Ardyn Sylros pulled the reins sharply, the wagon creaking to a sudden halt at the base of the towering mountain.
The team dismounted swiftly, their boots crunching against the rocky terrain. Unlike the previous time, Ardyn didn't suggest a break.
Instead, his eyes were fixed on the mountain ahead, calculating the path they would need to take, then he reached for the supplies and began preparing the tools.
With a groan, the old swordsman stretched his back, his joints crackling like dried wood.
Ferik stepped forward to lend a hand to Ardyn, but unexpectedly, Elijah walked up to them.
As Elijah approached the pair, his gaze flicking between them and the looming cliff face.
"Why don't you guys let me handle that?" He gestured at the rope bundle strapped to Ardyn's pack.
Ardyn and Ferik exchanged curious glances,"Sure!" they said in unison.
Firstly, Elijah made sure the rope was tied securely to Taelia's waist, he even did it himself to avoid any mistakes.
Taelia complained, but Elijah insisted it was the best way to scale the mountain, ofcourse he meant the best way for himself.
Verayth approached scketically. "Will this rope really help us climb faster?".
Elijah raised his head.
"Not sure about that, but incase one of us slips, they won't fall since the rest of the team will be carrying their weight, not to mention, the top climber will use this...
Elijah lifted a piton.
..." Ardyn over here will hammer this in secure positions, once secure, he will thread the rope through it, and then the last person... Taelia ofcourse, will remove them as we climb".
After the short explanation, Verayth nodded and the team began to prepare to ascend the mountain.
Taelia's eyes narrowed, she wondered why the others only needed to hook the rope to their waist, but she had it tied all round, it was almost like Elijah was sure she would fall.
...
The climb began with Ardyn leading, his movements deliberate as he hammered pitons into cracks along the rock face.
The metallic clang of his hammer echoed through the mountainside. Once each piton was secure, he threaded the rope through a carabiner and tugged it sharply to test its hold.
Behind him, Ferik carried the second set of pitons and carabiners, watching Ardyn's progress closely.
Elijah followed, his keen eyes scanning for the next handhold. When Ardyn reached the first natural ledge, he secured a stable anchor using multiple pitons and tied off the rope.
"Anchor secure!" he called down, his voice steady despite the biting wind.
Ferik and the others began to ascend, their movements swift but careful, removing the pitons as he climbed.
Elijah waited his turn, testing the tension of the rope before scaling the face with a steady pace.
As they repeated the process, the mountain seemed to rise endlessly before them, but it wasn't tall enough to intimidate the team.
At one particularly challenging pitch, Elijah took the lead. With a deft hand, he hammered pitons into the granite.
At last, they reached a narrow plateau, a temporary respite before the final push to the summit. The team paused to catch their breath, their faces flushed with effort.
"Not bad," Ardyn muttered, glancing at Elijah. "You're better at this than I expected."
Elijah smirked, brushing a layer of dust from his gloves. "Making a deal with the Demon will always be more profitable than making one with the Devil".
Ardyn's face froze for a moment, but Elijah was pretty notorious for saying crazy things, so he just chuckled and led the final climb.
The team made it to the top, their bodies arching from the strain, their breath came in shallow puffs.
Verayth tugged at the rope, pulling Taelia to the summit. With Taelia's ascent, the whole team officially made it to the top of the mountain.
Elijah didn't want to waste anytime, so he found a strong tree and tied the rope to it, the team will begin their decent after a short break.
The climb down was always trickier than going up, a fact Ardyn reminded the team as they prepared to descend.
Ardyn took the lead again, his movements deliberate as he tested the rope's tension with a few sharp tugs.
"Remember, keep the pace steady and your footing secure. One misstep and..." He trailed off, his gaze flickering to the steep drop below.
Taelia adjusting the rope tied snugly around her waist. Her annoyance was evident, but her eyes betrayed a hint of nervousness.
Elijah stood behind her, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Don't worry Taelia. If you fall, the rest of us will catch you... Probably."
Taelia shot Elijah a glare. She did not find his little joke funny, but Ferik on the other hand, was impressed for reasons she couldn't fathom.
"Great pep talk Boss". Ferik Aelar said.
Elijah was stupefied. "when did I become his Boss".
Ovarth rolled his eyes. While the swordsman flexed his fingers, gripping his climbing gloves tightly. "Let's just get this over with."
One by one, the team began their descent. Ardyn moved steadily. But the metallic clink of his tools echoed faintly, swallowed by the wind's howl.
Elijah stayed in the middle, his movements stiff but calculated, He would glance upward occasionally, checking on Verayth, who descended carefully with Taelia just above her.
"You're slowing us down Taelia, do you need the Lieutenant to hold your hand?". Elijah asked, his voice, attempting to lighten the mood.
"Keep talking Elijah and I'll make sure you fall first," Taelia shot back, her voice sharper than the wind. She tightened her grip on the rope and focused on her footing.
The team laughed out the tensed energy. Halfway down, a gust of wind nearly threw Verayth off balance. She slipped slightly, but the rope held.
When they finally reached the base, the team collapsed onto solid ground, their breaths ragged and relieved.
Ardyn wiped a sheen of sweat from his brow, his gaze scanning the group. "Well, no one fell to their doom. I'll call that a success."
Taelia untied the rope around her waist with a huff. "Next time, someone else gets the special treatment."