Chapter 275 The Road Ahead
The frigid air nipped at their skin as their eyes opened to a breathtaking, icy expanse that stretched far and wide before them.
Large chunks of ice, varying in size and shape, drifted lazily on the surface of the calm, blue water.
Some pieces were flat and smooth, while others were jagged, like shards of broken glass glistening under the pale sun.
Raven frowned slightly and couldn't help but shiver. She looked around in pallid horror.
As her eyes followed the path of the floating ice, she was drawn to the midground where the water continued to extend, dotted with additional ice floes.
This frozen labyrinth led toward the imposing silhouettes of distant mountains that rose sharply on either side, creating a natural frame for the stunning vista.
These snow-covered peaks stood tall and proud, their angular formations partially bathed in the soft, grey light of the sun.
Wisps of low clouds or mist clung to the higher elevations, adding an ethereal quality to the rugged landscape.
Above, the sky was a masterpiece of soft, pastel colors, transitioning from a pale blue at the zenith to warmer hues near the horizon where the sun's rays kissed the icy terrain.
Delicate clouds drifted lazily across the sky, their movements slow and unhurried, as if reluctant to disturb the tranquility below.
The entire scene radiated a profound sense of serenity and untouched beauty.
The vast, pristine ice and snow formations spoke of isolation and purity, a world unmarked by human hands.
The diffuse lighting softened the landscape, enhancing the calm and peaceful ambiance that seemed to envelop everything in its gentle embrace.
It was unbelievable that such a place could be a rift.
Shakily, her voice came:
"This rift is..."
"...beautiful," Northern completed it.
However, their problem was just starting.
The crisp air nipped at Raven's exposed skin, causing her to shiver slightly, but the warm layers of her armor provided decent insulation.
Northern, however, did not seem to be as affected, the Night Terror armor truly was formidable through and through.
Ignoring his glances toward her, Raven's eyes stayed glued to the expanse before them.
Less than a second after he looked away, sparks of light shimmered around her body and began to materialize a long cloth.
When the light dimmed, Raven was donned in a blue cloak with intricate and sophisticated-looking engravings at the edge of the linen.
It looked ethereal and aesthetic. She pulled the cloak tighter, tucking her hands into the furred lining as she gazed out over the frozen labyrinth before them.
The chill stung her cheeks, but it was almost invigorating after being cooped up elsewhere.
Northern blew out a frosty breath cloud as he said:
"How do we move forward?"
Raven was silent for a while, then she retorted:
"Should we perhaps try targeting the solid surfaces on the water?"
"We stand the chance of falling into the water. And it'll probably not take ten minutes to freeze up."
'Although I suspect that it might take much longer for me...'
He could barely even feel the cold, but from the way Raven was still shivering despite equipping a cloak, he could tell. The scenery was also enough to deduce that much.
"So what should we do?"
"What you said we'd do. I was only stating my concern, for now it's the only way forward. We just have to avoid falling into the water, I guess."
"We can also fly... but you'd have to let me carry you."
Northern forced out a grin, "I'm perplexed as to why you had to mention that part. We can make flying our last resort, jumping into this cold air does not really seem like a sensible thing to do."
Raven raised her head a little and nodded.
"Indeed you are right, I'm surprised, you seem like a probable leader."
Northern tilted his head.
"You seem like a different person..."
"Because it's a rift, it brings a lot of ugly memories, I wanted to stay buried." He took a long, wistful pause and added, "Maybe, that was a wrong move... those ugly pasts built me, maybe trying my best not to think of them had watered down the sort of person I should have been..."
Raven stared at him blankly, it looked like he was talking to himself instead of her.
He shook his head slightly.
"Well, it does not matter. I'll find out all of that in this place."
Raven's hair danced gently as she swung her face to the side, observing the landscape once more.
Then finally looked back to the front as Northern spoke.
"Let's go."
—
After a couple of hours of waiting on the edge of the cliff, Helena and Terence were beginning to get skeptical.
There could have been a lot of danger down there, and the Feral Sage in particular was beginning to regret all of her actions till now.
She was prompted to jump down, but Terence's voice came out.
"Jumping after them will accomplish nothing."
Helena looked at the Oracle, wondering how she had known when she didn't even move yet.
Before she could ask, however, the Oracle's gentle voice trailed on.
"Raven can't die... if she's not coming back up, then I'm sure she has a good reason. That means it's left to us to get to the center of the Sleeping Mountains."
Helena was silent, she stared at Terence for a couple of seconds before she swallowed her spit and said:
"I understand." She lowered her head.
She clearly was feeling dejected, Terence could see that, but it didn't mean she was going to be any kinder toward her.
Hitting her unconscious and carrying her to the Tower when she made clear Ul's desire warning not to... that pissed her off so much.
She had overlooked Helena's careless comment to Northern because she felt the Sage was much older and had been here longer than they have— and after what Helena had done to her, she had to reconsider her evaluation.
The Feral Sage perhaps was hypocritical, as she had claimed Northern was.
And it was wrong for hypocrites to point fingers.
Terence sighed and uttered in a low tone.
"For now, we will continue alone to the center of the mountains."