"What happened? Why have you come into Hoarfrost Glade?" Ebony asked.
There was another person beside Hector, it should be a woman but Ebony could tell it was not Scarlet. He tetted with his right hand without much thought. She also received it as if it was natural.
"First off, do you have anything that can warm us up?" Hector was hopping on his feet and rubbing his arms with his hands.
Ebony slid his bag under his robe and took some paper out without taking off his robe. He practised a lot to be able to do it without fumbling around.
Taking them between his thumb and index finger, he mana moulded the same rune he had made many times one by one. Passing them to Hector and the other person.
They were a little surprised but didn't ask. Hector just took it and stuffed them under his furred clothing that had some cuts here and there.
"Do you have any food?" Ebony asked in exchange.
"Not much but yeah, we can spare some food," Hector said that but he was generous with the rations he took out.
Ebony gobbled them up and stuffed his face full. Finishing what he was given in no time. He didn't even know what he was eating as he couldn't taste them.
Only then did Hector realise the sunken face of Ebony. He couldn't tell with the robe on but Ebony got a lot skinner.
"Where were you? How long have you been here?" Hector asked. He was immensely curious about where Ebony was that interfered with his callstone's connection.
"A little deeper in. What date is it today?" Ebony answered before putting a water ore into his mouth to drink. If he had poured it out, the water would freeze before he could drink it. He had to be careful not to swallow it though.
"Date? Err…" Hector didn't really keep track.
"Third day of the tenth month." An unfamiliar voice entered Ebony's ears. It was a soft voice, not very high pitched but it had a cutesy tone in it. Should be a woman after all.
"Year?"
"...5536."
"I've been here for about 21 and a half months or so." Mental Arithmetic worked pretty fast. It wasn't a complicated calculation anyway.
It took him more than 2 months to even find Gen so roughly 19 months was spent in intense training.
That was longer than he thought. A lot longer. His gains didn't seem less impressive though.
"What happened to your eyes?" Hector asked. They were walking back, away from Hoarfrost Glade.
"Frozen. I dug them out."
"What!" The lady voiced out. Hector was just as stunned.
"Stop! I'll see what I can do."
"You are?" Ebony stopped walking as she asked.
"Mallory. You can just call me Mally or even just Mal. Sit down and remove your blindfold." Mallory introduced and commanded. The soft voice didn't share the same soft tone.
Ebony conjured his seat with finesse.
"Mal is my cousin. She's a very good healer."
"I see." Ebony somewhat expected as much after she said she'll see what she can do. Weird, he didn't think healers can regenerate a whole body part.
Ebony removed his blindfold which he used one of his torn sleeves for. He recalled the state his eyes were in and didn't want to scare Hector so he put it on before he arrived. Hector was only less than half an hour away.
He stopped casting his enhancement just in case it was hindering the healer's work.
Mallory had seen many injuries. Frozen flesh was nothing new.
She was a little stunned at the state of Ebony's eyes. The fact that he dug his own eyes out was shocking enough. Ebony's flesh wasn't frozen, the white marks across his face was like something pierced into it. It had to be removed if he wanted to heal.
They were too deep. She would have to cut his face off and his skull may be affected too and she didn't know how to go about healing all that.
Mallory was silent for a long while as she considered how she was going to go about treating Ebony. She couldn't do anything about his eyes as he said he tossed them away.
"It's okay. Go ahead and cut out all the affected areas." Ebony responded in his usual flat tone. He was wondering why his healing was so slow. He couldn't remove Gen's snow with his manipulation. Cutting his own face off wasn't easy.
"...What?"
"Don't worry. I can heal as long as you cut it off."
"I can heal and regenerate your flesh but not your bone."
"I'm partly mana, I can regenerate myself. My eyes too."
"...Interesting. I've never even met a mana being, much less heal one." Shivers went down Hector's back when he saw the smile on Mallory's face.
Mallory gave a potion to Ebony. It was a pain reliever of sorts. Ebony drank it without asking questions.
