Dew covered the surface of the white path, yet as they continued toward the tomb, the droplets of water now glazed in ice. The ground, now covered in a sheet of white, accumulated past Ovid’s ankles. Thankfully the grass was incredibly tall, while only the tip was visible, it was still possible to follow the white path.

Ovid and Anna found this phenomenon quite interesting. Clearly, the weather was like a humid jungle the night before, why had it suddenly turned to winter?

The tall trees and green grass had turned white with an incredulous speed that greenery could still be seen in the distance. Only a few moments ago did they realise that the trees had lost their leaves, the grass withered and the streams of water had already gained a frozen surface.

A freezing wind came and went, chilling ones’ very bones were it not for Irene’s protective layer in the form of her umbrella. The temperature sharply declined, and a blanket of white covered all the surroundings.

Anna was still wearing the clothing for the weather in Juliana. Experiencing the cold permeating off the frosted ground, her body began to shiver in the faintest of manner. After a while, Ovid felt the trembling and stopped his footsteps. He took off his outer layer of clothes and covered Anna tightly with it. As Anna was still wearing sandals, he likewise took off his cloth shoes and help Anna put it on.

Ovid was only wearing a Chemise and walking on the snow barefoot. However, as his body temperature was probably even colder than the snow, it should not be harmful.

Anna was a little ashamed, like a little white rabbit, she hid her face and asked, “How long till the tomb?”

Ovid calculated the time and said, “It should be seen.”

It was indeed soon, as when they caught up to Irene and Aegis, they could see the outline of the tomb in the snow.

Even with such a distance between them and the tomb, the structure was evidently run down, much of the awe, such as the eaves, had collapsed.

The tomb was also abnormally cold, white snow was everywhere.

The next moment, a wolf emerged from a hidden burrow, swiftly, it lounged to bite Anna’s neck.

This wolf was a species that was seen only at the Northern Mountain Ranges, a strand of its fur could bring terror to the most wealthy of merchants, who could afford the protections of priests. This type of wolf was both intelligent and shrewd, but also possessed a strength that could even defeat a pact of normal wolves. The most horrifying part was that it possesses an extremely deadly bite that could instantly kill an elephant, not to mention a normal human.

While Margrethe had already instructed all the beasts not to attack the group, this wolf that had lived in isolation from the rest of the world, and naturally knew nothing of the phoenix’s authority. Even then, Irene and Aegis both possessed a mana fluctuation that clearly indicates they are no ordinary individuals.

However, the wolf still attacked them without hesitation, perhaps as the food was too scarce in this part of the forest, or perhaps it could sense the remaining scent of Julia on Anna’s body. Just as the wolf prepared to dive onto Anna, Ovid extended his hand, and a blade pierced through the wolfs body.

Ovid looked at Anna, he said, “Don’t push yourself.”

“I’m not pushing myself,” Anna replied, yet failed to tremble in her voice, half due to the cold, and half to the fear.

Ovid looked at the sun that was decreasing in intensity. He was aware that Anna had been rather troubled recently, but was not sure how to respond to in. In the end, he said, “Overly exerting your body will only bring it more harm in the end.”

Anna did not say anything.

Ovid’s reasoning was excellently backed up. Just then, the wolf had attacked her because she was in a weakened state.

Although the night sky was beginning to appear, there was seldom any spot for them to rest. Only after they arrived under a big evergreen tree did they stop.

Without the sound of boots and feet going against the snow, the world fell into a deadly silence.

After a long time, Anna stared at Ovid before she asked, “Why do you propose I do then?”

Ovid answered, “Take a rest so that your body can recover.”

Anna stayed silently for a while before asking, “Are you telling me to be idle?”

Stolen story; please report.

Ovid stared at her face pale and answered very bluntly, “Indeed.”

Anna reached her hand to take the wolf meat from the flames and said, “I have been idle for so long, I really don’t want to be anymore.”

Anna took the woof meat but did not eat it immediately.

Since her earliest days, aside from doing a few chores for Julia, she had done nothing of importance… even the most corrupt noble in Alexander’s Empire would still do some work once in a blue moon, yet she was many times wealthier than those nobles.

Furthermore, she had spent all her savings lavishly, shopping and bargaining on almost a daily basis, though she has no intentions of stopping it, none of the money used was earned by her. This caused her to feel even guiltier, to relief that, she would tour the market once more.

