Chapter 137 – Wintery Days 6

In the morning Ramiel and Peronell went to the way castle. The morning was still covered in snowy mist, lots of ice still fall over the land as they trek through the trail. On their way, they saw horses packed with merchandise, merchants carrying their goods.

The Travel was about three hours long. It took them a while before arriving into the way castle. In the way castle, they saw two caravan groups lined up preparing to enter the mountain path. Along with them were hired guards carrying shield and lamps that are attached to a stick, which they can easily carry over their shoulder.

The Way Castle was filled with merchants and travelers. They are ready to start their journey. The two went to one of the caravans and offered their free assistance. The caravan agreed mainly because it meant that they wouldn’t have to pay them.

Ramiel and Peronell went and hang around the caravan, the snow fall on the land, the horses neigh and the lights from the lamps flickered as the winds blow. The Way Castle that guards the entrance to the mountain path blocks most of the win. It huge structures shadows over the camp, making the camp even darker. In the left side of the way castle’s encampment, there is a huge water mass. A river that flows through a water path finely created by nature, it didn’t free simply because the water was emitting a hot steam.

Ramiel stood around with a bit of pain on both of his legs. His vision only saw black and white, despite the landscape being only composed of white. It bothered him, but he shook it off as he stares at the distant ocean. He could smell the tide from his position. The wind was too strong, and it didn’t help that his surcoat was a bit wet. His fur coat at least kept him warm.

His back was a bit tired due to carrying the wooden backpack of his; he also has a bag tied around his waist under the wooden backpack. There he kept most of his oil flasks, medicine and Molotov’s. He is as usual prepared, but doing so made him carry a lot.

Ramie hugged his arms. He blew air from his mouth, watching it appear before his eyes. His hair fluttered as the wind from the ocean blew. The lights from the lamps flickered, making the way castle covered with a shadow for a second.

The grating sound of metal suddenly disturbed the surroundings. Looking at the source of the sound, Ramiel saw the metal gates of the way Castle finally opening. A man carrying a lamp with a bronze handle went to the front, and waves his hands, signaling the travelers and merchants to enter the path.

“Lined up properly, do not separate if possible.”

The Guard said with a loud voice, the travelers, and merchants then grouped together. The Caravans behind them started moving. Seeing that, Ramiel and Peronell went along with the caravan.

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The Mountain Path was covered in snow and ice. The paths were slippery and one misstep could mean death. But luckily most of the paths were lined up with lamps using magic crystals as oil. It was quite expensive for the nation to place such high-quality lamps, but it was for the better sake of the merchants that give them gold. The Mountain path was considered a much easier route to travel rather than the long road located on the other side of the nation.

This mountain path with lined up magic lamps on either side was a great trade route. Despite the roads still littered with gobs, wolves, and birdmen. The abominable beings weren’t able to do anything simply because of the Guards that are present. Even the monsters recognize how foolish it was to attack a large group of travelers.

The Amount of the travelers was enough to fend off the lurking monsters in the shadows. However Ramiel, as paranoid as ever still keeps his repeater crossbow by hand, In fact, most of the guards that are just going along still kept their weapons at hand, simply because there are other things to worry about when the road is this crowded and dim.

Thieves could be lurking around, so it was no surprise that they would still be in a lookout. Peronell’s eyes were still of a hawk, her vision could see through the night. Her perception was a lot better than the others, with her vocation it was easy for her to work in this crowded mountain path.

The Snow Falling around the caravan didn’t help them, and only through arriving at the peak, where there is a bit of camp that the guards used that the travelers got a bit of relief. They stared their walk in noon and it is already three hours left until the sun descends down from the sky. So some of the merchants and travelers decided to stay on the peak camp while the two caravans armed with guards continued along with the other travelers that didn’t want to stop in the peak camp, it was okay for them to do so they decided to continue on down the road.

The mountain path was getting narrower. Ramiel walks along with his eyes in wonder but it was still not enough to make him calm. He was a sweating, his lips were dry and he could feel a bit of hi face numb. Ramiel strides his legs just to keep up with the caravan.

It took them five hours to cross the mountain path. And as they finally descended down the mountain path, Ramiel saw a castle city sitting on a mountain top. The Grand Walls of the Capital of Soren was in sight, it was lit up by the various torches surrounding the walls.

The Caravan’ speed was slow, but with the city in sight, some of the travelers and merchants hurried up. Ramiel and Peronell didn’t want to slowly travel with the two caravans so they bid their goodbye and continued on a faster pace towards the capital of the nation of Gann.