He taught and showed me many things about life. Some of those sights were beautiful beyond measure… sacred almost. Yet at the same time, he also taught me the purpose of death, speaking as if it was an old friend.

We are all part of an eternal cycle, each of us having a place… yet he was someone that flitted through them like an everlasting phoenix.

I had thought that he would stay with me forever.

-???

A pitch-black figure that looked as if it was molded from pure darkness howled into the air. Blood-shot red eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for a trace of the trail that had suddenly vanished. It had tracked, smelled, and followed its prey into a narrow ravine, and this particular morsel was irresistible for a Shadeless.

What it sought was like a ray of light in an ever-dark world, a shining soul of boundless radiance and grace. In the Shadeless’s eyes, it was like a symbol of the humanity that it had lost. But who knows if the creature’s intention was to seize that brilliance for itself, or crush it because of a deep-seated hatred of those that had what it did not?

The trail had gone cold after the Shadeless arrived at a dead end, and the accursed creature of the night could only howl in frustration. As it screeched at the sky that was barely visible between the ravine walls, a bright cerulean light shot across the darkness of the night like a blue comet, followed by a Phoenix's cry.

Even while the abomination’s face twisted into amalgamations of pain, it did not notice a figure sneaking up to it from behind. The sound of shattering ice rang out as Yuelei rammed two Winter Moons into the abomination's back.

They detonated in succession like fireworks, constantly slamming the creature against the ravine wall as each Primal Frost Bolt embedded in the circumference of the sphere exploded.

Despite the sneak attack, the creature only suffered minor injuries. Yuelei could only marvel as the abomination picked itself off the ground, slowly regenerating parts of its body like the monsters found within the nightmares of young children.

"And they called me a monster." Yuelei snarled as she waved a hand in the air and pulled out a snow-white saber blade. She extended her other hand, ready to throw a spell at a moment's notice.

Like a mindless beast, the Shadeless lunged at Yuelei, forming scythe-like appendages out of the same thick, shadow-like material that made up its body.

Yuelei would not let the deadly monstrosity get close, so she waved a hand at the creature's feet, causing the fallen snow to transform into ice that encapsulated the Shadeless’s legs.

At the same time, Liur flew down into the ravine, peppering the creature with several Primal Frost Bolts from her beak. A more intelligent creature would have removed the icy shackles first, but the Shadeless were mindless beasts. It swiped at Liur's attacks with a whip-like tendril that grew from its hand, knocking them out of the air. Any remnant damage it suffered from explosions was shrugged off and quickly healed.

Liur’s distraction was all Yuelei required, and she pulled out a handful of Crystal-flare Bombs from a socket in her satchel. She flung them lightly out in front of her, and with a bit of skillful wind magic, guided their path to assault the Shadeless from three directions.

Blue flames leaped forth when they struck the creature, forming into miniature pillars of light in the dark of the night. Wherever the pillars of blue flame touched, the creature's tar-like flesh would singe and combust, releasing the rotten smell of burnt skin and greasy hair.

The creature's continuous howls would set anyone’s hairs on edge. However, the truly scary thing was that, even as it was writhing in pain, it distorted and contorted its body in ways unimaginable for the human body. It snapped back its scythe-shaped arms and like a whip, lashed out in Yuelei's direction.

Sensing danger with no time to dodge, Yuelei covered her left arm in ice and formed a gigantic claw that resembled a gigantic bear’s paw. Not a split second after she angled it to protect her body, two spears of putrid darkness crashed into her, formed by the Shadeless's detached scythe blades. Yuelei's Ice Demon's Claw were generally meant for offense and not defense, and it clearly showed as the momentum from the Shadeless' attack carried her and slammed her into the wall.

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, the impact only cracked a few ribs and the Shadeless' makeshift spears stopped before they pierced through her magical claw. Before she could relax, the pitch-black lances started to melt, transforming into a viscous tar-like substance.

Acting quickly before the foul substance could touch her skin, Yuelei slammed the pommel of her Frost Edge into the fractured claw of ice, causing the ice to splinter and explode outward and dispelling the toxic substance away from her. The desperate move still damaged Yuelei herself, and she both felt her arm go numb as the explosion slammed her into the ravine wall once more.

"Blasted abomination." Yuelei scowled as she picked herself up off the ground, the creature cackling and howling in glee. She had likely broken another rib or two during that last exchange but the pain was dulled as a comforting chill numbed her bruised side. Primal Magic's advantages and disadvantages were raw and unparalleled power but it was indiscriminate to who or what it affects.

The Shadeless' cries were quickly cut short as a Ray of Absolute Zero struck the creature in the face from the above. Yet, even with a hole blasted through the creature's face, it did not stop it from making horrific noises and finally broke out of its frozen shackles.

We should retreat. Liur commented as the creature fumbled around, blinded due to its lack of a head. It's only a matter of time before the Shadowless arrive, or spirits forbid, more Shadeless.

Yuelei nodded to show that she agreed, never letting her eyes off the headless monster. Deciding that going up was wiser than making their way out of the ravine, Yuelei's Winter's Mist condensed near her ankles and lifted her into the air. Liur quickly soared over and grasped Yuelei's wrists, pulling her ever higher and with hastened speed.

However, the blinded Shadeless clearly sensed something, and just as Yuelei was about to escape the ravine, it howled and hurled two more spears made from the viscous shadowy substance its body was made from.

Yuelei was the only one that saw the creature move, but her one good arm was currently being grasped by Liur's talons.

"Liur!" Yuelei shouted. "Let go of me!"

No need, it is about time we let our third passenger contribute. Liur's voice in Yuelei's mind was quite commanding. Before Yuelei could ask exactly what she meant, she felt a sensation coming from her wrist where the bracelet of swords hung on her limp hand. The largest one hanging on the metal chain popped off and flew towards the projectiles at an impossible speed.

Like a whistling arrow, it slammed into one of the Shadeless spears before ricocheting and knocking the other out of the air as well. As if the sword-light was not satisfied, it turned in the direction of the Shadeless, running several times through its body until it was full of holes.

Only then did it seemed satisfied and returned to take its place among the chain on Yuelei's wrist.

After escaping into the night sky, they had found a large fir tree with a sizeable hole and decided to use it as a shelter for the night. It was high enough to escape the sight of any Shadeless or Shadowless near the bottom, and the cold and powerful winds deterred any that could fly.

