Four individuals strolled through the snowy landscape, where the ground and trees were already half-covered in a blanket of white. Fortunately, they could still make out the path ahead. The group continued walking back north, to White Rey Fortress.

Ella’s breath was visible in the chilly air. “Are your hands okay?”

Aria displayed her hands, now healed from cuts and bruises. She wore a long fur scarf around her neck, providing both warmth and beauty. “Thank you. They’re fine now. Your healing spell is always effective.”

Ella smiled and rubbed her own hands. Despite wearing thick gloves, the cold still seeped through. “That’s good to hear. Will Raccoon be alright?”

“No need to worry. He is doing well now. He said that ‘his body like a good new’. Furthermore, snow is his best walk field.”

Both of them glanced back.

Slosh! Flop! Rain slipped on the snow and ended up his head drove in a snow pile.

Ella furrowed her brows. “Are you sure?”

Aria gave a dry smile. “Maybe not.”

Flop! Rain’s head flopped out from the snow, particles of light shimmering in his eyes. In his hand, he held a large white mushroom, its beauty resembling angel wings.

He looked at both saints and waved a hand.

Aria nodded.

Rain gave them a thumbs up, placed the mushroom in his bag, and walked away from the group towards the forest.

Faye followed him. Their voices echoed through the forest as they engaged in lively conversation.

Ella tilted her head. “Where are they going?”

“He’s looking for food,” Aria replied, turning her body and continuing to walk.

“At this time? Alone?” Ella followed Aria.

“Yes, he feels sorry that he is a burden and wants to do something good for us.”

“At least tell me something before you go,” Ella said.

“Are you going to help him?” Aria asked.

“Definitely not. I hate dirt and getting my hands dirty,” Ella said.

“Um, sorry for dragging you here,” Aria said. She reached her hand in front and moved a water puddle away, making the land easier to walk on.

“Awawa, I didn’t mean that. I just don’t want to be like him, with dirt and mud staining everywhere. In this wild place, especially during winter, it’s hard to find a water source to clean our bodies. If both of us get dirty, you will have more trouble on hand.”

Aria dusted the snow off Ella’s shoulder and said, “That considerate thinking of yours makes me happy, Ella.”

A spark of life appeared in Ella’s eyes. She jumped and hugged Aria’s arm, saying, “Aria, I’m also happy when I’m with you, only you.”

“Um,” Aria touched Ella’s hand, and they both continued walking. They struggled a little, but the increased heartbeat made their bodies feel vitalized.

They both keep Walked for hours, sun already set up centered their head, some life and animal has looked out to keep warmth from the sun. Or looked for more food.

Surprisingly, they saw black and red dot far away.

“Aria, Ella, over here!” Rain called out, waving his hand.

Aria waved back, greeting them.

Ella, however, looked confused. She glanced back and forth, questioning, “Why is he there? How did he reach there before us?”

“He found a shortcut on his way. There was a river that had frozen, creating a path. So, they used that to cross.”

Ella nodded, understanding what Aria said, but still feeling that something was amiss.

As Aria and Ella approached them, they noticed that Rain’s bag was full of mushrooms and plants. He sat on a stone, eating a berry. Faye also had some berries in her hands, smiling widely as she tasted them.

“Would you like some?” Rain offered a berry to Aria. As expected, his hand, face, and shirt were all dirty.

“Thank you, but I’m not hungry yet,” Aria replied, controlling the water to clean his face and hands.

“Ok,” Rain turned head to Ella, “Ella needs one?”

Ella swiftly turned her head. “Hmph! Dirty raccoon.”

Rain tilted his head. “What? It’s already clean, super clean, Ella. No poison or dirt, I guarantee it. Trust me, I’ve already eaten it. It’s Snow Burry, the rare kind that only ripens during the first snow. It accumulates life from nature for a whole year, making it sweet and full of flavor. All animals see it as a holy grail. According to an old folk tale, it can reverse aging by a year with just one piece.”

Faye smiled and reached her hand out, saying, “So, if no one wants it—”

Swoosh! Aria swiftly moved her hand and grabbed the bag of berries before continuing to walk.

