"How long is the ride there?" Edward asked, sitting inside one of the caravans across from Elarien.

"Around three days," she replied, her tone steady as her gaze drifted to the window, "then we'll continue on foot."

The caravan rocked gently beneath them as hooves struck the dirt road in rhythm.

Outside, the elven capital slowly faded behind the rolling hills. Lush fields stretched endlessly, swaying beneath the soft wind, dotted with distant clusters of emerald trees.

For the first time in a while, Edward found himself at ease. There was no sense of danger, no lurking threat. Just quiet.

He leaned against the wooden frame, eyes half-closed as sunlight spilled through the window. The faint chatter of the other travelers blended with the creaking of wheels and the distant call of birds.

By the second day, the air had grown cooler. The greenery began to thin out, replaced by patches of rocky soil and sparser vegetation. Streams of crystal-clear water snaked between stones, their soft murmurs following the caravan's trail. Even the sky looked paler now, the horizon painted in shades of silver rather than blue.

Edward rubbed his hands together, his breath faintly visible in the air.

Elarien gave him a brief glance but said nothing. She sat poised as ever, her silver hair brushing over her shoulder each time the caravan jolted.

Outside, the landscape continued to shift—the warmth of the elven lands fading, replaced by a world of dark rock and cold wind.

By the third day, frost coated the wooden wheels each morning, and the grass had long disappeared. What surrounded them now was a harsh terrain of black stone that gleamed faintly under the pale light. The temperature had dropped enough for Edward to keep his cloak wrapped tight.

Through the window, he could see the towering shapes of the Nightveil Mountains, their peaks lost beyond the clouds. White snow rolled down the cliffs, and at their base, shards of black rock jutted out like jagged teeth.

Then, just as Elarien had said, the convoy came to a gradual halt.

"This is as far as the horses will go!" someone shouted from outside.

The caravan door opened, and a rush of icy air swept inside. Edward and Elarien exchanged a quick glance before stepping out into the cold.

The change in temperature was immediate—biting, relentless. Wind carrying hints of snow cut against Edward's face, forcing him to pull his hood lower. Around them, the rest of the expedition dismounted from their caravans, tightening straps and adjusting weapons. Their breaths came out in clouds as they prepared for the climb.

"Bit cold, isn't it?" Edward said, his words fogging the air as he turned toward Elarien.

She didn't seem fazed in the slightest. "I thought humans were used to harsh weather," she said, her tone light but teasing. Her eyes flicked to his trembling hands. "It seems I heard wrong."

Edward chuckled softly. "I prefer warmer climates."

Elarien didn't answer, but the faint curve of her lips told him enough.

Beyond them stretched a winding path carved into the side of the mountain. The black rock beneath their feet was slick with frost, and the wind howled through the narrow passage like a living thing. The group arranged themselves in pairs, walking two by two as they began their ascent.

Edward followed close beside Elarien, the rhythmic crunch of snow beneath their boots the only constant sound. The mountain loomed above them, vast and silent, its peak hidden by swirling clouds. Each gust of wind carried with it small flurries of snow that clung to their cloaks and hair.

After some time, one of the elven knights behind them spoke up. "There used to be an old settlement halfway up this mountain," he said, his voice raised to be heard over the wind. "If anyone is living here now, it'll be there."

Elarien nodded without looking back, probably aware of that already.

Edward exhaled, feeling a hint of reassurance. At least we're not wandering blind, he thought. He was about to ask if they had any idea where Vael might be hiding, but it seemed Elarien already had a direction in mind.

"Good," he mused silently, tightening his gloves. The less he had to guess, the better.

The hours dragged on as thr cold deepened.

The mountain seemed to grow more cruel with every step, as if rejecting their presence.

The wind came in waves now, strong enough to make them lean into it just to move forward. Even the path had narrowed—so much that Edward now walked shoulder to shoulder with Elarien, his arm occasionally brushing against hers as they pushed through the gusts.

It felt endless.

Then, a sudden roar split the air.

It came from somewhere ahead, deep and thunderous, echoing through the cliffs.

The group froze mid-step, eyes darting around the mist-covered rocks.

"What was that?" one of the elves whispered, hand instinctively reaching for his weapon.

Edward tensed, gaze scanning the fog ahead. The sound had come from just beyond the next curve in the path. The air grew still for a heartbeat… and then the snow shifted.

Something massive stepped out from behind the rocks.

A towering white figure emerged—its fur thick and rippling in the wind, its crimson eyes burning like twin embers.

It looked like a bear, but larger, its body pulsing faintly with mana that twisted the air around it. Each breath it exhaled came out as a cloud of frost.

"Mana beast!" someone shouted.

Before the beast could even charge, a sharp crack filled the air. A massive shard of ice erupted from the ground, striking its torso with brutal force. The creature let out a deafening roar as it staggered backward, claws scraping against the frozen stone.

"Hold your ground!" Elarien ordered, her voice steady even against the chaos.

The beast swayed, one last guttural sound managed to leave its throat before its footing gave out. With a violent lurch, it toppled backward over the edge of the cliff.

Edward stepped forward, peering down just in time to see the creature's white form vanish into the swirling mist below. For a moment, the only sound was the fading echo of its fall.

Then something flickered above where it had stood.

[Extraction Available]

The glowing words hung in the air for an instant, bright and clear.

Edward's eyes widened. "Extraction? From a mana beast?" He'd seen those words countless times before—but only above humans.

He reached out instinctively, but before he could act, the light vanished, and the wind swept the last traces of the creature away.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.