Into the North Harsh Wilds

Arrival at the North Wilds – First Impressions

The cold was relentless.

The wind howled through the frozen forest, sharp as a blade, biting through layers of thick furs. The scent of pine and frost filled the air, and the towering trees stood like silent sentinels, their branches heavy with ice.

Averis exhaled, watching his breath crystallize in the air before him. His cloak, lined with thick fur, did little to stop the chill from creeping into his bones.

"Regretting your life choices yet?"

The Raven's voice echoed in his mind. The Frozen Raven was perched on a nearby branch, its gaze sharp, watching him with something between amusement and judgment.

"Not at all," Averis responded, adjusting his sword belt.

"Really? Your fingers say otherwise. They're trembling."

"That's because I'm excited."

"Ah, yes. Excitement. The same excuse humans use when they're freezing to death."

Averis ignored the spirit's mockery and continued forward. The North Wilds weren't just cold—they were alive. He could feel it in the air, in the subtle shifts in mana, in the way the trees groaned under the weight of ice.

As he neared a mercenary outpost, he slowed his pace, listening in on the hushed conversations.

"A snow wolf pack was spotted near the ruins. Damn things are getting more aggressive."

"That's not all. You heard about the disappearances? Some say it's a spirit gone mad."

"Spirits don't go mad. But something's riling them up. You seen the way the ice shifts at night?"

Averis didn't stop walking, but he made a mental note.

"Interesting," the Frozen Raven mused.

"You think it has to do with the ruins?"

"Perhaps. But that's not your concern. Not yet."

Averis didn't like the way the spirit emphasized that last part.

Finding a Temporary Base

The small mercenary town was built for survival—thick walls, reinforced gates, and watchtowers with archers constantly scanning the horizon.

Averis entered quietly, his masked face drawing a few looks but no outright suspicion. His northern-style clothing helped him blend in.

He rented a modest room at an inn, sliding a silver coin across the counter.

The innkeeper, a gruff man with a thick beard, eyed him warily.

"We don't see masked folks around here often," the man muttered.

"I prefer the cold not biting my face," Averis replied smoothly.

The man grunted, accepting the payment without further questions.

Averis spent the evening in the corner of the common hall, sipping weak broth and listening.

"A new monster was spotted near the ruins. Something big."

"Spirits have been restless. My flame spirit refuses to come out in the open anymore."

"If the snow wolves are moving south, it means something worse is pushing them out."

He smirked beneath his mask.

"Well, that's not ominous at all," he mused.

"If it were easy, you wouldn't be here," the Frozen Raven responded, amused.

---

First Encounter with the Wild

The next morning, Averis left the town behind.

For the first few hours, it was just him, the snow, and the whispering wind. But then, a shift.

Something was watching him.

Averis slowed his steps, his grip tightening on his sword.

"Five," the Frozen Raven murmured.

The first frost wolf lunged.

Averis sidestepped smoothly, his blade flashing in the cold air. Blood splattered onto the white snow as the wolf collapsed.

Another attacked from the left. This time, he ducked and drove his sword upward, piercing its ribs.

More followed.

Averis moved fluidly, his aura-enhanced reflexes allowing him to weave between snapping jaws and slashing claws. The fight was over in moments.

He exhaled, steadying himself.

"Your movements are too rigid," the Frozen Raven commented.

"I won."

"Did you? Look at your stance. Had there been three more, you'd be dead."

Averis frowned.

"I'll adapt."

"You'd better."

---

Discovering an Ancient Ruin

Later that night, as Averis set up camp inside a small cave, something caught his eye.

Beneath layers of frost and ice, he could barely make out ancient carvings etched into the stone.

He reached out, brushing away the ice. The symbols were unfamiliar.

"This place has been forgotten for centuries," the Frozen Raven observed.

"But something still lingers."

Averis extended his mana senses—immediately, a strange pressure settled over him.

There was something here. Something sleeping beneath the ice.

He pulled his hand back.

Not now.

---

The Pack's Challenge

The first low growl came just as Averis was about to sleep.

His eyes snapped open.

Slowly, he stepped outside the cave, his breath misting in the freezing air. His sword was already in his hand.

A lone snow wolf stood before him, its blue eyes glowing in the dark.

Then, more shadows emerged from the trees.

Two.

Four.

Ten.

Twelve.

A full pack.

Averis let out a slow breath.

"To defeat a snow wolf pack, one needed Aura Stage 1 or Mana Circle 1."

I had both the Requirements.

Mana surged through his veins. The cold no longer felt oppressive—it was fuel. His spirits answered his call, their presences flaring to life around him.

The Frozen Raven watched from a nearby branch, silent.

"You won't interfere?" Averis asked.

"No. Let's see if you've truly learned anything."

The wolves lunged.

—Chapter Ends—