Skip to a few days after that incident, all the citizens of Northern finally found out that the area they always thought was the low-caste region had actually once played a huge role for all the high-caste people in Northern.
They only knew that the low caste often rebelled and caused trouble, which supposedly led to their region being separated because of their own mistakes. But in the end, they learned the truth—that the low caste was created by the former leader of Northern, who built the caste system itself so they wouldn't be the same as those who were cast away once they were no longer needed.
In the end, they agreed with the change of leadership and quickly found a suitable replacement. He was someone who had once run for leadership but lost badly because the votes for him were manipulated.
Nic also saw that the new leader had no bad intentions at all and was genuinely good, so he left the rest to the new leader of Northern. Meanwhile, Nic had already finished his work in the area that used to be the low-caste region.
Nic had built a wall to hold back the snowstorms, and also repaired the infrastructure of that region to make it more alive and warmer, so it would be safer and ready if a snowstorm came.
Now the region was called the Northern Unity Region. All the people there were a bit confused and touched because they truly received facilities like the high caste used to have. Transportation was also available now, managed by the new leader, and they could travel across all of Northern without having to sneak around.
All the Northern elites had also been captured, and they couldn't defend themselves or fight back because they knew the threat was something they couldn't handle.
---
Fang, Helia (White wolf), Veyra, Aivar, and Bunny gathered on the highest mountain. From up there, it used to be nothing but empty snow and thick snow fog blocking their vision.
But now, from the top of that mountain, they could see lights, roads, and even some buildings already built. The highest mountain had now become a special mountain for the Northern Unity region, and they were no longer afraid of Galea, because she wasn't an apex predator anymore, but an apex savior.
Fang glanced at Helia, whose expression looked like he was holding something in.
"Hey Helia, now you don't need to pretend anymore. Just let it out," Fang said while holding White Wolf's shoulder.
Helia lowered her head, tears flowing, then wiped them. "I'm sorry… I hurt all of you for such a crazy goal."
Veyra approached her. "You're not alone, Helia. We used to be just as crazy in the same faction, but me and Fang realized it earlier… you were just late."
Meanwhile, Aivar was drawing with his deer antlers, sketching a raven. "The point is, we're lucky a kind figure showed up at the right time before we all got destroyed."
Bunny looked at Aivar's drawing. "I didn't expect it either. At first I thought he was just some idiot… but I was completely wrong. The world really is full of mysteries."
---
Then in the city of Nivaria, Fannar and Leora were having a rock-climbing race.
"Yoo!! Sis Leora, you're fast, but still too slow if you're climbing against me!" Fannar said while laughing.
"Tch, you damn goat," Leora kept climbing.
But in the end, Fannar still won. They sat at the highest spot in Nivaria, which was Fannar's house.
Fannar took a deep breath. "Yoo, it's been a while since it felt like this. Since you left, I actually swore I'd bring you back by joining a faction, but turns out I wasn't strong enough and just got crushed haha…"
Leora took a sip of her drink and looked at Fannar. "Yeah, that's because you're dumb for hoping to bring me back. Back then, I already believed White Wolf could slowly change things… but it wasn't that easy, and we ended up being used more by the high caste."
"Yoo, forget it. Now we're all free from the chains of the past that kept going… everything has been decided by my King Raven!!" Fannar said as he stood up.
"King Raven… huh? He really is a strange but kind figure. You guys don't even know his goal either, right? But let's just say he's a raven that brings good signs," Leora said while lying down and closing her eyes.
"Haha, but I prefer calling him Bro Nic. Looks like he'll be leaving soon," Fannar said before lying down too, exhausted.
---
Seraphine, Hermyra, and Sowa (Snowy Owl) were sitting by the edge of a frozen river.
Seraphine asked, "Do you guys have… strange feelings toward Nic?"
Hermyra and Sowa blushed hard.
"Mm… strange feelings? Maybe not strange… but for some reason I feel like I like him? Ah, don't tell anyone about this!" Sowa said while covering her face.
Seraphine pulled Sowa's hand so she could see her face, which was already very red.
"You don't need to be embarrassed, because I feel the same way too…" Seraphine said right in front of her.
"Huh…? Really…?" Sowa couldn't believe it.
Seraphine nodded, then looked at Hermyra. "What about you?"
Hermyra just turned her face away and said she didn't know. "That's none of your business… don't mess with people's feelings!"
"That means I can conclude you're in our group too, liking him but confused," Seraphine pointed at Hermyra.
Hermyra got annoyed, and the two of them started arguing again. Sowa was already tired of stopping them, they were like cats and dogs.
"Do whatever you want… I'm honestly tired of separating you two all this time," Sowa said weakly.
After a few minutes, they finally calmed down, their hair all messy.
Sowa held back a laugh. "Haha… anyway, why are you even fighting? Besides, it's not like Nic would see us as that special, right? We're just his companions."
