CHAPTER 4

Breath turning to mist, the snow crunching underfoot—Ardent Hope had arrived at the nearby Crystalrun Forest. The forest was still and calm, blanketed in snow. Silent, with little sign of life moving around. The same conditions they had met that terrible and powerful crystal golem the other day. Yet their goal was Crystalrun Sanctuary, at the heart of the forest. Together they marched through the snow, through the cold of winter.

Although the forest seemed vacant of life, the party was the opposite. Luffy walked alongside everyone and was jumping around through the snow. He traveled in little hops, each time sinking into the snow piles. His lively nature and black fur was in great contrast to the quiet snow he traveled through. Luffy wasn’t the only one full of life, Lissette could not help but to chase him around, hopping along in the snow behind him. Though the others smiled, they still remained alert. The wilds could turn against them at any moment.

“I’m glad Luffy and Lissette are making a bit of noise…” said Juli, in a hushed voice. “Walking through the forest like this would feel eerie without them.”

“Mhm… the forest being silent is a bit unsettling,” replied Lunatya, nodding. She smiled as she watched Luffy and Lissette playing in the snow. “I’m glad you two are having fun though. It’s very cute hehe…”

“Luffy is such a cute kitty, hehehe…” whispered Lissette, still hopping along behind him.

“They do really brighten the mood,” said Zephyrard, walking in front keeping watch. “Though keep alert, you never know what’s going to happen.”

“Yes… you’re right. Lissette and I haven’t even been here in Plietuvia for that long…” Juli replied, keeping an eye on Luffy and Lissette, watching their surroundings. “Yet things seem so disrupted and unpredictable.”

“It feels like the whole ecosystem around here is starting to shift,” Lunatya said, shaking her head with downcast eyes. She looked at the others and let out a sigh. “All of us being together makes me feel a bit better though.”

As the party delved deeper into the forest, the air became increasingly bitter and cold. The trees thinned until they were met with a clearing, the gray sky above an unending blanket across the land. The wind raced through the meandering clearing of trees, howling like wolves. Zephyrard raised a hand and stopped walking.

“Hold up. Everyone stop walking,” said Zephyrard, scanning the area.

Everyone stopped behind him, taking a look as well. There was… nothing. Only deep piles of snowfall, mounding across the clearing. Lunatya stepped up next to Zephyrard. They looked at each other and nodded.

“There’s a river here,” Lunatya said, looking down this chilling corridor.

“Mhm… you’re right. We need to be careful,” Zephyrard replied, nodding. He unsheathed his sword and plunged it into the snow in front of him. “Everyone stay back, I’ll check if it’s safe to cross.”

“Hm… could have been bad if we just kept walking,” Juli muttered, letting out a sigh. Her breath turned to mist, whisked away by the wind. “Light on your feet, Zeph.”

“I’ll watch over him. Lissette, can you hold onto Luffy for a bit?” Lunatya announced, taking light steps behind Zephyrard.

“Okay… come here little fluffy!” Lissette cheered, crouching down and clapping her hands. Luffy hopped over to her in the snow, then she picked him up and tucked him under her cloak. “Be careful…!”

Zephyrard continued his pathfinding, plunging his sword into the snow before taking a step forward. Powdered snow was parted effortlessly, giving way until he hit solid ground. Then the snow became icy as he pressed on forward, crunching as he struck it. His sword plunged before stopping with the chipping sound of ice. Lunatya followed behind him, focused on listening to the sounds of the prodding. Everyone held their breath, waiting in anticipation. The soft howling of wind… boots trudging through snow… steel striking ice. But just as Zephyrard took another step forward—the ground shuddered. The snow fell out from in front of him, collapsing into the rushing river beneath it.

“Ah!” cried Zephyrard, left unsteady by the sudden collapse.

“I’ve got you!” Lunatya said, quickly grabbing him from behind and pulling him back. The snow stifled their movement and they stumbled back onto safe ground before falling down. Lunatya lay on her back hugging Zephyrard on top of her. “Phew… that was close.”

“You two okay?” Juli asked as she sat down in the snow next to Lunatya, letting out a breath. Juli peered at the river. It was icy and rapid. Falling in would sweep you away in an instant under the snow and ice. She shivered. “That was close…”

“Mhm… we’re okay…” replied Lunatya. She could feel her heart pounding. “Let’s rest for a moment though…”

“That was scary… it’s good we didn’t try to cross…” whispered Lissette, standing well away from the river. She held Luffy closer.

