**Approaching the City**
As Alex and his group stood atop the cliff, they braced themselves for what lay ahead. The city of Nothra beckoned in the distance, its lights twinkling through the falling snow. The cold was biting, and visibility grew poorer with each passing minute, but they pressed on, determined to reach their destination.
By the time they arrived at the gates, the snow was falling steadily. The imposing figure of a Viking guard stood watch, his demeanor intimidating. "State your business for entry into Nothra," he demanded.
Alex handed over his adventurer's ID card, followed by Thrain and Lila. Yuki, however, did not have one. The guard frowned but ultimately relented. "Register in the city first thing tomorrow," he ordered.
Alex nodded. "We'll get settled in at the inn and handle it in the morning."
**Settling In**
The inn was a welcome sight, warm and inviting against the backdrop of the icy city. Alex marveled at the comfort it offered, as did Yuki. They laid down on the bed, and Yuki turned to Alex, her eyes filled with warmth. "I love you, Alex."
"I love you too," Alex replied, and they made love, finding solace in each other's arms after their long journey.
**A New Day**
As morning broke, Alex woke up to a stunning view of the city blanketed in snow. He felt a surge of hope and determination. Heading down to the drinking area, he found Thrain already there.
"Good morning, my dear boy," Thrain greeted. "It's hard to get sleep when you and Yuki are up all night."
Alex laughed. "I'm sure you had times like that when you were a young man."
Thrain chuckled. "Yeah, I did. Lila is still sleeping, so why don't you wake up Yuki? We need to get her registered at the guild in town. It's right by the inn."
**Guild Registration**
Alex went back upstairs to wake Yuki. "It's time to go," he said gently, helping her out of bed. They made their way to the adventurers' guild and got her situated. Yuki was thrilled to become an official adventurer, knowing her father would have been proud.
As they talked, a large man barged into the guild hall, his hearty laugh echoing through the room. "Good morning, fellow adventurers!" he boomed, striding to the quest area.
He noticed Alex and his party. "You're new here. I've never seen you around before."
Alex extended a hand. "Yes, we've spent a year traveling to get here. Nice to meet you. My name is Alex, and this is Thrain and Yuki."
"I'm Igor," the Viking-looking adventurer said with a grin. "It's a common name among my people, but I'm proud of it. Would you like to join me on a quest?"
Alex, Thrain, and Yuki agreed. "We'll leave Lila behind this time since she's still sleeping," Alex said.
**A New Quest**
Igor outlined the quest. "There's a gem some nearby villagers need, but it's guarded by frost giants."
"No problem," Alex said confidently. "This won't be my first rodeo with them."
And with that, their new adventure began.
This concludes Chapter Thirty-Six.