Then he felt something touch the bridge of his nose.
He couldn't sense the gravitational waves of whatever it was but, he could feel the foreign mana. It was weird that he didn't feel much when the thin sharp thing cut into his nose and deep into his face then zigzagged around. Coming out around his forehead. He felt a portion of his face get removed. Like a triangular slice of cake.
'This lady is an experienced surgeon.'
Mallory only had such ease because Ebony already used up most of his mana in his mana pool and he didn't have any enhancement cast.
There was a warm feeling around his face, Mallory was probably keeping him alive with some magic. No blood was dripping even though he didn't freeze it.
"You're lucky it didn't touch your brain." Mallory wasn't disgusted by what she saw and did.
"I was in good hands." Ebony was sure Gen was skilful enough.
❅❅❅
"I was in good hands." Hect's friend flatly said.
Mallory was stunned but her healing magic didn't stop.
'He..he has so much faith in a stranger? What a weird man. Is it his trust in Hect?' Mallory didn't expect a person she just met to have so much trust in her skills after Hect said she was 'a very good healer'. She could kill him at any time right now, having come so close to his brain.
She already set up a barrier before they started so that she could heal in peace.
It was odd, his Constitution as a mana being made her healing magic very ineffective. His skull, flesh, fat and skin were all healing visibly fast but she knew it was not completely her efforts.
"Are you consciously regenerating yourself?" Mallory had to ask.
"I can't speed it up, I can only guide the healing process or affect which to heal first. I felt a warmth and assumed it was your healing magic so I used that as a guide to know what to heal first." Ebony replied.
"...I see."
It was just hours where Hector the little wuss didn't even dare see her cutting his friend's face apart. Mallory was low on mana to begin with and she was unfamiliar with the make up of his body so it took some time. His own healing and regenerative properties helped a lot.
His face was back on without so much as a scratch.
A miraculous sight even for her, the healer. The man's eye was slowly forming. He admitted not knowing how to reconstruct it perfectly but he was oddly familiar with creating a copy made of ice.
Mallory's knowledge of the human body was greater than any other her age. She was a little surprised that Hector's friend knew what she was talking about when she guided him into what he should focus on reconstructing first. Although it was clear he wasn't an expert, he got the gist of what she was saying.
Lo and behold.
In just a few hours, a good looking but cold face was staring at her with a pair of dark pupils and irises.
Mallory wouldn't exactly say he was very handsome but he had good features. His eyes and expression were so cold. Colder than his low body temperature. He had long and messy hair that was white with snow but it made him look a little wild.
He was strong too. Very strong.
He fought blind, he must have good perception skills.
He moved fast, with a minimum of tier 2 movement skill. One that's unfamiliar.
Clearly a journeyman like her but taking the Glades as his own backyard.
Unlike many patients she handled, this was a real man.
Hect, the wuss couldn't even look while this man just made a throne, sat there and got her to cut his face out without a change in expression.
'He was only a bit younger than Hect right? There's merit to being in his good books.'
❅❅❅
Ebony didn't think he would recover his eyes so soon. His sight wasn't completely back yet. He was adjusting to light again.
"Thanks, Mallory." Ebony could still make out Mallory's figure.
She was around 1.66m tall, shorter than him by quite a bit. Her slightly longer than shoulder-length hair was the same pink as Hector's and left untied. She wore a pure white dress that reached her ankles, showing the boots under. Their clothing was lined with fur while Hector was shivering, she looked unbothered by the cold.
Ebony might have gentle and light movements but the sole of his boots were thinned out so much he could feel the ground already. His robe wasn't damaged but many sets of his clothes that he wore under the robe were.
Like Hector, she didn't carry any weapon. Ebony could only see a small bag similar to Hector's. Maybe they really didn't have spatial rings here.
Neither look like they were stuck in a dangerous forest for months but Ebony wasn't one to say.
His eyesight was still slowly coming back but he could Identify her now.