“Mhm… snowbridges like these can be dangerous,” Zephyrard said, resting his head on Lunatya’s chest for a moment, letting out a big sigh. “...Thank you Luna, that spooked me. I felt like my heart was going to burst when I felt my sword go clean through…”

“Hehe… don’t worry. I’ll always protect you,” said Lunatya, grinning while she hugged Zephyrard tightly. She felt quite comfortable laying in the snow with him. “Though it looks like the river didn’t ice over… so the snow drifts just washed away under. Crossing would be quicker to the sanctuary… though we can just follow the treeline instead, the river eventually connects to it.”

“Alright… play time’s over,” said Zephyrard, after everyone took a few moments to settle down. He patted Lunatya’s hands as she hugged him. “We should get moving again.”

“Okayyy…” sighed Lunatya with a cheeky pout. She let go of Zephyrard, who then rolled off of her and got up. He held out a hand and helped her get back up. “Hehe… thank you.”

“Of course,” replied Zephyrard with a soft smile.

“You’ve got snow all over your back, Luna… hehe…” said Lissette, coming over to brush her off. Luffy reached out with his little paws and helped too. “There you go…”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“Ooh! Thank you both!” Lunatya said, smiling. Her heart felt warm being with friends like this. She nodded. “Okay, let’s follow the river. No crossing! Nope!”

“Yes… let’s… not cross over,” muttered Juli, shaking her head. “I’d rather walk more than take an ice bath.”

The party all nodded their heads in agreement, shivering at the thought of falling into the river. They began to trudge through the snow once again, walking close to the treeline, following the meandering river clearing. The wind moaned softly as they continued their journey. Every time the wind blew, a shiver ran down their spines. The deep snow and cold drained them of energy.

“How’s everyone holding up?” Lunatya asked, glancing over the party. “We should be nearing the sanctuary now.”

“I’m a bit cold…” Lissette said in a tired, soft voice. “Luffy’s helping to keep me warm though… he’s all curled up in my arms under my cloak.”

“I’m doing alright…” said Juli next. She put a hand on Lissette’s back and walked with her, making sure she could keep up. “It’ll be nice to get back home and have something warm to eat…”

“I could go for something warm right now…” Zephyrard mumbled, cupping his hands together and breathing into them. He rubbed his palms together, his breath turning to mist. He walked at the front with Lunatya at his side, taking point and keeping watch. “My hands are pretty cold.”

“Come here,” said Lunatya, her voice gentle and sweet. She took his hand into hers and warmed it. His hand was cool to the touch. “I’m used to the cold, I’ll warm you up a little, hehe!”

Zephyrard looked at Lunatya and smiled, his shoulders relaxing. Holding hands, having that contact with each other, brought them both such comfort. They stepped in closer to each other and walked together, hand in hand.

The journey deeper into the forest following the meandering river was quiet, with the steady crunch of snow underfoot and the low moaning of the wind. But eventually, there was a change in the forest. The normal browns of the trees turned white. The flowing river could be heard, unobstructed by snow. The water crystal clear, glittering in the soft, dim sunlight. Ahead of them a grove of white barked trees. Their leaves glistened with a crystalline splendor, and in the center… a towering tree that sheltered all. They had arrived at their destination.

“Celestia trees… we’re here,” said Lunatya, gazing at the glittering crystal leaves. “Crystalrun Sanctuary.”

“Wits sharp, blades ready,” Zephyrard said, placing a hand on the hilt of his sword. “Our quest begins in full now.”

The party continued forward and entered the grove, alert. The ground below them had an ever shifting prismatic appearance, the light shimmering from the crystal leaves above. The air was fresh and clean, the world felt still and tranquil. The Grand Celestia Tree could be seen in the center of the grove, its thick trunk tied with ceremonial ropes. At its base sat a pool of water, the sacred Lake Stella. The air around it shimmering with light, the water below giving off a soft, white-bluish glow.

“Wow… it’s so… beautiful here…” said Lissette, looking up and spinning, taking in all the sights.

“I’ve… never seen a place like this,” Juli said next, her breath taken away.

Lunatya’s expression was in stark contrast to Lissette and Juli. It was not of wonder, but concern. She moved over to Zephyrard and nudged him, shaking her head with concern. Zephyrard returned a nod.

