Frost's men vanished from the room one by one and were sent to the beacon farthest from the mountain. Zeke wasn't worried about them being discovered—he had sent Ash with them. However, Frost's eyes were almost bulging out of his head as he watched his warriors disappear into thin air.
"How are you doing that?" Frost asked.
Zeke opened his eyes, smiling at the Pureblood. "Not too bad for a human, eh?" he said cheekily.
Frost frowned but didn't push the matter any further. He had to be aware that it wasn't something he could use, even if Zeke explained the process to him. "About my father…" he said instead.
Zeke also turned serious. "How did you get permission so quickly?"
Frost remained silent for a long moment. "It was because of Elder Fang. He strongly supported my request, convincing more than half the Elders for me."
Zeke pondered that. He had only met the Elder for a short time and could only think of a single reason for why the Elder would support them so fervently. "Snow," he muttered.
Frost nodded. "That's what I've been thinking as well. My sister must have convinced him somehow."
Unbeknownst to him, a smile spread across Zeke's face at the thought of the little girl. He had been worried after not getting any news about her for such a long time, but it seemed she hadn't forgotten about him now that she was back with her people.
"When do you plan to go?" he asked.
Frost's expression turned resolute. "We can go right now if you are free."
"Let's do it," Zeke agreed without hesitation. This was too important to delay. With the Progenitor back, he would also be able to breathe easier. Despite the tribe's somewhat stable state, the threat of that monstrous old man still weighed heavily on his mind. If the Patriarch of the Frostscale tribe decided to throw caution to the wind, they would be unable to resist.
Zeke stood, and Gravitas and Vulcanos immediately moved to join him. However, Frost quickly stopped them. "Not them," he said. "The permission was only granted to you and only for this special occasion."
Zeke furrowed his brows. "You want me to go without protection?"
Frost nodded. "It's the only way."
Zeke hesitated. He didn't believe Frost was leading him into a trap, but he couldn't be sure about the Elders. After all, Polaris's fiancé was one of them, and they were heading into her domain. Who knew what she might have planned?
"That's quite the risk you expect me to take," Zeke said.
"Please," Frost said, his tone taking on a pleading note.
Zeke considered the risks again. If ambushed, he could quickly return via his beacon, but it was still a gamble. Moreover, if the Elders turned against him, his plans for the Mana purifying device might collapse entirely. Attacking him would mean abandoning any pretense of cordiality.
However, looking at Frost's expression, he realized that refusing would severely damage their relationship—maybe to an unsalvagable degree.
"I'm in your hands, then," he said, making up his mind.
Frost's eyes lit up, a grateful smile emerging on his face. "I will not forget this."
Zeke smirked. "Just make sure I survive."
Frost nodded seriously. "On my life," he said resolutely.
That was enough for Zeke, and the two set off. Frost led him through the village, with Zeke once again covered from head to toe. Despite agreeing to help, he didn't want to draw any more attention than necessary. If there truly was a traitor operating from the shadows, Zeke stood a better chance of stopping them if he remained hidden.
They soon reached the opposite end of the village, a part of the settlement Zeke hadn't seen before. He had assumed the path upward would be similar to the rough trail they had taken to get here. However, the reality was entirely different. The second exit to the village led into a massive cave. The sheer mountain cliff looked like it had been split open by a gigantic sword.
They approached the cave's mouth and were immediately stopped by a pair of guards. They had hard eyes, which didn't even relax when looking at Frost. It was clear that not even he had the authority to bring just anyone inside.
"Identify yourself," they said, staring at Zeke's shrouded figure.
"I am Frost, son of Winter, and this is the human Ezekiel. I've received permission from the Elders to bring him to my father," Frost said.
"We've received word of your arrival, Lord Frost," one of the guards said. "But we still need to check the identity of your guest."
Zeke lifted his hood slightly, exposing his features. "How do you expect me to prove my identity?"
The guards hesitated. It seemed they hadn't quite thought this through. After all, they had no idea what he even looked like. "Lose the hood," the other one said.
"I don't think there's much of a point to that," Zeke said. "There are human Mages who can shift their appearances as simply as breathing, and you have no idea what I am capable of."
The guards looked at each other, unsure of how to handle this. Frost frowned, about to open his mouth, but Zeke held him back before he could say anything.
"Listen," Zeke said, locking eyes with each of them. "Lord Frost asked me for a personal favor, and that's the only reason I'm here. But if you don't want me to help your chief, I'll simply return."
The guards exchange another glance, a little bit more nervous. "Is it true?" the first one inquired after a momentary pause. "That you can help him, I mean?"
Zeke hesitated. "The chances aren't great," he said truthfully. "All I can promise is that I will do my very best."
The guards froze at the honest admission but ultimately sighed. "Very well, you have permission to enter."