[Healer Lvl 100]
"It was nothing. I would like to observe and investigate your body if you get any injuries in exchange." She had already studied the part of his face that she cut out but whatever he was hit by completely destroyed its worth for her to study.
"Any time."
"So why are you here Hector?"
"What do you mean why? To look for you. We said we were gonna clear Ordina."
"Mmm. Have you contacted her?"
"Scarlet? I couldn't reach her. I have no idea where she is."
"...I saw her in Ailbury before I came here."
"Isn't that one of the towns in Trailane Plains? It's been what? 21 months? She's probably not there anymore."
"Let's go." Ebony stood up and got ready to leave. He noticed his skin glowing when he cast Frostblaze Augmentation. It was just a light glow as if he reflected blue light.
So burning a small portion of mana underneath his skin doesn't put him aflame. That was good. Glowing was still a little eye-catching but not as bad as being on fire.
"Wait, it's getting dark already. Let's rest for the night. You look…exhausted."
"No time like the present. You can sleep, I'll carry you. Mallo.." Ebony wanted to get out of here already. He was cut off before he could finish talking.
"I can handle myself," Mallory said with confidence. She took a step onto where Ebony sensed the same mana that was used to cut his face. Then she floated. Standing on her own mana. Flying.
Ebony just grabbed Hector's collar and started running.
The cold winds didn't bother him and Mallory but Hector was sneezing.
'She still had mana?' Ebony thought she was taking the healing slowly with a gentle flow of mana because she had little mana.
Whatever invisible magic she was using to fly should require mana too. This cousin of Hector was pretty impressive indeed.
Healers are highly likely to have been taught by the Life Queen, especially one so skilled.
Ebony was interested enough to ask. Her speed was roughly the same as Ebony if Frostblaze Augmentation didn't increase his Agility.
She had a pretty good perception to move at such speeds in the dark winter night.
Too bad she stopped after just half an hour. She was acting tough after all.
He cast an uncompressed Layered Ice Carapace and made them share one so that he wasn't slowed down. Locking Hector who was already asleep onto it.
Mallory didn't complain or even ask before sitting down. Moving to the edge at the tip of the shield where she let her legs hang before crossing them. Her sitting posture was straight as she looked down upon the frozen forest and tucked her hair behind her ears.
'Does she have something for posing?' Ebony thought that this Mallory girl tried too hard to be all prim, proper and intimidating at all times.
Well…she certainly was succeeding at doing so. She seems so natural with it that she probably did it without thought. It was, what's the word…swagger.
Of course, he didn't know that she was influenced by the swagger he showed her by bringing a throne out.
Creatures of Hoarfrost Glade were more active on winter nights than they were in the day but it wasn't as if the place was infested with monsters.
Ebony got away without anything blocking his path. He already mapped most of these parts and recognised the area after a few more noticeably different landmarks showed up. Trees and rocks, those that were damaged in certain ways.
Halfway into the night, Mallory had kept the same posture but had her eyes closed and was probably asleep when something large burst out from the snow to their right.
It had timed itself really well as Ebony was moving at such high speeds but it still managed to leap to him. It was pretty awkward of it to start its attack from so far away but any closer and he had a high chance of sensing it anyway.
It was a large lizard that should be able to swallow Ebony whole.
[Snow Crawler Lvl ???]
'They get that big?' Ebony remembered the lizard-like snake that burst out from under the snow and tried to strangle his arm.
As with most creatures here, it was faster and stronger than him but he didn't even draw Icicle out to fend the threat off.
Because it was stopped in mid-air as it slammed into something hard and got tossed away. Ebony just ignored it and carried on running. The crawler didn't seem to be chasing.
"Should I be saying thank you, princess?" Ebony said without looking but at the lady who swiped her gloved fingers at where the solidified mana popped up to block the crawler. Healing magic and probably barrier magic.
"Superfluous. Merely an exchange of services. Can't let my ride be interrupted can I?" Mallory Lord, princess of the Empire, didn't deny Ebony's accusations.
