Chapter 5: Where the Snow Remembers

  The sun rose slowly over the plains, spreading golden light across the vast stretch of land. Morning wind moved through the tall green grass, bending it in long, gentle waves that rolled toward the horizon. From a distance, the world looked peaceful.

  Until the wall came into view.

  It rose from the earth like a stone cliff—massive, ancient, and weathered by time. Moss and creeping vines clung to its surface, softening its harsh edges but doing nothing to hide its age. The wall had stood for generations, guarding the border between safety and the unknown.

  This was the frontier of the human lands.

  Passing through the gate felt like stepping into another world. Inside, the quiet of the plains was replaced by noise and motion. Buildings stood close together along narrow streets. Merchants called out from bright stalls, selling everything from weapons and armor to dried meat and potions. The air carried the mixed scents of cooked food, iron, leather, smoke, and sweat.

  Adventurers filled the streets.

  Some walked proudly in polished armor. Others limped past with bandaged limbs or fresh scars. Laughter, arguments, and the clatter of weapons echoed constantly. Every face carried the same truth—

  Life here was earned.

  At the center of the settlement stood the largest building of all.

  The Adventurers’ Guild. This place was known as the Foot of the Kingdom, a frontier city in the land of Heartifiya. Beyond the nearby forest lay the Snow Mountains—the final natural barrier before the territories that bordered the Demon Continent.

  Inside the guild hall, warmth and noise blended together. Requests covered the large board at the far wall, parchment layered over parchment, each one promising danger, coin, or both.

  Standing before it was a group of five.

  They spoke quietly, their focus fixed on the available jobs.

  The first was an elf, her long white hair falling smoothly down her back. Her sharp ears and calm blue eyes gave her an air of quiet intelligence. She read each request carefully, weighing risk against reward.Lucy Forger.

  Mage.

  Beside her stood a shorter girl with bright red hair that caught the lantern light like polished copper. There was a softness to her expression, but also determination behind it.

  Rose Brighter.

  Healer.

  A young man with short golden hair leaned nearby, one hand resting near the long sword at his waist. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes moved constantly, observing the room.

  Richard.

  Swordsman. Leader.

  A hand came to rest on his shoulder.

  The owner moved almost silently, black hairfalling around sharp features. His eyes reflected the light like blue crystal. A dagger rested across his back beneath a dark cloak.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Nord Frank.

  Rogue.

  Behind them stood the largest member of the group.

  Grey.

  Heavy armor covered his broad frame, and a massive shield leaned against his side. A short beard framed his quiet expression. He spoke little, but his presence alone gave the others confidence.

  They were a newly formed C-rank party, having completed only three missions so far.

  “We’re still new,” Lucy said calmly. “There’s no reason to rush.”Her gaze settled on a request.

  Gather Blue Snow Flowers

  The plant grew only in the high Snow Mountains near the borderlands. Rare. Valuable. Essential for advanced healing potions.

  Beside it hung another notice.

  Hunt a Demon Bear — Rank B

  Reward: 1000 silver

  The group exchanged brief looks.

  Then ignored it.

  For now.

  With their choice made, the party—Golden Roses—left the settlement before evening.They reached the forest as the sun began to fall. Darkness gathered quickly beneath the trees, so they chose to camp at the edge rather than risk traveling inside at night.

  Grey handled the cooking with practiced efficiency. Soon, the smell of warm food cut through the evening chill.

  “This is really good,” Lucy said after the first bite.

  Grey simply nodded.

  Rose sat close to the fire, glancing occasionally at the dark forest beyond the light.

  Richard noticed. “Don’t worry,” he said gently. “We’re together. Nothing will happen.”

  Nord smiled. “And if something does, we’ll handle it.”

  Slowly, Rose relaxed. Morning came with pale sunlight and cold air.

  They entered the forest.

  Richard took the lead, moving steadily but cautiously. The deeper they went, the quieter the world became. Monsters attacked from the shadows—small groups of goblins, lone beasts, ambush predators testing their strength.

  Each battle left them more tired.

  But also more experienced.