Zeke nodded and lowered his hood again. Without wasting another word, he stepped past the guards, with Frost catching up a moment later. "How did you know that they would relent?"
Zeke glanced at the Pureblood. "I've gotten pretty good at reading people. These two seemed like the overly honest type; they just needed a little nudge."
Frost fell silent, and the two walked deeper into the cave. "That tongue of yours is quite dangerous," he said eventually.
Zeke smiled at that. "It was the only weapon I had for a long time."
"…But not anymore?"
"Not anymore," Zeke affirmed.
"You are quite a dangerous man," Frost said, facing him.
Zeke met his eyes. "In my opinion, that's the only sort of man worth knowing, Lord Frost."
At that, the Pureblood smiled. "It is indeed."
They fell silent after that, giving Zeke time to take in the sights. The sheer rock gradually turned to dirt, then to ice. The cave led deeper into the mountain, always sloping upward. Before long, they were surrounded by glimmering crystals on all sides, illuminating the path and making it seem as if they were traveling through a passage of gemstones.
The air grew colder, to a point where a normal human would struggle to endure it. However, Zeke barely felt the chill. His repeated exposure to the Frostscale poison had given him a strong resistance to the extreme temperatures. After a while, the narrow passage opened up, leading to a large chamber.
Zeke's eyes widened at the scene. This was… the second village? He had expected it to be on the other side of the cave, but it was actually inside it. And what a sight it was. The buildings were all carved from ice, and the same was true for anything else. It appeared like a city of glass, illuminating the entire cavern with its ephemeral glow.
"Welcome to the core of the Tribe, Winter's heart," Frost said, the pride evident in his voice.
Zeke stood in awe, appreciating the beauty of the place. Since arriving, he had constantly looked down on the tribe's architecture, considering their craftsmen amateurs. However, every such notion was shattered by the majestic sight before him.
"You are here," a feminine voice called out from the side.
They two whirled and soon found the source of the voice. It was a single woman standing in one of the few shaded areas. They recognized her immediately, and Frost grew guarded. "Why are you here, sister?"
Zeke also turned to face her, but there was no wariness on his face. If Polaris had planned to ambush them, she would not have announced herself so casually.
"Relax, brother," Polaris said with a calm expression. "I merely intend to escort you two for a bit."
Despite her words, Frost didn't lower his guard. If anything, he seemed even more tense. "We don't need such a favor."
Polaris's smile only widened. "Thankfully, I don't need your permission, do I?"
Frost was about to snap back at her, but Zeke caught him off. "It would be an honor, Lady Polaris."
"See?" she said. "The human knows how to appreciate my kindness."
Frost snorted but didn't bicker. He led the way through the village, positioning himself between Zeke and his sister.
"I didn't catch your name, human," Polaris said conversationally.
Zeke glanced at her, a slight smile on his face. "Indeed."
Polaris pouted cutely, but Zeke wouldn't fall for such an act. This woman was a snake, capable of turning on her own flesh and blood. He had no intention of allowing her any advantages.
"Can you really help my father?" she asked after he didn't elaborate.
"Most likely not."
Polaris smirked. "You are quite honest, aren't you?"
"I have no reason to lie about this."
"I heard that humans have a different system of advancement. Tell me, what stage have you reached?"
"I'm a True Mage," Zeke answered nonchalantly.
Polaris froze in her tracks. "That's it?"
"As I said, my chances aren't high."
Polaris's expression changed. "This is a waste of my time." She seemed to have lost all interest in him.
Zeke shrugged, not bothered by her change. "We didn't ask you to join us, Lady Polaris."
She glared at him. "I take it back. You also don't know how to appreciate my kindness."
Frost chuckled in response, which only made her more annoyed. The three walked in silence until they reached the center of the village and stopped in front of a large, circular building that resembled a town hall.
"I'll be on my way," Polaris said curtly. "Good luck."
"It was nice meeting you, Lady Polaris," Zeke called after her. At his words, she paused her steps momentarily but then continued moving as if she hadn't heard anything.
"That was refreshing," Frost said, smiling.
Zeke shrugged. "It seemed she didn't like my answers."
Frost's expression turned serious. "She hasn't seen what I've seen."
"Don't get your hopes up," Zeke cautioned. "I didn't lie when I said my chances weren't great."
Frost nodded but didn't relent. "I have faith. Also, my father isn't defenseless. He might only need a small push to cross his hurdle."
Zeke nodded slowly. "Let's hope that's the case."
Without another word, Frost pushed open the door and entered, with Zeke following closely behind. They immediately turned left and ascended a rounded stairwell that followed the building's curve. They bypassed the first and second floors and stopped only on the third and highest floor. The entire floor appeared to be a single large room, and two people were already waiting for them.
Zeke's eyes lit up when he recognized them. "It's been a while, little one."