Few creatures would roost at this height where the temperature was cold enough to kill, but it was merely uncomfortable for Liur and Yuelei, who once lived near the top of a frozen mountain. Even though Yuelei would not risk starting a fire, her Sheive Cloak and the use of ice magic to seal the entrance was enough to make it through the night.

“Isn’t it about time you told me what exactly this thing is, and how it decided to wait till I was injured to help?” Yuelei glared at the bracelet of miniature swords as she nursed her injured arm and side. There wasn’t much pain, but it was stiff and a bit swollen. For the time being, Yuelei had used a poultice and some cloth to reduce the swelling and limit the movement. She also condensed her Winter’s Breath near the injury, numbing any pain that she might have felt.

It is a creature that inhabits the sword, made and bound by an ancient contract. Liur commented as she watched Yuelei tend to herself. Crafted from the hands of man, inhabited by a beast without form. It had a name once, El- The bracelet around Yuelei’s hand seemed to hum, and Liur stopped right before saying the creature’s name.

Very well then, if that is your wish and then that name is long dead. Liur seemed to speak to the bracelet, before turning to Yuelei and continuing. He was once a magical beast that served Lady Holli, but alas, he was neither strong nor did he have our gift. So he struck a deal in return for power.

Lady Lumnieve tore his soul from his body and bound it to a newly forged blade. That is the gist of his past. Liur’s voice had a mocking tone as if laughing at the plight of the weak.

“Sounds like a commendable, but foolish fate,” Yuelei replied in surprise to Liur’s tone.

It is the fate of the weak. Either they can grow strong on their own, or they will become the tools of others. Liur clicked her beak in annoyance. Of course, Lady Lumnieve extracted a promise, and that was when the time came- he will have to serve as your guardian.

The rest is pointless history. Liur finished. How are your injuries?

“Painful.” Yuelei winced as she rubbed her side. With Liur’s help, she had set the ribs in place and sealed the cracks with ice, but it was not exactly healing magic. “A few Homeostasis Potions helped, but it’ll still require time to heal.”

We can try and find a healer, or the proper herbs to create a remedy. Liur pointed out. You do still have his book, do you not?

“I do.” Yuelei reached into her Palian Satchel and pulled out an aged journal. She gave it a cursory flip through, but ultimately sighed and put it away. “It won’t do. None of the proper herbs like Ginglas Root or Laneige Petals exist in this sort of environment.”

Perhaps we can find a camp after we cross the borders. We can buy it…. Or acquire it through other means. Liur raised a talon and made a grasping motion. The Ona Chaparral is a wildland after all, and we are not bound by any rules there.

“Perhaps if the opportunity arises.” Yuelei agreed. “But for now we will need to wait till dawn. The Shadeless is still a threat.”

And they will continue to be, until Lady Lumnieve and Lady Nenhym finish their task. Liur replied. The Shadowless are like a disease. Until the root of the affliction is dealt with, as long as there are more deaths, they will return.

“Why did Lumnieve not act until now?” Yuelei asked.

Liur kept quiet for a moment as if deciding whether or not to tell her, and Yuelei waited in silence, knowing that Liur was working through conflicting thought.

Because the Shadeless appeared. The nature of the curse is unknown to me, but before, it would affect only magical beasts and monsters. Do you remember that girl you met at that abandoned mansion? Now that it affects humans, they have no choice but to end it -even if it likely pains them to do so.

“...It pains them?”

I know not the reason. Liur shook her head. It is a guess based on the emotions I sensed from Lady Lumnieve. You could ask her, but I doubt she would say. Perhaps your teacher would be less stiff-lipped.

“....It seems like there is a story much older than us at work here.” Yuelei sighed.

I suspect it also part of the reason Lumnieve sent us away. Liur said quietly. So that we are not bound by the chains of the past. But either way, it is not our concern.

You get some sleep. I will keep watch tonight. Liur offered. Although I fear there is no room for you to lie down.

Yuelei nodded and leaned against the wall while trying to get some sleep with troubled thoughts.

...

Yuelei awoke with a start, instinctively pulling out her Frost Blade. However, she had forgotten she was seated within a small whole, and her actions caused her to accidentally shift her body weight and put pressure on her bound and injured arm.

That looks painful. Liur commented as Yuelei nearly doubled over in pain. The injury that was dulled by magic and alchemy caused pangs of red-hot pain to travel through Yuelei’s arm and up her shoulder.

“It is nothing.” Yuelei gritted her teeth and grumbled. After a few minutes of her rough breathing, a sudden relief came in the form of a comfortable chill that radiated from her chest. As if it was alive and concerned at her suffering, the butterfly sigil embedded on her heart started to release numbing cold that seemed to travel through her body and her veins and numbed the wound once more.

Better now? Liu commented after seeing Yuelei's change in expression. Yuelei pressed a finger gingerly into her side and only found a dull throbbing where the pain was prior.

"I'm never going to understand the reason why that happens now, do I?" Yuelei turned to Liur after adjusting the bindings on her makeshift sling.

The abilities of a scion of a Great Spirit vary and is different for each one. Liur explained. Especially for someone like you, since even among scions, you are special.

"Despite what you say, we still lost against a lone Shadeless." Yuelei pointed out. "I am certainly not feeling special right now."

You are still young, and some of your talents are still latent. Liur replied. I would worry less about it, you will understand in time. We should make some distance while the sun is up.

"You always act like you're older than me, yet I am the elder sister." Yuelei teased as she followed behind Liur outside of the burrow, careful not to bang her injured arm. There was truth in Liur’s words, and Yuelei believed to focus on the present for now.

The future is unpredictable.

She was met with the sight of a new day, with sunlight dancing upon the forest of trees and reflecting off the snow adorned branches. They had traveled far last night, and the snow-covered woodlands of the Whitefrost Mountains soon gave way to the terrain of the Ona Chaparral in front of them.

It was a land full of green hills, with the occasional group of small trees that stood out in the foreground. Vegetation dotted the landscape almost everywhere in the form of shrubs, bushes, and flowers.

Not many places where one can rest atop a tall tree. Liur pointed out to Yuelei. And when I scouted briefly, it seems like the magical beasts of this land tend to prefer to live in holes in the ground or giant burrows.

“At the same time, we can see everything for miles.” Yuelei pointed out. “Easier to keep an eye out for danger.”

