Chapter 6: Blood on Snow

*14 hours until The Culmination*

Cid Eshvir approached the table. Despite the ongoing celebration, he was, as always, clad in armour and never went anywhere without it

The small party that Umiya and Aya had gathered looked up, gazing at the towering knight. Umiya asked, "Shadowbound watcha doing." 

He cleared his throat and assured Umiya, "There is no need to call upon my title, I am here as Cid Eshvir and the family have discussed the reward your party shall receive." Eager to hear it, all the adventurers placed their cups and forks down.

He then pulled out a scroll and decided to recite it, "For the following adventurers: Umiya of Indonyia Magic Academy, Blake of the Velmont family, Aya of the Crossed Seas guild and Xerxes of the Crossed Seas guild, we will aid your journeys and always provide you with Star Gate travel for a duration of 10 years, at a lower price of 5 silver. This should allow young adventurers to travel to different kingdoms under the rule of the human nation. This would be the following kingdoms. The kingdom of magic and knowledge Indonyia and The kingdom of resilience, Layne. Furthermore, a reward of 25 gold each will be given to each and every one of you, which you will be able to cash in at a Rutherford Bank in any kingdom that is under Human Rule."

All of their eyes lit up. Though this reward didn't seem like much at first, it was roughly equivalent to a year's salary. And with access to a Star Gate at only 5 silver—a near 100% discount—it was more than enough to bring smiles and gratitude to the adventurers.

Xerxes' mouth was practically on the table. "You're telling me we can get 25 gold coins...That's like a reward you would get from a B-rank quest, this is probably more money than I have ever had or seen in my life. We're going to be rich Aya." He then raised his voice standing up, "WE'RE GOING TO BE RICH." They both held each other and jumped up and down victoriously.

Aya replied matching the joy Xerxes felt, "We can even use Star Gates, you know what that means Xerxes. We can go to Indonyia and increase our strength and become the most formidable of warriors."

Cid allowed them to rejoice in their accomplishment as he spoke, "It is time for me to go now, I must be on watch and carry out my duties, thank you Xerxes, Aya, Blake and Umiya." He followed up by bowing to them.

Xerxes put out a fist, however quickly realising that this wasn't cordial for a knight, he instead put out a hand, with Cid shaking it. Clanks of metal then stamped upon the wooden floor as he began to walk out, however, it was interrupted.

Sir Knight, having had more liquor than he could handle, began babbling incoherently,, ashamed about his defeat - he started stumbling towards the party, "Do not get cocky youngster, I was off my game. Yeh that's it I was off my game, a chivalrous knight such as myself was merely distracted by the beauty of the forest, it was not my fault."

Cid then looked towards Sir Knight, with Xerxes raising an eyebrow. "Sir Knight you called yourself? Perhaps you need to reconsider professions, with a great blade like that, and amazing armour you were over-prepared for this quest, do not be so rude and bitter faulting the children based on your loss. Perhaps you could learn from them."

Aya reinforced Cids words, "Exactly right! I like the way this knight thinks, fraudulent knight! Fraudulent Knight!" With many in the hall chuckling at the statement.

The entirety of the town hall followed along with Aya's chant repeating fraudulent Knight, till Sir Knight dropped to his knees hugging his sword with tears coming out of his eyes. Cid now being able to walk past him leaving the celebration.

After having more food, the small party of four where ready to call the night a close. Blake and Umiya looked at each other with heartfelt joy, Blake then put out a hand towards Xerxes. Xerxes firmly gripped his hand shaking it, Umiya also put a hand out to Aya with her doing the same.

Blake then began speaking, with the two young adventurers paying deeper attention, "Well Xerxes, Aya I think it's time me and Umiya get going, Indonyia is waiting for us and since the semester starts in 3 weeks, I ought to get going."

Umiya then stretched her arms upwards, "Blakey Blake is right, I need my sweet home, the laboratory to research into the Orc."

A tinge of sadness ran through the adventurers, but understanding they had their own aspirations they were ready to say goodbye. Xerxes then put a fist forward, "Till next time Blake, I can't wait to see you and Umiya in the future, remember our names because we will be the greatest adventurers known across the continent."

Blake returned the fist, "Well till next we meet and if you are eager to go to Indonyia, train now and train hard. You should try to aim for tier 4, as tier 4 is normally expected of recommendation students, if not you can still take the entrance exam at tier 5, though I don't really see you kids needing that, the level of work I saw today was worthy enough to be seen as tier 5."

