Blood soaked the snow, turning the once-pristine landscape into a field of red. The bodies of the beasts lay scattered, so torn apart beyond recognition.
Steam rose from the warm blood, mixing with the cold air, creating an eerie mist. If soone looked from above, it would almost seem like a twisted painting—dark figures sprawled over the white canvas, painted with crimson strokes.
Kael raised his sword to put it back in the scabbard but stopped, noticing the blood and flesh clinging to the blade. He stared at it for a mont before muttering, "It needs to be cleaned."
His gaze then shifted to Albert, who was panting heavily, his face red from exhaustion. At the sa ti, Albert looked at Kael, his mind racing.
What the hell is wrong with this maniac? Albert thought. I’m already worn out despite being B-rank, but he looks completely fine.
He’s only C-rank... so how is this possible?
Sadly, he had no idea Kael had been absorbing life essence from the slain beasts, a small boost just enough to keep him going. At higher levels, these weak creatures barely made a difference, but for now, it was enough.
Even if that doesn’t add in increasing stats, they at least restore his stamina.
That’s one of the main reasons he was feared in his pri because he could just fight endlessly for days without getting tired.
Kael turned toward Albert. "Is the mine near?"
Albert exhaled and steadied his breath. "Yes, we’re about a few kilo ters away." He hesitated, then looked up. "I think we should retreat. If we head back now, we can reach camp and get so proper rest. If we stay too long and a beast tide cos, it won’t be easy to handle."
Kael smirked. "That’s a good suggestion, but..." He turned his gaze forward, eyes cold and calculating.
Finn, still gripping his rifle, spoke up. "We were supposed to check the mine’s condition, but these damn beasts slowed us down." His tone was calm, but frustration was clear in his voice.
Gregor nodded, his claymore resting on his shoulder. "If we went all out, we could deal with them easily, but we can’t afford to waste energy. The snow is already draining our stamina, and we need to keep our mana circulating to stay warm."
He glanced at Kael. "We need to be careful, my Lord."
Kael didn’t respond imdiately. His gaze shifted to Lyria, who stood a short distance away, seemingly unbothered by the carnage. Justina, on the other hand, was fidgeting beside her.
"Are you alright? You’re not scared, are you?" Justina asked, tilting her head with a playful smile.
Lyria simply nodded, her face blank and emotionless.
Justina huffed and looked at the large pack strapped to Lyria’s back. "Your Master is really harsh, making you carry such a heavy burden. Why don’t you let carry it instead?"
Lyria barely reacted. "Sorry, but I can’t. It’s my job."
Justina frowned, her cheerful expression faltering. She gave Lyria a knowing look. "Or is it because you’re afraid of your Master?"
Before she could say more, she felt an icy chill run down her spine. She turned her head slowly and t Kael’s cold, unblinking stare. It was the kind of look that made her stomach twist. She wanted to argue, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she just swallowed hard and looked away.
Kael ignored her and focused on Lyria. "Do we have rations for camping?"
"Yes," Lyria answered without hesitation. "Enough to last three days."
Albert, Finn, and Gregor exchanged uneasy glances. Sothing about the way Kael asked that question sent a shiver down their spines.
"We’ll find a safe place and camp for the night," Kael announced. "We’ll go to the mine tomorrow."
Albert’s face twisted in disbelief. "Are you insane?!" he snapped.
Gregor kept his composure but spoke carefully. "My Lord, if we get caught in a beast tide, we’ll be in serious danger."
Kael simply nodded. "I know." His expression didn’t change. "That’s why I already inford Sir Robert to be on standby. If anything happens, we just need to send the signal, and he’ll co for us."
His tone was calm, almost bored, like he wasn’t talking about life and death but so minor inconvenience.
Gregor and Finn relaxed slightly. They looked at Albert, waiting for his final say.
Albert gritted his teeth, frustration boiling inside him. But after a mont, he sighed. "Since Father is on standby... let’s just go with it."
The group worked in silence, their breath visible in the freezing air. The snow was thick, but they dug through it with steady hands, forming compact igloo-like shelters reinforced with wooden poles.
Once the dos were shaped, they covered them with thick, dark tents to keep the warmth in. The makeshift camp soon looked like a small, hidden settlent, nestled deep in the frozen wilderness.
Inside one of the shelters, a small bonfire crackled, casting a soft orange glow over the icy walls. Kael sat beside it, polishing his sword with slow, deliberate movents. The steel glead under the firelight, now free of blood and flesh. His expression was blank, lost in thought, yet his hands moved with precision, as if the act of cleaning his weapon was second nature.
Beside him, Lyria sat quietly, her legs drawn close to her body. Her crimson hair reflected the light, but her cold, emotionless eyes were fixed upward, beyond the igloo’s opening.
Outside, the sky stretched infinitely, painted with vibrant hues of green and blue. The aurora borealis shimred like living ribbons, weaving and twisting across the heavens in a slow, srizing dance.
Kael noticed her gaze and followed it. He smirked slightly, then spoke, his voice calm but tinged with fascination.
"This phenonon... it’s not just the northern lights," he said, watching the glow shift and pulse. "It’s the result of mana interacting with the atmosphere. When the world’s leylines surge with energy, it escapes into the sky and collides with the mana-rich particles up there. That’s what creates this... spectacle." His eyes reflected the lights, as if he were looking at sothing far beyond the present mont. "A reminder of how much power flows through this land, unseen, yet always there."
For a long mont, Lyria said nothing. She simply watched the sky, her face as unreadable as ever.
But then, Kael noticed sothing that made him freeze. A soft smile flickered on her lips, faint but undeniably real. It was gone almost as soon as it appeared, but it was enough to make him pause.
His sharp eyes narrowed. "What happened?" he asked, his voice quieter than before.
Lyria hesitated, her gaze still on the sky. Then, after a brief mont, she spoke, her voice softer than usual.
"It’s... it just feels so peaceful."
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