And easier to spot prey… or be spotted by them. Liur clicked her beak. Neither you nor I have the ability to see well in the dark, and you certainly cannot flee or outrun enemies in this sort of terrain. I would harbor there are some magical beasts that can blend into this sort of environment as well. We should not fly too often, lest we are spotted by unwarm eyes.

“What happened to not worrying so much?” Yuelei chuckled as they slowly made their way to the ground, deciding to walk their way out of the safety of the trees.

I am merely analyzing the situation. Liur puffed up her chest in indignation. We will lose the advantage of being in a naturally cold environment for our magic, so we must be cautious.

“And at the same time, we will be fighting against foes that won't have natural resistance to the cold. The field is still even, and maybe even to our advantage.” Yuelei rolled her eyes and they took their first step onto the Ona Chaparral.

The feeling of a light wind on Yuelei’s face was pleasant.

They trekked across the unfamiliar terrain and found it milder than the snow and ice-covered woodlands of the Whitefrost Mountains. After the first hour, Yuelei took a blade to her snowshoes, cutting them down into more compact sandals better suited to navigate this new environment. Her Sheive Cloak wasn’t quite suitable for the temperate temperatures, but outside of the cold weather, it served another purpose, to keep her Winter’s Breath aura from affecting the outside world.

As they traveled, they took advantage of all the land had to offer. There was an abundance of plants and herbs that Yuelei did not hesitate to gather, accumulating large amounts of Chameleon Berries, Plantago Roots, and Witelite cores. At the same time, they saw all manners of magical beasts-

A small herd of Golatri- three-horned goats that could navigate any terrain and jump up to four times their height due to the special nature of their hooves.

The occasional Ghost Hare, although their normally pure white skin was closer to the color of the gravel and stones, allowing them to blend in.

Two lumbering Fortoyse, gigantic tortoises that had vegetation growing on their backs. Both of them were nudging the other away from a patch of dark dirt, trying to claim that spot. Being the non-violent creatures they were, they eventually ended up sharing the rich roil.

A spring that seemed to appear from nowhere from the ground, with lukewarm weather and teeming with fish. Coming across it, Liur commented it was in one such pool where she found a Weevil Snake when Yuelei requested for it long ago.

Occasionally, they would also find crystal formations jutting out from the side of a hill, likely some sort of ore that could be used to forge all manner of weapons.

“I am surprised that there is so much to offer here,” Yuelei commented wistfully as she gazed around her. “Yet these lands are so sparse. Why are there no people here?”

There are many places in the world untouched by humans. Liur replied as she flew into the sky. And perhaps even places where humans once tried to colonize but failed to do so.

“Because of the terrain and dangers,”

Because they were weak. Liur corrected. But it seems like you spoke too soon. There seems to be a small human settlement a few hours walk from here.

“Let’s stop by then since it’s so close to the border,” Yuelei said quietly as she pulled on her hood. “I’ll go in first, and you can keep an eye on me from the skies.”

Who was the one warning me about worrying now? Liur’s beak curled into what would have been a smile. The egg lecturing the bird, is it?

“People can be selfish, shallow, rude, distrustful, and paranoid.” Yuelei recited absentmindedly as she doubled checked her Palian Satchel and the vials attached to its strap. “They can also be incredibly generous and kind at the same time.”

“We all have character flaws.” Yuelei finished recalling her old mentor’s words.

Yuelei’s first impression of the settlement as she approached was that it was old and aged and that it was closer to a mining town than a settlement. Despite Liur reporting that there were at least fifty buildings, over half of them were run down or covered with vegetation. Based on the decor, the location was clearly a League of Adventurers Camp, with the town center being an old temple that seemed to be built on top of a small outcrop of rock.

The locals seemed to take note of Yuelei’s arrival, occasionally throwing glances in her direction but none of them stopping her. If anything, they seemed more interested in her injured arm than her form or figure. There was a small inn that looked like it doubled as a general goods store, a blacksmith shop, and a stable. The rest of the buildings were either small cabins or cottages that seemed to be places of residence.

What was truly surprising to Yuelei was that all of the people she saw were rugged and gruff looking. Many of them had a weapon at their side and some openly wore armor in public- and these were not the ceremonial armor and gear that the Knights of the Holy Kingdom of Ecclisa wore- these bore marks, gashes, and chips that showed that they had seen through plenty of battles.

“This town is a veteran at conflict.” Yuelei murmured to herself as she made her way to the aged temple that served as the League of Adventurer’s branch office. To her surprise, the inside was very different compared to the ones she had seen back in the Holy Land. It was quiet, with only one desk in which a bored-looking woman was polishing her weapon which resembled a metal stave, her feet atop the table with zero sense of professionalism.

What truly stood out, however, was the pair of guards that seemed to guard a strong metallic door, which behind it was a long dark tunnel stretched into the darkness.

Before Yuelei could fulfill her curiosity, the middle-aged woman lazily tapped the staff at her side with a finger. causing a gust of wind to blow at Yuelei and take off her hood.

"A pretty face around these parts will only bring you trouble, little missy." The woman commented as she spared a glance at Yuelei's direction. "If you are a maiden knight from The Holy Land of Ecclisa, you should return home."

"Consider your warning well-received but politely declined." Yuelei nodded in acknowledgment as she pulled out the chair in front of the women's desk without being invited.

"Did your family not tell you what happens in this land to lone females?" The woman snorted as she took her feet off the table and locked eyes with Yuelei. "Or of the type of people that roam these lands?"

"No." Yuelei stared back without batting an eye. "Care to enlighten this hapless 'maiden'?"

"Your own doom then. Let me see your adventurer card." The woman finally broke her gaze after losing interest.

Yuelei smirked and pulled out her polished blue-metallic card, sliding it across the table until it sat in front of the woman who had gone back to polishing her weapon.

If the woman was surprised by the several insignias on Yuelei's card, the only sign was when her hands stopped moving. With one hand, she picked up Yuelei's card and eyes it suspiciously, as if not quite believing what she saw.

"It's quite real, and very much mine." Yuelei held out a hand and rubbed her index finger and thumb together while releasing her Winter's Breath. The warm room dropped several degrees as a miniature Winter Moon formed in front of Yuelei, spinning atop her finger like a ball.

Before the woman or the two guards could comment, Yuelei reached out and extinguished the sphere of ice.

"Talented as you are, I will still advise you to go home." The woman sighed and flicked the card into Yuelei’s hands. “You may manage to best and kill one, two, three, four, maybe even ten foes on your own. But how will you fare against over fifty?”

