201 The Snow Monster

MEANWHILE

"Get off me!!", Helena pushes Evandrus as hard as she could while he drag her away from the stairway to Caluso. Evandrus' grip on her tightens, as if she's the only valuable possession he can't lose. "Let me go!!", Helena's voice echoed in the wintry boreal forest. 

"Stop it Helena! You know it better that I'm your best chance to live your life as a soul traveler!" Evandrus grabbed Helena by her arms as he slap her with his insubstantial discernment. "You will come with me, and I will be your forever. Now come along! I bought us a boat waiting in the port so we can go to Sierra Nivalis", he continued to force Helena as they trudge through the thick white snow.

Helena clenched her hand into a fist, struggling from Evandrus' strong grip. No matter how hard she try to break free from this delirious soul traveler, she can't shake him off. A future with Evandrus is never a part of her plans, even if she chooses to stay in Nether. As he tediously haul Helena away, they were taken by great surprise when they heard an unnerving growl that shook the leaves of the pines trees all over. They both come to a complete standstill, as they listen to the low guttural sound filling the air. It took a while before the snarls and grumbles faded as they remain unmoved in the deep snow.

"Must be the wind heh", Evandrus whispered nervously as he feel the rising tension brought about by the wind howling in the all white surrounding. He can't instill fear.

It can't be the wind, Helena thought. No wind can growl like that. Helena searched around until she perceived something in the snow not far from them. "What's that?", Helena noticed a pair of shiny yellow orbs just ahead of them. She tried to figure out what could it be, that it appeared so pretty like gems on a bed of glistening white snow. 

Squinting his eyes, Evandrus looked closely until he finally realized what they are looking at. "Helena… run…", Evandrus whispered, never taking his eyes off the pair of orbs that seemed to be blinking. "It's a saumen", he uttered as the 7-foot tall horned creature covered in white fur emerged from the thick snow.

The ferocious snow monster chased the two as Helena and Evandrus staggered their way back to Caluso's stairwell. As much as Evandrus refuses to go up, he had no choice for the creature led them that way. Flying in terrifying rage, the snow monster screech while it combed through the pine trees, breaking them like toothpicks. 

As they reach the stairs to the Snow Mountain, the two immediately climbed without looking back. They skipped three steep stairs to quickly make their way up, and get rid of the furious snow monster whose growls conquered the mountains.

As Helena take flight, she lost her footing, broke her ankle and flopped on the snow in pain. Right ahead, Evandrus returned for Helena, placed her arm over his shoulders and limped their way up to the mountain slopes. The saumen continued to follow them, until it ambushed the two by the fleecy cliff. They both stood back from the snarling creature showing its sharp teeth as it crouch on a rock by the ridge. Its large hand seemed like it could easily crush anyone with a single pound. "Stay away!" Evandrus placed Helena behind him. However, it only angered the creature. In one quick move, the saumen lay hold of Evandrus' leg, angrily tossing him in the air.

"Helena!! Help me!!", Evandrus cried out loud as the snow monster toy him like a rag doll. 

"Stop!!", Helena yelled as she raise her palms to the saumen. "Pu-put him down", she commanded assuming the monster would listen. Surprisingly, it did. The saumen put Evandrus down, but didn't let go of his leg. "Yo-you can understand me?", Helena was amazed at the obedient creature who's yellow eyes are gazing straight at her. "Do you.. do you have a name? I'm Helena, a soul traveler from this mountain", she said as she catch her cold breath. The snow monster tilted its head to the side, as if it's listening intently. 

"No name"

"Oh, you can talk...", Helena chuckled in astonishment, brushing off her fears. She noticed that the snow monster can actually really talk even without opening its mouth. She have completely forgotten about her sprained ankle, bewildered with the great giant in front of her. "Why are you attacking us?", she asked.

"This.. a bad guy"

"Yea, a little", Helena crinkled her nose as she nod. She suddenly felt safe in the presence of a snow monster which have quickly looked like a harmless fur ball in her eyes. 

"I don't hear him talking, Helena. Have you hit your head?", Evandrus switched glances at Helena and the scary beast holding him captive with its foot.

"He disturb... sleeping. You.. shout. He hurt.. you"

"Apparently he is. Will you eat him?", Helena worriedly asked.

"Don't eat... rubbish.. Only persimmons.. Yum yum"

"What is he saying?", Evandrus anxiously asked as the saumen make gurgling sounds.

"He said, he will eat you if you don't stop talking", Helena imprudently told Evandrus to keep him in check. "This is amazing! How come you can talk? And he can't hear you", Helena curiously asked.

"Only... ones who listen... hear us. This is Caluso.. magic everywhere. I talk.. and make people forget"

"Then, can you make him forget?", Helena thought that this is the best way to safely get rid of Evandrus. Without hesitations, the snow monster turned his head towards its captive who's squirming in fear. They locked eyes until a certain glow in the saumen's yellow eyes gleamed. Slowly, Evandrus calmed down and was put to sleep. 

"All done"

"Thank you", for Helena, it was another one for the books of her soul's wanderlust to befriend a snow monster that can mind talk and only eats fruits. She limply approached the creature, and lifted her hand in the air with an attempt to touch its soft fur. The saumen purred, as it close its eyes, savoring the rare gentleness of a human. 

"You.. go up?"

"Yes", she said.

"I come"