CHAPTER 232: COLD AND MOANS

As the light began to fade and the last rays of the sun vanished behind the jagged peaks, the mountain seemed to grow even more silent. The wind howled faintly through narrow crevices, carrying flakes of snow that glimmered faintly in the dim twilight. The Empress stopped walking and turned slightly, her gaze scanning the path ahead and then the weary faces of her companions.

"We will stop here for the night," she said, her voice steady but gentler than usual. "There is little sense in pushing forward when the cold deepens with the dark."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Even the guide, who had led many expeditions in his time, looked visibly grateful. They followed him a short distance off the main path, to a rocky outcrop that offered a semblance of shelter. The formation of stone curved inward like a shallow cave, and above it hung a natural ledge of ice and rock, wide enough to serve as a roof from the falling snow.

"This place will do," the guide said, brushing frost off his thick gloves. "It’s the best we’ll find on this side of the mountain."

The group quickly began setting up camp. Their breath came out in clouds of white mist as they unpacked small tents, driving the stakes deep into the frozen ground. The sound of rustling canvas mixed with the soft crunch of snow beneath their boots. Lira struggled with one of the tent poles, her fingers stiff from the cold, and Lucas stepped forward to help her.

"Here," he said quietly, taking the pole from her hands. "Push it deeper into the ground before securing it, or the wind will tear it away."

Lira smiled faintly, rubbing her hands together for warmth. "I swear this mountain wants to freeze us solid," she muttered. "Even my Qi feels sluggish."

"It’s the mountain’s will," Nyx said, tightening a rope beside her. "Everything here bends to the cold. You have to bend with it, not fight it."

Selene gave a little laugh from behind them. "Easy for you to say. You’re the only one here who seems to be enjoying this weather."

Nyx smirked faintly. "Maybe because it feels like home."

Not far from them, the Empress and her two Divas worked with quiet efficiency. Their movements were practiced, elegant even in such harsh conditions. Once their tent was secured, the Empress stepped outside and watched as the others finished their setup. Her eyes lingered briefly on Lucas, then on the girls huddled together, before she finally turned toward the horizon where faint traces of stars flickered through the swirling snow.

When all was set, the camp had taken form...three modest tents arranged in a small circle, their entrances facing inward toward a small patch of cleared snow. The guide gathered a few dry branches he had kept preserved with his Qi and sparked a fire using a special stone that emitted heat without smoke. Soon, a faint orange glow flickered in the center of their circle, and everyone gathered around it, soaking in what little warmth it provided.

Mirielle exhaled, her breath curling in the air. "I never thought I’d be this high up a mountain in my life," she said softly. "The stars look closer from here."

"They do," Lira replied, gazing upward. "Almost as if we could reach out and touch them."

Lucas smiled faintly, his eyes fixed on the fire. "Let’s hope none of them decide to fall on us tonight."

That drew a few chuckles from the group, even from the guide, who had been quietly sipping from a small flask of wine. "The stars won’t harm us," he said. "It’s the storms you should worry about."

After they finished their simple meal of winter bread and preserved meat, everyone retired to their tents. The Empress shared her tent with her two Divas. In another, Lira, Selene, Nyx, and Mirielle lay close together, their shared warmth the only comfort against the freezing air that crept through every gap in the fabric.

Lucas shared a smaller tent with the guide. The man had already wrapped himself in a thick blanket, muttering softly about the cold. Lucas, on the other hand, sat cross-legged for a while, letting his Qi circulate slowly through his body, keeping him warm. Outside, the wind continued to whisper across the mountain face, but within their little camp, there was a rare calm...the calm that comes only before the next storm.

Eventually, Lucas lay down, listening to the muffled sound of the girls’ laughter fading into the distance and the steady rhythm of the guide’s breathing beside him.

The night grew colder, the wind sharper and the air thin enough to sting the lungs. Even wrapped beneath his cloak, Lucas found it impossible to sleep. The cold crept through every layer, and though his Qi shielded him to some extent, rest would not come. The rhythmic breathing of the old guide beside him filled the tent in uneven patterns, mingled with the occasional whistle of wind pushing through the seams of the canvas. Lucas turned on his side, then onto his back again, but the stiffness in his limbs and the endless thoughts circling his mind kept him awake.

Finally, he exhaled deeply and decided to step outside. The moment he began to lift the flap of the tent, the old guide grumbled from beneath his blanket without even opening his eyes. "Close it quickly, boy, unless you want to freeze us both. The mountain doesn’t forgive fools wandering at night."

Lucas chuckled softly, pulling his cloak tighter around his shoulders. "I’ll be back soon. Go back to sleep, old man."

"Sleep? With you letting the cold in like that?" the guide muttered again, before groaning and turning over, burying himself deeper in his covers.

As Lucas stepped out, the full bite of the mountain air struck him in the face, stealing his breath for a moment. The world outside was eerily quiet, the snow glinting faintly beneath the pale shimmer of the moon. The mountains stretched endlessly into the darkness, their peaks fading into the swirling mists. He could see the faint glow of the dying campfire, the embers flickering like scattered stars at his feet.

He took a slow breath, letting the silence wash over him. The camp was still, each tent standing like a small shadow beneath the looming rock. The girls’ tent was closed tight, not a sound escaping from within. His gaze drifted toward the Empress’s tent, standing slightly apart from the others, its fabric rippling faintly in the wind.

He heard a faint sound carried through the still night air. At first, he thought it was the wind playing tricks on his ears, but as he stood still and listened closer, the sound became clearer. It wasn’t the creak of ropes or the flutter of canvas. It was soft, low, rhythmic...a delicate moaning sound coming from the Empress’s tent.

Lucas grinned where he stood, uncertain whether to move or remain where he was. The sound rose slightly, then faded again, swallowed by the wind that swept down from the icy cliffs above.