The northern morning air was bitterly cold, even though the sun was already quite high in the sky. A gentle breeze blew, sending snowflakes swirling with each step on the frozen ground.
Damian walked in front. Behind him, Liam kept a close eye on his surroundings, occasionally checking the wind direction and the tracks in the snow. Rin and Tessa followed behind, struggling to maintain their balance on the slippery, snow-covered path.
The expanse of snow stretched as far as the eye could see. Amidst the snow, the remains of old stone buildings could be seen, some of which had collapsed and been buried. Some walls still stood, though cracked and covered in ice.
Rin gazed around with sad eyes. "It's hard to believe this was once a kingdom," she said softly.
Damian nodded. "When I was little, I heard about Blaumont. They said it used to be the most prosperous place in the north. But now…" His gaze scanned the ruins in the distance. "…all that's left is rubble and snow."
Liam watched a few villagers walk past them carrying firewood. "The people here are still surviving… with whatever they have," he said.
Soon, they arrived at a small village on the edge of a wasteland. Dozens of wooden houses stood close together, their roofs buried deep in snow. The villagers eyed them warily until their gazes softened when they saw the Zephyrus emblem on Damian's coat.
A young man approached hurriedly. "Are you from Zephyrus Academy?" His voice was full of hope. "We need help. Wild beasts are increasingly coming down from the mountains and raiding our fields."
Damian nodded curtly. "We will help," he said calmly. "But before that, we need to assess the situation around the village to ensure it is safe from further attacks."
The young man bowed respectfully and then ushered them into the village.
Snow fell gently on the edge of the village as they followed the path along the edge of the forest. The air felt still—too still. No birdsong, no breeze.
Liam paused. "Why is it suddenly so quiet?" he muttered.
Before he could answer, the ground in front of them shook slightly. Damian immediately drew his sword from its sheath. "Careful," he said quickly. "Pay attention."
Suddenly, the snow in front of them was thrown into the air. Three large creatures emerged from the ground—giant white wolves with bright blue eyes and sharp teeth.
"Rin, protect the villagers! Create a wall of wind around the village!" Damian shouted.
Rin nodded and ran toward the village, but one of the wolves leaped after her.
"Tessa! Three o'clock, protect Rin!"
Tessa raised her hand, flames appearing in her palm and shooting toward the snowy ground. A small explosion ignited the area behind Rin, forcing the wolf to retreat with a roar.
"Liam, with me!"
Damian stepped forward. He raised Setsu'ryū and, in one swift stroke, pierced the chest of one of the wolves. Black blood stained the snow.
Liam raised his revolver and fired two shots. A small explosion struck one of the wolves in the head, knocking it down instantly. The last one howled and fled into the snowy forest.
Silence fell again. Only the sound of their breathing could be heard in the whistling wind.
Tessa rubbed her forehead, breathing heavily. "I… didn't think they were that strong."
Damian lowered his sword slowly. "This is just the beginning," he said softly.
They returned to the village. A thin layer of smoke still rose from Tessa's fire in the distance. When they reached the wooden gate, they saw Rin standing over two small goblin corpses with a bloody knife in her hand.
"They attacked one of the villagers," Rin said quickly. "I told everyone to take shelter indoors."
Several villagers cautiously emerged, their faces still tense. An old woman approached, holding Damian's hand. "Thank you…We didn't think anyone would come to help."
Damian smiled briefly. "No need for thanks. We were just doing our job."
A young man stood by the makeshift fire, his voice low but clear.
"The monsters always come from the direction of the forest… specifically, from the direction of the Evercrag kingdom. They say that the kingdom is also under attack, but they are able to hold out because they have strong defenses. And some of the escaped monsters are heading towards our village."
Damian gazed out into the dense, snowy forest in the distance.
"Evercrag, huh…" he muttered.
The wind picked up again, and the air felt colder than before. They knew the danger was not yet over.
Night in Blaumont Village
A bonfire burned in the center of the village, its light dancing among the gently falling snowflakes. Villagers gathered around it, preparing a simple meal as a token of gratitude to the Zephyrus disciples. Although the air was still bitter, the evening atmosphere was warm.
A little away from the crowd, Damian sat, mending the sheath of Setsu'ryū. The glint of his sword's steel reflected faintly in the firelight.
Tessa approached with two cups of warm tea in her hands. She handed one to Damian. "You were great there," she said quietly.
Damian turned and smiled faintly. "You too. If it weren't for your fire, Rin would have been hurt."
Tessa stared at the bonfire, her face calm but her cheeks slightly flushed. "I'm still scared, you know?" she said softly. "But when you started giving orders, somehow I felt calm."
Damian chuckled. "When you know you have to protect someone, that fear turns into strength."
Tessa stared at him for a moment, then smiled back. "Sometimes I forget... that you're different from the other Zephyrus children."
Damian raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled. "Different how?"
Tessa lowered her head slightly, her voice softer. "You're not arrogant, even with that much power."
Damian stared up at the night sky, covered in light snow. His breath was faint in the cold air. "I just thought," he said slowly, "if God gave us powers, there must be a reason. And maybe… a reason I'm here."
Tessa didn't answer. The two of them remained silent, enjoying the warmth of the fire and the quiet of the night. The sound of wood crackling softly in the north wind.
Not far from them, Liam was eating while chatting with some villagers, his face relaxed as usual. Rin had fallen asleep by the fire, clutching an open book to her chest.
The night in Blaumont ended peacefully.
The morning in Blaumont began with gray skies and a chilly air. Although the sun hadn't yet fully risen, Damian and his friends were already stationed in the village square with several villagers.
They decided to stay one more day to help strengthen the village's defenses in case another monster attack occurred.
Damian stood in front of the wooden fence that had begun construction, giving brief instructions. "Make sure this section is reinforced with rocks. If attacked again, it will at least hold out for a while longer."
Rin raised her hand, creating a vortex of wind around the wooden wall, strengthening its structure so it wouldn't collapse easily. Tessa ignited a small fire magic in her palm, drying the wet wood to make it more sturdy. Liam, meanwhile, helped the villagers hammer in the defense pillars, ensuring their formation remained neat.
The cooperation between them and the villagers progressed quickly. In no time, the village's defense fence was standing tall around the small settlement.
That afternoon, Damian spoke to one of the young villagers and asked him to guide them to nearby villages. The four of them set off, helping to reinforce several other villages in the empty area.
All day, they moved from one settlement to another—building fences, casting protective spells, and ensuring each village was well-fortified.
That evening, they returned to Blaumont and gathered around the inn's fireplace. It was silent, except for the soft crackling of the fire.
Damian unfolded the worn map in his hands. "Tomorrow morning, we depart," he said calmly. "Our next destination—Evercrag."
The others nodded. No one said much, but everyone knew: the journey ahead would be far more perilous.
The north wind blew fiercely outside, as if welcoming their steps into the mountainous lands that awaited them.