“Why would I need to face over fifty enemies at once?” Yuelei asked, a bit surprised that the reason the woman told her to leave.

“The Ona Chaparral is home to the Followers of Uthrak.” The woman said bluntly. “Pillaging, stealing, and taking things by force is the way of their god. They have several bands that traverse this land, stopping by the few human settlements and robbing for themselves.”

“Frankly, they’re a menace, especially to a lone woman… if you understand my meaning.” The woman gave Yuelei a tactful nod. “Many that end up captured by them will be taken as slaves, or worse.”

“Are they strong?”

“They’re a lot of cowards.” The woman’s eyes glinted. “But that only makes them even more dangerous. Don’t hesitate to cut them down even if they beg for their life, and there’s a few among them that are religious zealots.”

“If you think the Holy Land of Ecclisa was bad, these ‘Followers of Uthrak’ are worse.” The woman continued. “They’d attack League of Adventurer camps all across the Ona Chaparral through unconventional warfare such as lobbying diseased magical beasts, poisoning the water supply, or using hostages to get a reaction, all in the name of their war god.”

"And the League of Adventurers never decided to deal with them?" Yuelei pointed out.

"The higher-ups decided that they were part of the 'environment'." The woman rolled her eyes. "So, we are not allowed to deal with them and we have to end up tolerating them."

"Of course, some of us have tried to band together to deal with them." The woman snapped after seeing the disbelieving look in Yuelei's eyes. "But as I said, they're cowards that run at the sight of any sort of coordinated movement!"

"Alright, enough of my rant." The woman huffed and calmed down. "Not my business who you are, but I'll be plenty happy for someone to wipe off a pack or two of those crazies. What can I help you with?"

"Do you have a healer?" Yuelei went straight to the point. "I had a bit of a run-in with a couple of Shadeless."

"Ah. Just your luck. I happen to be one. The name’s Viffe" The woman smiled and stood up. "I've heard things about the Shadeless from the branch in Ellivita. Living bombs if struck with light magic, and otherwise only killable only with fire. Shaped like humans as if they were created from shadows."

“What you heard is only part of it,” Yuelei said quietly as she pulled aside her cloak and clothing to reveal several dark bruises against her side. “They’re savage things that don’t feel pain or emotion, and as long as they’re still moving they will try to end you. And worse of all they’re adaptable and can fight at all ranges.”

“Seems like a troublesome foe, much worse than the religious nuts we have here..” Viffe replied, gingerly inspecting Yuelei’s hand before shaking her head and moving the staff towards her injured ribs.

“Humans can burn, freeze, bleed, and die if you hurt them enough.” Yuelei agreed as a warm sensation, like a hot cloth, emanated from the staff’s orb in pure yellow light. “These things are something else entirely removed from a human.”

”Hmph.” Viffe nodded as she moved her staff away while whispering a spell. The purple bruising seemed to slowly fade away and leaving Yuelei with flawless skin. “Can’t say I disagree with you.”

“Hold still.” Viffe tried the same spell with Yuelei’s arm before frowning, finding that her spell was a bit ineffective. After a split second of thought, he sighed and used the tip of her staff to carve a magical rune atop Yuelei’s makeshift cast.

“There’s no real injury which is strange, but it seems like your limbs are still a bit stiff. That Regeneration rune will loosen it up overnight.” Viffe sat back done after she was done. "Just give the rune a few minutes to draw some energy, and then you can rest upstairs or at the inn."

"This temple, it used to belong to the Holy Church?" Yuelei asked.

"This used to be a pioneer settlement, at least until the original inhabitants met the Uthrak zealots." Viffe shrugged, revealing the history of the town. "It was originally owned by the Church, but they ended up abandoning it. The Followers of Uthrak and the Holy Church are like fire and water as I'm sure you would understand."

"Entirely different religions." Yuelei nodded. "With different fundamental core beliefs. Who won in the end?"

“The Holy Church of Ecclisa chased the Followers of Uthrak off their lands and into the Ona Chaparral. This land is full of subterranean caverns that are all connected, it was nigh impossible to track them all down after they escaped.”

“That’s what the gate is for.” The woman nodded towards the metal barrier that was guarded by the two men. “They can either come from outside the town… or from the underground. ”

“That’s assuming they get past the dungeon.” One of the guards spoke up. “Only at the end of the dungeon is there an entrance into the subterranean Underdark below. ”

“Some prefer to travel the underways, which will allow you to slip past many things unnoticed, but it is easy to get lost,” Viffie commented after seeing the look on Yuelei’s face. “Others prefer to travel above ground, so they can see where all their enemies come from.”

“But enough chatter, go get some rest.” Viffie reached beneath her desk and tossed something at Yuelei. “There’s plenty of beds upstairs, albeit a bit dusty.”

Yuelei caught the flying item in the air with her hand and found that it was a small iron key.

In here. Yuelei said to herself in her mind as she opened one of the windows on the second floor of the window. It was the middle of the night, and if anyone saw the blue and white streak that flew towards the temple and vanished, they would have mistaken it for a comet.

I had expected trouble seeing this armed band of humans, but it seems like you are fine. Liur seemed to have brought a gift, and she released a strange snake-like creature onto the floor, with its neck impaled with a spike of ice.

The creature was Sookess, a serpent-like magical beast that could split acid at its foes. At the same time, there was an orb-like gland near its tail, which allowed it to cause earth spells such as Camouflage and Earth Bolt.

“Quite the catch, even though I have already eaten.” Yuelei picked up the snake gingerly. “That sac can be used for alchemy, and we can extract the poison gland as well."

I don't like this land. Liur sniffed. Too few trees and the other creatures of flight here are bores and endlessly troublesome. They're not even capable of speech, so it’s like speaking with a simpleton.

"You can just stick with me here." Yuelei pointed out after relaying details of her conversation with Viffe about the local population. "The only time we will need to be careful is with the townsfolk. Any other person we encounter not in a settlement is likely a foe."

That works for me. Liur said after thinking about it for a few moments. I certainly prefer my ‘perch’ atop your shoulders more, but I fear that your shoulders will be sore after a day of it. Haha.

“That’s only because you’ve gotten larger,” Yuelei smirked in response to Liur’s comment as she knelt down and picked up the snake. “Either you grow faster, or you’re just eating especially well… and I feel like it’s the latter.”

