Flying high in the sky, higher than the blizzard, a large golden winged-wolf soared. Occasionally, she flapped her wings, keeping her in the air as she stared at the vast expanse of swirling ice and snow below her.
'Glad I'm not down there.' Rhydian thought. 'It's too cold, and most of the weaker beasts have gone into hiding. It's not fun anymore.' Her body might be icing over, flying so high, but there are no obstacles in her way. She could traverse this continent at her leisure.
'Oh? Prey!' She saw a big white bird burst through the layer of clouds and screech out in joy. However, Rhydian swooped in and grabbed it by the neck, snapping it.
The beast's final look was one of despair and confusion. Just as it was freed from that hell, it was immediately killed! What kind of dogshit luck was that?! Unfortunately, it was too dead to receive an answer.
Rhydian munched on her new snack, uncaring for its feelings, as she rose higher in the sky again.
'Now, this is the life. Free flying, easy hunting, and no unreasonable orders.'
It might be a bit cold, but who was she? The Queen of the skies! How could something like this stop her?!
'But speaking of orders, I wonder where Mira is?' She thought but chose not to focus on their connection. The possibility was slim, but Mira might detect something and call for her. If that happened, she'd lose all her freedom!
'...Better just to leave her alone, ' she thought, shaking her head, munching on the last bits of her snack.
However, as she was looking down, she started to notice the peculiarities of the blizzard. Inside, it was hard to tell what was going on, as it was just icy and windy with no visibility, but above it, things were different.
The clouds on the outside of the Continent seemed to spiral, rotating around the land. A bit more inward, they were more chaotic, going every which way and constantly changing. Further inland, they swirled the opposite way as the outer layer. Lastly, the biggest area in the middle of it all seemed random, or rather, she could tell what was going on underneath from where she was.
'I wonder if there's any meaning to these different sections.' Rhydian thought, her instinct telling her no, that this was just how things ended up. 'Makes sense. None of these layers are better or worse than one another, just different.'
For example, the winds around the edges were the absolute worst, but it wasn't quite as cold as the center.
'But I'm kind of curious about what's in the center.' She abruptly changed courses, heading straight for the middle of the continent. 'Maybe I'll be able to get some treasures before Mira's greedy hands can snatch them!'
The thought made her eyes shine like stars. For someone like her, being in a group with Mira and Elenei was the worst, as those two always picked out the good stuff. Now, it was her turn!
***
While Rhydian's journey was mostly unimpeded, there was someone who was experiencing the exact opposite.
In a city called Sylphidia, not far away from the Celestial Springs Resort, the place was bustling. Normally, it was just an average city meant for travelers who didn't have the money or status to stay at the resort, but during the blizzard, it was packed full of people who dared not venture out.
The city, with its cobblestone streets and quaint lantern-lit alleys, offered a humble yet charming alternative.
However, Sylphidia was more than just a stopover for budget-conscious travelers. It was a city steeped in history and magic. The ancestors of Sylphidia were said to have been guided by the sylphs, which inspired the city's name.
The architecture of Sylphidia reflected this, with spiraling towers and buildings. The city's centerpiece was the Aerolith Plaza, a grand square where a massive, ancient stone stood, rumored to be a relic left by the sylphs themselves. It was said that during certain celestial alignments, the stone would emanate a gentle, harmonious tone, imbuing those nearby with a sense of peace and clarity.
Just like it was doing now.
For Sylphidia, the blizzard brought many boons to the city. Inns and taverns were brimming with guests, and the local marketplaces saw a surge in trade as stranded travelers sought warmth and provisions.
Linnea curled her finger, signaling them to lean in closer before she whispered. "Do you know of... any natural treasures that can help fix a broken dantian?"
"..." The group recoiled a bit, not expecting a question like that before their expressions became contemplative.
"What's your budget?" Another one of the men asked.
"Free."
"...Huh?"
Linnea chuckled at their confused faces, shaking her head. "Fufu~ Just kidding~ However, it's true that I'm not looking to pay. If possible, I'd like to find an opportunity out in the blizzard."
"The blizzard?!"
"You?"
"Why?"
"That's way too dangerous!"
Linnea was a bit taken aback by their reactions, but she quickly calmed herself and replied, "Don't you know how expensive products that can fix a broken dantian are? Not to mention, hardly any alchemist would create something like that to begin with. The demand is simply too low. That's not even considering the fact that I'm a mortal woman.
Even if I had all the ingredients, money, and connections, it's still not guaranteed they'd make it for me."
They thought about it for a moment and nodded.
"That... makes sense."
"I'm sorry, but I don't know any treasures like that."
"Me neither."
Linnea shrugged, tucking a strand of her silver hair behind her wolf ear. "Well, if you four could help me ask around, I'll buy you all a round of beer."
"Make it five, and you gotta deal!"
"Fufu~ Alright~"
One of the men, a spry youth with short brown hair, smacked his chest. "Leave it to me!" Then he ran off.
The remaining three exchanged looks before nodding and dashing off.
'Looks like I still got it.' Linnea chuckled to herself. Although it was a bit shameful to leverage her looks for cheap information, she wasn't in a position to care about such things. As long as she could regain her strength and be with her daughter, nothing else mattered.
A few seconds later, a mug was placed in front of her, "Your Mystic Malt!"
Linnea thanked the young woman, who had already run off and took a sip, waiting for her little errand boys to return.