The cold was harsh, even during the day. As far as the eye could see, everything was covered in snow. It blanketed every rock and every part of the land. There were no signs of life—no animals, no trees, nothing.
Edward walked through the thick snow, moving slowly, his legs sinking with each step. He muttered to himself, "Ugh, I'm so hungry." The snow reached up to his calves, making it even harder to move. Suddenly, he felt something hard under his foot.
Curious, he bent down and brushed away the snow, revealing a large chunk of meat. It looked like it had been ripped from some creature, with bones sticking out from one side. Edward sniffed it cautiously. "Sniff, sniff." His face twisted in disgust, and he quickly covered his nose. "Ew, it smells terrible!"
His stomach growled loudly, "Gurggggle," reminding him of how hungry he was. He stared at the meat, unsure what to do. Could this be monster meat? Or maybe it's rotten… He remembered what Mr. Delver had once told him:
"Monster meat is filled with mana. Soldiers collect it to make magic tools, but eating it is dangerous. The high mana and impurities will poison you."
Edward frowned, his stomach growling again. He didn't want to risk it, but hunger was making him desperate. "Maybe if I just try a tiny piece…" he said to himself. Slowly, he brought the meat to his mouth and bit off a small piece.
The moment he chewed it, his face turned pale. He spat it out and threw the meat far away, coughing and gagging. "It tastes like rotten eggs mixed with bugs!" He fell to his knees, vomiting in the snow. Even just looking at the meat made him gag again.
He collapsed on his back, groaning. "I shouldn't have done that," he muttered, staring up at the gray sky. Lying there, he started to think about how he ended up in this terrible situation.
After leaving the slums, Edward had checked his map. The slums were surrounded by mountains, with only one open path leading to the Skyward Peaks or the ocean. He had no clear destination in mind, so he decided to head for the Skyward Peaks. However, to reach them, he would have to circle around the Glacial Expanse mountains and travel across the plains—a journey that would take at least five days.
"Why not just climb the mountain instead?" Edward had thought to himself. "It's a much shorter route. It'll only take three days at most." He had considered the risks but dismissed them quickly. "Commoners go around the mountains because they can't handle the cold. But nobles and even rookie soldiers live here just fine. I'll manage."
With that, Edward started his climb. At first, the cold wasn't too bad. The real problem was hunger. He had only packed enough food for one day and didn't refill before starting the climb. Worse, the mountains had no proper paths, and Edward, with no experience in navigating such terrain, quickly lost his way.
Five days passed. The snow-covered peaks stretched endlessly around him, and his body felt weak from hunger and exhaustion. "I'd do anything for food right now," he thought, lying in the snow. But he refused to give up. "I have to keep moving. Sitting here won't help."
With great effort, Edward got back on his feet and began walking again. As night fell, the cold grew sharper, and his legs felt heavier with each step. Finally, he collapsed face-first into the snow.
"Ahh… I was so stupid to think I could handle this just because I learned mana cultivation," Edward thought, barely conscious. His vision blurred as he turned his head, spotting a bright light in the distance. Hope flickered in his chest. "Help me…" he whispered weakly.
He tried again, louder this time. "Help me!" Summoning every last bit of strength, he shouted with all his might, "HELP ME!" before everything went black.
Edward woke up feeling warmth against his skin and the faint smell of food in the air. "Sniff, sniff." His eyes fluttered open, and he realized he was lying in a bed made of animal skins. Looking around, he saw he was inside a tent supported by wooden poles.
Drawn by the delicious aroma, Edward stepped outside. There were several other tents scattered around, each made of thick materials to block out the cold. Near a fire, a man was cooking, surrounded by three others warming themselves by the flames. One tent stood out from the rest—it was larger and looked far more important.
"Oh, you're awake," a voice called out. Edward turned and saw a man approaching him, wrapped in thick furs. But Edward barely registered him, his eyes glued to the food being cooked nearby.
The man chuckled. "We found you in the snow after you called for help. You're lucky. We don't usually pass through that area at night. You'd have been buried under the snow by morning."
Edward simply nodded, his gaze still locked on the food. The man laughed again. "Alright, let's get you something to eat first." He gestured toward the cook. Edward followed, his stomach growling loudly.
Sitting by the fire, Edward grabbed the bowl handed to him and started eating quickly. The warmth of the food spread through his body, reviving his strength. As he finished, he asked, "Can I get some more?"
The man who had spoken to him earlier laughed loudly. "Looks like you're feeling better already! Hey, Igor, give him another serving."
The cook, Igor, nodded, refilling Edward's bowl. The man introduced himself with a grin. "I'm James. And you?"
"Edward," he replied, between bites.
"So, Edward," James asked, leaning closer, "what were you doing all the way out here? You're not a noble of Glacial Expanse, and you don't look like a soldier on the run."
"I was trying to get to Skyward Peak," Edward said, his voice quiet.
James raised an eyebrow. "Skyward Peak? The best way to get there is down the mountain, not up it."
"I know," Edward admitted, lowering his head. "I thought I could take a shortcut by crossing the mountain."
James burst into laughter. "A shortcut? Through the mountain? Kid, you've got guts, but that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!" He slapped his knee, still laughing. "No one crosses these mountains unless they're soldiers or nobles. And even if you did, you'd still have to deal with the dangers between here and Skyward Peak. The long way is actually shorter!"
Edward sighed, feeling embarrassed. "Thanks for saving me," he muttered, then added, "But what are you doing here?"
"We're part of a merchant group," James explained. "We supply the viscount's house every week."
As they talked, a man stepped out of the large tent and approached Edward. "The boss wants to see you," he said.
Edward nodded, glancing at James, who smiled. "Better not keep him waiting," James said.
Edward stood up and walked into the big tent. Inside, it was warm and surprisingly luxurious. Torches lined the walls, providing light and heat. Sitting on a comfortable bed was a man dressed in fine clothes. His appearance screamed wealth and authority.
"How are you feeling?" the man asked, his voice calm.
Edward bowed slightly. "I feel much better after the meal. Thank you for saving me."
"I'm Ryker Sterling, the leader of Nexus Merchant Group," the man introduced himself.
"I'm Edward," Edward replied.
Ryker's eyes narrowed slightly. "Tell me, Edward, where are you from? Which noble house do you belong to?"
Edward gave a weak smile. "I'm from the Glacial Expanse… a commoner from the slums."
Ryker leaned forward, his tone sharp. "Then how do you know about mana?"
Edward froze, his mind racing. How did he figure it out? His worried expression gave him away.