  Four days and three nights later, the trees began to thin.

  Cold wind brushed their faces.

  Snow covered the ground ahead.

  The forest ended, and the Snow Mountains rose before them like a frozen wall. They quickly put on their winter gear and began the climb.

  Not long after entering the mountain paths, danger found them.

  A pack of dire wolves emerged from behind snow-covered rocks, their breath steaming in the cold air.

  The fight was difficult. The terrain was unstable, the cold slowed their movements, and the wolves attacked with coordination.

  But they held.

  Steel, magic, and teamwork drove the pack back.

  When it was over, they gathered the wolves’ fur carefully.

  It would sell well.And as they continued deeper into the mountains, none of them realized—

  They were moving toward a land where even monsters feared to stay. The higher they climbed, the quieter the world became.

  Wind swept across the mountain slopes in long, cold breaths, carrying loose snow into the air. Each step sank deep, the soft crunch beneath their boots the only sound that broke the silence.

  Even the sky felt distant here.

  Richard walked at the front, his movements slower now, careful. The path was narrow, the ground uneven beneath layers of ice and powder. One wrong step could send someone sliding down the slope.

  “Stay close,” he said without turning. “Visibility drops fast if the wind picks up.”

  The others nodded.Rose pulled her cloak tighter around herself. Her breath formed small clouds in the air. “It’s colder than I expected…”

  Lucy glanced around the white landscape. “Blue Snow Flowers grow in harsh environments. If this place feels comfortable, we’re probably in the wrong area.”

  Nord walked lightly despite the snow, his eyes scanning the rocks and ridges around them. “I don’t like it,” he muttered. “Too quiet.”

  Grey stopped for a moment and pressed his hand against the ground. After a few seconds, he spoke in his low voice.

  “No large monster tracks.”

  That should have been reassuring.

  But for some reason, it wasn’t. They continued climbing.

  By midday, the wind had grown stronger. Snow drifted across the slopes, erasing older footprints almost as soon as they were made. The world had turned into a landscape of white and grey, with jagged rocks breaking the surface like frozen waves.

  Then Lucy raised her hand.

  “Wait.”

  The others stopped immediately.

  She pointed toward a narrow ridge ahead.

  Small patches of blue shone through the snow.

  “Blue Snow Flowers,” she said quietly.

  Relief spread through the group.They approached carefully, clearing away the surrounding snow and exposing the delicate plants beneath. Each flower glowed faintly, its petals a deep icy blue, almost like frozen light.

  “Careful with the roots,” Lucy instructed. “If they break, the value drops.”

  Rose knelt beside her, working gently. Even Richard and Nord helped, their earlier tension easing as the work went smoothly.

  It took nearly an hour to collect them all.

  “We’ve got enough,” Richard said at last. “This should be more than the minimum.”

  For the first time since entering the mountains, the group allowed themselves to relax.

  That was when Grey stood up slowly.

  His eyes were fixed on the slope above them.“…Tracks,” he said.

  Everyone turned.

  Large footprints marked the snow.

  Deep. Heavy. Fresh.

  They climbed the slope only a short distance before the wind shifted.

  And the smell hit them.

  Blood.

  The scene beyond the ridge froze them in place.

  The remains of monsters lay scattered across the snow—wolves, horned beasts, even something that looked like a mutated boar. All of them torn apart.

  Not eaten.

  Not hunted.Destroyed.

  Richard swallowed. “What did this…?”

  Nord crouched near one of the bodies, examining the wound. His expression darkened.

  “One strike,” he said quietly. “Clean. Fast.”

  Lucy looked around slowly, her voice barely above a whisper.

  “This isn’t a feeding ground.”

  The wind howled across the ridge.

  Grey tightened his grip on his shield.

  “…Territory.”

  Silence fell over the group.

  Somewhere in these mountains, something powerful lived.Something strong enough that even other monsters didn’t stay here.

  Richard forced himself to speak. “We’ve got the flowers. We head back.”

  No one argued.

  As they turned to leave, none of them noticed the distant figure standing far above on the mountain ridge.

  Watching.