"...That guy." Ebony glanced at the sleeping Hector who seemed too comfortable.
"He's a prince?" Ebony continued.
"I'm ashamed to say so," Mallory replied, she still had her eyes closed.
"I'm ashamed to hear that." Ebony commented.
Hector snored loudly.
Their conversation was cut as Mallory probably fell asleep.
Ebony spent a lot of time exploring. If he were to just take a straight path out it would take a fraction of the time it took to get here. His explosive increase in Agility from enhancement magic was just icing on the cake.
By daylight, he estimated that he already covered a quarter of the distance. Elva was now smaller than he imagined.
Mallory fluttered her eyes open. Standing on the moving shield, tossing Hector's feet aside to make space to put her bag down. She busied herself before something flew to Ebony ahead of her.
It was a cup, enclosed in a cuboid barrier so that nothing spilt.
Hot black tea.
"Thanks." Ebony took it as the barrier disappeared and drank it as slowly as he could to savour it. It was not easy while running, even if his Treading Stride was gentle.
Then some dry rations were similarly sent to him in silence.
❅❅❅
'He ran like that for the entire night? His enhancement skill is still on and he hasn't even gotten out of breath.
Meditative or not, that's…
In any case, at such speeds, he already crossed a distance that took us weeks. We'll be out in a day or two if he can really keep this up.
Hect wasn't lying about his limitless stamina and mana.
Looks like I'll have to give the Eclipse guards a bonus for the extra work. We haven't reached anywhere really dangerous and they haven't done any work so perhaps not. Yeah, a workout for them.'
One of the Eclipse members sneezed as they followed their princess and prince while staying hidden. They didn't have the resources and equipment their lieges had. Relying on their own body and strength to keep warm as they chased the unknown man through the night.
The most stressful months of their life.
Two of the young royal members decided to go into one of the most dangerous areas of the continent and they even had a superior who was guarding the prince follow them.
They couldn't be more glad that their lieges decided to leave before winter hits because they would have trouble keeping themselves alive in the cold without supplies. Freezing to death hungry didn't sound nice.
Only their high pay encouraged them to push on.
❅❅❅
Ebony was having an easy time despite still starving and his body aching badly.
Mallory just slapped anything that came close aside with her barriers. Whatever was persistent enough to chase was encased and holes would appear all over their body. Anyone without decent perception would only see the monster knocking on air and their blood spewing out yet not falling on the ground and huge perforations throughout their body.
Bubble Hills was right in front of them 2 full days later.
Ebony brought them to Ailbury just as the town's gate opened as it was the 6th hour.
Mallory dragged Hector to find an inn to get some real rest and also wash up.
He didn't follow, just asking if they could get a room for him too.
He was hungry, dirty and weary.
That can wait.
He walked slowly to where he last saw Scarlet.
A street stall that sold fish.
It wasn't open yet, but the stall owner was already preparing for the early risers and miners who were going to work or coming back.
Ebony stood there and waited.
The stall owner was surprised someone waiting for his food so early.
"Young man, you're early! Here for some of my fish?"
"...Sure." Ebony was very hungry anyway. He just wanted to stand here for a short while before going to the inn to sleep but food first also worked.
"Give me 10 minutes. What would you like? I have roasted spiced fish, fish soup to give you energy for the day and a fried fish patty sandwich which you can take to go. The sandwich is only good for a few hours so I would recommend eating it while it's hot."
"I'll have one of each. Extra spicy for the roasted one." Ebony wanted to see if he could still taste strong flavours.
"Coming right up! You can sit on that chair while you wait. It's where I sit when I take breaks." The stall owner was pretty cheery that his business started so early.
People usually stand and eat but he wasn't using his chair now so there was no issue letting the blue skin man who was releasing a chilly air sit on his chair.
He quickly scooped a bowl of soup once it bubbled and handed it to his first customer of the day together with a wooden spoon.
Ebony didn't care for the heat and got right into drinking and eating.
