(CHAPTER 1: THE MOUNTAINS)

It's been three days since they walk out of the desert, but what in front of them was beyond their expectations, they didn't expect a huge icy land right beside a scorching hit desert, something about this doesn't make sense, but they had to keep on going. "You sure you got the right map Rose?" Hero questioned, the icy scene in front of them is indeed confusing.

"The route may change but the land will never move by itself." Rose hand them the map to see it themself, there was indeed an icy mountain blocking away the desert and the plains. "These is also one of the reason why the village's economy is trash, they can't trade, people aren't willing to cross a village and take risk from being attack by strays or Iceologers just for some sand and prickly cactus."

"We need proper clothing to get through the mountains, if else we will freeze to death." Hero concluded. "Norman, how do you and the scouting team make past the mountain?"

"We use wool armor." Norman replied as he took one out of his beg. "I have one on me. The other 2 is with Sam and Jack, back at the village."

"So? We need to reroute?" Hero asked, "We didn't have any wool on us. Not even for a the boots."

"Not necessary." Brine interrupted on the horse back. "You guys have strings right?" "Yeah." Hero nodded, "A lot, deserts are filled with these creepy crawlers."

"Great. Give them to me." Hero look at her for a second before open up his backpack and gave her half a stack of string, Norman hand in his share too. "That should be enough." Brine mumble to herself as he take two sticks out of her pocket and started knitting. The rest look at each other for a while before start making preparations for the expedition. Norman and Hero headed around the perimeter collecting sticks from the dead bushes as well as some flint to work as a lighter, they needed them for fuel and torches once they head in. While Rose stay put to keep Brine safe as she focus on her knitting.

The duo came back after an hour stuffed full with sticks and flint as well as kindling of all kind, fire shouldn't be a big problem for them, at least for now. Norman took the sticks and wrap them in some wool, to keep it dry for the whole trip. By the time they have finish pacing, Brine has finished the 3 full set of wool armor. They also stuff the inside of the horse armor with some wool, just in case it couldn't stand the cold. The gang dawn the warm fuzzy clothing, and started their trip across the icy mountains.

"It sure is chilly up here." Hero let out a chuckle. "Eyes sharp guys, keep our finger crossed for hostile mos." Rose warned, it was her first time crossing the mountains too. She have heard tales about the dangerous mobs lurking around the icy hell from illagers who come to her hut to trade. About the Strays, undead souls that lurks around, hunting every living being nearby with its deadly arrows that summons the devils from hell to pull you down. The Icelogers, dangerous, powerful yet mysterious beings that is highly skilled when it comes to spells, able to control ice and snow with his will. There are many, many more mobs like these, but the most feared of all is the one and only king of the mountains.

The Frost Maw.

A gigantic icy beast that hibernates on top the peak of the mountains. Deadly and fearsome, meeting one is indeed a death sentence. Only one illager she known has met and survive to tell her the tale, the story about an entire scouting team of 14 highly trained illagers getting wiped out by that legendary beast sent a shudder down her spine. Maybe it was the cold icy mountain winds, maybe it was because of the fear. Either of them, she doesn't like the feeling.

Now she is starting to wonder whether that two stacks or emerald is really worth the payment.

As they stroll deeper and deeper into the mountains, the wind howls like crazy, almost blowing the team away from each other at a few separate occasions. The horse starts to create weird noise, his hoofs were turning purple as joint started to swell red. Without any option, they let go of the leash and let the horse return back to the village, which makes the journey a lot slower, since they had to guide Brine. The blizzard didn't seem to help their sight though, as right now, even the easiest task to walk straight is a challenge. Their vision are cut off entirely by the cursed weather, which doesn't help with the existence of powdery ice, they had to fish out Norman twice and Rose thrice from the sinking snow for that. They didn't have any energy left to complain, the wind would also wipe away their curses. All they could wish is to arrive at the log cabin situated a few hundred meters away, for night in the mountain is almost a thousand time nastier than now, And they don't wanted to wait and find out.

After a lot of struggle and pain, they barely make it to the hut.

"Ah~" Norman dip his feet into the piping hot water around the fire place. "Whoever designed this place must've been a genius. This is comforting." Hero and the rest nodded and smiled. "Finally, I can feel my toes." Brine mumbled, although with the protection of the wool armor, her feet is still swelling red, with a stinging sensation.

"This cabin is nicely designed, wonder who could build one at a harsh environment like this." Hero asked as he lit up one of the heating coil at the corner of the room. In an instant the cabin was warm and cozy, as the blizzard continue to rage outside them. They felt safe, they felt comfortable like never before.

"Rumors claim that the Iceologer itself built the cabin for his stay." Rose replied as she laze around the fire place, enjoying her dip. "Who is that, icy-lorger dude anyway?" Norman questioned, throwing a few diced potatoes, carrots and beef into a pot at the fire place, he was cooking beef stew for dinner. He is once a chef at the illager outpost when he is young, so he isn't real stranger when it comes to cooking.

"People say that he is just a normal man, who is obsessed with the tale of the Frost Maw." Rose took a sniff out of the aroma of the stew. "He dwells too deep into the beast, and pays his price. He is still roaming around the mountain area, searching for his next prey to experiment on." The gang froze, even Norman stop stirring the stew. These may be a great bed time talk back at anywhere, but this is the place where the Icologer used to live, and it is not a joking matter.

Rose stares at the frozen trio for a second before bursting into laughter. "Come on mate, you expecting the tale to be real? These are all just tales, stories, and I pretty sure traders or illagers built this hut to work as a trading stop." Upon hearing that, the other let out a sigh, as they continues what they left off. It was not much talking after that. Hero check their supplies, Brine resting, Rose reading her books while Norman continue to cook his stew.

Not long after, the stew is compete, they separate the stew into four bowls and feasted. It was not a dinner fit for a king, but it was definitely one of the best meals they've ever had. After the dinner, they clean up, pack up, blow out the lanterns, put out the campfire, and headed to bed.

While they are all asleep, a figure appears closer to one of the windows in the cabin. He glares at the gang coldly as the wind blows violently on him. He didn't seem to be shaken though, as he continue to stare. "Visitors huh." He let out an icy chuckle. "Welcome to the mountains then."