Just a bit more. Mila’s goal was right in front of her. A wave of strong wind blew into her wet cloak, chilling her to the bone. It was getting colder. She could see her breath, and the still sticky blood began to stiffen with the help of the low temperature.

And with the arrival of the cold, the light began to retreat. All light sources but the one imitating the sun were snuffed out. Those who could cast a spell that brought light were finding their magic falter and fade.

Not that it mattered. The constant rain of the rocks and pebbles had raised a sea of dust. It would take time for it to settle. The freezing winds made sure the dust continued to dance through the air, obscuring the stilling world.

Mila took another step. It had been several minutes since she had killed that woman. Long, gruelling and terrible minutes full of pain and exhaustion.

Only her mind's refusal to let the thoughts of her girl allowed Mila to keep moving. Slowly. Surely. Extremely unsteadily. She tripped again.

The tiredness was chaining Mila’s limbs and pulling them to the ground. She took another step. The howling wind was now all she could hear.

All around Mila was a film of dust and the roaring of the wind. It was eerie and strangely lonely. She took another step.

Sometimes, the sounds of the battle returned. They seemed distant and distorted. Mila knew it couldn’t be that far. Her senses had picked a fight near her a few times now.

The defenders were being pushed back. It was happening too slowly.

Mila took another step. Then another. Then, a few more.

And when Mila took what seemed like the thousandth step, she hit an obstacle. Her toes brushed against a hard surface. She cleared her bleary eyes, trying to focus.

There was now a wall in front of her. Mila had made it. There were immense mana signatures around her, but it didn’t matter. The coldness was robbing her of warmth, but her goal was near.

Mila blinked again. Her muddled senses had missed a corpse at her feet. She looked at it through the swirling dust.

It was a soldier. His face was torn off, and his limbs were bent in unnatural ways. There was another corpse a bit further - another soldier.

It took Mila another few moments to realise there was a battle raging above her head.

The dust moved in anger as the winds picked up. Mila covered her eyes, letting her mana sense spread.

It was almost pointless. There was too much interference to feel anything but the most rudimentary fact - an unknown amount of strong people were struggling for dominance.

And inside the little fortress walls, all Mila could feel was mana. It was rigid and still, yet everywhere. “Can you do it?” She asked and received an affirmation.

The whisper blew another wisp of smoke into the air as Mila’s breath became ice. She staggered as the sound momentarily returned.

Roars of rage, screams, metal hitting metal and singing voices made Mila’s knees bend and…

Then it was over. The silence returned. Mila didn’t look up. She guessed the spell that kept the world silent was the very thing keeping the Inquisitors's mantras and prayers from interfering too much.

It was only a guess, but Mila felt it was right. Her guardian “angel” told her so. But those were just idle thoughts. Her mind was wandering. She rubbed her eyes again. They stung from the cold.

Mila steadied herself against the wall. She pressed her hand against it and began walking sideways - trying to circle the place. There had to be a way in somewhere. She couldn’t go up due to the battles. It was too risky. She already didn’t have the strength to avoid a stray attack.

While walking, Mila found more corpses. Not just the soldiers. A couple of nobles and their entourage had found their demise here, too.

A couple times, Mila had to pause. A few times, she had to force her body to move quickly, and one time, she had to silence someone who had survived the fall with just injuries.

And yet, Mila failed to find an entrance. Her stiff fingers scraped against the stone, hurting the dry skin.

It was still getting colder. Mila shuddered. She had stopped moving for just a moment, and only because of the old ghost’s reminder did she not fall asleep.

Mila closed her eyes. She covered her face in her palms and took a couple breaths. It didn’t help much. The chilling air rushed into her lungs, taking away more warmth.

Distorted sound from above came and went. The struggle over the control of the air continued. Mila was sure she would find the walls breached if she climbed up. But the danger…

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In the end, there was no choice but to risk it. Mila slumped against the wall and let herself slide to the ground next to a deceased woman. She closed the corpse's eyes and began tearing its robe.

Mila’s hands were too dry and stiff from the cold. She used the strips to cover her palms to protect them. Only then did Mila try to stand up.

On the third attempt, Mila succeeded. Her wobbly knees barely held. She felt fighting nearby on her left. They weren’t the powerhouses who ruled the air.

No, these were just soldiers fighting to their deaths with little hope of survival. Which still made them too dangerous for Mila.

It was time to climb. Mila turned around and carefully - as much as it was possible in her condition - followed the fights around her. She began to pull herself up the wall… Just to slide down as her grip failed to find purchase.

