Snow, when was the last time I saw it? Probably in Eleum Loyce. Despite its sad history and dangers, the frozen city, shrouded in snow and icy winds, held a special place in my memories.
There was a certain beauty in its ruins, making me long to know more about its history and to visit it in its glory days, except for the Frigid Outskirts, that white hell and its limitless number of reindeer can go burn in the fires of Chaos for all eternity.
Remembering the Chaos made me remember Alsanna and her eternal duty to keep the Flame dormant. Of all her sisters born from the abyss, she was the only one who didn't deserve the tragedies that befell her.
I hope she is safe and unharmed; after all, I defeated the dangers of the city that protected her and obtained her soul as a reward for relieving the charred knights from their suffering. I don't know what the consequences would be for a creature of darkness to live without its soul.
It was a subtle gesture, but I reached into my bag, feeling the hilt of Eleum Loyce, the sword I forged with the reward given to me.
"BBRRR! Honestly, I don't know how you managed to be in the cold dressed like that."
Warfarin shivered, warming her hands in her armpits as she walked beside me. I looked at myself, still wearing my Lion Mage and Northernwarden attire, but with my hood pulled up to keep the snow from falling on my head.
"I don't see what's wrong. I don't feel that cold."
Nor hot, to be honest. I wonder what her reaction would be to seeing me walking on lava.
"Honestly, I don't think I'll ever understand how you work."
You and me, Warfarin, you and me.
The vampire wore several layers of clothing made for the occasion, but I could only see her thick red coat with a white hood and trim, brown gloves and boots, and black pants.
The snow crunched beneath our feet as we walked through the city of אבן שחורה, whose population was mostly composed of gargoyles, some with wings, others with tails and horns, all, none, and other combinations.
Knowing that craftsmanship was one of the greatest skills of their race, I shouldn't be surprised by the number of blacksmiths, stonemasons, carpenters, and other professions based on building something.
We received curious glances, less intense compared to the other places we visited, due to the Lord of this region being a member of the Royal Court, and consequently, an ally of the King, making the population more accustomed to the presence of individuals from the capital.
I wish it were just that, but I had to deal with a problem similar to the one I had when interacting with the gargoyles on the expedition. The fact that these people had a keen eye for the absurd quality of my equipment compared to what was produced by the local blacksmiths.
"No, for the last time!"
I politely, though more forceful, refused the offer made by the man who rushed towards me. He frowned, clicking his tongue before walking away with heavy steps, muttering insults directed at me.
"That's the tenth time today. Is it so hard to get rid of something you never use? How about selling one of your simpler pieces and getting some extra coins?"
Warfarin laughed; I knew she was joking, but I couldn't help but feel a pang of resentment at hearing such an absurd suggestion.
"Absolutely not. Do you have any idea of the time and effort spent building my collection? Even if I don't use them all, each of my items tells a story too valuable to be discarded. I'll only part with them on special occasions."
Time in Drangleic didn't make sense, so I may have spent years killing enemies to acquire and upgrade almost every piece of equipment in the kingdom and surrounding regions.
Some were particularly annoying due to the low chance of dropping anything after death, but seeing my inventory fill up gave me a pleasurable sense of accomplishment and motivated me to continue.
"Oh, you gave me Reduvia and a pair of rings, does that mean I'm special to you?"
I looked down, meeting her familiar amused expression, then replied:
"Yes, you are. You're one of the first people I met in Kazdel, and I believe we've spent more than enough time together for me to consider you that way."
Her eyes widened for a second, then she looked at the ground, hiding her face and delivering a punch to my arm, which felt more like a gentle touch due to the layers of soft clothing.
"Don't say things like that out of nowhere."
Unlike before, her tone was more restrained, almost shy. I wondered what I had done wrong. Was what I said something bad? Hm… I've never been the best judge of emotions. I'm learning to be a person now that I live in a civilization that hasn't collapsed.
Anyway, we continued on our way, approaching the foot of the mountain range. Only a fraction of the city was built outside; the rest, like the first village I visited upon arriving in this world, was carved into the rock, with houses and other structures carved inside.
We followed a wide road of gray blocks, spotting a large entrance arch with a double stone gate covered in carvings and ornaments written in ancient Kazdelian. According to Warfarin, they told the legend of the first King, the birth of the Sankta, and the war against the invaders from the sky, although much of the text had been worn away by time, erasing many of its passages.
