With fish of vibrant colors swimming in the current, crystal clear water coursed calmly on the bottom of a mountain pass between extensive rocky plains with snow-covered tips that the morning sunshine rays caressed softly from between the cotton shape clouds. A stream of smoke rose from the pipe of a boat, slowly navigating through the serpent-shaped river. One could see a whiff of wind coursing through the small grass growing at the mountains’ bases, with wild animals pasturing in peace.

“You know, Swadia has one of the world’s most beautiful mountain ranges and waterways.” Norman leaned in.

“They’re not as fun to look at from a window,” Orel sat on the aisle seat.

Orel and Norman had gone through the unscenic highway and had just left a two-hour traffic jam. Though not many spoke on the bus, the engine’s sound made the ride quite loud. The coughing of someone on a seat behind made him all the more uncomfortable. The comfortability was lowered by the fact that the ride had taken hours. The seats were small and uncomfortable, and some parts had gum stuck to them. Orel was more than tired of this arrangement.

“Do you know how expensive tickets are to ride those boats? I’d rather hike through that place than pay up.” Norman said.

“Dear passengers, it seems one of the tires has broken. Please wait for further instructions.” The driver pulled to the side of the road.

“We’ve been on this bus for ages already. We’re way behind schedule, and now this? We’ll never get to Agnafit at this pace.” Orel was hardly keeping still in his seat. “My belly hurts, my butt aches, and my phone keeps losing connection.”

“Now, now, we saved a ton of money with this. Haste makes waste. And the gas station food hasn’t been that horrible.”

Orel’s stomach grumbled, not that he was hungry, but the suspicious fish in the sandwich tasted a bit off and was now proving more than trouble once inside his stomach. On the other hand, the bathroom seemed used and, more importantly, uncleaned; thus, Orel decided to keep it in.

“We could hike our way to Agnafit faster than this.” Orel was sure he saw buildings in the distance.

“Don’t try to make me go against my words. That’s too cheap.”

“But it would be a short trip. The map says Agnafit should be right around that mountain range.”

“I’m just fine here sitting down.”

“And I’m not. Tell me any reason to stay.”

“I can’t say that this bus would be any faster, but I do enjoy how I can watch the scenery from this seat. Oh, and I think I forgot my hiking shoes at home.”

Orel looked at Norman with eyes that did not want to listen to poor excuses. Norman couldn’t deny that it was a matter of wills, and he was losing.

“At least I gave it a shot.” Norman sighed deeply.

Orel stepped out of his seat. “Okay, we’re going,”

“Go ahead." Norman leaned back. "Bye-bye.”

“You aren’t going?”

“I paid for these tickets.”

“So what?”

“You can go, but I won’t waste this seat.” Norman tapped the worn leather coating.

Seeing Orel’s expression, Norman thought of something else.

“Okay, how about a bet?”

“What sort of bet?”

“I bet you can’t go through those mountains faster than me in this bus.”

Orel thought for a moment, as he knew Norman’s way with schemes, and this reeked as one.

“What if I lose?” Orel asked.

“You need to pay for the ticket you wasted.”

“And what about if I win?”

“That? How about I pay for our next tickets.”

“...And?”

“Fine. We will go to business class.”

“Deal.”

Orel shook hands with Norman, who seemed more than pleased by the deal.

“Good luck, chump. I’ll text you when I get there.”

Norman watched as Orel went to the driver and asked to get out.

“Out? Alright, but make sure that you have ways to get where you want.”

The driver opened the side door, and Orel walked out.

After leaving the bus behind and waving Norman off, Orel started to walk towards the hiking track on the end of a graveled road. A warning sign stood on the roadside, and though Orel couldn’t read the text, he could figure out the symbol for falling rocks. He followed the gravel route used by many hikers before him, only a trail through the plains close to the hills. The weather was fair, cold yet far from the permanent frost of Alanland. Orel marched forward, or at least when he didn’t stop to look at the landscape. He had only heard of mountain ranges from textbooks and tall tales told by Deras, but now he could witness them.

The road headed towards the mountains, lowering to a deep mountain pass where the water flowed from the giant ice layers down the slithering creeks to the bottom. The cliffside provided nice shade and a view of different earth layers, though no fossils. The gravel was very loose on the ground, so even Orel needed to descend more carefully so that he wouldn’t trip or cause a landslide. Enjoying the cold wind that coursed through the ravine, Orel Knew that if he stopped for too long, the sweat on him would freeze.

