The imperial army Marched through the knee high snow it was dreadful weather men got frostbite and some had quite simply flat out died from hypothermia they went through small town after small town working their way to the center of the continent which wasn't exactly huge but was big enough that the month it took to get to the city of Axon was agony on top of the cold it seemed the wildlife was intent on hunting them down and killing as many as possible Elesarius imagined if hell existed this is what it felt like the wind howled and the men could see a blizzard was coming as it began to snow the army worked furiously to shovel snow for tents and fire pits Elesarius placed down some dried wood as the auxiliary helped Elesarius knew better than to associate with auxiliary but he liked the boy who's only crime was stealing a loaf of bread for his sister and him to eat regardless he was soon shooed away by the other men of his squad Elesarius was fumbling with the flint and steal trying to light the fire but nothing happened so he decided to use magic not everyone can use magic so it was seen as a bit taboo in the army so he struck the flint and steel in his hands again and quickly muttered an incantation it seemed as though a small bit of fire leaped from the flint and steel and came in contact with the fire lighting it almost instantly he sat back content with the warmth the fire was now generating and another man sat next to him and said "so you finally got the fire going?" "yeah" said Elesarius placing the flint and steal back in his leather bandoleer and warming his hands "its going to be cold tonight so we should probably set up the tent he pulled out a pipe and tobacco lighting it in the fire and started smoking as the others set up the tent he of course could have easily done it with magic but the others most likely would have refused his offer so he waited for them to finish then that sat about the fire and talked and ate for almost two hours trying to absorb as much warmth as possible and soon they were to set off for bed when suddenly it was as though someone was singing a soft sweet song all of the men except one the youngest and Elesarius stood and started to wander towards the noise but Elesarius had studied and knew what the sound was he leaped up and looked at the camp seeing men wandering left and right towards the noise the young Alex trotted up next to him and asked "whats going on?" "i know this noise we must sound the alarm..." he turned towards the rest of the camp and shouted "SNOW WOMEN SOUND THE ALARMS POSSIBLE ICE WRAITHS TOO" "whats a snow woman?" "its a type of ice wraith it appears as a young morning woman and draws lonely men too their deaths they always freeze to death" "and the ice wraiths" "thats what becomes of their victims their bodies freeze and their minds enslaved they are often called snowmen they will likely kill any soldiers that get within their range but luckily they can be warded off with fire normally they come in pairs but this is far too many to be an individual attack they never come this close to this many people I'm certain a sorcerer is behind this but what kind of man could perform a spell this powerful its practically unheard of" "but why are me and you unaffected?" "good question normally if a man is betrothed then the snow women can't enchant them is there a girl back home waiting for you?" "yes there is she promised to marry me when i got home from my auxiliary service are you married sir?" "no i am similarly enchanted by their spell i just know better than to move towards the sound i'm going to need your help boy if i get closer i will most likely fall under their spell i need you to take this torch and go find the others that wandered off take my sword its nice and sharp go fetch the men and ill see what i can do about getting your service time reduced now go boy but if you see a snow woman do not approach her you are immune to her spell at this distance but once you get closer it may start to affect you but remember don't let it cloud your judgment now go and if your torch goes out come back to the camp immediately understand