❆ ❆ ❆Chapter Twenty❆ ❆ ❆

Staring into the Abyss

[Snow]

A repetitive crackling slash painted the tree bark with a splatter of blood.

“I told you, to back off.”

Three dark wolves laid dead at Snow’s feet. Blood dripped from the near transparent frost blade. The callous nature of this place had hardened her, but no matter how many predator lives she was forced to take, it never felt “natural” or “good.” Snow had already lost track of the amount of days, shes been here. “Calendars will drive you insane,”Aela said. The only timely orientation Snow had was that before she had entered this world, her birthday was the following fortmonth, based on the length of her hair and “other” indicators, today may as well been the day.

“Happy fifteenth birthday for me I guess..” Snow said as she wiped the blood off her blade using the carcass of the wolf she killed. She didn’t like killing wolves because she felt a close connection to them. Wolves never lie, and their intent was easy to understand. At least Snow found solace in knowing these wolves wouldn't be a threat to Mina’s pack. Mina’s pack had grown in number considerably, but so has the feral dark wolves. There was just something different about them that radiated evil. Once Icebreaker was clean she let it go and the blade slid up her hand and latched itself underneath her forearm, shortening to match her arm length.

Snow arrived at her destination. The swirling wind was clearly disturbed, indicated by its depressive dance and discolouration. Snow flicked a magic marble into the tornado. The marble popped releasing a swirl of blue restorative magic into the tornado. The tornado stopped flashing indicating the effects of the priming magic.

“Well that’s the last one, time to head back.” Snow left the site and stopped at the three wolf carcasses, “Might as well not waste this kill.” She figured she would skin some of this wolf meat and then head back to the house.

Snow took out her skinning knife, but after a few cuts she was dissatisfied. She raised the blade into the air, examining the edge. The edge was dulled, and warped with some small bends. “Aela really needs to find a new sharpening stone already.” The skinning knife went back into its sheath and Snow held her hand out. Icebreaker slid out from her forearm, into her hand and transformed into a sword. Snow focused on the blade and it began transforming into a skinning knife, but it was even more dull.

Snow sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes. “Come on Icebreaker. I know skinning is beneath you but I don't want to waste more time than I have to.” Icebreaker did not respond. “Hey, I’m supposed to be the higher up here! Stop playing around and sharpen up!”

At that command the blade actually began to sharpen and lengthen, but icebreaker didn't stop lengthening until it became a full sword. Snow looked at the new shape with concern.

“What is it, Icebreaker?”

Then Snow felt it, a strange but familiar presence. It was as if the air tasted sour and everything felt heavier. Whispers filled her ears. Snow turned to the direction of the tornado and saw something in the distance. She squinted her eyes trying to get a better view, once the shape was perceivable Snow got up and hid behind a tree.

It was one of those knights in black armor. The same one that attacked her and Lamille back in Regalia. The whole reason why she was stuck here.

Snow could feel the approach of the knight. He felt like a fire that was growing hotter and hotter the closer he approached. Until she actually started sweating.

Stolen novel; please report.

The knight stopped at the triad of slain wolves and examined them.

A disgusting bodily tear was heard followed by the crunching of organic matter. When the crunching stopped, heavy footsteps were heard coming her way, supplemented by the feeling of scorching hot heat. Snow didn’t have to peek to know he was approaching her.

Was she discovered?

Snow gripped icebreaker tightly. She remembered vividly the speed, power and regeneration the knight who fought Lamille. This overwhelming feeling of crushing presence was the real deal. If she was spotted, there was little chance she could win.

The footsteps stopped. She could feel him, the knight was just behind her tree, unmoving. She heard his breathing, behind the slimy noise that was just heard from under his helm, there was a real nasty wheeze like someone who had an asphyxiation.

“Re…ga…li…a.”

She put her left hand over her mouth as this thing inched closer and closer to her hiding place. Sweat dripped from her chin as she prepared herself to burst out with an attack.

Suddenly, a loud explosion was heard. The ice giant was throwing a tantrum nearby.

The knight turned in response and began marching towards the noise.

Snow breathed a sigh of relief. That annoying tantrum-throwing giant actually helped her out for once. Once Snow left her hiding spot she saw that all the wolf carcasses were gone, no doubt consumed by that monster.

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

Snow returned to their small humble abode. Aela was seen chopping some wood. Aela didn’t even turn her way but still greeted her presence.

“You are late, I hope you weren’t slacking off to avoid training time.” Aela chopped the next piece of wood.

“Aela, remember when I first got here, to this world. Do you remember those attackers that tried to break the seal from the other side?”

“Yeah, and you jumped in to escape them. What does that have to do with your slow route today?” She readied the next wood to be chopped.

“I saw one of those guys in black armor, a black knight. I barely managed to hide from him.”

Aela brought the axe down, completely missing the piece of wood nearly splitting the stump itself.

Snow couldn’t see but Aela’s face grew angry, and not just Aela’s usual anger, It was an anger of pure hatred that could not be described with any assortment of words.

“Impossible. They can only come out during the night cycle.” She responded as if it was a fact.

“So you know about them? Wait? There's more than one here? Why didn’t you tell me?!”

Aela turned to look her right in the eyes as if reading her.

“You remember what I said about the weather wearing my seals down during the night?”

“Yeah.”

“Well that wasn’t the whole truth, the black knights are mainly responsible. I figured you destroying a seal weakened all the other ones. But what is actually happening is that the black knights have been weakening them and at this rate it will be impossible to catch up.”

“There are more than one? Can we do anything about it?”

“No, we are boned. The day time restriction was the only reason I was able to stay on top of them. Now if they aren’t restricted at all they have free reign on my defenses. Actually all they would have to do is camp around one and its game over for me. But why now out of all times? First someone tries to break the seal in Lucredia, you appear, and now they have day time immunity. It is too convenient. There is something happening, they are plotting something.”

“Can't we just fight them? I doubt they can hold a candle up to you.”

“Good joke. Fighting them is impossible. We lose. You might get your wish of going home, but there wont be a home to go back to if they break the seals.”

“Why is it impossible? Are they really stronger than you?”

“I can't fight them, their black blood eats any frost magic I can throw at them including myself. They are almost impossible to kill with their regeneration.

“So what can we do about it?”

“I need some time to think.

“Sounds like we don’t have a lot of time if they are walking around now.”

“That's correct, now it's time to resume your training.”