Frozen Hell (Part 7)

Across the expansive white fields that emitted desolation and loneliness, a magical carriage was currently driving atop its shiny surface. On this rare day, the sun was up in the cloudless sky, completely unobstructed, and provided warm light that glinted off the icy sheets abundant throughout the entire land. Some areas of high altitude contained formations of ice and snow that actually refracted parts of the sunlight, creating an image of faint colors that flowed like rivers across the sky. The sight was uniquely beautiful, enough to make an inhabitant temporarily forget about the harsh weather, but the people occupying the carriage were not in the mood as of the moment.

Sitting with his legs crossed, Leo rested his head on his hand as he gazed blankly out the carriage's window. The words that Walter previously told them continue to resound in his mind.

'The Frozen Hell... If she's actually in there then it's already hopeless.

'No wonder Chieftain Namur howled so much this morning. The news of this realization must've severely devastated him.'

As soon as his team heard the whereabouts of the chieftain's daughter, all motivation to continue their search vanished. There was no point in going somewhere that could lead to suicide. Right now, with nothing left to do, they were all heading home with their luggage beside them.

And yet, there was still a little bit of unwillingness that persisted in their team.

"Hey, guys," Judy said after staying silent for nearly half an hour. "What do you all think are the chances that the daughter survived?"

"Near zero," Leo answered with a hint of resignation. "From every record about the Frozen Hell, even if one possessed extraordinary power, it would be a miracle for that person to even survive a couple minutes in there.

"Considering that she has been missing for several days, I don't think she would be alive anymore."

"Yes, but even so." Judy looked around at the rest of them. "If there is a slight chance, shouldn't we think up of an idea to attempt it? I just can't feel comfortable knowing that our quest is going to end like this."

"We all understand," Alex replied. "I feel the same way, too. But Walter already told us that the spatial formation spell can no longer be activated. Even if we want to do something, the situation doesn't really provide us with many options."

The three of them remained quiet again as they sat around together. Right now, Walter was outside and driving them away to be sent back to Victoria City. As a result, the mood in the carriage was a little gloomy.

"Hey Sarah, what are your thoughts about this?" Judy suddenly asked the only other person who hadn't spoken.

"My thoughts?" Sarah looked up at them as she appeared to have been resting her head on her hand just like Leo. "I was contemplating about the beastmen culture."

"Err, may I know why?"

Sarah sat up straight and explained, "Considering that the chieftain's daughter is likely dead, I simply recalled the traditions and rites that beastmen tend to practice to honor their brethren. However, I find it a shame that most of them have to involve gathering the body before making a prayer."

"Oh..." Judy became silent again.

"But of course," Sarah carried on. "I also wish to at least attempt something prior to leaving. It's only that I'm afraid of causing harm to my team that I'm hesitating on suggesting anything."

'You and me both,' Leo thought, after listening in to her response.

For several minutes now, Leo's mind had been wandering to the phoenix feather that was securely placed in his pouch. Many times he wanted to ask his teammates about using it to find the missing daughter, yet he always hesitated before he could speak.

'If I use this, will I survive?' this question had repeated in his mind for the entire trip.

It would not be a lie to say that he was terrified at the prospects of entering a forbidden zone in the heart of the most desolate country of the known world. But some part of him was still feeling quite daring at the idea. To explore one of the most mysterious locations ever rarely visited was a thrill that felt like a dream.

The willful part of him that wanted to carry out risks compelled him to consider this attempt. After all, he could simply just visit the edge of the Frozen Hell and quickly walk out after staying for only a single second. There have been records of people actually surviving such a situation before, often with the support of an experienced healer like Sarah, though the percentage was never quite consistent.

"How ab--" Leo subconsciously opened his mouth but his words quickly trailed off.

"Hm? What did you say?" Alex glanced at Leo after noticing the latter saying something.

"..." Leo resisted the urge to scrunch up his expression as he silently cursed himself for carelessly speaking aloud.

"It's nothing," he tried to salvage the situation. "My mind just wandered off for a bit."

"Ah, I see." Alex's eyes showed some understanding. "Well, this quest has been quite unexpectedly tiring."

With the situation placated, nothing else further happened. Leo merely nodded once and went back to contemplating about the Frozen Hell.

Just when the daring side of Leo wanted to speak out, his more rational side held him back. The exploration of the unknown had always excited him as a child. And being the first to enter a forbidden place did have a great appeal for him. Unfortunately, the danger of this challenge may very well cause his immediate death if he made even the slightest misstep in judgement. The fear of death was pushing against his willful desire. In the end, he wasn't able to come to a proper decision.

'They say that one must have a certain level of boldness if they wish to make history. But being too bold will make one become history...'

Leo couldn't help but slowly rest his forehead on his hands as the carriage continued to get farther away from the chieftain's manor. Eventually, a slight sense of disdain took shape within him and became directed at both of his two sides. There was shame at his lack of courage to face a dangerous task to potentially rescue an innocent life, and there was also embarrassment at his thoughts of grandeur.

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After several more minutes have passed, the carriage was nearing the teleportation portal which the butler initially gained connection to back at Victoria City.

Finally, the carriage stopped its movements.

"We've arrived," Walter called out from outside. "Adventurers, please prepare yourselves to be sent back to your guild."

Before they left the manor, the butler had stated that he would not be accompanying them all the way back to Bavalon.

Once the carriage's side doors were opened and the team stepped off, Walter bowed as they started making their way.

'If I don't say anything, I wonder how much regret I would later be in,' Leo thought to himself as he descended from the carriage and took careful steps across the snowy field with his friends.

'Everyone on my team wanted to make a suggestion, but they all held themselves back. Even though it was left unsaid, I feel that they might've also shared the same ideas as I have (at least perhaps in the back of their minds).

'Considering that we discussed the phoenix feather only recently, there is a decent chance that they may have guessed it might possess the ability to help explore the Frozen Hell. However, I could also be making assumptions...'

Before the group walked off too far, Walter called out to them to give them his regards.

"Goodbye, adventurers," he began, "Then, 'til we meet agai--"

"Walter," Leo suddenly spoke out, interrupting the beastman's sendoff.

The butler stopped his speech midway and waited for Leo to continue.

"What is it, Leo?" Alex asked in slight surprise.

"I, uh, have something I would like to share with you."

Rather than making a direct suggestion, Leo decided to take a more open approach and simply reveal his cards to the other person. It was up to fate to see what this decision would incur.

'Whatever the case, my teammates and I are together.' Leo took in a deep breath. 'I'm unable to make the choice myself, and I feel way too conflicted to remain confident in my own thoughts anyway. But thankfully, right now, I'm not alone in deciding what should happen next. I only hope it doesn't feel that I'm using them...'

He explained to Walter his possession of the phoenix feather and its unique abilities that have been tested only yesterday. Beside Leo, his teammates would also slip in their own accounts at brief intervals to confirm his statements to the butler.

It only took a few moments for Walter to grasp the intention behind this explanation.

"Are you suggesting," Walter spoke carefully, "this feather might be able to provide protection against any form of weather? Even the Frozen Hell?"

"We don't know for sure." Leo shook his head helplessly. "All I have confirmed of is what I've already told you.

"But," Leo screwed up his resolve and made a mental apology to his team. "Perhaps we could make some kind of new attempt."

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