“With what goal were you sent here?” Mila glanced back at the approaching wolf. “Does Andrew trust me so little?” She whispered.

The wolf huffed. Its fur was covered in blood, and it had a nasty gash on its flank. His maw had chunks of flesh stuck on it, and he was chewing on more of them. He looked unimpressed by Mila’s cold stare.

“Well?” Mila watched the wolf stalk closer. This wasn’t perfect. The big beast could attract unneeded attention to this position. And it didn’t look like he would leave. She sighed, then spoke again. “Quick. Come here. Help me get up the wall.”

There was a small crack in the wall further up. Mila couldn’t reach it, but if the wolf would help…

The beast obeyed. He strutted closer with impressive swiftness and silence. It was apparent now how he had gotten through the many smaller battles scattered through the see of dusty air. It was easy to miss his passing without sharp senses.

“So you are here to help,” Mila concluded as the beast lay down next to the wall and waited for her to step on him. “Thank you.” She moved her leg on the soft fur.

Mila’s foot sunk into the mane until it met wiry muscles. She staggered but managed to keep her balance. Holding on to the wall helped. She also felt the wolf’s worried glance. “I am fine,” Was her automatic response.

Of course, the wolf was not fooled. He sniffed the air, then growled.

Mila almost fell when the wolf rose on her feet, lifting her well into the air. She felt people approaching. The wolf had noticed them soon, thanks to the impressive nose. Even Mila’s spell had not fooled it.

In a hurry, Mila pushed her bandaged arm into the crack before the wolf rushed away. She winced when the foothold vanished. Suddenly, her arms had to withstand the pull of gravity. Her whole weight tried to dislodge her palms and tear the cloth off of them.

A moment later, the wolf had completely vanished in the milky wall of dust. There was no sound. The dampening effect distorted again, but she didn’t hear the wolf fighting.

While pulling herself up, Mila wondered if her party had managed to push all the way to here. Was the wolf sent here because of the dagger? She had asked for help, and Mr Crow had delivered.

Perhaps Andrew and the rest had gotten worried about her. It was a soothing thought. And it helped to withstand the pain and effort she had to put into lifting herself up and finding another crack.

At least now, Mila had managed to find a suitable crevice to push her foot into. It helped, for a moment at least.

After a moment of pause, Mila climbed again. After each successful push, she paused. It was slow. It was cold. She continued.

The sound returned, then vanished. A splash of blood landed on her as a body fell just half a meter away from her. Mila continued. Her movements were stiff, and her body was unresponsive.

But the higher Mila got, the easier it became. More cracks appeared. A hole of two was punched through the wall. She tried to look through one of the holes but found only flickering light with nothing of note.

Thirteen people ran past Mila - stepping through the air, and began fighting five others. They were swiftly killed by the five, who then died in turn.

What had killed them? Mila couldn’t tell. The mana signatures just vanished. Nor could she muster fear of the unknown killer.

It was all just so exhausting. Milla crammed her hand into another crack and inched upwards ever so slowly. Her trembling legs and arms held, if barely. “What a sorry state I am, right Isabel? I really need your hug…”

Mila winced from the jolt of pain running through her body. She looked at the shallow cut on her arm. The strike had just scratched her, ruining mostly the cloth. But it had come unexpectedly and with great destructive power. It had left a deep wound in the wall.

Luckily, it hadn’t been aimed at her. Mila returned to her suffering. “You could carry me up in a moment.” She continued to mumble. It made her feel colder but helped to move. “Aren’t you going to come?”

“It is hard. Are you awake by now? They better not do anything to you. I am cold. I wonder where will you take me on that date… I need your warmth. Didn’t you want to be my shield? You should be here…”

Mila stopped herself… She wasn’t being fair.

If anything, it was all Mila’s own fault.

“... Shit…”

It was hard to think. Thoughts moved slowly and were unfocused. “But it would be so much better if you were here. You know, it has been just a short while, but I am already missing you so much.”

“I really miss you…”

“Really, really…”

The dusty air cleared up enough for Mila to see she was close. The wall above her was broken enough for her to worm inside…

“...miss you…” Mila cut the bandages around her palm on a sharp edge. She discarded the now unwrapping cloth and grabbed the large hole's edge. “... you… miss you…”

It took Mila all of her strength to pull herself up. The fuzzy feeling in her limbs continued to pull her down.

“... I want to be with you… Be safe…”

Mila peered inside the hole. There was light. With a huff, she moved her upper body inside the opening.

“... Please be safe… I will be back… Soon…”