There’s nothing wrong with a bit more muscle. Liur scoffed indignantly. As long as it does not deter my speed, it gives me a bit more impact and power.

“Sounds like the grumbling of someone in denial.” Yuelei continued to tease as she stuck out a finger, from which a thin blade of ice formed. With it, she started to skin and butcher the snake, first lopping off the head and freezing it solid as snake heads are known to snap even after death. Out of habit she also surrounded her corpse with her Winter’s Breath, a technique she picked up that would stop any scent from leaking out, as well as freeze any nasty bits and pieces.

Hmph. What do you know about a phoenix’s physique? Liur scowled and settled in the bed, glaring at Yuelei.

“I know a mature phoenix’s feathers have miraculous healing properties, that the blood is as strong as any restoration elixir, and the valuable organs can increase one’s strength or lifespan.” Yuelei commented as she ‘dissected’ the Sookess.

You’ll have your chances at plenty of that. Liur commented as she caught the strips of meat that Yuelei tossed her. Far into the future, when my grudge and my predecessors’ is settled.

“...I’ll look forward to it.” Yuelei nodded as she delicately extracted the liquid from the poison sac. “That’s quite a grudge to hold over thousands of years.”

A Magical Beast’s memory is long and unerring. Liur said coldly. They will feel the hatred of ten-thousand years and with interest.

“Scary indeed,” Yuelei commented absentmindedly, washing her hands to clear up the remaining bits of ice, having finished butchering the corpse. After finished she went over to where Liur had made herself comfortable, and then plopped down next to her, enjoying the softness of the bed.

“..I should learn to conjure up a bed,” Yuelei said absentmindedly after finally lowering her guard. “This is one of those luxuries hard to find in the wild.”

Clearly, you haven’t slept atop Mouno yet. Liur commented as she shifted closer to Yuelei’s warmth near her chest. It is as soft as sleeping on a freshly fallen sheet of snow.

"That does sound nice…" Yuelei commented as she allowed herself to finally relax. As soon as her tension left her, she curled up next to Liur and drifted to sleep.

Liur shifted carefully not to disturb the sleeping figure, and out of habit, she extended a wing to cover Yuelei's head as she slumbered.

Back in the Whitefrost Mountains upon that solitary eyrie home, Gallienoir would do that same gesture to block the morning light from Yuelei and Liur's eyes.

Before dawn broke, Yuelei was already up. She sat in a meditative state, with her legs crossed atop the bed and her eyes closed in deep thought. Around her, the air seemed to be encompassed in a deep white mist, and the temperature of the room dropped to near below freezing from its originally comfortable temperature. This was a ritual that Yuelei had every morning to condensate her Winter’s Breath and ascertain the purity of the latent ice magic in the air.

Usually, Yuelei’s Winter’s Breath was just about enough to create a three-meter long sphere around her, but it fluctuates with whoever was nearby. In the Whitefrost Mountains with the abundant snowfall and frozen ice, it was roughly seven-meters, and when Yuelei was alone in the Holy Land of Ecclisa, it was roughly four and a half meters.

It was also affected by the Winter’s Breath of other beings as if there was some sort of synergy between all of those who bore the favored Snow Butterfly’s Mark. Whether it was Liur, who caused Yuelei’s aura to grow to ten meters or Lumnieve who caused it to grow to several hundreds, Yuelei’s own power seemed to synergize well with them..

“Fuu…” Yuelei exhaled, and the wafting Winter’s Breath rapidly condensed until it was thin sliver against Yuelei’s body. Anyone that touched Yuelei’s skin would have to through this thin veil and come out covered in frost.

Your control improves daily. Liur commented from the windowsill, where she was peering outside to keep an eye out. You have considerable talent, for a human.

“For a ‘human’?.” Yuelei commented as she stood up and stretched.

“It takes humans years to reach their peak potential compared to Magical Beasts.” Liur replied innocently. “They are fast learners, even if they do lack talent.”

“That’s the first time I hear you be arrogant.” Yuelei rolled her eyes.

I am never arrogant, merely stating facts. Liur smirked.

“Stop trying to be smart and let’s go.” Yuelei patted her shoulder as she stood up. “It’s time you made an appearance, and I doubt absolutely nobody saw you come in last night, especially when everyone is armed.”

….Nobody saw me. Liur clicked her beak indignantly, and Yuelei laughed in response while making a mental note to keep Liur’s pride in check. The pride of a phoenix is almost as deep-rooted as the pride of dragons, as Lin once told Yuelei.

“Good morn-” The man that seemed to have taken Viffe’s spot behind the desk rose up to greet Yuelei, but stopped in his tracks the moment he laid eyes on Liur. “-ing. Viffe informed me about your stay.“

The bearded middle-aged man behind the desk wore red leather armor, with a pair of daggers strapped to his waist. He wore a green headband that held back his dirty brown hair. Compared to Viffie’s lax and uncaring posture, this man had a much more serious demeanor that radiated quiet authority.

“Good morning.” Yuelei nodded in the man’s direction while Liur gave him a curt nod in acknowledgment.

“The name is Kylith. If you need supplies there’s a general store nearby, although I fear that our supplies are a bit low at the moment.” The man returned to his desk and pulled out a giant stack of documents. “I see that you don’t carry a weapon and I won’t assume, but if you need one, you can also visit the smithy. We have a huge surplus and better for them to be used by an adventurer than the Uthrakians.”

“Damn that wife of mine..” Kylith scowled as he took the first pile of papers off the top of the stack. “She didn’t do her portion of her paperwork again!“

“Ah, apologies.” Kylith looked up at Yuelei an apology for his outburst. “It is not often we have friendly visitors in this place. Where are you headed?”

“To the Desolate Tundra,” Yuelei replied.

“Ah, avoiding the conflict in the Holy Land of Ecclisa then.” Kylith deduced, rubbing his beard. “Normally, we would offer to give you a ride for a price, but I’m afraid you arrived at a bad time.”

“Bad timing?” Yuelei asked.

“Two days ago, we received a request for help from the Noahsca Ruins Camp.” Kylith replied. “So all of our mounts are currently en-route over there and it is also the reason we are under-staffed. I would say you can wait till they return, but the transmission was cut short so who knows when they would return.”

“I see.” Yuelei shook her head. “I was planning to travel on foot regardless. The Ona Chaparral has plenty to offer, and I intended to take full advantage of it.”

