trouble believing her, it forced the woman in an awkward position to be able to sleep. He could guess it would result in sore limbs and pains later. She would spend a lot of time complaining about them, he was sure of it.

Come to think of it, he also complained a lot, but he usually kept it for himself. Was it because he was shy or because he could not accept the idea of being seen as weak or annoying? He really hadn't grown much, no matter how hard he tried to fix his attitude he was still the same old Joan. Surprising. It put him in an awful mood.

Outside of the carriage, the man driving it felt a strange chill run down his spine when he saw a group ahead. Now, they had crossed path with many other traveler since the beginning of their own trip, but since they had taken the Northen road they hadn't met with single person. Having the road all for themselves. That's why he found it strange. Or rather, that's what he tried to tell himself to rationalise his feeling. But he couldn't shake off the idea, no, the feeling, that there was something wrong with them. Standing there motionless in the downpour.

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'Better not bring their attention on us...' Alexis thought, it was really no use though, they would pass right next to them, that was bound to to bring their attention on the travelers.

When he arrived at their level, he motion to tip his hat but said nothing. He couldn't really see clearly in the rain but something primal was telling him to speed up the carriage. He did so as unconspicuously as possible but, truly, it was laughable. The carriage began to move slightly faster. Inside the professor and the student found it weird. A moment ago Alexis had been advising caution and now they were going faster. Had something happened? Almost as if Destiny had waited for Joan to have that thought the strange men on the side of the road jumped toward them. The first shot fired made a hole in the wooden vehicle.

"Somethings clearly wrong !" Yelled Alessia, now truly awake.

"Time to show us what you got!" Alexis had jumped off, obviously they had bogged down. "Are you a good swordfighter?"

"I am in a dress?!" Alessia was speechless, was she about to die? 'In an ugly dress, of all things?!'

"You'll have to make do!" Joan handed her the sword she had brought, precisely for this situation. He popped his head out, his trusty gun in hand.

"Since when do you have a gun ?!" She shouted after he fired his first shot.

"Not all of us can be talented with a sword!" He sat back trying to conceal himself as much as he could and, annoyed, wiped off the rain from his glasses. "What are you waiting for? Go!" Alessia was jolted awake from her shock.

"Absolutely, I'm on it!" She grabbed her skirt and jumped out. Alexis was already fighting against three opponents at the same time. He was struggling so Alessia immediately joined the fray.

One, two, three, they all went down. Two left. Moving on. Her dress was a real pain in the neck to fight into, but as Joan said, she had to make do.

At least she had reach with her sword. Her opponent had a very aggressive style so she was forced to mostly block the incoming blow without being able to strike back.

Alexis was surprised to see her so efficient, she was pulling her weight in that fight. 'So she is not all talk after all.'

They had to avoid being hurt at all cost. If they can't block the blow they have to doge it.

Alexis had to jump in the mud to avoid losing his head. Then block, get back up, repeat as much as needed then at the first chance take it and strike.

They stood alone in the aftermath of the battle field, all the opponent had gone down. Alessia and Alexis were about to celebrate when suddenly Joan shouted.

"Alessia, out of the way!" She moved in surprise and the shot left the revolver. The head of the enemy exploded onto her. Alessia though she was going to be sick.

"What in the name of all that's holy was that!" She looked at the body, it had multiple wounds on its torso. "But...but I killed this one!"

"They are getting back up !" Alexis was beyond horor at the sight of those mutilated corpse getting back up to fight them once more.

"Go for their heads!" Joan was struggling to get the enemy in his mire. Somehow, now that some were missing limbs, they had become more nimble. Just their luck.

He fired but missed his shot, he had three left before running out. He tried to suppress the trembles in his hands but it truly was hard. He couldn't make a mistake, not now. He felt the rush of adrenaline from his fear and his frustration get a hold of him and he tried to silence it. He had to stay lucid.

Alessia's switch into survival mode had for effect to make her swings much more powerful. What she lacked in strength she found in momentum. Using old knowledge of dance class to give more force to her movements.

Alexis didn't lack strength, he lacked technique but he wasn't going to let himself be overcome. He also doubled his effort.

The four enemy still standing gave them a real challenge and for a long time they all resisted their assault, but as time went on they felt their strength slowly abandon them.

"Smile on me oh goddess, guide my hand...oh for fuck sakes! I can't see with those glasses!" Joan took them off and threw then somewhere in the carriage, an action he was sure to regret later.

Finally he made his shot, he had wasted two, he still had one more in his gun. The three opponent surrounding Alessia were taken down to two, Alexis was battling his own far away, almost on the verge of losing.

Alessia was drenched, her silk and linen were now full of water, mud and fleshy bits she'd rather forget. Her arms were sore, tired, her movement were slow, sluggish. She could feel herself losing more and more terrain. Every step unstable, her breath short. But just as she thought she couldn't become more miserable something clicked behind her head, accompanied with something cold pressed against her skull.

"The mistress sends her regards."