“We can take a moment to rest here… but don’t get too caught up in the sights,” said Lunatya, giving Juli and Lissette a tap on the back. “Have some water, the lake here is sacred, its water has healing properties.”

With that said, the party made their way to the lake’s edge. Lunatya and Zephyrard stayed alert, keeping an eye on their surroundings. Meanwhile, Juli and Lissette knelt down, taking sips from the lake with their hands. Luffy was thirsty too from the long journey, his little pink tongue poking out as he lapped up the lake water. The water was cool and crisp, refreshing the mind and invigorating the body. After Juli and Lissette had their fill, they swapped with Lunatya and Zephyrard. For the moment, things were calm and restful, but like any watering hole… who knows what dangers lurked just beyond out of sight.

“Foof… I feel better after having some of this water,” signed Lissette, making herself comfortable sitting on the ground. “The water here is very pleasant and refreshing.”

“It was… I can see why this is a sacred site. What’s the story behind this sanctuary though?” asked Juli, settling down next to Lissette. “It seems we have some time to discuss things, our only tip off from the quest was howling and well… it’s quiet.”

“Hm… that’s a good idea. It’s probably better that you two learn about the history of this place, wolves play an important role,” replied Zephyrard, before turning to Lunatya. “I have a hunch about what’s going on… though would you like to tell the tale?”

“Hehe… of course! Story time, gather around…” said Lunatya, joining the others sitting in a circle. With her soft and enchanting voice, she began to tell the legend of Crystalrun Sanctuary. “Long ago… when the Divine Paragons first traveled this world—the first adventurers, still mortal…”

The land of Plietuvia was once assailed by intense blizzards, conjured by the fimbulvinter wolves—calamity class monsters, natural disasters incarnate. Wherever they tread, they brought with them the biting cold. Whenever they howled, the blizzards roared and the winds bellowed, the sky blotted out. Cloaked in sleet and snow, the wolves would hunt.

The Paragons braved the endless storms and traversed into the Hoarfrost Mountains where the wolves made their lair. Fighting through the bitter cold, the unending nights, every gust of wind rending them… they found themselves lost in the mountains. Uncertainty began to sink in, their supplies running low, their bodies cold. But hope had not been lost. The Water Paragon, goddess of healing and water, weaved her magic, conjuring a veil of starlight that lit the way, protecting them from the cold. But doing so revealed they had been watched all along. Just beyond the veil… they could see the wolves circling them, shadowy figures haunting the storm.

There they made their stand against the storm. The wolves howled, the blizzard surged. Glowering eyes glared at them from beyond the veil of sleet and snow. Then, like the wind itself, they surged forward, lunging at the party before returning beyond the veil. But with their magic combined, they cast away the blizzard that shielded the wolves. A beam of light shot up into the heavens above, clearing the sky, banishing the darkness, revealing the sea of stars above. The wolves were vulnerable. But they were not weak. An intense battle ensued. The mountains were cleaved, glaciers were risen, rivers formed—such was the might of the Paragon’s magic and the devastating power of the wolves. The wolves were driven deeper into the mountains, where they were sealed away by the Saintess of Ice, a companion of those who would ascend to godhood. She conjured an immense glacier wall, sealing the wolves off from the rest of the world—Glacies Aeterna. But not all the wolves were sealed away. The mightiest of them, Fenren, escaped with a small retinue, fleeing to the lowlands.

The Water Paragon would not stand for this. The wolves were headed for settlements, threatening the people of Plietuvia she held so dear. So from the high mountains, she cast down her arrows, carving through the land. The mountains and hills were carved into fjords, the forests and plains into riverlands. Purifying waters surged through the land, driving out the darkness. And where she felled the great white wolf… her arrow shook the land and bathed it in moonlight, forming a lake. Celestia trees, blessed by the Divine Beast of Water Aquael, were planted all along the rivers and lake, purifying the remnants of the battle.

“Thus was created Crystalrun Sanctuary… the Grand Celestia Tree sealing away Fenren…” said Lunatya, her story coming to a close. Her words lingered in the air, full of power. “We stand on the site of that ancient battle… its aftermath is still visible to this day.”

The party all sat in silence with the story ended. Such was the awe of realization of how small they truly were. Their breath taken away, unable to speak—for where they stood… was a battleground of calamity and divinity unleashed. In that moment of silence… weight and pressure exuding in the air… they heard a howl. And it was not the wind.