“Mmm. I would tell you to be careful, but you seem much more capable than you seem.” Kylith glanced over to Liur, who was constantly watching his every movement. “To be able to bond with a phoenix already makes you a person of great talent.”

“...” Yuelei did not reply to the man’s words, and it was her way of indicating to Kylith that the conversation was over.

“Well then, feel free to have a look around before you go.” Kylith wasn’t deterred by Yuelei’s cold attitude, having grown used to eccentric people in his long years of adventuring.

“If I may offer, there’s an old monument to the east of here, far older than this temple.” Kylith shouted out almost as an afterthought as Yuelei made her way towards the door.

“That monument there’s… something special about it, and since you’re already in these lands, you may as well check it out.”

“This must be it.” The monument that Yuelei reached was a gigantic grey slab of ancient stone that jutted out from the side of a hill. It leaned against the hill- and Yuelei was not able to discern if it was due to age and corrosion from the elements, or whether or not the hill was intended to support it in the first place.

It is as if the land itself warped to support it. Liur’s sharp eyes quickly noted out where it seemed the roots of plants dug into the stone to keep it up, and where the stones moved aside to make room of the tablet to rest upon the soft dirt below.

“...?” Yuelei’s pace halted as she stepped within several meters of the tablet, sensing some sort of disturbance. She quickly checked her surroundings, but there was no indicator of what exactly had triggered her reflexes and senses.

There is a presence here, long embedded from long ago. Liur said quietly, easing Yuelei’s concerns. That is why this place feels so detached. Strong feelings once lingered here, and likewise probably the remnants of the old magic.

Yuelei had visited several ‘hallowed grounds’ back when she was in the Holy Land of Ecclisa, but none had the impact or atmosphere that she felt now. There was a distinct peacefulness that resonated around the area... and one other emotion that Yuelei could not place.

Over there. Liur pointed a wing at the monument where words in a long-lost language were engraved on the polished surface. After a brief moment of consideration, Yuelei reached out and put her hands on the ancient tablet.

Fa nepo mea, an tuath dostia

An adi milis dor adito madlora ku

Wista oullis faan mothu na-

Een bakath pon dus tiur lahn nu?

Solal du canticum recordatio

Gui estia noer etna mortia

Was gaya presia acd ieeya

Sori arito asora tiar yorrha

Samaria does ifia fou omnis asora

Doche irora zweie ra cyurio

Sorwas pau ferda whou na nedi sor

Aiph yos en nedle eterne falfa

Fen nu-

Omnis presia gae ifia

Doche dor irora amita nen artila

Doche dor allu kah yasra diifia

Pres nor immnu sorla

Pres nor sadnu floria

Pres nor enfu du

Fafne du credo na, yume sesta vivet

Fafne du opto na, beo ma fuit

Fafne du batstoi na, ac yuuna fes

Cenjure soar lita va soora

Semu l leehi lorche le soha iora?

Semu i leehi lorche, irora adora?

Geste hikiha namus du nu

Ente for, cumniet dor

Du historia fan eaat tu

Fen nu-

Samaria dose ifia mlo tora fia sia

Gless eleg ephe ben velve ka?

Gless elege ephe loon deffa na?

Tara blumi kane riva

Was kira grandia en eviuy cremia

Fen nu-

Samaria dose ifia mla tra fio nia

There was no sound, nor was there any sort of meaning the words that Yuelei could comprehend. She glanced over to Liur, who also couldn't seem to understand the text. However, when she turned, Liur was staring at her.

“What’s the matter?” Yuelei started to ask until she felt something wet drip onto her hand. It was only then she realized that for some unknown reason, she was shedding unbidden tears without even knowing it.

“...?” Yuelei pulled her hand back from the monument, and it was only then she realized the deep emotion that she could not place- sadness.

"This is…." Yuelei wiped her eyes to find that her tears had turned into pearls of ice. "What sort of powerful magic can cause people to shed tears?"

A Reality Rift. Liur said quietly. A shame that we cannot read the words. There definitely lies quite a story within. Even today, powerful figures leave their mark on the world.

"Pointless."Yuelei scowled. "What use is there to reminisce and reconcile with relics of the past?"

In the world we live in, there is little time for tears. Liur agreed. Mourn once and mourn well once, and move on. Yet I wonder…Was this monument made by man or beast?

“Does it matter? We’ve wasted our time here.” Yuelei clearly did not like the temporary sense of weakness and vulnerability that she felt, and turned around to leave. “Everyone may have a story to tell, but the only thing important is our own tale, lest we spend too much time wrapped in the stories of others.”

“And I have no intention of being a mere pawn-” Yuelei continued as she moved away. “And even the rank of a knight isn’t nearly enough for what I need.”

“Let’s find a place to make camp. This was a waste of time.”

We have guests, and they don’t look friendly. Liur cautioned, causing Yuelei to quick stand up. Her vision was remarkably better than a normal human’s, but anyone could see the small balls of flame-lights that was racing towards her from the distance.

“Enemies?” Yuelei asked as she drew her weapon out of the air.

They certainly look the part. Liur replied as she quickly took flight into the air.

“So be it then.” Yuelei waved a hand and several Winter Moons started to form above her. At the same time, her Winter’s Breath billowed out to full force, causing the ground around her to be covered in a sheet of ice as all the moisture in the dirt was frozen. Yuelei made a grasping motion, and the small campfire winked out of existence.

As Yuelei prepared for battle, Liur took a closer look at the encroaching Followers of Uthrak. The only way that could be used to describe them was… savages. They wore fur and leather, stained with sweat and grease, that covered their chests and thighs, and every part of their body that was exposed had at least one or more tattoos. They wore bones like ornaments or trophies, and had all manners of weapons on their backs, from slings to large polearms.

Get in close. Yuelei heard Liur's command and she started to rush towards the enemies, the soles of her sandals noiselessly bouncing against the frozen dirt. When they hunted together, whoever had better visibility would be the one to initiate the commands.

The first Follower that managed to spot Liur in the moonlight barked a guttural shout to his allies to warn them, but right as his allies turned in his direction, all they saw was a streak of dark blue and the tattooed man clucking at his throat. Pools of blood sprang out like an unrelenting fountain and he could not even cry out as he turned towards his companions.

