Day 1,
I bided goodbye to my fellow villager friends of Kebeta. This expedition would be an important step to rebuild the economy of my village. I have decided to set huts and cabins around the route to keep the trading process easy. People warned me about a beast lurking within the mountains, so I decided to take my chance to conduct a part time research against the legendary beast.
Excited, James
Day 2,
I have finally reached Howling Peaks. I have sufficient gear, food, water, weapons and resources to set up at least 5 cabin around the route. I hope that this trip would be a success, the future of Kebeta, my hometown depends on this route. I can't fail, I can't let my villager and friends down, I must succeed.
Nervous, James
Day 3,
I have finish one of the hut last night. Adding some extra touches to it to make sure the traders can have sufficient rest and comfort during the trade. I will proceed to complete the second hut tomorrow, so far no sight of the beast.
Exhausted, James
Day 4,
When making my way to second stop, I have encountered a humanoid ghostly figure call Strays. They are not hostile towards me, but seems to forbid me from reaching the peak. But a mission is a mission, I thanks them for their advice and proceed my journey. But the storm has stop my way and blinded my sight, I have no idea but to stop at a cave to rest. Hopefully the blizzard would end quickly tomorrow.
Tired, James
Day 5,
I awoke in terror. A huge beast was just resting right beside my cave, not even a hundred meters away. But that was already enough to stop me from moving. The beast was gigantic, with snow white fur and a pair of horns similar to the one of a deer, with tusk sticking out of its mouth. It was enormous, probably the size of a house back at the village. So I decided to stay put at the cave and wait for the beast to leave me alone.
Traumatize, James
Day 6,
The beast still won't budge, I can't stay here for any longer, I have a task, and food will be depleted soon enough. I have to make a dash, I have to make a run tomorrow.
Hesitating, James
With the final page being flipped, the Iceologer closes the book with a bang and place it back to the item frame. "What happened next?" The rest asked. "I ran for my life the next day, just like what I planned." James replied as he sat on one of the ice cubes. "The beast awoke and chased me. I took out my sword and tries to fend him off, but failed as one of the shards of the ice crystal wielded by the beast pierce through my heart. I barely make it out by leaping out from the clift and landed on the pile of snow that was pilled a meter deep beneath me." "So you survived?" Hero interrupted.
"No." He let out a sigh as he shook his head. "Little did I know, I will become one of the ghost of Howling Peaks."
"When I am awake, I found out I have weird markings all over me, on my face, on my back, on my chest." James took off his coat and show the group the weird blue markings imprinted on his body. Taking shape and sizes that mostly resembles snowflakes. "and it was moment before I realize I can't escape this frosty area. I am trapped. The moment I try to step out of it, the wind will bring me back to the mountains, there is no escape."
"Why did you remains, er, human?" Rose asked. "And why you can control ice, unlike other strays?" "That is all about the ice crystal, one of the shards impaled my chest, that's why I have gain the power. The other strays were killed by the beast's pure power and strength, so they remain that state of the undead, so I am the lucky one, I guess." He let out a cold chuckle.
"Well that doesn't explain why you and your friends attack us." Norman cut off. "We are searching for people to break the curse." James replied. "The only way for us to break our curse from this snowy hell is to slay the beast. So that's why we set a test for the people who come upon this forbidden land. The weak we shall let them leave, while the strong we shell guide them to the frost maw. And as you can see" James waved at one of the Stray joining them. "Things didn't go so well for us, at least for the past decade. Almost all of them didn't make it past us. Some remains arrogant and headed to the peak without listening to our advice, and now here they are, one of us."
"Why don't you fight him yourself? You and the others are pretty strong." Hero questioned, he isn't joking, James was indeed to very skilled fighter. "We are its slave, its guard dog of his eternal frozen kingdom. And besides, we can't fight fire with fire. We've tried it before our powers deal no harm against it."
"And you expect us to defeat it for you?" Brine finally asked after silencing for a long time.
"Yeah, and what's so bad about being a ghost?" Norman interrupted, the idea of being able to live forever and control ice is pretty stoke for him.
"It's not that the fact that we can't die." James snapped. "It's the fact that we can still feel the pain of dying and yet unable to die. You will never understand the agony of a ghost. We suffer, and yet we still didn't get the freedom promised by death. It was a thousand time worse than dying." The other Strays let out a low bellowing sound, as their head hung low.
"I know it may seems rough, but it's the only way to reach the other side of the mountain. And plus, you got to free a bunch of souls, so that's a win-win." After a brief moment, James finally spoke. "And as a trade, you shall keep the ice crystal, which is actually quite a rare relic."
The gang discuss among each other before coming up with a final decision:
"That's a deal."