The other 2 mountains were odd just like the previous. Mount Sjunka was like quicksand and tested the group’s speed. The group had to climb to the top before they could be swallowed up by the odd mountain that was as if made by quicksand. Rather than avoid struggling though, you had to do the opposite. Always keep moving.

The ground like a liquid yet not. Every step would be accompanied by a splashing sound yet there was no splash. Despite the nature of the ground though, just like Mount Cyklon and Mount Klippa, there would be something strange at the top. It wasn’t a statue or a shrine, but instead… It was a white duck that wore an elegant necklace with blue gems. There was an odd magical energy, something Kazius assumed was coming from the necklace.

“What…” Kazius trailed off, wondering how the duck was fine despite the sinking mountain.

‘Why are these mountains so weird? One of them even having a goddess living in it…’

“Has this duck always been here?” Alice would ask, entirely bewildered at the fact a duck could stand on such a mountain. The group would have little time to dwell on the matter considering they were constantly having to move and almost sunk into the mountain every second they stood still.

“Buahaha! Always! I always thought it was a weird thing! I wonder how old that duck is?” Damon would question only to actually get an angry quack from the duck as if offended at the question. Did it understand him or did the duck just not like being bothered?

Regardless, it was an exhausting place, they had all been running around quickly without end. Kazius wanted to go home.

‘Let’s just grab the duck and go… The necklace may be special.’

Kazius would at that try to do so, but rather than pick up the duck… It was like trying to grab water. The 3 would try to no avail, the duck slipping away each time while angrily quacking.

“What the..” Kazius trailed off, confused and exhausted, he gave up. The group would jump off the mountain. A problem for another day.

After recovering from such a climb, then there was Mount Eld. The last mountain to go before Mount Ulf. The burning mountain. The whole mountain was not exactly a mountain in Kazius’ opinion, it was closer to a volcano like the ones he heard could be found to the far South of Thimdur. The mountain was porous, fire erupting at random intervals from said craters.

Mount Cyklon had been difficult, but the climb up Mount Eld was just simply painful. The heat was unbearable. Everyone in the group would feel sweaty and uncomfortable.

“I hate this mountain.” Alice would groan was she would stagger forward.

“How did you climb this one, Damon? This place is insufferable.” Kazius admitted as he wiped sweat off his brow.

“Only once to be honest, I didn’t come up here again. Vargstam is pretty cold year round… This place is not what I am used to.” Damon admitted, even the cheery man sounded fatigued, not even laughing.

By the time they reached the top, Kazius felt like he was a puddle.

‘I am going nowhere near this mountain ever again if I can help it…’ Kazius would swear to himself.

Eventually though they would indeed make it to the top. Like the other mountains, Mount Elf would have something out of place at the top. Inside a pool of lava and fire in the center of the peak, there stood a charred black tree. The tree itself burning, yet it was not destroyed.

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Too hot to even think about going near such a thing nor wanting to risk it, Kazius would jump off once again. He wasn’t fire proof.

“It is finally over!” Alice exclaimed in relief, sticking her head into the river. It seems she was terrible in the heat. Damon and Kazius would go wash their faces, also relieved.

“I am glad too.” Kazius stated.

“Let’s agree to not go to Mount Eld ever again…” Alice agreed, still dunking her head repeatedly into the water. She just could not seem to get cool enough.

“Buahaha! Don’t get ahead of yourselves though. There is still Mount Ulf!" Damon admitted, “Mount Cyklon is still my favorite, but Mount Ulf is interesting… Just make sure you stay clear of the guardian. We can’t beat that thing… It is weird… It just… Well, it doesn’t matter. We just avoid it; it is very strong. I tried picking a fight with it and it nearly knocked me out with the push it gave me.” Damon would state with a sigh, seeming to be thinking of something.

This piqued Kazius’ interest, “Hopefully we won’t run into him… You said before, if we try and avoid it, it should be okay.” He stated, eager.

After all, he would finally get to see what Vind had told him of… He was almost tempted to pay her a visit after this, he wanted to ask about Seselis, the things on top of the mountains, and maybe anything else that came to mind after climbing Mount Ulf… But Kazius wasn’t sure he would leave such an exchange unscathed. Not after what he did to Damon’s spear…. She had been angry when Kazius simply ignored her wind, what would she do after he overwrote her sigil on her champion’s spear. Damon did not mind, but that did not mean Vind didn’t… Specially with how adamant she had been to tell Kazius she did not like him. No, the only way he would go to her was if it was an emergency.

Kazius would be snapped out of his thoughts by Alice springing her head out of the water, pulling herself up. Her hair would sway back, the sight being almost mesmerizing to Kazius.

Alice would then grab her soaked hair, wringing it out, noticing him staring. At which, Kazius would quickly look away, this causing her expression to grow a bit pink.

“Sorry for staring… I just… I noticed your hair grew, is all, now that I think about it.” Kazius admitted.

“Oh! Well yes, I did keep it short so it would stay out of view when I had my hood on… But I prefer it long… You should have seen my hair before I cut it. It would go all the way down my back.” Alice admitted with a small smile, seeming to remember something.

“Is… That so…” Kazius trailed off, embarrassed, “It… Suits you…”

“Thanks…” Alice trailed off. An awkward silence then occurring.

Damon at this would give them an expression that Kazius remembered seeing Azanor give him before. It was one of frustration.

“Is something wrong?” Kazius asked in confusion.

“it’s nothing.” Damon stated with a shake of his head at something as if in disapproval. The usually cheerful man furrowing his brows some.

‘What? Did Azanor and him start spending time together or something?’ Kazius would think in confusion.

“Okay… Anyway, I do want to rest today, but I would actually like to go to Mount Ulf first thing tomorrow. I am worried… We have been here for so long… Who knows what the Church is doing… I doubt they will give up in their pursuit… And with The Oracle, they will know where we will go… I want Vargstam to be a fortress before they even consider attacking it… But I do worry… I hope the spell Caleb is doing will be enough.” Kazius stated, changing the subject to something that has been on his mind.

‘If only there was some sort of book explaining how to do this… What if I make a mistake? No… I can’t be afraid… But even then… I can’t help but worry… I felt confident when I first got this position… But the longer I spend as Chief, the longer I realize that I have the lives of so many in my hands and that number will only grow…’

Kazius laid down, trying to cool off. The heat and his thoughts beings a bad mixture.

“Buahaha! I am sure it will be fine!” Damon tried to reassure.

“I suppose so.” Kazius trailed off, trying to be positive it seems. It was then he would think further, “Maybe we could go to Mount Ulf now…” He trailed off, indeed feeling impatient on the matter. He was just too uneasy even though he was tired from Mount Eld.

“Are you that excited to climb such a big mountain?” Damon would laugh, misunderstanding why Kazius always seemed to bring up Mount Ulf to the point he had suggested going straight there several times.

“Vind said to me there is a temple there with something for me see… Though you sound like you didn’t any temple… I wonder how well hidden that place is… Then again, maybe it is hidden by magic… Well… I suppose ‘we will find it one way or another…” Kazius trailed off.

“I am sure of it… So you should stop worrying and try and be patient… You are trying to be a king; patience is a good quality for one to have.” Alice pointed out with a hint of teasing.

“I suppose… Tomorrow then.” Kazius confirmed.