Liur had ripped out the entire front of the man's throat, and as he toppled off his mount,the blood that sprayed out looked like crimson tar in the darkness, The whites of his windpipe were visible in the dimness of the night. Any hopes on assisting their fallen brother was quickly cut short as the man's mount, a scaly rhino and komodo dragon-like amalgamation, quickly halted its charge to open its jaws to snap its rider's head clean off.

Clearly, the mount was no fan of its former master and it showed as the Scaalbest turned to eye the other riders. It was during that brief moment of hesitation as the Followers tried to reason out whether or not to treat it as an enemy that Liur made her next move.

During the daytime, Liur’s Ray of Absolute Zero would capture and reflect light, but at night, the beam seemed sinister and foreboding, matching the same pale white color as the dead man’s windpipe. It pierced through both a man and his mount from above, and even though the watchers had no clue what happened as there was neither wound or injury, it was clear that they were no longer living as they dropped to the ground from where they were standing and remained unmoving.

“Retreat!” The leader of man quickly lost heart as he caught a view of Liur swooping into the sky, seemingly ready to make another dive down on another unfortunate soul. As soon as they turned their mounts around, Yuelei appeared in their midst.

Five Winter Moons shot out in the general direction of Yuelei’s foes. Three veered a bit off course and struck the Scaalbest mounts, but the other two hit their mark head-on. The sound of multiple consecutive explosions rang out, drowning out any sound of screaming. There was no way to describe what happened as the pure primitive nature of those Winter Moons rendered all skin, flesh, and bone into scraps.

In truth, there was only stunned silence as the remaining six people and their mounts watched in horror as a blood-like rain made from human and magical beast flesh fell all around them. Yuelei’s attack was indiscriminate.

Her attacks aimed at the riders dragged their mounts into the explosion, killing both mount and rider. Yuelei’s Winter’s Breath seemed to freeze the blood in the air, turning the air around her into a deep red haze. As she stood in the darkness, barely illuminated by the remaining torches and covered in a crimson mist, she resembled the nightmares that mothers tell their children to get them to sleep.

The remaining mounts with riders were the first to react, fueled by their instincts and fear of the individual in front of them. They ran off and took their riders with them, leaving one unfortunate Follower of Uthrak who was lucky enough, or perhaps unlucky enough, to survive.

Should I chase them down?

"It's fine. Let them spread stories." Yuelei replied quietly and she slowly walked up to the remaining individual who was quivering on the ground, half in fear, and half due to the cold. Her torch had been reduced down to embers, and the only thing illuminating the area was the dim moonlight.

“Please, I surrender!” The woman quickly held up her hands to show they were empty before laying them on the ground in front of her, with the palms facing up. Even though her eyes could barely make out the approaching figure, she could sense the bloodlust and impending doom in the air.

“I know… things! Locations of our horde of treasure! Where we keep the slaves!” The Follower of Uthrak started to try and ransom for her life. “We have maps to traverse the Underdark!”

Yuelei did not halt in her step, instead of running a hand down her Frost Edge and causing it to flare into an even larger blade of ice. She did not intend to be merciful since her enemies would have shown her none.

“Are you an adventurer? I know what happened at the Noahsca Ruins!” The woman continued as she realized that Yuelei was not stopping in her advance, and she withdrew her hands as if guarding her body. “I know about-”

Before she could finish her sentence, Yuelei pointed her Frost Edge at her enemy and patted the hilt with her spare hand. The blade seemed to obtain a life of its own as it shot out of Yuelei’s hand and impaled her opponent through the chest. It was at this point a dagger slipped out from between the woman’s breast pocket and onto the floor.

“Tch… you got me....” The woman’s formerly crying and begging face turned into a self-mocking sneer before she toppled over. Where her flesh grazed the dagger, it started to turn purple and blister, letting out a rotten stench.

I wonder how much of that was the truth and how much of that was lies. Liur commented as she flew across the corpses, putting a swift end to any suffering Scaalbest and scaring off the surviving three that were only slightly injured. That was quite the decisive blow.

“The only foe that is not dangerous is one that is dead.” Yuelei shrugged, feeling almost nothing from dispatching that unarmed woman. What small amount of hesitation and remnant regrets was quickly washed away by pure, cold logic. If she had hesitated, she may have incurred an injury. The remaining Scaalbest that had executed its rider gave Yuelei a long stare at her actions before trodding off.

But you let the others get away. Liur pointed out the flaw in Yuelei's logic. Are they not enemies then?

"Someone that flees without even attempting to fight isn't worth being my enemy." Yuelei replied as she shifted through the belongings of the fallen."You always leave a bit of the crop behind so there is a second harvest."

I was wrong. Liur clicked her beak together on her version of a laugh. You have not gone soft at all. There is a ruthlessness in you that doesn’t seem to have been there until you left human society again.

“Humans are by far the worst monsters,” Yuelei commented slowly as she dug out coins from the remnants of the enemies. “They enslave, hurt, torture, and destroy each other for the most foolish of things.”

“And sometimes they will kill others simply because the others are a risk.” Yuelei gestured with an arm around her at all the carnage. “I never thought I was a good person, Liur, but after what I saw and heard in the Holy Land of Ecclisa…. ”

The hearts of men are fickle. Liur said quietly. Throughout the many long years, if there is one thing that remains true… Believe not in the hearts of men or the tears of women, but the tears of men and the hearts of women.

“That sounds like something Lin would say.” Yuelei poked through the remains of the Scaalbests, but there was nothing of note. The skin was tough enough to make armor, but Yuelei’s favored armor was something created by Lumnieve herself, and it was one of a kind. The meat, on the other hand, was hard and sinewy, and not something Yuelei would enjoy eating. After all, this creature died under stress and with fear coursing through its veins.

It is something he said once before he matured. Liur said quietly.

“It’s hard to ever imagine Lin as a child, or even a young adult.” Yuelei replied as she picked through the deceased’s ornaments and weapons, finding almost nothing of value. Some of the weapons were wrought iron or steel, but upon closer look, they were crudely crafted and nothing more than a sharpened metal stick.

He went through a maturing phase. The younger him was much more dedicated to his heart than his morals. Liur replied. My memories don’t show me any exactly, but there are stories where once upon a time, he even challenges the Great Spirits.

“Against people like Lumnieve?” Yuelei halted in her tracks. “Why would he do such a thing?”

I know not, but it probably has something to do with being human. Liur teased as she settled atop the corpse of one of the Scaalbests, using the creature’s rough skin to clean the blood off her talons. Perhaps it even gave him great strength.

