Chương 436: Chapter 431 - Ascending byes

Once everyone had arrived on the platform, they followed Fynn as he led them along a rough but manageable path climbing the mountainside. The altitude came with strong winds, but they softened noticeably around and behind Fynn, presumably guided aside by his powers. With Scarlett's pyrokinesis also maintaining a steady warmth, the trek was pleasant compared to the last time they had been here.

As they walked, Scarlett's gaze kept drifting towards the summit of the mountain they were climbing, as well as a neighbouring peak rising even higher in the distance. These were the tallest peaks in the Whitdown range, if she remembered correctly. Grehazant and Haetrach. Grehazant had once been the ancestral seat of the wolf Grehalyr and her descendants among the Grehaldrael. Gale's Fang, in imperial translation. Haetrach translated to Grand Dragon. Much more than that didn't need to be said.

Their ascent continued at a steady pace. In theory, Scarlett could have used the Athame to shorten the journey significantly. In practice, the mana cost rose sharply over long distances, and she had no intention of draining her reserves this early. There was a very real chance she would need every bit of strength she could muster for Fynn's trial. On top of that, opening those fire portals required either a clear line of sight or a strong familiarity with the destination.

Teleporting blindly into jagged cliff faces or narrow ledges didn't sound especially appealing. Also— She didn't like admitting it too much, because the thought felt too… mushy for her tastes, but she did not entirely mind the extra time spent walking with Skyler before they parted ways again. She'd never been overly sentimental in that way, but after believing for so long that she might never see her sister again, she found that she didn't entirely dislike these moments. It was a quiet sort of relief.

There had been a time when she wondered whether that part of her still existed, or whether it ever had. Eventually, they reached a broad plateau where the path split. One route led to a flight of stone steps half-buried in snow, descending into a narrow canyon too steep to see clearly from where they stood. A pair of stone statues guarded the entrance, both wolves frozen mid-howl. Deep cracks ran through their surfaces, and one had lost most of its back half to time and weather.

The last time they had passed through here, Fynn had ignored that path entirely. This time, he stopped. He stared down the steps, his expression unreadable.

"…Fynn," Allyssa said quietly as she came to a halt beside him.

"You okay?" Fynn kept his eyes fixed on the steps. The wind picked up again, tugging at his white hair and carrying a cold breath over the group. Finally, he nodded.

"I am. I was just remembering." Allyssa followed his gaze.

"That is where your home used to be, isn't it?" He nodded again.

"It is." Last time, he hadn't admitted that much. He had brushed it aside like it wasn't important.

"Do you wish to go down there?" Scarlett asked. Fynn shook his head.

"No. Not yet." With that, he turned away. The others exchanged brief looks before following. Skyler and her group, in particular, seemed a bit unsure, like they had wandered into something deeply personal by accident. Rather than continuing upward along the mountainside, Fynn veered in the opposite direction from the stairs towards a sheer cliff edge. Flickers of surprise crossed Skyler and the others, but most of Scarlett's party already knew what was coming. Fynn didn't slow. He reached the edge and jumped.

Snow scattered as he landed several dozen metres below, where there was a narrow gorge carved into the mountainside.

"Ehm…" Kat started, peering over the edge before looking back at Scarlett.

"We don't all have to do that, do we?"

"You are free to if you wish," Scarlett replied.

"Yeah, no thanks." Almost on cue, Skyler stepped forward. She stopped right at the edge, leaning out far enough that Regina visibly tensed. She kicked at the stone a couple of times, testing the footing, then tapped her heel against it before turning back to Scarlett, a spark of something competitive lighting up her expression.

"Afraid of heights?" she asked, almost challenging. Scarlett arched a brow, a mix of amusement and exasperation stirring inside her. It had been a while since she'd last seen that look, but she had a feeling she knew exactly what it meant.

"Skye…" Regina warned. Skyler glanced back over the edge, then over her shoulder at Regina.

"Last to the bottom's a stick-in-the-mud?"

"No, we're not playing that—" Skyler jumped backwards. Regina sighed. Meanwhile, Scarlett had already summoned the Athame, cutting it through the frigid air and stepping through the forming portal in one smooth motion. When Skyler touched down below with what was probably a completely unnecessary mid-air twist—though, admittedly, quite a graceful landing considering the thicker snow—she straightened and grinned towards Fynn, only to freeze when she spotted Scarlett already standing there.

"I suppose that makes you the stick," Scarlett said mildly. Skyler stared at her. Behind Scarlett, Kat and Allyssa emerged from the portal, both failing to hide their laughter. Regina followed, looking slightly embarrassed as she shook her head. Scarlett waited until everyone was through before closing the portal. A patch of bare stone remained where the heat had melted the snow, steam curling briefly into the air. She lifted a hand, sweeping more of the snow away in a broad arc around them.

