"CHIEF... are we really supposed to follow them?" a village hunter reluctantly asked Leon as they followed the trails that are left of Caelus' horse in the snowy field.
The skies are already much darker which meant that it is already past the nighttime twilight. The time is not appropriate for travelling and the potential danger that lurks around cannot only be limited to giant monsters. Although there seems to be no threat of an incoming storm, they will never know if one wouldn't really appear.
"As of now, yes..." Leon breathed heavily as he covered half of his face with a thick knitted mask.
The snowfall is heavier than usual and everyone had difficulty trying to cross the lands given that the snow almost already reached their knees. The elderly, women and children were riding on a few wagons which are being pulled by bulls and majority of the group's strong men. Vapours arise from their every breath due to the cold and it didn't help that they were travelling so it's impossible to set up some bonfire.
The hunters returned by 6:15 after twilight and they immediately set off towards the base that was mentioned by the two newcomers. Although they wanted to know the identity of the two, they couldn't muster the courage to ask since they don't seem to want to tell them as well.
"Everyone is cold, chief. We can't rely on our garbs right now since we cannot afford the better ones... More so..." The hunter narrowed his eyes in front. "We are already tired and in need of rest. If we encounter any dangers ahead, we wouldn't be able to..."
Leon could only sigh. He wanted to complain as well but thinking about it, he knows that if they could indeed relocate in a better shelter, then everything will be worth it. Only, he couldn't ignore his people as well. If they keep going, everyone will be severely exhausted and will even get sick from the intense weather.
Because they do not have the same privilege like the rich, they couldn't afford to purchase better quality wools and cotton for their garments. In addition, only a quarter of his people have affinity with magic and in that quarter, only a few can summon warm elements like fire. Their skills are also not very much since they don't have access to resources like foundation training books and manuals. They can only rely on their consistent self-practice and a few resources to increase their strengths.
"I will talk to the lords and see if we can camp for a bit," Leon said, clenching his hands to gather his strength.
He knows that he has no right to negotiate here. In the first place, if not for these paragons, he and his men would have died earlier. In the eyes of these people, their value would not be any different from an ant that can be squashed any time. Only, he wanted to try his luck. He cannot simply ignore the pleas of his people just because he feels inferior.
He sped up his steps to the front, gritting his teeth from the deep accumulation of mountain snow beneath. Because it snows most of the time, there will always be huge accumulation on the lands which makes travelling on foot relatively difficult. For those who have money, sailing on air vehicles can provide much comfort, only for normal civilians that live in tiny villages, that would take them years of saving up to afford for one person.
"My lord, may I seek audience with the young master?" Leon asked the dark-robed man who he identified as the silver-haired man's attendant with his fists cupped in respect.
"Follow me," the man simply said and started walking.
Leon, secretly surprised, could only blindly follow the man as they paced towards the lone figure ahead. He couldn't stop his heart from going wild inside his chest cavity. The person who was riding the horse gave him a feeling of worship; as if he was standing in front of a sky dragon that looked down upon the world.
This man looks young, probably in his twenties. In all of Leon's life, he has never met someone of this pedigree and he wasn't so sure either if he should consider this fateful encounter a blessing.
"My lord, the village chief hopes to speak to you," the dark-robed man respectfully informed his master who steadied his horse when he felt their presence behind.
"State your concern," the silver-haired man said as he turned to Leon.
Leon could only swallow the lump on his throat; unable to meet the latter's eyes that simply seemed to shimmer in this overcast environment.
He cupped his fist and said, "I hope the lord can grant us a request."
"What is it?"
"I-I hope the lord can let us camp for a bit to regain our strengths and also warm ourselves. My people are not well-equipped for this journey... a-and so are having a hard time. I know this may be too much because we are already indebted to the lord, only we cannot go much farther and may inconvenience you," Leon explained, secretly holding on to the last ounce of courage he can mobilize right now.
The man did not reply and simply went off his horse. Patting its neck, he turned to Leon once again.
"We can wait until morning then."
Without saying anything further, the silver-haired man walked a bit further from them. Confused, the rest could only follow him with their eyes as he extended his hand forward. Before they could even think about anything else, a sudden gush of wind spread out from his palm and unto the thick layers of snow on the ground.
Leon, with his mouth slightly open in astonishment, watched as the ground they were on shook. The snow that covered the area spanning kilometres in length aroused from beneath them, forming a magnificent floating island of only snow almost a mile above. The visual impact was so intense that Leon thought he was seeing the birth of another land, only everything was so white.
"W-What is he doing?" someone from behind them asked, pointing at the thick layer of snow land from the sky.
"I-Is he removing the snow?" Leon muttered as his eyes continued to gaze at the man who looked so insignificant in this boundless land of white.
"The lord is simply making a clearing for everyone to camp since the snow is too deep from here," the dark-robed man from beside Leon said, his tone was telling anyone who heard that it is no big deal.
"Awesome!" a little voice gasped from a distance.