Xerxes, but especially Aya were filled with confidence hearing that from people who have seen many mages, the fact that they can be seen as that only enforced their passion and drive.

The two 'hopeless' adventurers Xerxes and Aya had come to befriend within a matter of hours had both stood up, waving them off. Umiya left with a wink and Blake with a wave, as they too left the town hall leaving Xerxes and Aya.

They both knew today was only a stepping stone, their real mission began tomorrow and they needed as much rest as possible to recover their mana completely. The kids left the town hall, as did everyone else, with the star-filled sky reigning over them as they headed for the inn.. They rested fully restoring their magic and feeling confident about tomorrow. 

They both awoke and walked down the stairs. Outside the inn, Mr Hilt was waiting for them, his wagon fully restored, the wheel securely in place along with four spares. The horses were fully fed and he had a look of liveliness.

He exclaimed, "You kids are damn spectacles, all night I was earin' Xerxes the executioner, Aya the woman who sullied the mans pride. Honestly this is a great opportunity to drive business growth, ya were angry at me before but I'm guessin' you couldn't have been expecting this publicity."

Aya still struck with exhaustion measly said, "Of course Mr Hilt, what did you expect from us." 

Xerxes looked at Aya directing her in the wagon as they both sat in the back, Mr Hilt readying the horses, as the wagon began to pick up speed. The adventurers who were in the raid, saw Xerxes and Aya through the windows with them cheering their names, as they rode off.

Mr Hilt then went on to explain the tiresome pursuit he had in order to fix the wagon, how he forgot about the horses - the actual thing that was moving them... He continued to rant discussing trade partnerships with Ehsvir's premium routes and flaunted the fact he was carrying Xerxes, 'The executioner'.

Xerxes mocked him for having to use his name, whilst Aya was finally ready to move about and act like she hadn't sleep for hundreds of hours. Their conversations continued, whilst they gazed and peered out the windows, seeing the beautiful views that their kingdom had to offer, there were portions of land that had landscapes totally different to what they had seen before and as they travelled up north, droplets of snow began to fall upon the wagon.

Aya began pointing out different structures which Xerxes couldn't help but admire, as their destination was getting close. Luckily, Xerxes and Aya understood that the journey would require more warm clothing - which they prepared for.

Mr Hilt then said, "Well, I will be waiting here for a few hours, take long than 8 and ya can both considered yourself stranded, well maybe not stranded cuz' you lot are good for business, but don't be too long!"

Both of them nodded and began walking. Aya pulled out a map as she looked at it quite seriously. Xerxes chuckled at her idiocy. "Aya give that to me, let me see where we should go."

Aya handed over the map while Xerxes examined it. Being this close to The Fallen Kingdom was really nerve-wracking, though Aya had kept it hidden to Xerxes. "What do you see Xerxes."

He investigated the map, tracing his eyes between the landscape, turning around pointing at trees, putting them where they would be on the map. "I think it's just a bit more this way, and through those lines of trees and we should be there."

Aya nodded, with Xerxes and herself progressing forward. However they felt a rush of mana beginning to engulf their body. They both stopped in their tracks, Aya's faced etched with a nervous smile.

"What was that pressure I felt. "Unknown to Xerxes, he continued walking forward, his steps growing less confident. It was at a point where he was dragging his feet, his heart beating extremely fast, as they continued to walk, Xerxes replying hesitantly.

"I don't know Aya." Despite shivers crawling amongst them, instincts telling them not to go forward, they defied them. As Xerxes used his hand to brush against the bushes that were blanketed in snow and then it was in sight.

Xerxes and Aya stood at the edge of a step, staring across the vast river that encircled the Fallen Kingdom, almost acting like a warning to those who crossed near it.

The water was still, too dark—its surface a mirror reflecting the looming peaks and trees beyond. But it was the forest, the Fallen Kingdom, that made their breaths hitch. It was alive in a way that defied reason.

From deep within its skeletal trees and rocky expanse, a mist of crimson and violet slithered through the air, pulsing with the slow rhythm of something ancient and unrelenting. The mana was thick, oppressive, and palpable. It pressed against their skin like the whole Mons Mountain range was atop them.

Aya clenched her fists, her usual flair and confidence slightly wavering. Xerxes swallowed hard, gripping the hilt of his sword as if to reinforce the idea that he was in control.

