After the news of a Spike colony being destroyed, the northerners began celebrating Simon’s accomplishments. The celebration was held after a series of meetings.

From that day onwards, the kids would come to Simon’s quarters and talk to him, urging him to tell stories. All the stories he could recount were of his battles against bandits and monsters in the dark forest.

The kids and even the warriors loved it.

The days were spent preparing for the siege, with warriors and scouts starting their training early, along with range testing for Gallo's cannons. Adventurers also joined in, the training needing to acclimate to the cold.

The town’s activities would halt midday due to the extreme northern weather. If there was no blizzard, there would be cold drizzles, especially as the sun began to disappear.

The town was constructed atop ancient ruins, with tunnels running beneath the houses, allowing everyone to navigate around town even during extreme weather. Although some sections of the tunnels had been forgotten, there were townsmen and women who regularly roamed them. Their non-combatant duty was to ensure the tunnels were illuminated and unknown passages sealed.

In one of these tunnels, there were several wide halls used as a training area when the weather was too severe.

“Simon, I would like to spar with you,” one day Percival invited Simon for a spar. With snow pouring heavily outside, the training session was moved underground.

“Of course, let’s fight,” Simon smiled.

<--->

During this bad weather, the engineers were also working indoors. They were conducting tests on the corpses of the Spikes.

“Eureka!” one of them exclaimed. It seemed they had discovered a weakness against the Spikes. It was a chemically induced weakness—a perfume, actually. The engineers immediately reported to Afara, who then relayed the information to Gallo, who was in his quarters calculating ranges.

“Crap, but that was the last of it. I only have one bottle on me,” Gallo lamented after receiving the report. He began thinking of counter-strategy, he could scourge the northerner’s house but he doubted that he could find one.

Afara was amazed that Gallo was still thinking forward “Sir, the Spikes... can we win this siege?” Afara inquired.

“Well, probably yes, but on thin margins. The cannon’s ammunition is not infinite. I'll start damage control early. Oh, are they still training in this weather?” Gallo remarked, sipping tea at his table.

“The scouts, warriors, and adventurers are actually in the underground training halls, but I heard Simon and Percival are having a spar outside,” Afara informed him.

“Oh, that's interesting... but I can’t watch in this weather. Uh, can you tell the guys to get me some more warm tea?” Gallo requested, a hint of sadness in his tone.

“Of course,” Afara replied before leaving.

<--->

The town was already filled with snow, and people were nowhere to be found but then there were these two eager to spar in the snow.

The snow was annoying, the mist blocking the senses: hearing, sight, feeling, smell... touch. “Try to find me, Simon,” Percival said. The two of them were going to spar in the town, but to add color to it, they would do it in a hide-and-seek manner.

“You want me to find you in this snow? That’s easy,” Simon said. The old man had actually trained him in caves. Simon had fallen into dark pitfalls that he had to navigate blindly. It was entirely true and not a bluff.

“It's different... I don’t know if you've felt it... I just can sense it in you... you adapt to your surroundings very quickly,” Percival said. Unlike the other adventurers or the forest folk, Simon had become adjusted to the climate of the north after just a few days.

“Blur,” Percival said, and he disappeared from Simon’s sight. His eyes, which could see in the dark, didn’t help him because it wasn't even dark. The two were holding wooden swords.

“You can probably tell for yourself... you're not a normal human,” the voice of the northerner echoed without a known direction.

“Yeah, I know it myself. The old man always told me so. I know... why do you think I close my eyes whenever there are people around us?” the boy ridiculed a bit as he checked the snow around him.

“..” but there was no reply. Simon could feel that it was about to start now. He began to expand his senses, using his senses to detect any movement. However, he failed, and a strike landed on his shoulder.

“Hmm…” Simon let out a small grunt. Percival hadn't held back on that one. Simon went with the momentum and knelt down, minimizing the impact.

Percival's presence disappeared even before Simon could counterattack.

“You mitigated the damage by kneeling along with the momentum of my strike... good one,” Percival remarked. Simon wasn't sure where the voice was coming from; the snow was muffling his senses.

He slowly fell into a trance-like state. It seemed that at least he could still feel a bit of magic. He evaded the next attack by ducking.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Percival was surprised. Unsure if it was luck, he tried again, and this time Simon counterattacked. Percival dodged his attack; it was a slash from a very strange angle. “You... you adapt really quickly,” Percival observed.

“Adapting is the best way of fighting... the old man told me that,” Simon replied as he started moving.

“Damn kid…” Percival muttered as he saw Simon running in a beeline towards him. The two began trading blows.

“You're strong... easy on the wooden swords; they're made for the kids to train with,” Percival said. They had sparred before, but it seemed that Simon had grown even stronger. He was definitely not as strong as this when they sparred outside the forest before (Chapter 13).

The wooden sword was meant to limit Simon’s strength. He could still remember how Simon slew the Spike, leading to the queen’s demise. “Just don’t tell anyone that the reason I beat you is because you're not using an axe,” Simon taunted.

“You competitive little brat...” Percival was starting to get annoyed, an image appeared in his mind, it must be the old man who trained Simon, that annoying old man who always trash-talked.

“I’m going to attack now,” Simon declared, and he suddenly disappeared. Not only were the boy’s senses limited by the snow and wind, but this also applied to Percival.

Simon then swung at the open air, and Percival was right there. The two started trading attacks. “How can you detect me?” Percival asked.

“I can feel your magic... the vibrations too... I learned many things when the old man threw me into a cave that was like a maze!” Simon answered, his eyes gleaming. Percival slowly appeared out of the Blur magic. “That was just 10% of it... there are marks in the snow from your steps,” Simon smiled.

