Flying high in the sky, higher than the blizzard, a large golden winged-wolf soared. Occasionally, she flapped her wings, keeping her in the air as she stared at the vast expanse of swirling ice and snow below her.
'Glad I'm not down there.' Rhydian thought. 'It's too cold, and most of the weaker beasts have gone into hiding. It's not fun anymore.' Her body might be icing over, flying so high, but there are no obstacles in her way. She could traverse this continent at her leisure.
'Oh? Prey!' She saw a big white bird burst through the layer of clouds and screech out in joy. However, Rhydian swooped in and grabbed it by the neck, snapping it.
The beast's final look was one of despair and confusion. Just as it was freed from that hell, it was imdiately killed! What kind of dogshit luck was that?! Unfortunately, it was too dead to receive an answer.
Rhydian munched on her new snack, uncaring for its feelings, as she rose higher in the sky again.
'Now, this is the life. Free flying, easy hunting, and no unreasonable orders.'
It might be a bit cold, but who was she? The Queen of the skies! How could sothing like this stop her?!
'But speaking of orders, I wonder where Mira is?' She thought but chose not to focus on their connection. The possibility was slim, but Mira might detect sothing and call for her. If that happened, she'd lose all her freedom!
'...Better just to leave her alone, ' she thought, shaking her head, munching on the last bits of her snack.
However, as she was looking down, she started to notice the peculiarities of the blizzard. Inside, it was hard to tell what was going on, as it was just icy and windy with no visibility, but above it, things were different.
The clouds on the outside of the Continent seed to spiral, rotating around the land. A bit more inward, they were more chaotic, going every which way and constantly changing. Further inland, they swirled the opposite way as the outer layer. Lastly, the biggest area in the middle of it all seed random, or rather, she could tell what was going on underneath from where she was.
'I wonder if there's any aning to these different sections.' Rhydian thought, her instinct telling her no, that this was just how things ended up. 'Makes sense. None of these layers are better or worse than one another, just different.'
For example, the winds around the edges were the absolute worst, but it wasn't quite as cold as the center.
'But I'm kind of curious about what's in the center.' She abruptly changed courses, heading straight for the middle of the continent. 'Maybe I'll be able to get so treasures before Mira's greedy hands can snatch them!'
The thought made her eyes shine like stars. For soone like her, being in a group with Mira and Elenei was the worst, as those two always picked out the good stuff. Now, it was her turn!
***
While Rhydian's journey was mostly unimpeded, there was soone who was experiencing the exact opposite.
In a city called Sylphidia, not far away from the Celestial Springs Resort, the place was bustling. Normally, it was just an average city ant for travelers who didn't have the money or status to stay at the resort, but during the blizzard, it was packed full of people who dared not venture out.
The city, with its cobblestone streets and quaint lantern-lit alleys, offered a humble yet charming alternative.
However, Sylphidia was more than just a stopover for budget-conscious travelers. It was a city steeped in history and magic. The ancestors of Sylphidia were said to have been guided by the sylphs, which inspired the city's na.
The architecture of Sylphidia reflected this, with spiraling towers and buildings. The city's centerpiece was the Aerolith Plaza, a grand square where a massive, ancient stone stood, rumored to be a relic left by the sylphs themselves. It was said that during certain celestial alignnts, the stone would emanate a gentle, harmonious tone, imbuing those nearby with a sense of peace and clarity.
Just like it was doing now.
For Sylphidia, the blizzard brought many boons to the city. Inns and taverns were brimming with guests, and the local marketplaces saw a surge in trade as stranded travelers sought warmth and provisions.
The city's artisans and rchants, known for their exquisite wind chis and delicate fabrics, found new patrons among the resort's usual clientele, now forced to explore the city's lesser-known treasures.
Despite the chaos brought by the storm, the residents of Sylphidia showed remarkable hospitality, embracing the influx of visitors with open arms…
"Hey there, pretty lady. Why don't you join for dinner?"
"No, thanks."
"Don't be like that~ I just want to buy you a al."