The other three stood still, their emotions complex. Faye’s hand hung in the air, her eyes blinking. Ella was shocked, but quickly followed Aria.

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Faye came to her senses and dashed after them, saying, “Not fair, Maiden! I’m the one who found it, too.”

“No, Red Witch, you already ate it. He’s the one who found it and dug it up. Your hands are completely clean,” Aria replied.

“Tsk! I should have helped him dig it,” Faye said.

The three ladies left, leaving only the Digging Man. A tiny tear shed down his face. “I only ate one piece, but you took it all.” With his head drooped and weak legs, he followed the others.

They continued walking for half an hour until they found a place where a big rock had been cut in half vertically, providing the perfect resting spot away from the snow.

Thud, Aria carefully placed her bag and belongings on the ground. “We will take a break here,” she said as she set up the portable camp stove.

Click! With a smooth motion, she started the stove, and warmth immediately filled the air, dispelling all traces of ladies’ weariness.

On top of the stove, she placed a kettle, allowing the fire to chase away the cold from the metal. It didn’t take long for her to add some herbal tea, filling the air with its delightful aroma. The scent of spices and the warmth of the tea tickled their noses.

“A ginger tea?” Ella said.

“Yes, it will make it easier for you to withstand the winter,” Aria responded, as she lifted the kettle and poured the tea into cups. Then, she took out a sachet. “Sweet, two, as usual?”

“Um, as usual,” Ella confirmed.

Plop, plop, then Aria handed cup to Ella. She also gave her Snow Berry.

Aria glanced at Faye and asked, “Faye, how many do you want?”

“I’m good with just the pure tea. The Snow Berry flavor is already full of life,” Faye replied.

“Really?” Aria handed her a cup and berries.

“Try it. It’s hard to put into words.” Faye took a berry and sipped some tea. She closed her eyes, smiled, and her amulet jingled. “Ah, this is life.”

Ella followed suit and placed a berry into her mouth before sipping the tea. As she did, her iris transformed into a sparkling star and her feet swayed. Her body hair stood on end. “Wawawa, so, so, this flavor is so rich and delightful. The sweet and sour blend perfectly, melting with a creamy touch. And not only that, the fragrance fills my lungs with a refreshing breeze. This one is truly exceptional.” Ella quickly glanced at Aria. “It’s amazing! It brings so much joy and vitality to my mana.”

Observing Ella’s reaction, Aria tried it herself. Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth in awe. “It’s so gentle.” Her mana overflowed, causing her hair and the surrounding snow to float in reverse. “Faye, how many of these berries are there? Did he take them all? Is there more to be found?”

Faye, still in a cheerful mood, looked at Aria and smiled. “I’ll tell you the truth. These berries are of a sacred type. He has already harvested them all. They were located in the center of the lake, hidden beneath the reflection of the frozen field.” She touched her arm and continued, “Aria, you can feel it too, right?”

Aria nodded and handed another berry to Ella. “Yes, my mana gate has expanded a bit, and it feels pure and free of impurities. Additionally, my skin has become smoother, and I feel healthier internally.”

Faye smiled. “It’s truly a remedy for youth. It’s priceless. Even if you have money, you can’t buy it.” She took another berry and smiled contentedly. “Ah, the wonders of life.”

Aria also took another berry and followed it with a sip of ginger tea, enhancing its flavor. She smiled warmly, joining Ella and Faye in their indulgence.

The three women blissfully enjoyed the pleasures of life, engaging in lively conversation and laughter, unaware of the man watching from a distance.

Thud! Rain’s bag slipped from his shoulder. The bag was filled with mushrooms and plants. His hair was messy, and his hands were dirty again. He let out a heavy breath, and white air sprayed into the air. He gazed at the group of ladies enjoying their tea, a tear escaping his empty eyes and turning into a crystal that scattered in the wind. “Why didn’t you invite me?”

—§—

Rain sat huddled in a corner, not engaging in conversation with anyone.

“Raccoon, we’re sorry. We didn’t mean to forget about you. We were just resting and waiting for you,” Ella tried to explain to him.

Rain rotated his butt, not wanting to talk to her.