"Have you always been running this stall?" Ebony didn't know why he started a conversation.
"For decades now. I didn't want to rent and am saving to open my very own restaurant." The stall owner was mostly focusing on the roasted fish but having a conversation while cooking was what a street stall owner picks up sooner or later.
Opening their very own restaurant was a common goal of most if not all stall owners.
"Do you remember seeing a masked lady more than a year ago?" Ebony asked without hoping for much. Any clue was better than nothing.
"OH! How can I forget!? I bragged about the Xeng standing in front of my stall to all my friends and family. Just standing before her made me sweat buckets from her burning presence and overflowing essence. I didn't believe she was just a journeyman when I never felt such a strong presence even from the Master fighters."
Ebony didn't like it when they called her a Xeng but then that was what all of them referred to her as.
"Do you remember if she said anything? Or if she's still around town." Ebony asked even when he doubted Scarlet would tell a stall owner anything. It also didn't sound like she was still in town from what he said about the bragging.
"She didn't say anything to me but I can't forget how she just disappeared into thin air!" The stall owner passed the piping hot fish with red sauce on a large leaf as he took the empty bowl from Ebony. There was still a plate under the leaf so Ebony wouldn't burn himself from holding it.
"...can you be more specific?" 'Disappear into thin air' was very concerning.
"One moment she was standing right there and the next moment she sank into the ground. Haha, I was actually busy tending to my fish so I didn't see clearly. I might just be imagining things."
Scarlet was fast, the stall owner was distracted or rather, focused on his own cooking. It wouldn't be weird if she just walked away while he wasn't looking.
It was just a little specific that he said she sank into the ground. Scarlet had no such skill as far as he knew.
Ebony gobbled the fish up quickly and stood up to return the plate as he took the paper-warped sandwich.
Walking over a few steps to where the stall owner pointed.
"She sank into the ground here?" Ebony pointed at the unassuming stone street, no different from anywhere else. Taking large bites into the still tasteless sandwich.
"Yeah, I didn't really see what happened though so I could be wrong." The stall owner was starting to second guess himself.
Ebony wasn't so intimidating when all his regenerated mana was used up. The stall owner honestly didn't care to Identify every single one of his customers. All he needed to know was that they were customers that could pay for the food and hopefully enjoy it enough to come again.
Ebony squatted down and touched the floor for absolutely no reason. It was cold hard ground. Nothing suspicious.
"Get outta the way!" He realised the street was getting crowded with pickaxe carrying Dwarves, Humans and Beastman alike.
He was kinda in the way of the stall owner's business by squatting right in front of the small stall front. But he didn't expect them to just push him aside. He was caught off guard and it pushed the half-eaten sandwich out of his hands, dropping it onto the ground.
'Hmm?' Ebony was already really close to the ground and didn't catch the sandwich before it landed but then the sandwich dipped into the ground. Where it landed was a red puddle.
He started to step back as the red puddle grew larger. The miners around were obviously alarmed as well and backed off quite a bit.
The stall owner didn't react much except warily stare at the red puddle. Hoping it was nothing that would harm his little stall.
The red puddle didn't expand much before something was coming out from it. A hand. Grabbing onto his half-eaten sandwich that was covered in the red liquid. Ebony was very familiar with the metallic smell of blood.
Another hand held the floor at the edge of the puddle and the bloody figure slowly rose.
'This fish sandwich is a summoning material?' Ebony couldn't rule out the possibility that the stall owner was not what he appeared to be.
The blood didn't stick onto whatever is climbing out. It slid off the figure to reveal red again but brighter. Then a familiar white mask showed itself. The white continued showing as the blood slid off slowly.
When he saw white continue past her neck he quickly unlatched Icicle and took his robe off. Smoothly putting it over the figure and wrapping her up.
Staring the miners off and scaring them by decasting Frostblaze Augmentation and letting his mana overflow.
"Get me all of your fish sandwiches." Ebony made an order for the legendary summoning sandwich.