Neither dared to speak first. They both knew that this place was nothing to scoff at—the ruin of an entire kingdom from a thousand or more years ago, a land that had watched the rise and fall of a civilization and its people. Now, what remained there was nothing but bloodthirsty monsters and the unknown.

Xerxes took a deep breath saying, "We came this far, I suppose it would be too late to turn back now wouldn't it..." Aya tried to control her breathing as she looked towards Xerxes, him looking back.

She tried to ignore what was blatantly in front of her, speaking about the mission itself, "So the scouting area is just below this hill, there's also a sign there that says 15 miles so that should be our point. I believe that we will have to cover 5 miles of scouting, with land marks in preparation then report back to the quest issuer about what we discovered."

Xerxes then suggested to Aya, "You can use your wind to add more resistance to our descent right, it seems to be a slope so I think we can do this."

Aya with a wry smile replied, "Yes Xerx, we can do this." 

They then prepared to descend, Aya activating her 6th tier magic. It was clear there was a difference in resistance of mana, it seemed to be harder to grasp within the fallen kingdom's presence, despite that she did gain control, Xerxes held Aya by her waist, as they began to fall.

Xerxes dug his sword within the hills stone, applying fire magic upon his sword to cut through the rock easier, with both of them falling, till eventually they fell upon a thick layer of snow which was knee height.

They both got up, Aya getting up first, with her holding out a hand to Xerxes. Taking the hand Xerxes was able to bring himself up, stabbing his sword into the thick layer of snow to give him extra support.

He patted away some snow and then retraced his eyes back to the map, "So Aya which direction. Left or right, I definitely don't want to split up, this place is already feeling scary, I don't want to have the feeling of not being with someone. With you." She hugged Xerxes - reassuring him.

"Don't worry I would not suggest such an idea, being with you makes me feel safe too." They both smiled, as she looked down at the map. "I think the best decision is to go right - we will have less snow and enough cover from the cold going through the forest, I don't expect there to be any goblins too. Similarly to the Orc his magical pressure was enough to deter other beasts, so I assume it is the same for this one no?"

Aya made a clear logical decision, which Xerxes couldn't critique, it was quite strange though, going towards the more potent pressure, would deter monster and vice versa. They decided to carry along right, trudging through the snow to the best of their ability in hope to reach the forest, where the snow would be less deep.

Aya gave a sigh of relief, "Finally we are in less snow, I feel so much more free." She jumped up and down stretching slightly.

Xerxes was also relieved with him holding a small flame, to keep them warm, Aya using a low level of wind magic to increase the potency of the flame.

They walked onwards, Xerxes asking, "What are we even looking for Aya, I think that should have been something I asked maybe a few days ago..."

Aya swiftly jumped to the side hearing a shuffle through the bushes on her right and pointed her magic at it, though it was just a small gathering of butterflies that began to fly away.

"Phew, I thought something was there. Oh what were are looking for you ask. To be honest the mission seemed quite vague, there was not much listed, the only key instruction 'spot anything irregular', if you do abandon the mission."

Irregular Xerxes thought, what would that be maybe influxes in mana, changes in pressure? Wasn't that what he already sensed he thought.

Little did Xerxes know, he was right about his superstition, he stammered over his words, "Aya could something that would be irregular, was the first change in mana we felt? If so I think-"

With a swing of a volcanic ash-grey arm, lined with glowing crimson veins, the monstrous limb moved with terrifying speed. The arm alone was the size of two great swords, a mass of raw power and malice. Jagged, dagger-like spikes lined its forearm, each one a weapon in its own right.

They tore through Xerxes before he could react, impaling him in an instant. A sickening crunch echoed through the frozen battlefield as his body was lifted and thrown back, blood spewing from every wound, staining the once-pure snow a deep, horrific red. His sword slipped from his grip, embedding itself into the ground as he collapsed, motionless.

The creature then loomed over Aya, a nightmare in flesh.

Wicked, slitted eyes peered from beneath a jagged, obsidian helmet. Its grin—wide, unnatural, and filled with razor-like fangs—was carved into its face. Black, charred armour melded seamlessly with its flesh, pulsating as if alive. The spikes along its arms weren't just weapons; they were an extension of the horror it embodied, shifting and twitching as if eager for more blood.

This was no ordinary monster. No, this was a force of nature, a being that was too familiar with death and now it had come to deliver it to the two adventurers.