CHAPTER 229: THE MOUNTAIN

The morning came with a soft gray light creeping through the clouds, casting a faint silver glow over the frozen settlement. The atmosphere was cold and biting, and every breath came out as a misty wisp that lingered in the cold. Snow crunched beneath their boots as Lucas and the others emerged from their quarters, already dressed and geared for the long and perilous climb ahead.

The Empress was the first to appear, her regal bearing undiminished even beneath the thick white fur cloak that swept behind her like a banner of frost. The Divas followed shortly after, their gazes steady and disciplined, each one a silent reflection of her authority. Lucas adjusted the strap of his pack, his own white cloak blending with the snow around him. Lira, Selene, Nyx, and Mireille stood nearby, their breath forming tiny clouds in the chill air.

Lira’s hood was drawn low over her head, but her amber eyes gleamed with quiet determination. Selene was ready as well, while Nyx, as calm as ever, seemed completely at home in the freezing air. Mireille fidgeted with her gloves, her excitement and nerves both clear on her face.

Soon, Torin emerged from his home with two young boys following behind him, each carrying stuffs. "My Lady," he said respectfully to the Empress, bowing low. "I brought what little we could offer for your journey. May the gods guide your steps through the mountain."

The Empress inclined her head, her expression unreadable but not unkind. "Your generosity is noted, Chief Torin. We will accept it."

The boys came forward, lifting the linens to reveal loaves of winter bread wrapped in leaf paper, cured meats smoked to preserve them against the cold, and several leather flasks filled with water and strong mountain wine. The smell of the meat, rich and slightly sweet from the local herbs, briefly warmed the air.

Torin turned then to his daughter. His weathered face softened, and for a moment the stern leader of the settlement was simply a father. He took Mireille by the shoulders, searching her face as though trying to memorize it. "Stay close to them," he said quietly, his voice thick with concern. "And listen when they speak. The mountain takes those who forget their place."

Mireille’s lips trembled into a smile. "I will, Father."

He sighed and pulled her into an embrace, holding her tightly. Then, he kissed her forehead, a gesture filled with years of love and unspoken fear. The girls, standing a few steps away, exchanged amused looks.

"Oh my," Selene whispered, her tone teasing. "Look at that. Daddy’s little kitten is finally leaving the nest."

Lira chuckled, pulling her cloak closer. "Aww, how touching. Should we call her the little kitten from now on?"

Even Nyx smirked faintly, her icy blue eyes glimmering. "Only if she starts purring."

Mireille’s cheeks turned scarlet as she tried to compose herself. "You’re all terrible," she muttered under her breath, though her smile betrayed her amusement.

Lucas shook his head with a quiet laugh. "Enough teasing," he said softly. "Let her have her moment."

Torin glanced at Lucas then, his gaze heavy with both gratitude and trust. "Take care of her," he said simply.

Lucas met his eyes and nodded. "I will."

Torin said nothing more. He stepped back, crossing his arms as he watched them line up beside the Empress. Snow began to fall again, light but steady, drifting down like a silent curtain over the settlement.

The Empress raised her hand slightly, signaling for departure. The group began to move, boots crunching rhythmically against the frozen ground as they made their way toward the towering gates of ice at the edge of the settlement. The great wall shimmered faintly under the weak sunlight, its surface etched with runes that pulsed with a dim blue light.

Torin stood there as the gates opened, the sound echoing across the white plain. He watched as the Empress led her entourage forward, her white cloak billowing softly behind her. Lucas followed just a few paces back, with the girls close beside him.

Mireille turned one last time, lifting her hand in a small wave. Her father raised his in return, though his expression remained solemn.

Then, as the gates closed behind them, the sound of the settlement faded, replaced by the distant whisper of the wind and the crunch of their boots against untouched snow.

Torin stood at the edge of the wall for a long while, the last of their footprints slowly disappearing into the white distance. The mountain loomed ahead like a sleeping giant cloaked in mist, its peaks vanishing into the clouds.

He whispered a prayer under his breath, his eyes never leaving the horizon.

The group reached the foot of the mountain by midday. The winds had grown stronger, carrying a sharp, biting chill that cut through even the thickest fur cloaks. The sight before them was nothing short of awe-inspiring...and terrifying. The mountain towered so high that its peak vanished into the clouds, an endless existence of ice and stone piercing the heavens. Its slopes were draped in thick blankets of snow, and jagged ridges cut sharply through the mist like the fangs of a colossal beast. The air grew thinner the closer one looked, and the constant roar of the wind echoed like a distant growl from the mountain itself. It was both majestic and menacing...a frozen giant whose summit no eye could see and whose depths few ever returned from.

Lucas gazed around, the snow underfoot was so white that it almost hurt to look at, and when he glanced at the horizon, all he could see was endless white and gray. The magnitude of it all made even someone like him feel small.

The Empress stood silently ahead of them, her long white cloak blending almost seamlessly into the frost. Her eyes traced the slope before them, her expression unreadable. She said nothing for a long while, letting the others take in the view. Then she finally spoke, her voice calm and commanding, echoing faintly against the frozen cliffs.

"This mountain does not forgive mistakes," she said. "From this point forward, you will not stray from formation. The moment one of you steps too far, you might as well be dead."

The guide nodded gravely. "Your Majesty speaks true. The spirits of this place guard it fiercely. The wrong sound, a misplaced step, or even a stray thought can draw them near. We must move carefully."

Nyx turned her gaze toward the path ahead, her breath forming faint crystals in the air. "I can sense it too," she murmured. "There’s something old here... something sleeping."

Lira pulled her cloak tighter and gave a small shiver. "Sleeping? I’d rather it stays asleep."

Selene tried to lighten the mood with a faint laugh. "We just got here and you’re already thinking of things waking up? That’s comforting."

"Quiet," the Empress said softly, but her tone silenced them all. "Words carry weight here. Even fear has a scent in the air."