Aria had already packed up all the camping tools and was ready to leave. She looked at Rain, giggled, and then approached him. She washed his hands and face with a water-ball and said, “Please don’t be so angry. You need to keep warm to fight the snow. We will make a delicious mushroom dish for dinner as an apology. Is that okay?”

Rain hesitated for a moment before nodding and saying, “Um.”

Aria took off her own scarf and placed it around Rain’s neck. “Is that way is better?”

Rain smiled and replied, “Yep, there’s a cave that serves as a shortcut to the northern side of the mountain. However, there are some monsters in there.” He reached a hand out to help Aria tie the scarf, but she pushed it away.

“Okay, let’s go that way. It will save us three days worth of time, and the cave will keep us warm and conserve our stamina,” Aria said, as she finished tied Rain’s scarf. It was in beautiful bow shape. She smiled at him and asked, “Does it feel warm?”

Rain looked at her with half-closed eyes and said, “Yeah, it’s warm. But Aria, I’m a man, not a girl.”

Aria gathered her belongings, glanced at her teammate, and signaled with a nod. Then she walked off the nature trail in the direction Rain had just come from. She looked back at Rain, “But it suits you well, little Rain.”

Ella followed Aria, and as she passed Rain, she looked at his scarf and said, “Humph! You thieving raccoon. I’ll add some devil chilly to your mushroom dish.” She then continued walking ahead.

Rain had a bewildered smile and asked, “What is this?”

Faye approached him and gently touched Rain’s hand. “Rain, I have some spare lace gloves adorned with beautiful flowers. Would you like them? I think they would complement the scarf you’re currently wearing,” she said, playfully teasing him with her eyes.

“F-faye, are you also on their side?” he asked.

“It depends on your answer. If you say yes and accept it, I will stand by your side. But if you say no…” Faye smiled at him, her eyes glowing. “I’ll still be by your side, but closer.”

Gulp, “Lady Faye, could you please lift your hand? My hand is dirty, and I wouldn’t want to soil your precious gloves. I don’t have the money to replace them,” he said, avoiding eye contact by looking to the left.

Faye giggled. “You know, it’s also cute how you pretend not to hear well and change the topic. Ah, I’ll try that too.” Faye blinked her eyes, eyes return to ruby red, and then firmly grabbed his hand. “Has my voice…touched your heart?” Her voice was pleasing and clear, like still water reflecting the surroundings.

Rain’s eyes widened, and no words escaped his mouth. His mouth hung in the air as the temperature rose on his face and his heart rate increased.

Faye released her hand, then slowly covered her mouth. “Hehe, my thoughts were right. Now, I know your wavelength,” she said. Then she swiftly moved, following Aria and Ella.

The warm sensation still lingered on his hand as Rain slowly lowered his head to look at it. To his shock, fire covered his entire hand.

Swoosh! Rain swiftly ran towards the nearby snow.

Char! The fire extinguished with the snow. A pleased voice rang in Rain’s mind again. “Do you like my warm fire glove? If you evade my question again, I will create a new warm wearable for you, Rain.”

“Argh! Why are you so mean to me?” he said in his mind-link.

“Huh, Rain, what happened? Why do you call me mean?” Aria said through the link system.

“Ah, nothing. I was just talking with a beautiful flower, but it had thorns,” Rain said, cool sweat beading on his forehead.

“Ah…okay, when you’re finished, please follow quickly, alright? I don’t have time to find lost children again. Don’t make me tie you up with ropes, okay?” Aria said.

“Okay,” Rain said, instinctively nodding.

“Good choice of words, as expected of you, Rain,” the Red witch said with a teasing tone.

Rain sat on the ground, drawing his knees up. “Why are all women so dangerous like this?”

Suddenly, a warm sensation caressed his head, providing solace. “Ah, except for you, Ria. Your beautiful heart is so kind to my tiny soul, and your warm touch keeps me alive. I am grateful that the Earth mother has blessed me with you by my side.”

However, the warmth immediately disappeared, leaving Rain puzzled. “What? Did I do something wrong, Ria? Why did you run away like that?”