Buldrokkas'tee awaited us there. I didn't comment, but I found it funny how, besides his dark robes and armor, he wore a simple plaid scarf around his neck and a hat on top of his skull to keep warm, both looking too small compared to his size.
"ACHOOO!"
His sneeze sounded like thunder, then he grumbled, lowering his head and brushing off the snow that had accumulated on his antlers.
"You two took long enough. I'm freezing here."
"Sorry, but all the artisans in town have taken a sudden interest in our friend here."
Warfarin pointed at me with her thumb, and I sighed, wishing I could forget the time we wasted arguing with those people.
"If they want better equipment, then they should hone their skills instead of bothering us."
The vampire and the wendigo laughed, and I couldn't help but smile at my own comment, then we crossed the gate, entering the rest of the city. I was used to seeing the ruins and decaying cities of Kazdel, however, I was amazed by what I found on the other side, as אבן שחורה could be described as clean, beautiful, and organized.
The rest of the city was massive, not as much as the capital, but still large when compared to the places we visited. Built inside a gigantic chamber illuminated by giant braziers hanging from the ceiling, its buildings stretched as far as my eyes could see, eventually reaching the cave walls.
Although not tall, the houses and other constructions compensated with beauty. Every door or window frame, roof edge, wall, and more, possessed some kind of decoration, be it large arches, pillars, statuettes, blocks, or patterns of different geometric shapes.
There were squares with large fountains spouting water, realistic statues of men and women in different poses, almost lifelike, various workshops where diverse arts and crafts were practiced, and what one would expect from other cities, such as taverns, inns, shops, and more.
It wasn't as if there weren't happy people in worse places, but here, there seemed to be no problems. It would be naive to think so, but there wasn't something screaming in my face that something was wrong.
The crowds continued walking, talking, going about their daily lives, the children laughed and ran through the streets, chasing a ball. Wafarin and Buldrokkas'tee didn't seem surprised, but I felt like I was in an illusion too good to be true.
-XXXXXX-
The walk was long, but pleasant. We stopped at the inn where the expedition had stayed; the beasts rested in the stables and enclosures, and the wagons underwent basic maintenance.
Everyone who goes with us will have to prepare to climb the mountain, not from the outside, thankfully. The mountains were sacred, with the chamber where the First King found the Black Crown being considered a sacred place from which offerings and prayers were made to past monarchs, while the Chamber of the Law had been sealed due to hatred for the traitorous Sanktas.
In the past, pilgrims would have to climb the mountain to reach their destination, many dying from the dangers they encountered, but now, over generations, the local population has created a safe path through the interior of the mountain, with staircases, bridges, and walkways leading to the desired location.
Your health was the only danger now, your arrival at the destination being decided by whether your joints, heart, and lungs could endure the climb or not. If you were too old or too sick, then it was better not to try, as there was a chance that help wouldn't arrive in time.
Currently, I was waiting in the hallway on the second floor of the inn. Warfarin was in our room, changing into something lighter, since the interior of the mountain wasn't as cold as the exterior.
Tis'adel and Ephram were in the next room, and no matter how hard I tried, it was impossible to ignore the sounds of flesh slapping against flesh…
PLAP!
PLAP!
PLAP!
…The bed creaking and banging against the wall…
CRACK!
BAAM!
CRACK!
BAAM!
…And the moans from both of them.
"HA~~~"
Well, they're a couple, so they can do this whenever they want. I just find it strange how fast it happened, considering the little time they spent together.
"LET'S GO!"
Warfarin opened the door to our room, almost ripping it off its hinges, and grabbed my arm, pulling me away with her face as red as an apple.
"Yes, please."
My relief couldn't have been greater. I took advantage of the moment to satisfy my curiosity and asked the vampire to clear up my doubt, and according to her, most relationships in Kazdel moved quickly, because life was uncertain here, you never know when death will come, so you should enjoy it while you can.
That's a lesson to be taken for life.
With that done, we left the inn, where the expedition members were waiting for us. Fewer than usual, some would stay here to secure supplies and protect our belongings, although I believe the climb encouraged them to stay, while the others would climb, Warfarin, Buldrokkas'tee, and I included.
