Chapter 276 Kind Words From A Kind Lady
It was not easy hopping from one flat chunk of ice to another; they had to take conscious effort to make sure they were not fully unleashing their weight each time they leapt and landed.
And they only continued forward with no hope for their destination ahead.
They continued further but were only met with more, larger chunks of ice. Sometimes the surface was wide and sturdy enough for both of them to walk on comfortably.
Other times they were weak and would even crack up before they leapt away.
But regardless, both of them, with amazing efficiency, helped each other forward from one ice surface to the next, regardless of the white and landless horizon ahead. They continued forward.
—
The night slowly set upon them, not that there was anything they could do about it. They had to look for a way to survive the night as the cold began to get more intense.
Northern didn't feel it directly, but he could see Raven. Watching her shiver seriously made him realize, "She's only human."
The level of cold that was biting deep into her bones was beginning to get in the way of her movement; even her legs trembled as she tried to walk.
No doubt, the level of coldness rose tenfold at night, and Northern couldn't even figure out why.
He didn't need to, however; he didn't feel compelled to. The priority right now should be facing the monsters in it and winning through it all.
Maybe if he had a bit of interest in geography, astronomy, or whatever it was, maybe that would have been a different story.
Northern looked up as they settled on a slightly bigger surface of ice.
Beneath the star-studded sky, a celestial dance of green and blue hues unfurled across the heavens, casting an uncanny glow over the icy landscape.
The sky lights, ethereal and mesmerizing, painted the night with their luminous trails, illuminating the frozen realm below with a spectral light.
Northern sighed and crouched beside the shivering Raven.
He looked at her with a hint of pity reflecting on his face, then threw his gaze away before her head turned.
"W-h-at?" There was no word that she'd speak that didn't break apart.
Northern investigated their surroundings before responding to her.
"We have to look for an enclosure of any sort. Or else you'll freeze to death before morning."
Despite the intense shivers, she forced out a grin.
"What is this? Are you worried about me?" Her voice trembled heavily.
Northern looked up; he was very unsure what his response should be at a time like this.
She was in a very vulnerable state, and he should at least show a little pity, should he not?
However, Raven's voice sounded once more.
"Still, I'm quite surprised. You seem to be doing well... too well."
Northern looked down and gently placed his hand on the chest of his black, lustrous armor.
"It's impressive than it looks."
She nodded shakily.
"You got that from killing the rift guardian?" She let out a terrifying sneeze immediately.
"Should you even be talking?"
"What difference does it make? Answer my question." She looked at him.
Northern took a bit of time in silence and then answered,
"Well, I got it from killing the rift core... the rift core, Night Terror, he killed the rift guardian."
Raven let out a pale smile and commented:
"How strange..."
Northern looked at her with an inquisitive intensity deep in his eyes.
"What?"
"Nothing, just that... you are using 'he' for a monster... and you feel uncomfortable killing one. You are quite the hypocrite, aren't you?"
Northern frowned.
"I can't control the things I feel. Although I admit that I am somewhat hypocritical, I think it's not fair to kill a person, but I won't hesitate to do it if my secret or life is on the line. I won't hesitate to do it if it's to protect the people I love."
He took a pause to breathe before he continued,
"I also think monsters perhaps deserve peace too... strange, isn't it? But I've lived among them to know they deserve a chance at peace, a chance to live... but then I think sometimes, if it comes down to it... do I have the conviction not to kill them, after all, killing monsters is the only way to get stronger."
Raven breathed out; the air almost froze her nostrils, causing her to sneeze a couple of times, but that only made it worse. She felt like her throat was getting clogged.
But Northern quickly helped her; he supported her back and created a black fire in one hand, and moved it close to her face.
"It's dangerous, so don't move too close."
Raven slowly steadied her breath; the heat of the fire slowly melted the ice in her nostrils, and soon, reached her nostrils. She began to feel better and sighed.
"Thank you," she appreciated Northern with a soft smile.
"It's fine." He said and held his hand before her face for a while.
The two of them fell silent for a couple of minutes, then Raven's voice came forth.
"Nobody is perfect, Northern, and it's fine not to have it all figured out yet... I think? I'm sure even I have a lot of things to figure out. My family... well, they are a crude and complicated bunch and have twisted my view of everything. But these past few months in Stelia have had me questioning everything I've learned while growing up."
She paused and stared wistfully to their front.
"I think the most important thing is that we leave a lot of room for growth."
Northern watched her with a blank expression on his face.
Hearing her say those words was so shocking that his face was rid of any particular expression.
But a beat later, his white brows creased into a gloomy frown.
Raven, observing the darkness that hovered around him, looked up slightly and asked,
"What is wrong?"
Northern shook his hand, dispelling the black flames, then stood up with an extremely wary expression.
Then he whispered,
"We have company."