"I already said no thanks. Don't push your luck, kid."
"Oh? A bit of a feisty one, eh? Haha! As expected, those wolf ears aren't for show!"
A vein bulged on Linnea's forehead as she swept around and threw a punch at her pursuer. The man caught her fist but slid back a few centiters. He took back his hand and looked at his palm, a bit surprised to feel it throbbing.
"...And to think I thought of you as a mortal woman…" The bald man with a rough appearance looked up and stared at Linnea, who returned the gaze with furrowed brows.
"I'm not in the mood for this nonsense. So, if you have nothing important to say, I'm leaving." She turned around and swiftly walked off, disappearing into the crowd.
The bald man, Gavrel rcer, a rcenary and traveler, scowled as he watched Linnea leave. He wanted to chase after her, but feeling the subtle gazes of those around him, he stopped himself.
Normally, the city wouldn't crack down on its laws. However, with the blizzard going on and things being busier than normal, any sort of chaos was swiftly dealt with. At best, he'd be tossed out, at worst, he'd be killed.
Still, he licked his lips and walked in a slightly different direction. 'I will get my dinner date with you, woman!'
anwhile, Linnea had already forgotten about the man. The number of tis people have hit on her as she traveled was in the dozens. It couldn't be helped. Right now, she was a cripple with no spiritual fluctuations. Because of this, most n thought she was an easy target.
Although it was annoying, she also couldn't deny that it was flattering. After spending years locked up and tortured, growing older and weaker, it felt good to know that she still had it in her. Not that she wanted to give Hana a step-father.
'...I doubt Mira would allow it, either.' She thought bitterly.
Pushing those thoughts aside, she walked into a tavern, only to see that it was packed full of people. Smirking slightly, she found an empty table and shouted, "A Mystic Malt, please!"
"On it!" A cheery voice from across the room yelled back.
Not even a few seconds later, Linnea noticed a few n get up from their table and make their way over to hers.
"Mind if we sit here?" The leader, a handso blonde young man, asked with a polite smile.
Linnea leaned forward and smiled, "Only if you pay the price."
"Oh? What price?" The blonde man raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Information."
"What do you want to know?"
Linnea curled her finger, signaling them to lean in closer before she whispered. "Do you know of… any natural treasures that can help fix a broken dantian?"
"..." The group recoiled a bit, not expecting a question like that before their expressions beca contemplative.
"What's your budget?" Another one of the n asked.
"Free."
"...Huh?"
Linnea chuckled at their confused faces, shaking her head. "Fufu~ Just kidding~ However, it's true that I'm not looking to pay. If possible, I'd like to find an opportunity out in the blizzard."
"The blizzard?!"
"You?"
"Why?"
"That's way too dangerous!"
Linnea was a bit taken aback by their reactions, but she quickly cald herself and replied, "Don't you know how expensive products that can fix a broken dantian are? Not to ntion, hardly any alchemist would create sothing like that to begin with. The demand is simply too low. That's not even considering the fact that I'm a mortal woman.
Even if I had all the ingredients, money, and connections, it's still not guaranteed they'd make it for ."
They thought about it for a mont and nodded.
"That… makes sense."
"I'm sorry, but I don't know any treasures like that."
" neither."
Linnea shrugged, tucking a strand of her silver hair behind her wolf ear. "Well, if you four could help ask around, I'll buy you all a round of beer."
"Make it five, and you gotta deal!"
"Fufu~ Alright~"
One of the n, a spry youth with short brown hair, smacked his chest. "Leave it to !" Then he ran off.
The remaining three exchanged looks before nodding and dashing off.
'Looks like I still got it.' Linnea chuckled to herself. Although it was a bit shaful to leverage her looks for cheap information, she wasn't in a position to care about such things. As long as she could regain her strength and be with her daughter, nothing else mattered.
A few seconds later, a mug was placed in front of her, "Your Mystic Malt!"
Linnea thanked the young woman, who had already run off and took a sip, waiting for her little errand boys to return.
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