Leonor (raising his massive sword, emitting a cold vapor):
"Do you think that feather will save you here, Ortinus? In this frost, the crystal's energy weakens — but our swords are designed to absorb the cold of the Second World and become unbreakable blades!"
Ortinus (taking a fighting stance, his eyes shining with defiance):
"I heard that nonsense in the arena, and you ended up with your mouth full of dirt. It seems you enjoy falling — but this time you won't fall on soft sand, you'll fall on ice that will shatter your bones."
Leonor (shouting):
"Silence! Fighters — don't let any of them escape! I want the feather, and I want their heads!"
Pikos (hiding behind the large wagon wheel, gripping his heavy frying pan):
"My goodness! Did you see the size of that man heading toward the wagon? Darius, do something! He's trying to reach the dried-meat supply!"
Darius (blocking a strike from one of Leonor's followers with his sword):
"Pikos! Is this the time to think about meat?! Defend yourself — use anything!"
Pikos (smashing the attacker's head with the pan, producing a loud metallic ring):
"Ah! Take that! Stay away from my traveling kitchen! Darius — it worked! The frying pan works perfectly!"
Meanwhile, Nirar climbed onto the roof of one of the wagons, firing arrows with extreme precision. Each arrow struck the joints of the attackers' icy armor, causing them to fall without killing them.
Nirar (calling out):
"Leonor! You're wasting your men's blood on a losing cause. Retreat now before the Ice Wolves awaken to your screams!"
A fighter from the school:
"Don't listen to him, leader! They're shaking with fear!"
Romilius (stepping calmly out of the wagon, holding his wooden staff):
"My son, fear is not shameful — ignorance of balance is. You fight for pride, while we fight to return home. The difference between those goals is like the difference between snow and fire."
Another fighter (charging at Romilius):
"Enough preaching, old man!"
With a simple, swift movement, Romilius drove the tip of his staff into the snow beneath the fighter's foot, then lifted it forcefully, sending snow into the attacker's eyes. The man lost balance and tumbled down the slope.
Ortinus and Leonor separated from the rest of the battle and clashed in a fierce duel. Their swords collided, producing blue and white sparks that lit the dense fog.
Leonor (panting):
"You're fast… I admit that. But your body isn't used to this heavy air. Your lungs will burn before you touch me!"
Ortinus:
"My lungs are used to Acadia's salty air, and this cold is nothing compared to what I felt when my kingdom was lost. Take this!"
Ortinus delivered a horizontal strike, but Leonor blocked it with a force that made Ortinus stagger. Leonor seized the moment and kicked Ortinus in the stomach, sending the young man crashing onto the ice.
Pikos (in panic):
"Ortinus! No! Darius — help him!"
Darius:
"I can't! I'm surrounded by three of them!"
Leonor (advancing slowly, blade raised above Ortinus):
"The journey ends here, feather-bearer. I'll send you back to your world — as a lifeless corpse!"
Ortinus (whispering, touching the crystal and feather in his pocket):
"Not today… Leonor… not today."
Suddenly, the blue crystal they had taken from the tower began glowing inside Ortinus's bag, emitting a low humming sound. The ground beneath them started to shake.
Nirar (shouting in warning):
"Stop! Everyone stop! You fools — you've done it! You've awakened the Guardian of the Slope!"
Everyone froze. The ice cracked open, and a gigantic hand made of compressed ice and blue stone emerged. The Guardian of the Slope was a massive, faceless being that lived beneath the ice and awoke only when a great energy disturbance occurred.
Leonor (pale):
"What is that? The masters never told us about creatures like this in this sector!"
Nirar:
"Because you never leave your comfortable arenas! Ortinus — get to the wagon now! Darius, power the engines at maximum!"
Ortinus (leaping away as the guardian's strike shattered the rock Leonor had been standing on):
"Leonor! If you want to live, run now! The next round will be in hell if you stay here!"
This time Leonor did not hesitate. He saw his men tossed like leaves by the roaring ice guardian. He and the remaining fighters fled downhill, while Ortinus jumped into the wagon at the last moment.
Nikos (pressing the accelerator):
"Hold tight! The wagon will slide across the ice!"
The caravan sped away wildly as the guardian pounded the ground behind them, triggering avalanches that nearly swallowed them.
After they had traveled far enough and the guardian's sounds faded, silence filled the wagon — except for Pikos checking his pots.
Pikos (sighing):
"Oh… my pots are fine. But my heart almost stopped. Ortinus, are you okay? That giant's hand looked bigger than my father's house!"
Ortinus (wiping blood from a wound on his forehead):
"I'm fine, Pikos. But Leonor won't leave us alone. He saw the crystal's energy — his greed will only grow now."
Darius:
"That crystal saved us, my friend. Without that tremor, your head would be decorating Leonor's office right now."
Nirar (studying the maps):
"We've now entered the true Land of Silence. Leonor won't follow us here — he knows the dangers of this region exceed his school's abilities. But the question is… are we ready for what's coming?"
Romilius:
"We are not alone, Nirar. We have a feather, a crystal, and an unbreakable will. Ortinus, get some sleep. Tomorrow we face the snow that never melts."
Ortinus (looking at the feather, its light now dim):
"I'll sleep… but one eye will remain open."