Duwei and Vivian dashed into the woods, heading for the spot where the dragon slumbered. When they arrived, they found Vivian's flame dragon wide awake, its eyes darting around in terror as it let out low, anxious roars—its demeanor a clear reflection of its panic.
Without hesitation, Vivian ran to it, wrapping her arms around one of its massive claws. She began softly chanting an incantation, her delicate hands glowing faintly. Though the light was dim, it seemed to calm the dragon, whose roars gradually softened into low whimpers. Eventually, it lowered its head and settled down, slipping back into slumber.
The exertion from casting the spell left Vivian visibly drained. As she swayed unsteadily, Duwei stepped forward, gently steadying her by the arm. In a low voice, he asked, "What's going on?"
"I-I don't know...烈烈日...it seemed so frightened just now…" she stammered.
"Have you managed to calm it down?" Duwei pressed.
Vivian nodded weakly.
Duwei's tone turned serious. "That earthquake and the strange roar—did you hear it? It came from the northern part of the island. I suspect there's something here we haven't discovered yet… perhaps some kind of creature."
Vivian's expression darkened. Though simple-hearted, she wasn't naïve.
A creature? What sort of beast could emit a roar so terrifying it would frighten a dragon?
"I'm going to check it out," Duwei declared abruptly.
"W-Wouldn't that be dangerous?"
"Dangerous…?" Duwei murmured, shaking his head. "I don't know. But one thing is clear—this island isn't ordinary. Look around—no animals, no birds. What does that tell us? My guess is that some fearsome creature has claimed this island as its territory, driving out all other life. Regardless, we're stuck here for now, and we need answers. If we don't figure out what we're dealing with, it might come for us first. You heard that roar—it's better to be prepared than caught off guard."
Vivian nodded resolutely. "I-I'll go with you!"
Duwei's expression turned stern. "No. Listen to me, silly girl. Stay here and watch over your big pet. If that roar echoes again, it could unsettle the dragon. You need to be here to calm it. Besides, you're clumsy and barefoot—how would you even make it to the northern part of the island?"
Vivian lowered her head, crestfallen. "Alright," she mumbled.
Gripping his makeshift staff tightly, Duwei set off. Rather than plunging into the forest, he skirted the island's edge, following the coastline northward. It might take longer, but it felt like the safer option.
The dense fog hung heavily, veiling the island in an eerie stillness. Duwei's thoughts churned. If this island indeed harbored a dangerous predator, wandering through the jungle was asking for trouble.
As he neared the island's northern edge, something unusual caught his eye—low-hanging trees bearing strange fruit. Intrigued, he hurried closer, plucking two of the large, green orbs. His excitement quickly turned to disappointment when he discovered they were hollow, resembling dried gourds from his former world.
Still, Duwei didn't discard them. He harvested several more, tying them to his makeshift vine belt. If something terrifying comes my way, he mused, I'll plunge into the sea. These hollow gourds might serve as improvised floats.
Finally, he reached the northern tip of the island, where an astonishing sight greeted him.
The forest and beach were cloaked in frost—a thick layer of ice glittering in stark contrast to the temperate surroundings. The frozen area extended in a conspicuous patch, as if an icy storm had passed through, yet the rest of the island remained untouched.
Duwei's heart raced. He knelt, examining the frosted ground, digging through the icy surface until he reached the soil beneath. It was damp and warm—a clear sign the frost had formed suddenly, perhaps through magic.
Turning to the sea, he scanned the horizon. Amidst the dense fog, he thought he glimpsed a large, indistinct shape floating on the water. Its outline was vague, but it appeared substantial, perhaps even massive.
"A ship?" he wondered, hope flickering in his chest.
He shouted and waved his arms, his voice echoing futilely over the waves. Yet, the object didn't respond and seemed to drift farther away.
Squinting, Duwei realized it wasn't a ship after all. Its shape resembled a cone, its true nature obscured by the mist.
Whatever it is, I need to investigate, he resolved.
On this resource-starved island, any discovery might prove life-saving. Without hesitation, Duwei secured the gourds to his waist and waded into the sea. The salty water lapped at his legs as he paddled forward, his movements clumsy and unrefined.
A poor swimmer in his past life, Duwei's dog-paddle strokes were awkward, but he pressed on with determination. Thankfully, the sea was calm. For now, no waves hindered his progress.Duwei gave it his all, grateful for the buoyancy of the large gourds tied to his body. After struggling for what felt like an eternity, he finally reached the enigmatic object floating nearby.
As the waves crashed against him, Duwei found himself stunned by the sight before him, his mouth agape. A sudden splash nearly caused him to choke on seawater.
"D*mn it… no way!"
What lay ahead was not a ship, nor anything remotely useful. It was a small iceberg, adrift on the open sea.
And atop this iceberg lay a person.
The figure was clad in intricate white armor adorned with lace-like patterns, draped in a long white cloak. Their snow-white hair, shimmering like silver, spread out like a frozen halo.
Vivian anxiously awaited Duwei's return as dusk crept closer, her stomach rumbling audibly with hunger. Nestled in her arms were a few roots Duwei had dug up earlier that morning, but she didn't touch them. Instead, she sighed softly, clutching the meager food closer to her chest.
He… he probably hasn't eaten anything either, she thought.
"Chirp! Chirp!"
The tiny creature in the cage at her waist let out a sharp cry. This little fear-mimic demon, aptly named "Chiu-Chiu," seemed to echo its own hunger.
Vivian gently patted the cage and murmured soothingly, "Chiu-Chiu… hush now. I know you're hungry too, but these things… they aren't for eating. We have to wait for him to come back."
Finally, just as Vivian's patience was wearing thin, Duwei appeared on the horizon.
She gasped as she saw him staggering toward her, each step laborious. His back was hunched under a heavy burden, and he seemed moments away from collapsing. As he drew closer, Vivian's eyes widened in disbelief.
Duwei… was carrying a person on his back!
Rubbing her eyes in case she was seeing things, she confirmed it wasn't an illusion. Duwei had indeed returned with someone slung over his shoulders.
"Duwei!" she called out, rushing to him.
Exhausted, Duwei didn't wait for her to reach him. He swayed, stumbled, and collapsed to the ground, the figure on his back tumbling off beside him.
"Water… I need water… My God, I'm utterly spent," Duwei gasped between labored breaths, managing a weary grin. "This one… this one's far heavier than you! Good grief… I'm done for…"
Vivian scrambled to retrieve water, clumsily bringing over a shoe filled with the precious liquid. But Duwei waved her off, pointing to the gourds strapped to his body. She picked one up, surprised by its weight, and shook it slightly, hearing the sloshing sound of water inside.
"I found these on the trees," Duwei explained, his voice hoarse. "They're hollow, perfect for carrying water. On my way back, I stopped by the water hole to fill them. You… you can put your shoe back on now."
Vivian felt a wave of gratitude swell within her. Her tender, bare feet had indeed suffered throughout the day.
"And as for this person I brought back," Duwei continued, taking a few gulps from the gourd before reclining against the ground, utterly drained. "It's up to you whether to save her or not."
With that, he closed his eyes, his breath still uneven.
Vivian turned her attention to the figure beside him. At first, she'd been so focused on Duwei that she hadn't given the stranger a proper look. Now, as she knelt closer, her heart skipped a beat.
A suit of white armor, a flowing white cloak… even the person's hair was white! How had she not noticed?
Vivian's eyes widened as she clasped her hands over her mouth.
Carefully, she knelt by the prone figure, gently rolling the person over. And then she froze, staring in shock.
"Si… sister?!"