Lyra looked at them for a moment before sighing and walking the other way.
"We'll take the longer, safer route," she murmured, waving her hand slightly for them to follow.
Kairis stepped forward first, her breath misting in the cold air. Kael lingered a second longer, his eyes tracing the empty path behind them before he finally caught up.
For a while, there was only the crunch of their boots. A quiet rhythm of steps and wind — silence that wasn't uncomfortable, but not exactly comfortable either.
Then Kael finally spoke.
"So," he began, "is this what peaceful looks like to you two? Because I'm freezing."
Kairis didn't even look at him. "Then stop complaining and keep moving. The faster we walk, the warmer you'll get."
"Ah, wise advice," Kael said dramatically. "But if I die from frostbite, I want it noted in history that Kairis ignored my final pleas for warmth."
She shot him a glare over her shoulder. "If you die, it'll be because you never shut up."
Kael pressed a hand to his chest. "Ruthless as ever. You'd make a terrible knight."
Kairis huffed, quickening her pace. "And you'd make an even worse one."
Lyra, walking a few steps ahead, exhaled softly — was it a sigh or a laugh? Even she didn't know. The sound of their bickering carried a strange warmth into the frozen air.
Kael grinned under his breath. "You know, I liked it better when it was quiet. The silence didn't insult me."
"So stop talking," Kairis said flatly.
"I would," he muttered, "but I know you'd miss me."
Kairis stopped, turning to glare at him fully this time — her cheeks flushed from the cold and irritation. "Not a chance."
Kael raised both hands in surrender, snow catching in his hair. "Alright, alright. No need to murder me in the snowfield. I surrender, General Frostbite."
Lyra's lips curved faintly as she looked back at them — Kael grinning like an idiot, Kairis trying (and failing) not to smile.
The path curved along the side of a mountain — narrow, buried in snow almost to their knees. The wind whistled through the cracks in the rocks, sharp and cold enough to sting their faces.
The sky hung low and gray, and even the trees seemed weighed down by the endless white.
When the trail opened up, Kael stopped. He stepped closer to the edge and leaned forward.
"...Whoa."
Kairis looked at him curiously. "What are you staring at?"
She walked beside him — and then saw it too.
Far ahead, the valley stretched endlessly, mist curling above a vast white field. Frozen rivers gleamed faintly in the distance, and far beyond them, mountains layered in shades of silver, their peaks buried in snow.
Lyra, who had been waiting for them a little further ahead, walked back out of curiosity.
For a while, no one spoke. The air felt strange — quiet, but heavy, like even the wind dared not disturb the view.
Kairis exhaled, her breath forming a cloud. "Didn't think it would look like this."
Lyra stepped closer, eyes following the horizon. "The world's colder than I remember," she said softly.
Kael gave a faint smile. "Still pretty though."
Kairis shot him a look. "You planning to jump down there just to check?"
He grinned. "Maybe."
Lyra sighed. "Come on, we need to keep moving."
She turned and started walking, leaving them behind.
Kairis sighed but followed.
Kael lingered a moment longer, glancing back at the mountains before realizing they were already ahead. "Wait for me!" he called, waving his hand before running to catch up.
They walked for hours until Lyra noticed something by the side of the path — a small wooden board half-buried under snow. She brushed the snow off carefully and bent a little to read it.
[Quanix Village lies ahead.]
Kael stretched his arms with a groan of relief while Kairis stood beside Lyra.
Lyra turned to them. "It's close. We should reach it in about an hour."
Kairis nodded, glancing toward the horizon. "So it's really near…"
Kael smiled faintly and walked ahead of them. "Finally, something other than freezing snow and two weirdos."
Kairis glared at him from behind, but he didn't even turn back. Lyra let out a soft chuckle before following, and Kairis frowned but trailed along.
Time passed. The snow deepened, and the wind grew harsher. Eventually, Kael turned to Lyra with a dramatic glare.
"You said it would take an hour!"
Kairis tried to hide her smile, while Lyra rubbed her cheek with gloved fingers, hesitant.
I used to come here in a carriage… I didn't expect it would take this long, she thought.
Then, at last, a faint light flickered in the distance — a glow against the white. Kael's eyes widened.
"Finally!"
Lyra looked ahead, spotting the village gates. They walked faster, snow crunching beneath their feet until they reached the entrance.
The wooden gates were open, and inside, the village was alive — cold but bright, filled with lantern light and the sound of people moving about.
Lyra exhaled, her breath misting. Kairis smiled faintly behind her, and Kael stood still, eyes glinting with something like awe.
A woman noticed them and smiled kindly. "Travelers?" she asked, walking closer. "You can stay here for the night, if you'd like."
Kael nodded instantly. Lyra hesitated, then nodded politely. Kairis simply watched the woman in quiet curiosity.
"Follow me," the woman said, leading them through the snowy streets. The lanterns glowed softly, turning the night golden.
She stopped before a small stone house. "You can rest here. I'll bring some firewood."
Lyra and the others nodded their thanks before stepping inside.
It wasn't large, but it was enough for the night — warm, quiet, and faintly scented with herbs.
Three mattresses were laid neatly on the floor: one beside the right wall, one on the left, and one in between, near a small chimney.
Kael dropped himself onto the left one with a sigh of relief. Lyra sat on the middle mattress, setting her coat aside, while Kairis took the one near the right wall.
After a few minutes, the woman returned with firewood. She lit the chimney, and the soft warmth filled the room.
Not long after, a small boy entered, holding a tray with steaming bowls. The woman took it from him with a gentle pat on the head before turning to them.
"Here — it's simple stew, but it'll warm you right up."
Kael's eyes lit up instantly. "That already sounds like heaven."
The woman smiled faintly as she placed the bowls before them, the steam curling into the air.
For the first time in days, the three of them sat together — quiet, tired, but comforted by the simple smell of warmth and food.
***
Snow whispered across the ground, soft and endless under the pale glow of the lanterns.
A man hurried through it, breath fogging in the cold, until he reached a figure standing by the gate — silver eyes gleaming faintly in the dim light.
He bowed quickly. "Lord Azel — travelers. They came from the east."
Azel didn't move at first. His gaze stayed fixed on the dark road beyond the walls, the falling snow catching in his hair.
"Travelers?" he murmured. "In this cold?"
"They don't seem like merchants," the man said cautiously.
For a long moment, only the wind answered. Then Azel's eyes shifted toward the faint glow of the hall in the distance.
"I see," he said quietly. "Then I'll meet them myself."
He stepped forward, the snow crunching beneath his boots — calm, deliberate — as the lantern light followed him into the white stillness.