“I'll at least knock you out once,” Percival said, smiling in a really annoying way.

Simon was the real deal. Although Percival was a good swordsman too, he could tell that Simon was leagues ahead of him. He should have brought his axe; he usually used it to slay monsters like the Spikes.

Simon finally disarmed Percival after a parry.

“You win, you little brat... you're lucky I'm not using an axe,” Percival said, smiling.

“Hmm... of course, of course,” Simon smiled. He knew Percival was testing him.

“Want to try fighting me with my axe?” Percival asked. Simon smiled and nodded he was a true battle junky.

But the snow and the axe were on the side of the northerner and as per his words earlier. He truly did knock out the boy a few times using grappling techniques.

<--->

The Dark Forest was teeming with life. The annoying monkeys, the giant pests of a mantis. Humans would be wasted traveling on these parts.

The hero of the era, Paramour, along with his party, was hauling a few more adventurers and even some additional supplies. They were traveling with the forest folks through the dark forest. It had been three days since they began the journey, using the special paths known to the forest folk.

Upon exiting the dark forest, a northerner was waiting for them. It was supposedly his day off, but he was there. “Sir hero, next time please don’t bring that much. The paths are meant for light travels,” the forest folk said, looking visibly exhausted. Well, as long as the supplies arrived, it was all good.

“Sorry, then we will continue heading north! Guys, let’s go!” Paramour shook hands with the forest folk and resumed their journey.

The exhausted forest folk clicked their tongues. Hina, their leader and Afara’s sister, expressed her frustration. “That fool... it's just my unlucky day... we're going home now!” She was the leader of the group that assisted travelers crossing the dark forest, as long as they were for the northerners' cause.

<--->

It was a rare sunny day in the months of wintertime, which usually lasted 3 to 4 months in the north, much longer than in other parts of the continent. The bell started to ring, and the warrior on watch screamed, “They are here!!! THEY ARE HERE!!!”

The gates opened, and Percival and Gallo were there welcoming the newcomers. “Oh!!! The hero of the era!!! Sir Searing Fire!! Can I touch your hands?!” Gallo said, reaching out his hands. Paramour gladly shook them; Gallo was such a fanboy, silently screaming.

“It's good to see you… and more backups too!!” Percival said as he waved at the newcomers.

“There are around 30 of us. I don’t know if our numbers would make a difference, but these are rank A and B adventurers. We will make it up to you with quality!!!” Paramour said confidently behind his smile.

“We also have some supplies coming from Elford and the south,” It was the black hood who was speaking. He crossed his fingers on both hands as a way of greeting, and Percival bowed in gratitude.

“Now that you are here rest for a while, we will start a meeting tomorrow,” The large northerner said as he picked up some of the heaviest boxes with ease, the adventurers who saw this were in awe.

Paramour nodded still he was looking around, he was actually excited about meeting his favorite sparring partner “Oh, where is Simon?” Paramour wondered.

“Gallo, how about you show the hero where Simon is? I will show the others to their quarters,” Percival suggested.

“Oh, then it will be my pleasure,” Gallo said, turning on his businessman smile.

<--->

The town was bustling with life; even the warriors atop the wall could hear the laughter of the scouts and warriors below. It was a snowball fight, a rare event on sunny winter days.

“That boy is flanking us!!! Fire to the right!!” shouted one of the veteran warriors, commanding a group of mixed villagers and off-duty warriors, they began throwing snowballs. Simon rode on a piece of board propelled by magic—a simple wind thrust written on the board that could be manipulated to propel him swiftly.

It was made by Gallo’s hands in an attempt to make the transfer of cannon’s easier.

“Simon, we will support you!!! GUYS, COVER FIRE!!!” another scout in training commanded, and the boys initiated a cover barrage of snowballs for Simon. The game was simple: the team whose snowman was destroyed first would lose. There were originally 8 teams stationed around the town, but Simon had already demolished 2 snowmen.

“That looks so fun!!” Paramour exclaimed.

It was the first time Simon was enjoying something purely for fun. Although he enjoyed eating, his primary joy came from fighting. Simon laughed as he dodged the snowballs.

If someone got hit, they had to restart back at their base, which was the snowman.

Paramour was certain that Simon's eyes were fully open; it seemed he had truly bonded with the townspeople.

“Can I join the fun?” Paramour suddenly asked.

“Of course! Just don’t get hit by the snowballs, or you'll restart at your team's snowman. Other than that, there are no rules—just declare your side!” Gallo said. He had been with Simon, but as soon as he heard the hero was coming, he joined the game.

“Can you please watch my things?” Paramour asked. Gallo gladly nodded as Paramour laid down his bags and spear. “Break the veterans apart!” Gallo cheered thinking who’s side the hero of the era would join.

Paramour jumped into the middle of the snow-covered town. Simon immediately noticed him and approached. “What team are you on?” Paramour asked.

“We are the young ones,” Simon said, gesturing to the boys and girls behind him.

“I’M JOINING THE VETERANS!!!” Paramour declared, and the fight restarted. Cheers from the veterans erupted.

Simon knew it was a bad sign “Damn!!! GALLO! GALLO!!!” Simon called out, seeking Gallo's strategic guidance, but Gallo was preoccupied with Paramour’s things and didn’t reply.

“We will support our new man here!!! HIT THE BOY!!!!” the veterans suddenly screamed after cheering on Paramour’s declaration.

It was total war. The day after Gallo's day off, there was a great demand for the snowboard.