AETHER BEASTS

After the first two, we didn't run into anymore more snow wolves as we traveled across the snow, and after another hour of travel, we finally came across something that wasn't just snow. A tall wall of rock that stretched on into the distance both right and left, and I assumed it was part of some mountain or cliff face.

"Please tell me we don't have to climb it?" Sandra asked.

"We don't," I replied and turned right. "The necklace is pointing this way, and I'm guessing we'll come across some cave or opening. How else is she surviving this."

The blizzard had increased in intensity, and the winds were so strong that if we weren't careful, we would be blown forward and sent tumbling into the snow. There was no way a normal human could survive out here, and it may me wonder what sort of world this was from.

We followed along the stone wall, which made it easier to keep an eye out for potential threats as they could only come in three directions instead of four, though I did let myself think of the possibility of something attacking from above. I wasn't sure of how high it went, and I had no clue of the wolves true strength. They hadn't had cores, at least not complete cores. It had been like they had been in the process of forming a core, but with the dampening effect this place had on my arcane sense, I hadn't been able to tell how strong it would have been or even the affinity, though if I had to guess I would assume it would either be wind or water with a focus on snow and ice.

The opening I'd expected was a large crack in the surface of the stone and small enough that I had to get rid of my bark armor to squeeze which left me open to the cold momentarily. If it had been bing before, now it was gnawing. I quickly pushed myself all the way through and waited for the others before forming a sunlight orb.

It was still cold, but nowhere near as bad as outside.

We had entered into a cramped narrow space that led deeper into the mountain or whatever it was.

"Is she in here?" Misty asked.

"Deeper in," I answered. "At least that's what the necklace is telling me."

I led the way through the cramped space, for once cursing my height as I hit my head several times much to Sandra's amusement, though she herself ended up trapping on her own cloaks a few moments later.

The orb provided light though there wasn't much to see much but cold stone and jagged spikes. Whatever this space was, it had clearly been naturally formed, and if not, then the person who'd made it had done a terrible job. The only people who could get through easily would be children or small animals. It made more sense now how the wolves hadn't gotten her. They were far too large to fit into this space, and the temperature rose the further we moved in, going from biting cold to a pleasant chill.

"Stop!" I said as I heard a faint sound coming from ahead. The three of us moved silently and slowly enough that we made little sounds and no sounds came from the space we were in so I was easily able to pick up the sound of breathing.

I turned to the others and slowly raised a finger to my lips.

They both nodded, and Misty sniffed once before giving me a thumbs up and mouthing 'it's her.'

I dimmed the sunlight orb and slowed my pace. A minute later the space opened up into a larger yet still cramped space, but my focus wasnt on that. It was on the girl sleeping at the center, covered in numerous blankets, and shivering slightly. From the description the mayor and given to us, I knew this was Hope.

She looked a lot smaller than I'd expected, and if not for the fact I could see her face and had been told her age, then I would have assumed she was a child.

"What do we do?" Sandra asked in a whisper.

"We wake her up," I replied. "But I don't think I should be the one to do it. Misty, can you wake her up and explain everything?"

"Why me?"

"Because you're the best with people," I replied. "And I don't how she'll react to a strange man in a tight and small space with her."

The last thing we needed was her freaking out and screaming, so I moved back and allowed Misty to walk towards Hope. She gently shook the girl and it took a moment but then the girl opened up her eyes and turned her blue orbs to Misty. For a second there was no reaction then Hope's eyes widened and she opened her mouth, presumably to scream or shout, but Misty's hand shot out in a blur and covered the girl's mouth before she could.

"Hope, calm down," Misty said as the girl's fearful glanced from Misty to the two of us. "We were sent by your father to rescue you. These are my friends, Sandra and Aiden. I'm going to take my hand from your mouth so don't scream or raise your voice, ok?"

Tears had begun in the form of eyes and she nodded frantically. The moment Misty took her hand away, the girl leapt up and wrapped her hands around the blonde before beginning to weep quietly. "Thank you, thank you. I-I t-though I was going to die."

Misty gently patted the girl's back and spoke a few comforting words, proving that she indeed had been the best choice for this.

"Ok Hope," Misty said. "I need you to listen to my friend ok?"

Hope nodded and filled Misyt's gaze as she turned to me.

"Well, firstly, do you know when the blizzard stops?" I asked. "Or is it even a common thing?'

Hope wiped her eyes before answering. "It's last a few hours. I ran in here when it started and I tried to go back out, but it was going on. It stopped b-but t-the wolves were waiting."

She shook and Misty brushed a hand through her hair. "You don't have to worry about them anymore."

"I think they smelled me," Hope said. "H-how did you get past them?"

"We killed two," Sandra answered with a feral grin. "We didn't see any others."

"How strong are you three?" Hope asked in a shocked voice.

I was about to ask why she couldn't sense it when I realized that if the world was damping my arcane sense then she probably wouldn't be able to sense anything since she was only at the first level and now I could see her core was at smoke stage. This girl truly had been a fool to come into the labyrinth, worse, she was dressed in casual clothing, not even basic armor or combat robes.

"We're all at the third level," I said which earned me a wide-eyed look full of relief.

"So, are we going to stay in here until the blizzard is over?" Sandra questioned.

I nodded. "One of us should check now just to be sure it hadn't died down, but if it hasn't then we'll check every hour. It only took us what, ten minutes to get this deep?"

"I'll do it," Misty suggested with a shrug. "I don't feel the cold and I'm the fastest."

Hope was reluctant to let go of Misty but when Sandra moved over and paled a comforting hand on her shoulder, she turned from the blonde to Sandra who smiled hesitantly, clearly unsure of what to do.

"How did my father know I was here?" Hope asked as Misty left.

"He had a tracker on you," I explained. "It allied us to find you. I don't think i need to tell you how stupid of an idea coming into the labyrinth was. You came in alone, at the first level with no amour or weapons to speak of."

She looked ashamed and like she burst into tears once more. "I'm sorry."

"Tell that to your father." I shook my head. "He's worried sick and if we hadn't come, then you would have most likely died. I doubt you'll be seeing a labyrinth or tower again for a very long time."

She flinched at my words and Sandra shot me a slight glare. This was the reason I wasn't good at comforting people, at least not strangers.

Misty returned later with the news that the blizzard was still going on strong, so we settled into the cramped space. We offered Hope food, and water which she happily took along with some new clothes since hers were pretty dirty and ripped up in places. I had to leave for a few minutes while she changed and when I returned she had gone back to sleeping, apparently having tired herself out.

As I leaned against the wall, I thought about Zirani and what she was going through. Our bond was still not working so I couldn't sense her at all, apart from the fact I knew she was still alive, which was a comfort. It felt odd, not having her around, not being able to talk to her whenever I needed help. I realized that I might have become sort of reliant on her in a way that made sense, but I also questioned if that was a good thing or if I had become too reliant if I had become dependent. We were bonded of course and would always be together, so it sort of felt stupid to wonder about. I wished Zirani was here, she'd know the right answers.

I snorted at the thought that sort of proved my former point. It was good to rely on someone, but there was a certain point where it evolved from reliance to becoming dependent. Had I reached that point?

"Bad time to have an existential crisis, Aiden," I muttered to myself.

Eventually, I grew frustrated at the constant thoughts and questions, so I pushed them all away and tried to get some sleep, even though I didn't really need it.