Chapter 559 Snow Everywhere
"Honestly, I was hesitant to get in touch. What's to say you can't do to me what you did to your friends from The Eye of Hermodr?" Kaizen inquired.
Elara sighed on the other end of the line, understanding Kaizen's concern. Her voice sounded calm and reassuring when she finally answered:
"I understand your mistrust, Kaizen. I cannot deny that my actions in the past may have caused you to be wary, but I want you to know that my goal is not to help you in the fight against The Eye of Hermodr, but to help you. I recognize the gravity of the situation, only that I am a fan of yours and it would be an honor for me to be under your command."
Elara's voice carried sincerity, and Kaizen felt a slight sense of comfort hearing it. Deep down, he knew that he could not face The Eye of Hermodr alone and that he needed reliable allies.
"I see... So, if you really can provide valuable information, I can accept your offer. However, before that I will need some more information"
Elara sighed again, this time with relief evident in her voice. "Thank you, Kaizen. Your trust means a lot to me. We can meet in a safe place to discuss further details and strategize. I am in a nearby town called Glaciara, south of Tretidian. It is a place protected by powerful natural barriers and where we can talk more calmly."
Kaizen nodded. "Glaciara... I know the place by name. I'll get ready and be on my way soon. I'll let you know when I'm in town."
After disconnecting the call, Kaizen felt a mixture of emotions spread through his chest. He knew it was essential to get more information before meeting Elara in Glaciara. His intuition advised him to proceed with caution, without failing to consider the possible consequences.
Kaizen then immediately began researching Glaciara on the webnet. He found reports of an enchanting city, surrounded by majestic landscapes and shrouded by dangerous forests. It was a place known for its magical community and the harmony that existed between humans and mystical beings. The city was almost independent, ruled by a Council of Elders, who watched over the peace and safety of the inhabitants. The Elders were wise and respected, and the council was composed of representatives of the main clans that coexisted in Glaciara.
The information calmed Kaizen's worries somewhat. He felt that Glaciara might be a safe place to meet with Elara and discuss his next actions. But there was still a knot of uncertainty in his stomach.
Still, he logged in again, finding himself once more in that icy weather.
"Now, I need to find a way out of this place." He thought, feeling his hair being tossed by the strong, cold wind.
Kaizen took a deep breath, feeling the icy air penetrate his lungs as he surveyed the snowy scenery around him. The landscape was filled with snow-covered trees, creating a magical and serene atmosphere. He knew he needed to find a way to get around and decided to explore the surroundings in search of some town or village.
With steady steps, Kaizen trudged through the fluffy mountain snow, keeping his eyes on every detail of his surroundings while using <Psychokinesis> as a shield from the snow and wind.
After some time of walking down the mountain, Kaizen spotted a small brown thing in the distance and among so many white things it caught his attention. Curious, he approached and when he finally got close enough, he noticed that it was a carriage covered by a tarpaulin.
The carriage looked abandoned, it was without horses and the wheels were sunk in the snow, which left Kaizen disappointed. Nevertheless, he approached and decided to take a look inside the carriage. Maybe there was something useful, like an up-to-date map of the region or a chest of money.
Carefully, he opened the tarpaulin at the back of the carriage, only before he could look inside, he heard a thin, woman-like scream.
"Ahhhh! Get out! Get out! Please, I don't want to die! Spare me, dying creature!" The thin voice exclaimed next.
Surprised by the sudden scream, Kaizen quickly closed the canvas of the carriage and stepped back a few paces for the screams to stop. Then he decided to demonstrate that he posed no threat and in a calm voice he said:
"Don't worry, I'm human, not a dying creature! I'm here to help if you need it. Are you lost?"
There was a brief moment of silence, and then the canvas of the carriage was suddenly opened. A brown-haired, wide-eyed young man stuck his head out, his face expressing both fear and relief.
"A man?" Kaizen inevitably inquired, because from the thin voice earlier he thought it was a woman.
"Sorry for the overreaction, it's just... I've had some unpleasant encounters lately. I'm Astru, a traveler and merchant. I got stuck here when a monster's roar spooked my horses. Somehow they managed to get loose and as the minutes passed my carriage was covered in snow."
Kaizen looked at the carriage and realized that Astru was in a difficult situation. He felt empathy for the young man and decided to help him, only he wouldn't do it for nothing.
"Astru, do you happen to know the area? I am lost, so if you can help me, I will do my best to help you out of this situation. Maybe together we can find a solution."
Astru looked at Kaizen with a mixture of gratitude and surprise. He had not expected to meet another traveler in this remote region and felt relieved that he was not alone.
"I know a little of the area," Astru replied, "I am a merchant and have traveled these lands before. If you are willing to help me free the carriage from the snow and find my horses, I would be grateful to guide you to a nearby town where we can find shelter from this storm that will not stop."
Kaizen readily agreed to the proposal. "Perfect for me... However, before we get your carriage out of here, we need to retrieve your horses. Do you have any idea where they ran off to?"
The brown haired boy readily nodded. "They ran in that direction." He stated as he pointed to the south. "But be careful, sir. There are many strange monsters in that region."
Kaizen smiled, wryly. He thought there should be no ice monster more terrifying than the Trolls and Frost Giants he faced in Niflheim.
"All right, stay here. I'll be back soon." Kaizen said.