The roaring sound of rushing water echoed all through the pass. Orel looked over to the cliffs and saw the beautifully clean water flowing down like small waterfalls to the clear riverbed. The river was pretty deep, but you could see the bottom rocks filled with fish roe thanks to the crystal clear water. Seeing how clean it seemed, Orel emptied his water bottle, refilled it, and tasted perhaps the best water in his life.

The only thing stopping Orel from taking a picture of the scenery was him noticing that the battery was dead. While that didn’t bother him too much, he knew that would become a problem sooner or later.

As he reached the bottom of the pass, Orel began to stare intently at the ice. Among the many holes where water flowed out like a half-open tap, there was one that petered out. Listening closely, Orel heard an ominous rumbling echoing from that point. Suddenly, a blast and something shot out like a pig out of a dam. It plummeted to the water, splashing anyone nearby. Thankfully Orel was far away. Then came the water bursting out that Orel wasn't prepared for.

"Aw, shucks." Orel felt doused wet.

He locked his eyes on the object that had fallen into the flowing river. It was more than a pile of leaves or dirt collected inside. No, it was something much more. It floated on the surface, making distinguishing it much more manageable. It was not a pile of mud, branches, and leaves. It was something much more disturbing.

“A person?”

Oddly enough, the body was still, face in the water and clothes tattered, unmoving, yet not stiff like a block of ice. It flowed slowly but steadily with the current, passing Orel. He didn’t know what to think or what to do. Numerous questions ran inside his head, leaving him more frozen than the body.

An answer presented itself. The supposed dead body sprang to life, swinging its limbs and yelling gibberish while barely keeping its head above water. It was no longer a corpse, and it was floating away in the current.

Orel could not wait any longer and ran toward the person. Spotting something useful, he moved an old dried log to the water. He held the wood in his hands as it turned towards the man.

“Here, let me help!” Orel drifted with the sound of rock under his feet down the river while trying to hold on.

The current was surprisingly strong and felt like it would also plunge Orel into the water. His shoes had hardly any grip on gravel and mud, while his hands felt like ripping off.

Orel was unsure if the man heard him or even understood him, much less when next to roaring water.

Thankfully, the man got a grip on the log. Orel slowly but surely pulled the wooden log and the man back on land. Miraculously, Orel had done it and smiled as he gasped for breath.

In front of him was a fit man, coughing water and shivering from the cold. Orel took a look at the man, seeing that his brown hair was partially still frozen solid. The clothes on him were old, or perhaps just rags. His skin had little color, yet Orel could see no wounds or injury. The body was in incredible shape, considering how long it must have been inside the ice. Most bodies found in ice are bleak brown, have skin stuck to their bones, and are generally very dead. This oddity of a man sparked numerous questions in Orel’s head.

“Are you alright?” Orel asked.

“Hot damn. How long was I hampered in there? Where am I?” The man stumbled.

“Umm, you’re in Swadia. How did you get stuck in there?”

“I...Am not sure.” The man looked at himself. “Why do I look such a ragamuffin?”

“What is your name?”

“Um, I don’t remember.”

The man stood up and looked puzzled as the sun shined brightly above him. He instinctively reached for it as if grasping something. Apart from being an enigma wrapped in a mystery, there was hardly anything wrong with the man. Orel could only wonder what he should do with him.

“Does he have amnesia?” Orel thought.

He inconspicuously took mental notes of the man. His skin color was back already, and the man was not even shivering, considering Orel wore two layers himself.

“Umm, I’ve got some spare clothes if you feel cold.”

The man turned around, looked at his clothes, and smiled honestly. “Oh, Thank you. It would be pretty nifty to have a better pair than these.”

“I’m not sure if these fit, though.”

The man began to remove his clothes. Orel didn’t have another jacket, so a blue woolen shirt had to make do. With it, Orel gave him a pair of gray trousers, socks, some track shoes, and a t-shirt. As the man removed his shirt, Orel saw the most remarkable oddity of the man. Around the center of his chest was a massive scar stretching from his neck’s base to the start of his waist, like something had tried cutting him in half. He had ever seen such a violent-looking sight, even more, that it seemed to have healed a long time ago, only leaving a horrid reminder.

