Chapter 17: The Ascent Begins
Sunlight gleamed off the peaks of the Misty Mountains, casting their shadow over the base where Hiroto, Luna, and Riku stood, gazing up in a mix of awe and trepidation.
"Well, they don't look that challenging!" Hiroto remarked, squinting as he tried to make out the pathways that spiraled upward.
Luna chuckled, sending a gentle breeze to ruffle his hair playfully. "Appearances can be deceiving," she teased, flexing her fingers as gusts responded to her command. "And I think I'm getting the hang of this wind magic."
The ascent wasn't easy. While Luna's wind control did help divert some of the harsher gusts, the rugged terrain and hidden pitfalls proved challenging. Hiroto, with his gamer instincts, often pointed out shortcuts or safer routes, his eyes scanning the landscape with a strategist's precision.
They encountered curious mountain creatures — goats that seemed to defy gravity, eagles that eyed them with intelligence, and once, a luminescent being that flitted away before they could get a closer look. "Mountain spirits," Riku whispered, watching the light dance away. "Good omen, they say."
However, not all encounters were friendly. As they neared a narrow pass between two towering cliffs, a shadow loomed above them. The ground shook with a thunderous roar as a mountain troll stepped into their path, blocking the way forward with its massive bulk.
Hiroto cleared his throat, stepping forward with an exaggerated bow. "Greetings, Mr. Troll! Ever considered a career in gatekeeping? We could offer a good reference!"
The troll merely grunted, eyeing the trio suspiciously. Luna leaned in to whisper to Riku, "Do you think all trolls have a thing for riddles or just this one?"
Riku thought for a moment. "There's only one way to find out." He cleared his throat and posed a riddle, hoping to distract the creature long enough for them to find an opening. The troll, surprisingly, seemed intrigued. As he pondered the riddle, Luna used her wind magic to kick up a dust storm, obscuring their movements.
The combination of wit, wind, and strategy finally paid off, leaving the befuddled troll scratching its head as the trio made their escape, chuckling at their close shave.
That night, as they camped under the starry sky with the harshest part of their ascent awaiting them, Hiroto gazed into the fire, his thoughts distant. "Every challenge, every creature... it's like a level in a game," he mused.
Riku, roasting a fish over the fire, smirked. "And every level gets harder. But remember, the rewards get better too."
Luna, wrapping her cloak tighter around her, whispered to the winds, "And we're up for the challenge, right?"
The winds seemed to howl in agreement.