But Seraphine and Hermyra immediately disagreed at the same time.
"He even gave me a special name, that means he cares about me…" Seraphine said.
Hermyra stood up. "He trusted me from the very beginning… so I have to trust my feelings… you should too, Sowa!"
Sowa just nodded and smiled.
---
At the Northern harbor, Ocha (Cold Orca) and Noah (Snow Falcon) were looking at Ocha's two orca whales.
Ocha cried seeing that her orcas were really fine, she even jumped in to hug them directly.
Noah also patted one of the orca's heads. "Wow, since we rarely interact, I just found out you actually have two tame orcas."
Ocha climbed back up and sat down. "Phew… I actually planned to hide them from all of you."
Noah looked at her teasingly. "You don't look that crazy anymore… calm and cute, did your barbaric side disappear?"
"Huh!?" Ocha's voice instantly turned fierce hearing that.
Noah quickly stopped her. "Okay, enough, just kidding. I know your barbaric side won't disappear."
While they were talking, Fino came with his adoptive little sister Pinny, wearing a cute white bunny outfit.
Pinny stepped forward in front of Ocha. Ocha looked confused, but suddenly Pinny bowed.
"PLEASE FORGIVE BRO FINO FOR HURTING YOUR ORCA! I heard the story and I felt bad for the orca, but luckily it's healed now, right??" Pinny said innocently.
Fino sighed. "You don't feel bad for me, huh Pinny?"
Ocha scratched her cheek. "Well… how do I say it? If you ask me to forgive… there's nothing wrong. It's normal he almost killed my orca because my orca also tried to kill him haha… so it's the same, and we've made up anyway."
Pinny sighed in relief. "Thank goodness… I already knew, but saying sorry is still important even if both sides are wrong. What's wrong with apologizing? It makes things feel better hehe!"
"I-is that so… then I'm sorry too," Ocha said with an awkward laugh.
Pinny nodded and said she forgave her, then pulled Fino away like a child.
"Having a little sister like that seems fun, huh Ocha?" Noah said while poking her waist.
Ocha brushed him off. "Yeah I know that, and don't tell me you want me to be your little sister? Dream on!"
"Oh come on, your cute side really fits being a little sister~" Noah teased.
"SHUT UP! I'LL STAY BARBARIC IN FRONT OF YOU!" Ocha shouted while pushing Noah, and they kept joking around.
---
Meanwhile in Ventervirk, Felicia was partying like usual with the underground citizens of Vintervirk. They were singing as they celebrated victory and calling out Felicia's name.
"STOPPPP!!" Felicia shouted.
The citizens were confused, one of them asked why stop when they were having fun.
"Ahem… I know I'm the one who saved you… but I'm tired of being mentioned all the time, it makes me embarrassed… it's better if you say King Raven's name because he helped me too, fufufu~" Felicia said, still tsundere and narcissistic as usual.
The citizens were confused but eventually continued, now mentioning King Raven's name in their song.
Vintervirk was very happy because they no longer had to be afraid of going to the surface. Up there, there were no longer predators, but other citizens who could move around freely and safely without traps.
Meanwhile, Winnie (White Bear) in the corner just drank while watching Felicia's usual behavior. "Huh… such a validation seeker even though she didn't do much haha."
Felicia heard it even from afar and approached Winnie. "Ohooo someone's jealous? Come on, join the singing, they're not scared of you anymore… we've been besties from the start… they know that!"
Winnie refused because she was embarrassed and lazy to do that, but Felicia forced her, and in the end she was just moved around like a puppet.
---
Meanwhile, Nic was in a decoration shop with Quinny and Eira.
Eira was confused. "Um… why do I keep getting brought along like this?"
Quinny whispered and said that from now on, Eira didn't need to think about anything, whether it was a place to live or people who would hurt her, because she would be safe and find a home and a new family.
"Really… I can get something like that? Do I have to predict something to get it…?" Eira asked.
Nic approached her and gently patted her head. "No need, you just need happiness without paying for it."
Quinny looked at Nic carrying a big bag. "What did you even buy?"
"Just decorations and accessories for them over there. Later, can you deliver them?" Nic replied.
"Aren't you going back there again?" Quinny asked seriously.
Nic stayed silent. "Maybe… someday."
Quinny was confused by what Nic meant, why he spoke as if going back now was impossible.
After chatting for a bit and taking care of gifts for Nic's girlfriends there, Nic went to a quiet place and called someone.
"So, how's the situation now?"
Mei Tsukino was sitting casually. "Her condition is bad and she's under heavy stress. Since all transportation has been shut down, she can't go back and doesn't know where to hide."
"I'll come to her right away. Show me the location."
Mei Tsukino immediately gave the location of Shen Akira, who was still in the capital of Rusfin, and now Shen Akira was trying to contact her connections as a last resort so she could escape from Northern.
To be continued...