It piled into soft drifts at the edges, leaving a clear stretch of exposed rock beneath their feet. Unlike the ridge above, this section was sheltered from the wind, and Scarlett had no intention of trudging through snow that reached past her knees. Her gaze shifted to a set of ruins ahead. Broken stone pillars jutted from the snow, remnants of an old Zuverian outpost.

"Come," she said, starting towards them and carving a clear path through the drifts with her hydrokinesis. Soon, she reached a large slab half-buried in frost and packed snow. With a short gesture, she cleared it away, revealing the smooth grey surface of a Kilnstone beneath. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"There truly was one here," Regina murmured thoughtfully as she stepped closer.

"Did the Grehaldrael use this for their travels?"

"No," Fynn replied.

"I didn't know it was here until Scarlett showed it to me."

"So these ruins have simply remained hidden all this time…" Regina and Oveth examined the Kilnstone and the surrounding remains with clear interest. Regina even turned to Scarlett and asked what she knew of the place, and Scarlett saw no reason to lie, sharing what she could. Nearby, Skyler and Briana started preparing for departure, while Melody stood off to the side. Before long, it was time. Scarlett had already gone over the details of Skyler's assignment and their destination.

They had enough supplies to last several months in the Unresting Steppes if it came to that, though the task itself shouldn't take nearly that long. Scarlett found herself paying closer attention to Melody than to anyone else, even though she didn't approach her. She didn't really know what more she could say. While Melody still seemed rattled by the communion with Adtia and confused by the goddess' request, she had at least recovered enough to tell them she was ready to leave.

Scarlett wasn't sure if that was entirely true, but regardless, she suspected Skyler would be better suited to helping her work through all of that going forward. The only unfinished matter between them was Scarlett's promise to look into arranging a meeting with Melody's sister, the Augur. That wasn't something that could be done quickly, though. It would have to wait. As Skyler's group gathered before the Kilnstone, ready to leave, Skyler hesitated. Her eyes flicked to Scarlett.

Something uncertain crossed her expression. She glanced briefly at Regina, as if weighing something, before squaring her shoulders and walking over.

"Can we talk?" she asked.

"Privately. It'll be quick." Scarlett regarded her briefly, then inclined her head.

"Very well." She raised the Athame, opening a fiery portal beside them. Heat tore briefly through the air. Scarlett stepped through and emerged a short distance away in a shallow hollow filled with snow, which she cleared with a quick motion. A few seconds later, Skyler followed, glancing around. Her gaze drifted back towards the others, who were still visible. Even from here, it was obvious that both of their parties were making a very deliberate effort to pretend they weren't watching.

Nol'viz and Carnwedain didn't even bother with the pretence. They stood slightly apart from the rest, openly staring. Skyler's attention lingered on them.

"They're weird," she said.

"I am aware."

"Like. Genuinely weird. Creepy weird."

"Some might describe them as such, yes." She looked back at Scarlett.

"You're still not telling us who they are?"

"If you are curious, I suggest you ask your undead colleague," Scarlett said.

"Given the company you yourself keep, one would think you would know better than to judge people by past affiliations or appearances alone." Skyler pressed her lips together as if she wanted to argue, then let out a breath and shook her head.

"What was it you wanted to speak about?" Scarlett asked. Skyler refocused on her. A faint crease appeared at the corner of her eye.

"I'll just cut straight to the chase. Do we know each other?" Scarlett paused. So that was what this was about.

"It is an odd question," she said.

"Would you not know yourself whether we were acquainted?"

"I can't remember anything about my past," Skyler replied.

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Don't act like you didn't know." Scarlett's expression didn't change. Then a small smile touched her lips. It was restrained, and it probably looked cold, but it was genuine.

"And how is this relevant to what you wish to say?" Skyler watched her closely, a frown forming.

"You're pretending you don't know who I am for some reason, aren't you? But you do know something. About my past."

"That is certainly a curious theory."

"It's not a theory. I—" Skyler stopped. She searched Scarlett's face, then her gaze dropped, and something strained—almost helpless—crept into her voice.

"It's not like we can do anything to you anymore. I just want to know, before we leave…what you know. Why that makes me…important to you. Somehow." It sounded like she had to force the words out. Scarlett's eyes never left her. The breeze moved past both of them.

"You are correct," she said after a while. Skyler looked back up.

"We do have a connection of which you are not aware," Scarlett continued.

"Then what is it—""But do not mistake that for you being important to me," Scarlett cut in, her voice sharpening.

"If there is anyone I wish removed from this world entirely, it is you. Your mere presence here infuriates me, and it is only by the intervention of powers far removed from either of us that I tolerate your continued existence. I suggest that you do not overestimate your importance, and do not allow your ignorance to endanger yourself, Her Highness, or anyone else. That is all I will say."