But now she had the ability to absorb and refine mana through the elves inhabiting the minor realm.

She placed the wolf meat onto the snow, causing the sizzling oil to seep into flakes, with her head down, she said quietly, “I don’t feel like I should rest, I owe much to you, Cai Hua and Julia.”

Ovid looked at her, unaware that seeds of pity became sown in his heart.

He had always thought that Anna had lived a joyous life, resulting in her eyes as bright as the stars in heaven. She had barely passed the age of sixteen, yet made to choice to leave Julia’s side, of course, there must have been some sort unwillingness for Anna to decide so quickly.

Though now they have Cai Hua acting like a wall to shield them, he truly cared only for Ovid and was not a permanent force.

Ovid consoled, recalling the words his mother often said to him, “I could have left you when I met Cai Hua in the village. But I didn’t, because you and I share the same love for science.”

Was Ovid not also like that? In his former life, he had been dependent on his mother, even after his death, he had not given her back nearly enough for her to bring him to life, and raise him to maturity.

Anna sighed and said, “I fear that I am the same sort of corrupt person as the villains written in storybooks. Aside from catching the eye of Julia, I don’t possess any great talent or beauty as you do. If I continue to leech off Cai Hua, I will seriously begin to feel self-loathing.

Perhaps as her mental state was weaker now that she had exhausted herself, that Ovid was the most significant individual in her life after leaving Juliana, and the monotonous voice of Ovid seemed almost transcendent of a human… Anna would probably have not said these words. In fact, immediately after she stopped speaking, she felt a sense of regret and wished to take back these words.

Alas, there was no medicine for regret, nor could Anna reverse time.

Ovid thought that perhaps Anna was overly harsh on herself. Her thinking would seriously damage her mental state and ruin that curious nature of hers.

Anna saw Ovid’s expression, with a sigh, she said, “A person like you would not feel inferior to someone.”

Since the cat is already out of the bag, bringing it to an end was the only logical conclusion.

Ovid, hearing this, questioned himself rigorously, searching through both his past and present life, he arrived at… nothing.

While he had experienced immense sadness in his past life, even somewhat humiliated due to his powerlessness, he had never felt inferior to a person or an object.

Anna chuckled and said, “You’re already a perfect person, adding onto that your density, it was not surprising.”

Ovid thought that the word perfect was overly narcissistic, and only fit to describe things such as equations. He replied, “I am not a perfect person, no one is. I have failed many times.”

Anna naturally could not understand Ovid’s unique form of thinking and asked, “If you worked hard, but still fail to gain recognition, won’t you feel shame?”

Ovid asked in confusion, “Even if someone finishes their research faster than me, it does not make mine any more insignificant. Why would I feel shame?”

Anna said, “I knew you for a long time by now, but I never knew that you couldn’t feel shame.”

Ovid tilted his head, wondering if Anna had eaten anything wrong to ask such an absurd question.

Anna sighed in a disappointed, yet also somewhat angered manner, struggling to retain her composure, she asked, “Please explain why you don’t feel any shame then.”

“I chose to dedicate myself to science not because I want recognition. If the moment one sees someone doing something they cannot and feel ashamed, how could people like Julia and Cai Hua live a prideful life knowing that they are not as good as a cook as you?”

Anna raised an eyebrow and said, “Without a goal, how can someone strive to improve?”

Ovid shook his head and said, “When you were reading the texts in the cistern, were you comparing yourself to other historians? The sheer knowledge learning grants you is more than enough for someone to improve.”

Ovid took the wolf meat that had gone cold and passed Anna a yam that was slightly burnt, he continued, “Mother told me that humans were evolved to perform labour, as long as they are not overworked and exhausted, they will naturally seek self-improvement. If a disparity between you and others are reasons for self-improvement, then why did anyone chose to abandon a nomadic life and settle down to become farmers?”

Ovid paused for a moment, recalling the answer his mother had given him, "That's because humans are selfish beings to want to grow and grow. If they are in poverty, they would seek a comfortable life, if comfortable, they would seek to live in luxury, and so on."

Anna remained silent, her quivering eyelash slightly blue from the frost. It was difficult to find her thoughts.

Ovid spoke once more, “Man, no matter what, are still communal creatures, if you need any help, at least I am willing to provide aid.”

Anna turned and faced Ovid, she asked, “I never knew that you could speak like this.”

The faintest of smiles appeared on Ovid as he said, “I am only repeating what my mother told me.”