Dreiki felt as if he was being crushed. Every step he walked towards Mt.Arukuniir imparted a strange weight on his shoulders. He looked to Luna who appeared to be having the same issues. Despite being able to use Ux to mitigate the feeling, it did not protect them fully.

“Grandpa, what is this?” Dreiki huffed out.

“This is part of the test. Certain areas of the world will attempt to crush you with their presence alone.” He pointed to a small flowing creek, “What do you think is flowing through that stream right now?”

Dreiki raised his eyebrow, “What do you mean? Water, right?”

Savekio shook his head, “Half correct. It’s oxygen.”

“What? How is that possible? It’s not that cold is it?”

“It’s not. Although between the combination of magic, high pressure, and winter cold, many of the flowing ‘water’ is actually oxygen. There’s not too much of it in the air, so it’s hard to breathe, and that will fatigue your body like nothing else.”

Dreiki could feel a tightness in his chest as if he had just sprinted the last few kilometers here, “Is it going to be like this all the way up the mountain?”

“It will come in waves. This is why I had you awaken your Ux before coming here. Without it, you would likely have already suffocated. The two of you are treading grounds where many have perished. Mt.Arukuniir chooses who it allows on its peaks.”

“As if a mountain can choose anything. Where is all of this magic coming from?”

“You will understand in time, but if you have a question which is lingering, why not attempt to answer it yourself?”

For whatever reason, that answer frustrated Dreiki. He had already done so much, and yet he was being brought out here with very little air after having nearly died to Malaki. When he had begun his training, he had never anticipated doing something like this. With what he had been taught, he should have been able to survive on his own now. Did he really need to continue?

Savekio turned to look at him, as if reading his mind, “Having second thoughts?”

That question made Dreiki think. Why was he having second thoughts? He could not lie to Savekio, “I am, but they won’t stop me.”

“Good. That is a determination and honesty many lack at your age. What you’re feeling right now is normal. Your body is under a lot of stress, and therefore your mind as well. Your soul, however, is isolated from it. So long as one part of you is still determined, you will make it to the peak.”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“It’s always about him,” Luna muttered.

Dreiki looked back at Luna who had started to fall behind. The frustration in his heart melted away seeing her struggle. He was not alone in his journey up the mountain, and he did not want to be. He reached back and offered his hand, “I know you’re strong enough to make it up the mountain on your own, but it would help me if you held my hand.”

Luna looked as if she wanted to be mad at him, but could not find a reason to. She grabbed his hand, squeezing it tight enough to hurt, “Fine. I won’t leave you behind.”

As they crested over the hill, there was a frozen lake between them and the rest of the mountainside. There was a strange fog rolling over the layer of ice which seemed as if it was trying to crawl out.

“Mount on top of Ezo,” Savekio said, “We must cross over this lake, and what lies beneath it is not something I can protect you from.”

Dreiki swallowed, feeling Luna squeeze his hand. The two of them mounted on top of Ezo and followed Savekio.

“Have Ezo keep his head up too. That is no normal fog down there. It’s Sulfiric acid. You breathe that in, you’re going to die instantly. Drakes like Ezo are resistant to poisons, but not immune.”

“Should we be holding our breath too?” Dreiki asked.

“You wouldn’t be able to hold it for long enough, especially with the thin amount of oxygen in the air. Luckily, the pressure is helpful here. It’s going to keep the sulfuric acid on the ground. As long as you’re on top of Ezo, you should be fine.”

“How will we know we’re fine?” Luna said.

Savekio pulled a silver coin from his pocket and tossed it to Dreiki. “Hold this coin under your chin. If it turns black, stand on Ezo’s back.”

“What about you?” Dreiki said.

“I will be fine even if I breathe it in. I’m not that old yet.”

“So we’ve got to deal with a monster under the lake, and toxic gas above it,” Luna said, “Great.”

“The combination of the two is precisely why I cannot guarantee your safety if the monster attacks. Do exactly as I say, and we will make it.”

Dreiki nodded, following him down to the frozen lake. He held the silver coin out in front, focusing intently on it. Ezo padded silently across the ice, the hairs of its mane standing on end as its ears swivelled in every direction.

The sun was shining off of the fog and ice. Dreiki could hardly see anything through his squinted eyes. He maintained his focus on the coin, gripping it as tightly as if it were his own life.

A few minutes into their journey, Savekio held his hand up for them to stop, “Do not move. Not a single inch.”

The white of the fog blackened, and for a moment Dreiki wanted to stand on Ezo’s back, but the coin was no what had darkened. Beneath them, a massive inky black shape hovered. The unfrozen liquid clapped against the ice beneath their feet. Dreiki felt a strange sensation wash over him, a primal instinct to survive.

Death itself walked across this lake, but it was the abyss that swam beneath them. He wanted to run, but he knew better. He stroked Ezo’s mane, knowing that he probably felt the same instinct. Luna hugged close to him from behind. Soon enough, the blinding light of the fog returned as the unknowable monster beneath their feet retreated deeper into the depths below.

Savekio motioned for them to keep following.