Chapter 110 The Deserters Fortress (2/2)
She shook her head in response ”My training started the moment I could stand,” she said ”I opened my first Realm and became an initiate when I was five”
To this, Arran had no reply He just stared at Snowcloud in astonish her entire life
”But enough of that,” she said ”It's about time we depart From what I've seen today, you will be able to handle yourself — you should be able to match even some of the weaker novices”
They broke ca the cave farewell as they set off toward the deserters' fortress When he looked back, Arran thought he would noton cave's hard stone floor
They traveled at a run, and their Essence-enhanced bodies meant neither of them needed to pause for rest — not for a short fifty-h, filled with forests and hills, they arrived well before sunset
”So that's it,” Arran said as he looked at their foes' stronghold
They had hidden in the brush on a hill about a quarter mile fro spotted, while they could freely observe their enee, built entirely from stone It stood atop a s the fortress cut free of all trees and brush Froh walls around the fortress held a nuate was thick and reinforced with iron
”What's your plan?” he asked
”We break down the gate, go inside, and kill theht the novices”
Arran looked at Snowcloud incredulously ”That's not a plan”
She frowned, then said, ”I should be able to defeat the novices easily, and the guards won't give you any trouble”
”You don't even kno many novices there are,” Arran replied ”What o down so easily?”
”I'er than most novices in the Valley,” she answered with a sonant expression ”A few deserters won't be a problem”
”What if there are more than two?” Arran asked ”What if there are four, or five?”
”I should be able to—” Snowcloud began, some hesitation in her voice now
”What if they are stronger than you expect?” Arran interrupted her, unable to fully keep the anger from his voice
He had known Snowcloud was inexperienced, but he had not expected her to be this naive, nor this foolish Noshe was compared to her fellow novices in the Sixth Valley, real battle was different, and he would not let her risk their lives by going in blindly
”Then what do you suggest we do?” she asked, sounding slightly annoyed
Arran remained quiet for a while as he considered the situation When he finally spoke, there was a srin on his face
”I think I have an idea”