The rest of the villagers, who have always been short-sighted with the true wonders of this ancient and desolate land could only stare in awe as the snow that tormented their whole journey, disappear into nothingness from the man's magic.
"Experts don't really care about using a sum of their mana, huh..." Leon could only mutter.
For everyone who walks the path of magic, enhancing their mana is the way to do everything else. Without a strong mana, one couldn't shake the world. Without its sufficiency, one would be trampled in a battle of endurance. Only by tempering one's mana into being strong and sufficient could it be possible to contend against the harsh wilds.
Even so, the foundation of mana is the bedrock of all paths to magic. Anyone who possesses excellent talent to it can cut down any obstacles in their practice, especially in enhancing its power and storage. Cultivating mana power is never easy, especially if one doesn't have the necessary means.
Leon had once heard that there is actually a classification of mana quality and it can be determined with a test. He wanted to try it, only he didn't live in the strongholds so it is impossible. In addition, purchasing a tool to examine mana force is beyond his village's capacity.
"We can rest here," the dark-robed man beside Leon said.
Leon, while cupping his fists, said, "Please express our gratitude to the lord."
"I will."
When the dark-robed man left them to attend to his master in a distance, Leon turned to his people and ordered the hunters to start preparing the camp. He especially reserved the biggest tent to give shelter to their benefactors as his way of giving thanks.
"It had been a tiring journey so please give us the honour to invite you to our camp. It may not be much but we hope that it will at least be warm, my lords."
"We will not be polite then," the silver-haired man replied with a nod, earning a joyful smile from the villagers who especially prepared the tent for the two.
Two hunters volunteered to feed his horse which the man did not reject. They started some fire and grilled meat from their reserves for everyone. Beside the biggest searing, Leon and the two men stood, quietly observing the people as they enjoyed a simple feast. Leon couldn't help but let out a relieved sigh. The events that transpired earlier were still fresh from his memory.
Even his skin can still feel the tingling sensation of the moon spider's might, particularly its poison. If not for the dark-robed man removing the poison, he wouldn't live to witness his people hopefully travelling towards a better shelter right now.
"My lords, I would like to say thank you once again for saving our lives back then. I know that it only came out as a convenience in your part... but it is still something that allowed me and my people to eat and drink tonight."
In a world like Horai, where even the strong can fall from the difficulties of the storm, being able to live for tomorrow is already a big thing. Leon may have grown up faring better than his people but it does not mean that he is exempted from enduring this terrible world. Almost all his life, he dedicated his time trying to make ends meet in the village which is why even dying couldn't possibly be an option.
Leon had always been worried that his people would live much more difficult lives if he couldn't be there to help them.
"It is only right that we help the people who want to live decently," the silver-haired man replied, his beautiful orbs reflecting the burning flame.
Half of his face was still covered with a thin piece of cloth that did not match his luxurious robes. From his statement, it seemed that killing the moon spider was not actually done in response to convenience, but was an act to help them. The man may have seemed cold and distant, but Leon firmly believes that beneath an icy surface is always a deep ocean.
"I will remember the lord's words for the rest of my life," Leon announced, his tone couldn't be more determined.
"It is something that you do as a village chief, so it doesn't make any difference if I say it," the latter responded dismissively.
"I am responsible for my people as a chief but the lord is not. Even if I may have had the power, I don't think I will intervene in any dangerous situation without benefiting," Leon reasoned honestly.
"You are not a good judge of character, then."
Leon lifted his head, looking at the silver-haired man with a confused expression. The latter simply glanced at him, his eyes seemingly nonchalant but vibrant from the ignition of the sparks ahead.
"Are you not considering the idea that I may have helped you with ulterior motives?" he asked, making Leon pause for a while.
Shaking his head, Leon replied, "I do not see any reason for us to be of benefit for the lord. We are poverty-driven people, trying to get in the strongholds after losing our homes. We are neither sufficient in wealth nor power so any of our attempts to assist you will not be enough."
Leon couldn't help but let out a small smile, his wrinkles indirectly flaunting the years that he have lived.
"Even so, if the lord thinks that we can be of benefit, then it is something I would consider a compliment. My people and I grew up watching the skies. No matter how we abhor them for making our lives difficult, we also cannot deny the fact that we can never be their equals." Leon narrowed his vision towards his villagemen, especially the youngsters who cuddled with each other in front of the fire.
He continued, "We have always envied the people who live in the comfort of the strongholds, while also being hateful... and hopeful. This is the ugly fact that comes with being unable to completely understand their privilege, while also being very aware of our hardships. It may sound absurd, but I feel gratified that someone like the lord would think we're worth the attention."
"There is no need to think highly of the skies... the same way it is irrelevant to think that the strongholds are better than the wilderness."
Leon's pupils constricted from the silver-haired man's remark. His words carried a sense of confidence that can rival the skies, and hostility that looked down on the systems that have been reigning kings in the land.
"The skies and those strongholds... both are bound to be taken down," the man continued, raising his head to look at the dark heavens above.