Then, we stopped before another entrance arch on the other side of the city, where lines of pilgrims were entering and exiting, beginning our walk.
-Four Hours Later-
"By the gods, are these stairs endless?!"
I was more irritated than tired. My voice echoed off the walls, and I believe I only avoided angry stares because everyone around me shared my feelings.
"I-I… GASP! I shouldn't have come in armor!"
Buldrokkas'tee sat on a step, causing a slight tremor before drinking from his canteen like a thirsty fish, almost spilling it all in the process.
The rest of the expedition wasn't much better, breathing heavily, dissolving in sweat, with flushed faces and mouths filling with water to quench their thirst. The knights and the wendigo suffered the most from wearing full armor.
"W-where is Warfarin?"
The man in question looked around, searching for the vampire.
"Inside my bottomless bag. She asked to go in three hours ago."
I patted the object hanging from my waist, and then found myself being stared at by everyone present.
"Hm… You're the least tired of all of us, and you can keep anything inside your bag."
"What are you suggesting?"
-Two Hours Later-
I reached the top of the staircase, stepping onto a wide stone bridge over a deadly drop towards an abyss, where the torches and braziers of the lower levels glowed faintly in the distance.
"We've arrived, time to leave!"
I removed my bag from my waist, turning it upside down before shaking it, causing the expedition members to spill out. Some complained about the fall, others sighed in relief, then showed confusion.
"Out of curiosity, what does the inside of my bottomless bag look like?"
"Chic, labyrinthine, and terrifying. It's like an endless mansion filled with paintings of strange people and places, illuminated by golden chandeliers and candlesticks, the wallpaper is dark blue with diamond patterns, the floor is covered in red carpet with yellow rugs on top, the furniture is comfortable and made of the finest quality wood. There were kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, libraries, and a room with weapons, armor, and other equipment perfectly organized by type, on stands and mannequins. But worst of all was the silence; apart from us, that place didn't make a single sound. I stopped exploring when I started to get lost and imagine things wandering the corridors. If it weren't for the others, I think I would have gone crazy in there."
Warfarin gave me a troubled look, shuddering as she recounted what had happened. I offered her my hand, helping her to her feet, apologizing for what had occurred while feeling my stomach sink.
She sighed, a trembling smile spreading across her face as her grip on my hand tightened, telling me not to worry; after all, she was the one who asked to travel in my bag.
As much as she tried to say there was nothing wrong, I couldn't help but feel bad.
"I suppose no one here wants a ride in my bag on the way back."
The response was immediate; everyone stood up and hurried away, vehemently denying it. I waited a few minutes until everyone recovered, and then we crossed the bridge, heading towards the sacred chamber where the king found the crown.
I stopped at the entrance, noticing a pattern that had repeated itself throughout my life. This was a sacred and ancient place, with the room ahead being the most important location. It was spacious, and had a large hole in the ceiling on the other side, revealing the clouds and snow-capped peaks beyond. All that was missing were summoning signs nearby and a fog gate blocking the door, suggesting a battle against a notable enemy.
The floor was rocky and uneven, made of dark stone that may or may not have been dormant Originuim, and just below the hole in the ceiling was an altar laden with offerings and lit candles where people prayed on the steps leading up to it.
I snapped out of my stupor when my name was called, realizing I was the only one outside. With few options, I stepped forward, entering the room and hearing a familiar buzzing sound.
Looking back, I spotted a fog gate blocking the way, then turned my eyes to the hole in the ceiling upon hearing a heavy flapping of wings and seeing a dark outline in the clouds.
Son of a whore.
I sighed, removing my Crypt Black Sword from my bag and preparing a spell with my staff. The fact that something was wrong was noticed by everyone, who turned to face the fog while their confused whispers echoed off the wall.
"EVERYONE, GET AWAY FROM THE ALTAR, NOW!"
As always, shouting something that made no sense was useless. Something large broke through the clouds, landing at the entrance of the hole, making the mountain tremble and raising a cloud of dust and snow.
Then, the figure revealed itself, which could only be described as a large metallic bird, although that wasn't exactly its appearance. Its "beak" didn't open, but despite that, a distorted screech shook the air, making my ears hurt.
That was enough to make people run away, stumbling and falling in their tracks. I, however, went to meet the monstrosity, because as long as it was here, there would be no way out for these people.
END OF CHAPTER