Chapter 363: Frozen World (1/2)
Suddenly, a metallic fragment from the ship's walls split open from the uniform structure it once was, revealing white smoke particles from the slight cracks it now had. And, like a closed castle bridge descending upon a flowing moat, the separated chunk of the wall expanded out and dropped towards the ground with an audible thud, unveiling what lied ahead with a furious wind that aggressively struck their visage.
Yet, instead of covering their faces, they took their first steps forward, moving from the hard metal of the ship toward the pale, fluffy ground of the outside world, particles of white softly striking their face showering them gently from up above.
The sky was a colour so familiar yet foreign to their eyes, a bright, icy blue that possessed a certain charm to its fuzzy, cloudy nature.
The ground itself was covered in a blanket of white coating a mountainous and rocky terrain. The trees were all dead bar a few exceptions, they looked similar to those found on earth, but their swirly nature and light blue tree bark set them apart.
Past the rugged terrain, raging wind and the thick fog ahead laid a frozen waterfall overlooking a downwards slope, one that held a thick, large glowing sign that made itself known within the storm, like a beacon drawing travellers near.
They were all speechless, mesmerized by the allure of something that they should have found mundane.
What was in front of them seemed like something they would find on earth. It was a mountainous snowstorm. However, it was unlike anything they could find at home. No, it was far too mystical, almost as though magic was thick and fresh in the air.
”Wow… This place is… Damn… If only it wasn't so foggy…” Regrit was the first to open his mouth as he marvelled at the new world ahead.
”Or cold…” Hikari softly whispered from the side. Her armour did seem a fair amount lighter than that of her peers.
”Ah! Oh… Ummm… Is that better Hikari?” Regrit raised his hands, slight flickers and sparks escaping his fingertips before it turned into a small flame that he brought closer to her shivering body.
”Y-yes… Thank you very much…” She beamed radiantly in his direction.
”N-no problem…”
”Don't worry young Hikari, we shall find a place to stay out of this snowstorm. A home where we can sleep and rest on this journey will be our first priority. I do not believe that our ship has more fuel, and if our journey leads us far from our destination, there will be no room for us to backtrack here for regular rest.” Artorias looked back and smiled brightly towards the shivering Hikari, making her smile back at his kindness only to go blank and shake her head a split second later.
”Anyways, where exactly are we supposed to go? Can we just set up the teleporter here and get things over with?” Elizabeth abruptly commented.
”Sadly not, it is not so easy mistress Eleonora. The planet where we reside is on the very edge of our teleporting capabilities. In order to properly set up a hub of teleportation, we must first reach the absolute highest peak of this planet.”