After a few hours of much-needed rest, Ice awoke feeling refreshed. His senses were sharper, his body lighter.
Aside from a few lingering scratches that still throbbed faintly, he felt oddly liberated. Since waking up in this strange world, he hadn't managed a single moment of real sleep until now.
He rose slowly, stretched his limbs, and cast a glance toward Celestia and Ray.
Ray was asleep with his arms crossed, his expression calm, as if he could awaken at any second. Celestia, who was supposed to be standing watch, was leaning against Ray's bag, completely lost in the world of dreams.
"She's really sleeping like there's no tomorrow," Ice thought with a faint smirk.
He clapped his hands sharply to wake them. It was time to move.
Ray stirred first, blinking as he looked around before sitting up. Celestia, however, jolted upright in surprise.
Stretching with a yawn, she mumbled, "Is it over already?"
Ice frowned. "We've probably been asleep for at least ten hours," he said. "Time to get ready. We're leaving right away."
With a resigned sigh, Celestia rose a few minutes later. She went to refill Ray's water bottles while Ice focused on gathering as much food as he could carry. Ray, already dressed in fresh clothes, no doubt he changed during the night, stood nearby. He had plenty of spares, after all.
While Celestia got ready, Ice and Ray remained silently stationed near the trees. Ray stood with his arms folded, his gaze distant. Ice stood on one foot, shifting his balance idly. A heavy silence settled between them.
Ice wanted to speak but couldn't seem to form the right words. Apologizing had never been his strong suit. Still, after a brief inner struggle, he made his choice.
"Sorry for getting you involved in all this."
Ray let out a soft scoff.
"So that's why you've been wavering all this time. For someone who barely shows any emotion, you're oddly easy to read."
Ice's gaze darkened slightly.
"I mean it. You almost died."
Ray gave a calm, confident smile.
"No; we almost died. I chose to follow you, and I don't regret it. You didn't let us down. Maybe I've grown a little cowardly lately... but people like you, courageous people, are the ones who bring change. Sadly, I'm not like that anymore."
A shadow crossed Ray's face at those last words. Ice noticed it and decided not to press further. Just knowing Ray didn't blame him was a relief. Frankly, Ice wouldn't have blamed him if he had.
"Thank you," Ice murmured.
Ray nodded.
They said nothing more, but this time, the silence between them was no longer tenseit had become something more peaceful.
"I'm ready!" Celestia's voice rang out cheerfully as she returned from the river, her hair still dripping, her face lit up with a bright smile.
Ice bent down to grab Ray's full pack.
"Let's go," he said. "We'll follow the plan we made back on the hill, stick to the river, and when it ends, head north."
Ray and Celestia nodded and fell in step behind him.
They descended a gentle slope and began walking along the river's edge. The trees had thinned out, offering little shade, and only the soft, repetitive murmur of the water accompanied their steps.
The sun, ever-fixed at its zenith in this strange world, beat down mercilessly. Without the protective canopy of foliage, its rays felt even more punishing.
Ice, in particular, was suffering. Sweat dripped from his brow, soaking into his clothes, which clung uncomfortably to his skin. His breathing was slightly strained, and his hair stuck to his forehead.
He turned to the others, about to complain, but stopped short.
They looked fine.
Ray had a light sheen of sweat at most, and Celestia didn't even seem affected, her expression was calm, composed, as if the heat didn't exist.
"I see… just me, then," Ice thought bitterly, wiping his forehead.
Apparently, he wasn't built for the heat.
Still, he chose not to voice his discomfort and kept moving. The end of the river was near, and the forest lay just beyond it. Shade and cooler air were finally within reach.
That's when Celestia suddenly narrowed her eyes, holding out a hand to stop him.
"Wait. What's that?"
Ice paused mid-step and followed her gaze. At first, he saw nothing unusual.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, squinting.
"There." She pointed.
Far ahead stood a single, solitary tree. It wasn't just tall or strange in shape, it was alone. No other trees stood within at least fifty meters of it. The area around it was completely barren, which, in a region as wild as this one, was more than suspicious.
Ray narrowed his eyes, but sighed in frustration. "I can't see it from here."
"We should check it out," Celestia said firmly.
Ice gave a silent nod, and they began walking toward the lone tree. After several steps, the shape came into clearer view. Both Ice and Ray stopped simultaneously as the sight fully registered.
Ice's eyes widened. "It seems your talents go beyond just sharp hearing."
Celestia gave him a proud smile, clearly satisfied with her early spotting.
As they approached, the tree revealed its strangeness. It didn't merely stand out because of its isolation—the light itself seemed to bend toward it.
No… not quite.
It was as if the tree drew in the light, absorbing it into a subtle, glowing aura. At its center burned a faint but unending flame, like an eternal ember cradled in its bark.
Then they saw the glowing letters carved into its trunk:
Lucius 3rd.
Ice stared at the inscription in silence, mind whirring. The name echoed in his thoughts, but no clear memory surfaced.
He turned to Ray, who was frowning, his face briefly darkened by confusion or something else, before his expression returned to neutral.
"Don't look at me," Ray muttered. "I have no idea who that is."
"This isn't helping," Ice said abruptly, turning away. "Let's keep moving."
Without waiting for a response, he strode toward the forest to the north. The heat was pressing against his patience, and he had no intention of lingering in it any longer than necessary.
Celestia and Ray exchanged a glance, then hurried to catch up. Ice had already put distance between them, cutting across the terrain with long, determined strides.
But just as he was about to step into the forest's shadow, he suddenly leapt back, hand on his sword.
His blade rang as it was drawn in one fluid motion, and he stood ready, eyes locked on the trees ahead.
The others froze, instinctively raising their guard.
Ice's posture was tense, alert. Something was wrong.
Then they saw it too, two figures emerging from the trees.