“Enough chatter, let’s keep moving.” Yuelei decided not to indulge in Liur’s game. “No doubt the beasts that feed on carrion will come soon, and I wish to be long gone before other sorts of monsters converge, beast or otherwise..”

Where shall we go? Liur said quietly. These plains may be bountiful, but it also allows you to be spotted from any direction.

“Let us return. We’ll take the underground road… but we’ll need to make some detours first.”

“...What’s that foul smell?” Viffie wrinkled her nose as she entered the room Yuelei had taken up temporary residence in. The first thing she saw was a small pot in the center of the room, filled to the brim in what looked like luminescent green slime.

“Never took you for an alchemist as well.” Viffie was surprised as she circled around to Yuelei, who was pouring what appeared to be red crystal shards into the mixture. “And I’ve never seen of this recipe either.”

“Do the League of Adventurers have alchemists as well?” Yuelei asked nonchalantly as she accepted a pouch of what appeared to be green-yellow dust.

“Too many in fact.” Viffie sighed as she received payment from Yuelei. “These days, any dimwit that can follow a recipe would call themselves an alchemist. And it’s always the same old recipes.”

“Better for them to follow a recipe and cause no harm,” Yuelei smirked, and snapped her fingers over the pot, causing small blocks of ice to form and drop into the pot. The resulting effect caused the liquid to splatter, but Yuelei contained the liquid by spreading her WInter’s Breath over the pot. Any liquid that tried to escape the confines of the pop was instantly frozen and turned into a solid and dropped back into the boiling pool of liquid.

“It’s like a self-contained system. I am impressed.” Viffie commented, watching how Yuelei handled the brewing process. In her seasoned eyes, it seemed crude and brash, but she understood that the way Yuelei was concocting the potion would reduce the time by seven-folds.

“I’d like to concentrate if possible.” Yuelei politely implied that it was time for Viffie to leave as she reached into the sack and threw out a handful of the powder into the pot, causing all of the liquid within to start to condense and crystallize.

“Ah. Go on then, keep your secrets.” Viffie winked and excused herself, moving towards the door. Right before she shut it, she stopped and turned back to Yuelei,

“There is one more thing, however…if you wouldn't mind meeting me for dinner, I may have some information when you’re traversing the Underdark.”

At those words, Yuelei finally looked up and nodded.

...

“Despite how you act, your table manners are definitely of someone that was from a noble house.” Viffie pointed a fork at Yuelei from across the dining table. “There are several I know of from the Holy Land of Ecclisa… Solas? Dusate? Florella? Siegla? Hestel? Nonami?”

“I’m not from the Holy Land of Ecclisa.” Yuelei replied as she deftly cut the morsels of meat and veggies into bite-sized pieces on her plate. “If anything, I am one of those trying to distance themselves from the conflict.”

“Most people would travel west and take a boat from the Keysta Peninsula,” Viffie commented. “Even if it is the Sea of Voices, traveling in a boat of people is significantly safer than traveling on land through the Ona Chaparral”

“It’s the other way of where I am going,” Yuelei replied as she finished the remaining bits of food on her plate. “And I doubt the Church would look kindly on anyone that leaves. Some of them might even brand you as a traitor.”

“It is true there are some extremists in the Church. Stories are that some of them even have the audacity to demand our League of Adventurers’ records!” Viffie huffed.

“And they get turned down, no?”

“Of course but the covert ops and spymasters of each country have their ways.” Viffie sighed. “Some of them bribe higher-tiered administrators, some infiltrate the local branch by posing as adventurers, and there are some that go as far as to using even more...underhanded methods.”

“How do you deter people from being targeted then?” Yuelei asked, her curiosity piqued.

“There’s an ironclad rule that any country that tries to use the League of Adventurers for their own use will be met with dire consequences. Even if there is a hint of conspiracy, we will cease all operations in that country,” Viffie explained. “After an investigation, if it is discovered that a government entity is behind the incursion, all of our services and connections will no longer be available to them.”

“Any trades and goods we provide will no longer flow into that country, and of course, we will release the information we have on that country to the common public.” Viffie continued. “That alone is a powerful enough deterrent in most cases.”

“But surely there are ways they circumvent it, like for example, having a scapegoat to take the blame.” Yuelei pointed out.

“Of course, but there are ways to scrape out the truth,” Viffie replied as she refilled hers and Yuelei’s empty cups. “But enough about the other topic, let’s move to the main reason I asked you to come today…”

Viffie reached out under the table and pulled out what appeared to be an old scroll.

“I suppose I can’t convince you not to go.” Viffie chuckled. “So the least I can do is prepare you so my conscience is clear.”

“This is our current mapping of the Underdark. I had a copy made.” Viffie pushed aside the empty plates and spread the map over the table. Yuelei quickly glanced over it and was surprised at exactly how large it was. Several portions of it were filled out with comments and notes, but a majority of it was blank and labeled with question marks.

Perhaps most surprising of all, was that in the center of the map was what appeared to be a gigantic lake.

“The Lou Ona Lake.” Viffie explained after seeing Yuelei’s gaze on the map. “Deep beneath these lands in the Underdark, it is rumored that an ancient civilization once dwelled beneath the depths. Many of the ‘dungeons’ in the Ona Chaparral are supposedly entrances and paths that lead to that old city, or perhaps I should say- ‘Underwater City.’ They had their own name for it, but I could hardly care less for a dead name.”

“Whatever people or civilization that dwelled there once has long been gone and it’s been replaced with monsters.” Viffie continued. “We actually have an established expedition camp near the edge of the lake, but I would not take the path to the city if I were you. There’s a rumor going about that there is something brewing in that place. ”

“This is where our entrance is.” Viffie placed a finger on the southernmost part of the map, where there was a large triangle symbol, and then she traced a path towards the west and north, following a thin trail before winding up on another triangle.

“And this is the path you would take if you were to travel north.” Viffie continued. “Be wary of who you meet down there since it’s known that some of the Followers of Uthrak roam below, but you may also occasionally run into fellow adventurers.”

“There are three of our people down below that you should know in case you run into them. They were summoned recently by the League to lead the main expedition force into city of Lou Ona. If fate favors you, perhaps you’ll run into them, although they’re all quite the troublesome characters”

“Their names are... Nuatha Fourwinds, Eithne Cherish, and…“

“Lugh of Lorresta.”