“Where did you get that scar?”

“I am as graveled as you. This scar is indeed a deep one.”

The man continued to put on his new clothes and, after doing so, threw the old ones back into the water. While they might have been suitable for a museum, Orel had no intention to give them to one, much less now as they sunk to the bottom of the stream.

The man felt the new clothes with his hands. They felt unfamiliar but primarily comfortable, at least compared to the rags he had. The size was wrong, but fortunately, the fabric stretched. Orel could feel her mother screaming how he had ruined another fine shirt.

“This is like a tow shirt, mauger it is a bit peevish.” The man scratched his neck.

Orel could not comment on that. It was a fair game of guessing what it meant. It was best just to shake your head a bit and try thinking you heard nothing. Orel noticed how the man seemed a bit older than him, perhaps even older than Norman.

“What should I do with you?”

“Are you asking me? Perish the thought!”

“I could at least take you to Agnafit. There is nothing much you can do here.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“You wouldn’t happen to be Swadian, would you?”

“What is this Swaidia you make noise about?”

“Nevermind.”

“Alright.”

“Umm, if you don’t remember your name, what should I call you?”

“Aaaah, you put me in a bit of a scrape. Can’t think of a name...”

“...How about Andras?”

“Where did you have that idea?”

“I heard it from the locals.”

“Andras...Sounds good.” The man smiled.

“Really?” Orel didn’t even know what it meant.

“Yea, or is this some gull?” Andras suspected.

“If it’s alright with you.”

“I would have preferred someone famous, but one must do with what is given.”

“Well, Andras. I’m Orel. Nice to meet you.” Orel stretched his hand for him.

“Dandy to make acquaintances, Orel.” Andras shook hands.

Orel felt a weird tingle as he shook Andras’ hand. It was warm, radiating. It felt like touching a hot radiator. Andras paid it no mind, but Orel was about to let go. He had to cool his hand after Andras finished shaking.

“So, you mentioned some town you were faring to?” Andras asked.

“There’s a city not far from here.”

“I see. Then there we shall embark.” Andras proclaimed proudly.

“Well, first, we need to go through those mountains.”

“Bah! What could a small mountain do?”

That was something Andras would soon, or rather, one and a half hours later, find out. The two had begun ascending a part of the mountain range. Fortunately, locals had put up a map of the region, marking all safe and dangerous parts. The weather was still fine, but the sign did warn that it could change rapidly and that poorly equipped hikers should turn around at this point or face death. Orel tried his best to memorize the route, while Andras tried to understand anything written on it. They, or rather Orel, had no time to waste, as he remembered his bet with Norman and decided to head out before the smug mage could text him, though he could never know as his phone was dead.

Orel led the two-person expedition the best he could with no previous experience. Though the road was easy to traverse, there were no railings or signs to tell the way or any that the two could spot. After traveling the gravel, rocks, and slopes, the weather suddenly changed. A dense mist descended on the road within minutes, towering anyone walking there.

Amid the confusion, Orel disappeared in the sudden thick fog, leaving Andras alone.

“Aw, shucks!” Andras looked around. “Hey, where did you go?”

“I’m right here!” Orel answered.

Andras saw an obscure figure waving at him. He ran towards it, hoping he would soon join back with Orel. As he was about to yell back, Andras noticed something wrong. What at the moment looked like a waving hand now resembled a wobbly branch. While Andras was surprised, he did not realize it until it was too late. He should have noticed that the road he tried to step on was not there.

Orel heard Andras’ call, but nothing waited for him but a ledge as he arrived at the scene. The sound of dirt rolling down made him fear the worst. He was rightfully terrified of what fate Andras had met, as falling such a distance would certainly kill someone.

A sudden yell broke his thought.

“I need a bit of assistance!” Andras yelled.

Orel looked down and could faintly see someone laying down on a ledge further down.

“Andras, are you alright?”

“Umm, best that you don’t quiz at it.”

The mist covered whatever Andras’ legs had become, yet something else caught Orel’s eye, or rather, he could feel something on his skin. Orel felt something, a stream of mildly hot air, like steam among the fog. It was distinctly different from the rest of the air around him. Orel thought there might be a geyser somewhere near or perhaps a hot spring, even though none were marked on the map.