Skyler's expression shifted, flickering through confusion, anger, and maybe even a trace of something wounded before settling into something tight and unreadable. Scarlett maintained an impassive air. She had barely spoken a lie. It was very close to the truth. For all that part of her was glad to see her sister standing here alive, the simmering anger beneath that—over Skyler being dragged into this world at all—far outweighed it. The difference was simply that Scarlett knew how to keep that anger under control.

Neither of them moved. Finally, Skyler clenched her jaw and nodded once.

"Fine," she said quietly.

"Have it your way." She turned — and vanished. In the distance, Scarlett saw her reappear beside the others. She must have set a Severance Anchor. Scarlett's gaze lingered on her sister's figure and the rest of the group for a while longer before she exhaled softly and stepped back through the portal. Skyler didn't look at her when she returned. The younger woman stood by the Kilnstone, as if completely focused on it.

"Then we will take our leave," Regina said, addressing Scarlett and the others before casting Skyler an uncertain glance.

"Baroness, I hope we will see each other again soon."

"I wish you and your companions the best of luck, Your Highness," Scarlett replied, all sharpness gone from her tone. The rest of her group—aside from Nol'viz, Carnwedain, and Slate—offered their goodbyes. Oveth stepped forward and placed his hand on the Kilnstone. Scarlett exchanged one final look with Melody and gave her a brief nod before glancing towards Skyler, who continued to ignore her. The Kilnstone's reflective grey surface darkened, swallowing the surrounding light.

A moment later, Skyler and the others vanished. No one spoke. Then Rosa stretched with an exaggerated groan.

"Well. That's the competition gone and dealt with. No more tiptoeing around, wondering when we're about to be replaced. I say hear, hear." Scarlett shot her a look. Rosa grinned.

"What? Don't tell me the thought never crossed your mind. I bet you'd replace me with that suave knightly lady in a heartbeat if I hadn't made my many talents completely indispensable by now."

"Sometimes, I do dream," Scarlett said.

"Hah! I knew it!" Scarlett opened another fiery portal, leading back towards the ridge they'd come from.

"Come. Let us not waste any more time." They still had a significant stretch of mountain left to climb. From there, the path grew noticeably rougher, and at one point Rosa pulled out her klert to weave a simple charm that bolstered their stamina and helped them keep up the pace. Some time into the ascent, Fynn—who had been leading—slowed slightly until he was walking beside Scarlett. He cast her a quiet, curious look. Scarlett met it.

"Is there something you wish to say?" He watched her for a moment, clearly weighing his words, before finally speaking.

"I heard you talking to Skye earlier. You told her she wasn't important." His brow creased faintly.

"You lied. Why?" Scarlett regarded him, somewhat surprised. So he had heard that, had he? She supposed that alone wasn't unexpected, but she wouldn't have thought it would linger with him long enough for him to ask. Usually, Fynn didn't pry into her motives at all. She glanced at the others, who were close enough that they might have caught pieces of the exchange.

"I am afraid I will not answer that question this time, Fynn," she eventually said, turning her attention forward again.

"And for a simple reason. It is very personal." That earned a gleam of surprise from Allyssa, at least, and maybe others as well — Scarlett didn't bother to check. For all the secrets she had kept from them over time, this was likely the first she had openly refused to share for this specific reason. Perhaps she would share these things one day. But not now. Even setting aside the presence of two Cabal members, she wasn't too keen on unpacking that part of her past with so many people around. Fynn didn't press her.

He soon moved ahead again, reclaiming the lead as their climb continued. Their pace held well, especially compared to their last climb, but it still took another two hours before the path finally levelled out. They emerged onto a broad terrace of finely cut stone set into a massive overhang, a sheer drop yawning just beyond its edge.

The floor was etched with clear markings, and carved into the mountainside were impressively lifelike reliefs of towering wolves — some howling into a storm, others standing guard before a gathered people. This was where they had started Fynn's first trial. He did not stop. Fynn continued along the mountainside, following a narrower ascent that climbed even higher.

At this point, it was barely a path at all—more a scramble—forcing Scarlett to use both her hands and her [Garment of Form] to navigate some of the more treacherous stretches. Eventually, they emerged onto what looked like an unremarkable outcropping overlooking the Whitdown range, with the terrace of the first trial visible far below. When Fynn raised his hand, however, the [Mark of the Gale] on his finger flared to life. Wind surged around them, whispering in countless overlapping voices.

The rock face before them shifted, stone drawing back to reveal a hidden entrance carved with the same markings as below and reliefs that looked shaped by wind and time. Scarlett observed it, and a mildly amused thought stirred. The plan was to complete both Fynn's second trial and his third on this trip. The third would be the true test. The second should honestly be trivial. So she idly wondered whether blasting through the second trial like this could be considered a speedrun.