Preparation on the Mountain

During three days back and forth from the city to the mountains, Ashnard's training always gave him injuries to his body. Not infrequently, he was also close to death.

In the mountains, Ashnard must survive the cold climate and all the obstacles. Not only nature, dragons or snow wolves have always been the object of his training. At first, Ashnard only received scratches. After that, it was more than just a small scratch.

Liliya, who was getting more and more worried, told him to stop, but Ashnard refused. Ashnard thought, if he couldn't deal with the cold air, then he wouldn't be able to even approach the Dark Abyss.

Ashnard was now alone on the mountain. Reibo gave him a task as part of his training, which was to retrieve the White Dragon's scales. Reibo said that he needed it to make his creation.

White Dragon's nest was still far above the peak, but Ashnard was exhausted and decided to rest in the cave he had found on the mountain wall. The air outside was getting more and more piercing through her 3-layered clothes. After entering the cave, he immediately made a bonfire and hugged himself.

"How?" Nous's voice sounded in his head. After three days had passed, Ashnard and Nous's minds were strongly connected that they were able to talk to each other in faraway places.

"I saw one, not far from here. As soon as my body warms up, I'll do it," Ashnard replied in his mind.

"Good. If you have any questions, just ask."

"If you guys are gods, how come you guys get hurt like normal people, like me?" asked Ashnard.

"Because we are also human. We can get hurt and even die."

"So, are you gods or humans?"

"For me, god is just a name. Humans call us gods because of our great power to be considered a higher entity than them, and our role in the past that changed their lives."

"Still don't get it."

"We used to be humans, then the 'People from Above' offered us to be like them. We turned it down. Even so, we still gained a bit of power from them," said Nous. "Duw Marnaeth or Mortal Gods. Is the name for humans who are becoming a god."

"So humans can become gods? Can I become gods?"

"Not impossible. However, it's not a path worth taking. Besides being long, it's also dangerous and the chances are small."

Suddenly, a groan sounded from outside the cave. Ashnard immediately ran outside. White Dragon standing right in front of the cave, looking down. The creature seemed to be aiming for something down there.

"This is my chance," Ashnard exclaimed.

Ashnard made a rope from the water that appeared in his hand. He then threw the rope and tied it to the dragon's wings. Then, he drew a sword that Reibo gave him.

Before Ashnard launched his attack, the dragon noticed Ashnard's presence. The dragon turned around, sending Ashnard, who was holding on to the rope tossed off the cliff.

Ashnard immediately made another rope that tied the tree trunk to the side. As Ashnard glanced down, he saw Liliya, who was trying to get to his place.

"Liliya? What are you doing here?" shouted Ashnard.

"Ash, watch out!" Liliya pointed up at a dragon that charged toward Ashnard.

The dragon carried Ashnard into the sky. Ashnard tried to grip the dragon's neck tightly to keep it from falling. Snow, ice crystals, and wind mixed together, hitting Ashnard's face, making him barely able to open his eyes wide. The grip is slippery.

Ashnard looked for his sword but couldn't find it. The sword fell. As the dragon struggled and attempted to crash into the mountain, Ashnard released a water bullet from his finger and aimed it at the back of the dragon's head which not protected by its skull and hard horns. The water bullet pierced through and instantly killed the dragon.

"I did it!" cried Ashnard. He realized too late that he would fall with the dragon. The snowy land is getting closer. The world was getting closer as if it was about to merge with him at a high speed. Instantly the world went dark.

"Wake up. You've been unconscious for too long."

"Nous? Where am I?"

"In your own mind. You seem to be injured quite badly."

Ashnard opened his eyes. Drops of water immediately greeted him from a girl's eyes, streaming down Ashnard's face. He saw Liliya's face so close, her blonde hair flowing down like a blonde waterfall.

"Why did you take so long to wake up?" asked the girl sobbing.

"What happened?" Ashnard whispered. He couldn't move his whole body. He couldn't feel his body, except for Liliya's lap which made him comfortable.

"I ... I saw you fall from above and ... and I was too late to catch you. I'm sorry. You weren't awake, so, so I thought you ...."

Ashnard repeatedly heard cracking sounds as he tried to move his hands. The voice was accompanied by excruciating pain, but he was too weak to scream. He could only grimace in pain.

"I'm awake now. You see?" Ashnard tried to comfort Liliya even though he was having a hard time herself.

"I'm sorry." Liliya slowly regained her composure after Ashnard regained consciousness. She wiped her tears.

Ashnard and Liliya's eyes met each other's. Ashnard was embarrassed, but that was the only thing worth seeing. After all, Ashnard felt unable to get up again and thought that his time was over.

"Don't you want to wake up? Does your body still hurt?" Lily asked.

"No, I just want it to go on like this," Ashnard replied, half honest half lying.

Liliya chuckled, her cheerful smile returning. "But, you must immediately tell Mr. Sefenfor that you have succeeded in defeating the dragon. I saw that the dragon at there-"

"No," Ashnard cut in. "I can't move, Liliya. My body can't move."

"What do you mean?"

"There's no need to worry. It will be fine soon," said Ashnard trying not to make Liliya even more worried.

"Really?"

Ashnard nodded very slowly. "Can I sleep like this first? I'll sleep for a while, then my body will be strong again."

"You're just going to sleep and then wake up again, right? You must be awake, right?" asked Liliya to confirm.

"Of course, I'll awake. I just feel tired." Ashnard began to close his eyes. Slowly until Liliya's face disappeared and was replaced by the All-black world.

"I will be waiting for you."

***

"What a fun adventure. There's even a dragon. You're making me jealous for the umpteenth time, kid," he exasperated. Sit cross-legged while supporting the chin.

Suddenly, because Ashnard's eyes were closed, he heard a lot of noise around him. It was as if his hearing had increased many times more than usual.

He heard water drops in the cave, the sound of snow scraping against a tree, or Liliya's sigh of pain. He don't know what happened to the girl, he couldn't see it. Everything is dark