“Wait, I’ll come down,” Orel said.

“Nay, no need.”

Suddenly a sound of falling gravel closed in on Orel. Something climbed up like a cockroach with all four limbs. Soon Orel could spot his shirt and the man wearing it. Huffing and puffing, Andras reached his hand out, which Orel gripped and pulled the large man up. Orel looked back at the fall and checked. Yes, it was still quite a significant fall. Still, Andras seemed to climb it in just a few seconds, not counting his injuries.

“How did you-”

“Zounds, that hole sure is deep.” Andras looked down.

“I thought you broke something.” Orel looked at the scratchless body.

“What? Nay. Let us continue.” Andras started walking.

Though there was no blood, Orel saw his trousers ripped beyond repair. There should have been some wounds with such gaping holes, yet only burly leg hair stood out. Perhaps he was just overestimating the fall, though he should not underestimate how her mother would feel about those pants.

Orel took a step forward, following Andras. However, there was no second step. The ground underneath Orel's feet grumbled, his foot slipped, and he fell backward. Orel's arms swayed, yet they couldn’t grip anything. A sudden feeling coursed through his back and stomach as Orel realized his situation. There was a moment to catch the edge, but that would be only if he had fallen forward. His fingers couldn’t quite reach it, and he was about to drop,

Something pulled Orel’s hand. His body tumbled next to the face of the cliff. Orel looked up and saw a burly hand reaching out, gripping him firmly.

“Andras!”

“Not your time for expiry yet, ain’t it?” Andras pulled Orel up.

With all the strength he could gather, Andras lifted Orel over the edge one-handed while gripping a large boulder. It took a moment for Orel to process as many emotions ran through his mind from the sudden near-death experience. After that, only one thing came to him.

“Thanks for saving me.”

“What can an able man do but help a fellow man in peril? And shouldn’t I ought to pay back respects? You did save me, after all.”

“I was just doing what I felt like.”

“Then we are not too far from each other.” Andras smiled. “Come on now: We need to keep going.”

“Right.”

Fortunately for them, the mist seemed to disappear as the two joined once more. This time they both made sure to stay close and that they could lend their backs to one another, not that Orel ever doubted that. Together the two continued down the mountain, where they could already see the outskirts of Agnafit. Only a few roads headed there, but they compensated for how wide they were. While most buildings were still behind some hills, the largest ones peeked over like dry branches in a field.

“Ooh, take a look! A city!” Andras pointed.

“Yes, I bet Norman is already waiting for us.”

“Norman?”

“He’s a friend of mine. We travel together.”

“I see. To where?”

“It might sound a bit crazy, but we are trying to find a winter realm.”

“Uh-huh. Sounds like a jolly good time.”

“Well, we are heading home now.”

“Oh, I thought you hadn’t found the place?”

“No, we didn’t. Some people got in the way.”

“So? Did they scramble you?”

“No, they just said to forget about it.”

“Only gods can tell you what to do, and I bet those two toyers were but hot air.”

“Let’s just go.” Orel started walking.

“Now, hold on.” Andras got in the way. “I did see that you are a contending one, but why give up now?”

“I’m not. I just don’t know if I got what it takes.”

“Well, that’s what you got to try and find out for yourself, mister.”

“Easier said than done.” Orel kept walking.

“Youth these days. Since when were they filled with doubt?”

It took a bit of walking on the edges of the motorway, but the two finally reached Agnafit. The city center was still ahead, but they could feel the booming city life even on the far edges. It felt slightly reminiscent of Helsburg and the port of Alanland. Of course, the signs were all different, and all in all, the weather was fairer, more closely resembling Orel’s home. They walked around the large city without any direction, but there was a hint of hope in the situation.

“This is a cell phone. I can send a message to anywhere in the world with it.” Orel explained.

“I see. How does it operate?”

“Um, at the moment, it doesn’t. It’s out of power.”

“Then how do you suppose we discover Norman?”

“I have an idea. Follow me.”

The mere sight of such a buzzing city full of life and wonder almost overloaded Andras’ senses. The neon lights, sounds of the traffic, the tall buildings towering next to each other; all felt overwhelming. With such a vast city, one would think finding someone without any means of communication would be near impossible. Well, that only was if you didn’t know the person you were looking for.