To the Mountains

The White Mountains were located in the north, bordering the Winfor and Albens Region. The towering peaks of the mountains were home to the White Dragons.

The climate is cold, and the terrain is difficult to traverse. Dragons and other dangerous creatures roam this place as their playground. Therefore, this mountain is called a dangerous place.

Liliya said she was lucky enough to go through all the dangers and meet Reibo. She only wore thick clothes and followed her instincts. Armed with that memory, she was very optimistic that she could lead Ashnard. And Ashnard could only believe in her.

After they finished getting ready: dressed in thick clothes, brought lanterns, food, and drink, they were ready to go.

Ashnard didn't tell anyone about his plan to go to the mountain, neither did Liliya. They used the hole in the city wall to sneak out.

Just a while ago they were out of town, someone called out to stop them, "Where are you going?" Reinhard and Ulfang approached them with questioning looks.

"Nothing," Ashnard replied, trying to remain calm.

"That hole in the city wall, did you guys make it?" asked Reinhard.

"I found it like that a long time ago," answered Liliya.

"Why did you guys sneak out of town? Where exactly are you going with clothes like that?" Reinhard kept showering questions, hoping he got what he wanted.

"We want to go to the mountain, don't we?" Ashnard looked at Liliya, gave a code. Lily nodded.

Reinhard snorted in disbelief, "Looks like you guys just want to die. Well, I won't care either, but Liliya ...." Reinhard walked slowly towards Liliya. "I was asked by your father to take you home. He was looking for you."

"Tell my dad I'll be back later."

As Liliya turned around and wanted to leave, Reinhard tightly gripped her hand. "You must not go. This is your father's orders." He then came closer and whispered to Liliya, "I know your secret, Liliya. Your family's secret. If you don't obey me, soon everyone will know. You don't want that to happen, do you?"

Ashnard immediately let go of Reinhard's hand. "She said she doesn't want to go."

Reinhard snorted once more, "Behave like her knight. What's your problem, Mr. Knight? Don't you have any friends to force Liliya to play with you?"

Ashnard was provoked by his words. His emotions taking over his heart, he turned to Reinhard and frowned. "I don't have any problem with you. Let Liliya go and do whatever she likes. Give it up! It's her choice, you can't do anything."

Reinhard, who was born as someone obedient to the principles of the Asberion family, couldn't accept letting go of the task he had been given. The task that helps him to come up with his own story.

His ambition blazed into flames, those flames ignited as his anger overflowed, like a hot liquid that nothing could cool down. Formed by fear, envy, and compulsion.

His anger was manifested in a fist that flew right into Ashnard's left jaw. The wind covered his fists and sent Ashnard flying backward.

In the seconds before his disappearing consciousness, Ashnard felt a very loud impact. Not only hurt his jaw, but also his head.

The impact seemed to make the world shake, the sky seemed to collapse and the clouds seemed to be falling. A buzz took over Ashnard's mind before he heard a whisper.

***

The impact also shook Ashnard's illusion in empty room.

"You bastard! Why did you lose to him? Don't make my body look weak. Come on, get up, Ash! Get up quickly!"

***

The whispers sounded like the voices of the people surrounding him, even though he remembered very well that there was no one outside except for Liliya and the two annoying persons.

"Okay, stop it!" Lily shouted. "Okay, I will accept the agreement, but on one condition ... don't tell my father about this."

Reinhard's eyes lit up. "You agree? Okay, then I'm not going to tell your father and let the boy go," he said. "I can't wait for it, Liliya." Reinhard and Ulfang also left, leaving Liliya and Ashnard lying unconscious.

His consciousness returned after a few minutes. He felt the ground that was no longer hard, but soft. When Ashnard opened his eyes again, he saw Liliya's worried face so close. Ashnard noticed that he fell asleep on Liliya's lap.

"Are you awake, Ash?" Her beautiful smile became the first sight Ashnard saw.

Ashnard slowly raised his body, which was helped by Liliya, then sat down.

"I heard people's voices earlier, Liliya," Ashnard muttered as he rubbed his left cheek, which was still sore.

"People's voices? But, there's no one here."

"I know that. It's just that I really heard it," the boy said. "By the way, where are they?" Ashnard swept his gaze around, searching for Reinhard and Ulfang's whereabouts.

"They left as soon as you fell unconscious."

"I can't believe I lost in one hit, especially to someone like him. What a shame," Ashnard sighed in disappointment.

"That's okay. He's from the Asberion family. There's no way you can beat him."

"I will put him on the list of people who will be my revenge."

"What are you talking about, silly." Liliya elbowing Ashnard's arm. "What now, Ash? Do you still want to continue?"

Ashnard smiled at him. The answer she should have known. Nothing can stop him, except death itself. Ashnard and Liliya got up and moved towards the mountains.

A giant line of stone towered high in the sky. It didn't move an inch, but the mere sight of it made everyone bow down. A white blanket covered the entire back like armor. On one of its bodies, there was a cave with a reddish glow.

Sefenfor landed his eagle around the cave. The torch and lantern at the cave entrance were still burning warmly, but he saw no trace of his friend's whereabouts.

In the cave stored various kinds of weapons, workbenches, forging tools, and furnaces built into the cave walls.

Even though he checked every corner of the cave, he couldn't find his friend, Reibo. Sefenfor felt more and more worried. He came out of the cave and tried to think of anything he could get. That's when he heard a weapon clank echoing through the mountains. Sefenfor immediately boarded Ekarios and headed for the source of the voice.

Sefenfor saw some White Dragons flying in circles in one place. In a flat gap between the mountain walls, two people seemed to be in a fierce battle.

Knowing that one of them was Reibo, Sefenfor jumped from his eagle at a height. He drew his silver sword at the mysterious robed figure who was Reibo's opponent. The loud bang almost shook the mountain and caused an avalanche. The figure managed to fend off Sefenfor's attack with a dagger.

Sefenfor then approached Reibo. "What's going on here? Who is that?"

"You don't know him?" Reibo asked Sefenfor back.

Interrupting the two men's conversation, the robed figure let out a puff of dark smoke from beneath its robes. The black smoke moved towards Sefenfor as if it had consciousness.

Sefenfor quickly slashed out a wind that blotted out the black smoke. "I know this ... this power comes from the abyss!"

Reibo snorted mockingly, seeing the confusion on Sefenfor's face. "You'll be more surprised when you see his face."

Sefenfor and Reibo also moved together, attacking the robed figures from both sides. Reibo's Ax and Sefenfor's Sword clashed causing another strong wind.

While in midair, the robed figure made a black projectile aiming at Sefenfor. Sefenfor continued to dodge and parry it with all his might. Because he knows that if he was hit by that attack, then surely he will be seriously injured.

Reibo spun his ax in the air, drawing a piercing mountain breeze. The ax made of the White Dragon's horn spun faster, a blizzard created around it.

Even in his silver armor, Sefenfor can move fast and agile with the help of the wind. He covered his sword with wind, then in the blink of an eye, he goes really fast, burying his sword in the belly of the robed figure.

Sefenfor continued to push him until the sword that pierced the robed figure was embedded in the mountain wall. Locked in the stab of the silver sword and the mountain, the figure can't move.

Sefenfor immediately dodged when the violent blizzard was released from Reibo's ax. It hit with a force equal to a real blizzard, making the mountains tremble for a moment. The figure is finally lost.

Sefenfor moved slowly towards the robed figure. Sefenfor's eyes widened in disbelief as the darkness removed the dying face under his hood. It was the face of Nous, his companion, and one of the Four Guardians of the Wind.