Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Meeting at Last

The wind and snow of the Northern Territory were as relentless as ever, never pausing for any person or event, nor departing early for anyone’s prayers or pleas.

They were the eternal and unrelenting masters of this land.

And so, in the vast region south of the Shery Mountain—an area considered the north by those in the continent’s heartland—humanity had long since learned to coexist with the harsh winter.

But humanity was not the only one to possess the wisdom of survival. Long before, when this land was still a silent, desolate place, ancient creatures had made their home here. They hid in secret Domains, untouchable by Ordinary people, procreating for generations and enduring to this day.

These were all things Jon had told "Reina."

Of course, Miss Reina had never imagined her real name had been completely exposed during her very first meeting with Jon. She also never thought that on the edge of the Bolaya River Valley, less than four miles from Birch Town, an utterly Ordinary-looking mountain cave could house such a fabled ’secret Domain.’

What’s more, after Mr. Jon brought her inside through some sort of prayer-like ritual, he had spoken with the inhabitants here. Somehow, those terrifying-looking creatures had actually agreed to let her hide here for a while!

’Yes, I know it’s terribly rude to think this way about the "people" who’ve lent me a helping hand, and it goes against my upbringing as a lady... but the inhabitants here aren’t really human, are they...’

The red-haired girl was curled up on a sofa that looked as if it were woven from tree vines. She was hugging a large, emerald-green book with pages like wooden slats. Opened up, it was as wide as half a coffee table, and she was staring at it listlessly.

She couldn’t understand a single word, but she didn’t dare to look away.

The moment she stopped, the natives would enthusiastically approach and offer her a new "tome," a prospect that filled her with a sense of reverent dread.

She could only pretend to turn the pages, using the motion as a cover to let her mind wander and secretly observe her surroundings.

This place was a massive library. It was neither cold nor warm. The air was filled with the clean, fragrant scent of wood and ink, a mixture that unconsciously calmed the mind and soothed the spirit.

As far as the eye could see, there were only shelves formed from the gnarled growth of some plant, much like the vine sofa she sat on. They were filled with all sorts of scrolls and classic tomes.

The inhabitants were strange creatures with gaunt hands and feet, enormous tortoise shells on their backs, and long, serpentine necks and heads. Affixed to their shells with blue sealing wax were various cloth strips, inscribed with characters the girl couldn’t understand.

Just like her, they sat in reading areas scattered throughout the library, diligently reading their books without a single unnecessary word or sound.

This left the entire library in a state of profound silence, broken only by the faint rustle of turning pages.

To Reya, this was a truly bizarre place.

Its tranquility and antiquity only served to create an unusual sense of pressure.

And just then, perhaps because she had been daydreaming for too long, another "Turtle Snake Person" unsteadily rose to its feet. It ambled over to the shelves and, a moment later, ambled back, holding a Scroll out to the girl.

"Hsss~ Human~ This is... knowledge you can read."

It spoke the human tongue with perfect grammar, but its vocal structure seemed to imbue its speech with a subtle, unavoidable hiss.

Reya, of course, noticed its approach. Sensing trouble, she tried to hide her face behind the wide, wooden book, pretending to be engrossed. But her counterpart was far too patient. It stood stiffly before her, stubbornly holding out the Scroll, clearly indicating it wouldn’t leave until she took it.

She sighed in resignation. Unable to withstand such persistence, she finally put down her book, accepted the Scroll with both hands, and whispered, "Thank you."

The Turtle Snake Person seemed to sway its long neck in satisfaction before turning and returning to its seat to continue reading, leaving the girl behind, clutching the Scroll and on the verge of tears.

Truth be told, Reya was no ignorant, empty-headed girl who thought only of primping and dressing up. Under her father’s tutelage, she had studied a great deal about commerce, etiquette, and religion.

Reading itself wasn’t a chore for her.

The real reason she felt like she was sitting on pins and needles was that these kind-hearted Turtle Snake People kept giving her books she couldn’t read!

Even though they always said, "This is knowledge you can read," they always brought her tomes written in the script of an Alien Species!

’This was just plain torment!’

The red-haired girl carefully closed the large wooden book and unrolled the Scroll.

Sure enough, it was yet another unfamiliar script. Her face scrunched up in frustration as she muttered inwardly.

’Mr. Jon... when on earth are you coming back for me...’

Perhaps her earnest wish had been answered, or perhaps it was pure coincidence, but just as the thought crossed Reya’s mind, a new sound stirred in the silent library.

The Turtle Snake People, who had been reading in silence, all raised their heads in unison, their gazes fixed on a single direction.

Their serpentine pupils glinted in the gloom. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, without a hint of hesitation.

Influenced by their reaction, Reya couldn’t help but widen her emerald-green eyes and follow their gaze.

A moment later, one of the Turtle Snake People sighed, its voice ancient and faint.

"The Trial Taker has returned."

And so, all the seated Turtle Snake People stood up. A chorus of rustling sounds rose as one, and even the vine-woven bookshelves seemed to tremble slightly.

Reya blinked, somewhat baffled.

’Trial Taker? Who are they talking about? Could it be Mr. Jon?’

Still, since everyone else was standing, it felt wrong for her to remain seated.

So the girl followed suit, rising to her feet and clutching the Scroll in her arms as she glanced around.

A strange premonition washed over her, and her heart began to race with a sliver of hope.

A moment later, footsteps echoed through the dim, silent library. It sounded like two people.

One set of steps was heavy and powerful, like a mountain. The other was light and nimble, like a snowflake.

Reya instantly recognized the familiar rhythm, and a light ignited in her emerald-green eyes.

She completely forgot the poise and decorum befitting a young noblewoman. Tossing the Scroll aside, she dashed recklessly toward the sound of the footsteps.

"Rosalind!!"

The girl’s joyous, tear-choked cry echoed through the vast library, shattering its long-held tranquility.

After rounding a row of bookshelves, a cool and distant figure in hunter’s garb appeared in her line of sight.

She crashed into her without a moment’s hesitation.

Rosalind Bennett’s expression was as calm and detached as ever. But as Reya crashed into her arms, her silver eyes, typically as cold as ice, seemed to thaw, overcome by an irrepressible wave of emotion.

Reya clung to her, her body trembling slightly, channeling all the fear, anxiety, and misery of the past days into this single moment of dependence.

She buried her head in the crook of Rosalind’s neck and whispered, her voice thick and nasal:

"Thank goodness, Sister... I thought... I thought I’d never see you again!"

Rosalind’s body went rigid for a moment before her tense jawline slowly relaxed. A hint of softness entered her eyes.

She didn’t speak at first, merely wrapping her arms around Reya and gently patting her back. A hoarse sigh escaped her lips.

"It’s alright, Reya. It’s all in the past now."

Meanwhile, Jon, who had been following behind Rosalind, stood with his arms crossed, silently observing the touching scene of the sisters’ reunion.

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