Chapter 127: Buried in the Mountains

Chapter 127: Buried in the Mountains

Chapter 127

Buried in the Mountains

Yeah, this was a shit idea, Sylas mumbled and closed his eyes. Soon after, darkness descended and the boiling burn won.

You have died.

Save point Death has been initialized.

AAAAGGHHHHH!!!

Sylas was looming over a table--specifically, a leather map laid out on the said table, his eyes laser-focused on the rugged and mountainous west. There were no indications of any traversable path anywhere, and instead even a warning that effectively forbade any movement west outside of first ripping south out of the massive valley that the castle inhabited.

Taking a sip of wine, he sat down and sighed. He wasnt even certain how far up Agnes and he were able to climb. Some two weeks into their journey, they were hit by a massive blizzard and effectively buried. She was the first to go--rather quickly, actually, within a few hours. On the other hand, he managed to survive a few extra days before finally succumbing. It wasnt a pleasant way to go and he didnt want to go through it again.

Doors to the room suddenly opened whereupon Ryne and Valen walked in, the former pushing the latter with the Prince giving her precise instructions. Sylas paused, somewhat gobsmacked as he had never seen this before. It wasnt strange; its been years since he interacted with them deeply within the loop.

Oh. Didnt know you were here, Valen exclaimed. Whats wrong?

Nothing, Sylas said. What about you two? Whats going on?

Oh, this? both Ryne and he chuckled. We both got tired of being pitied, Ryne said as Valen directed her to sit down. And figured wed band together against the voices.

"You look cute," Sylas smiled gently at Ryne's blushed cheeks and Valen's faint smile. "And smart. Guys."

Hm?

I want to apologize, he added. Ive been... distant. I know it sounds strange and confusing, but I had to get it off my chest.

Well, if you had to get it off, Ryne said. Why are you here, anyway?

Observing the map. Ah! Sylas suddenly exclaimed. Ryne, are there any talismans that help against, like, the cold? I dont mind mild winter--I mean biting, burning, deathly cold?

Uh... sure? I think? Ryne replied. Why? Even if its a Cold Snap, the castle does decently enough in protecting while the clothes take care of the rest.

Its not for that. Anyway, Ill need you for a few hours tomorrow to make some, he said. If you arent otherwise occupied, I mean.

No, no, Im not! Uh, sure. We can make some, she said, smiling.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

What do you need them for? Valen asked.

"Oh, I'm trying to break into the west," Sylas replied.

... but why? Valen asked with an incredulous expression.

WHAT THE HELL?!!! SYLAS, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!!! Valen jumped, though immediately fell--his body betraying his intentions. While the blood continued to gush and spray and while Ryne began to cry out in panic, unaware of what was going on, Sylas stood up and walked over to Valen who was crawling on the floor. He crouched and helped the Prince stand, holding him steadily while the blood continued to dye his body red. In the meantime, Valen grew silent.

He watched in horror as the blood continue to pool... and yet the man in front of him remained standing, even smiling. Even Ryne eventually succumbed to the silence. It was heavy. Permanent. Disarming. Minutes later... the blood stopped. The wound was closed. And he was alive. Fine. Dyed scarlet... but fine.

See? Sylas said, helping Valen to the wheelchair. Ill be fine.

W-wha--how---wha...

Gods loathe me, Valen, Sylas said, sitting down and gulping down wine as his throat was beyond parched. And they wont let me die.

"What... what happened?" Ryne asked. She felt something slippery beneath her feet but dared not make a guess.

N-nothing, Valen replied, swallowing a mouthful. So... youre going.

Im going, he said. The reason why Im asking for the talismans is for my wife.

WHO THE HELL IS YOUR WIFE?!!

"And there she is," Sylas cracked a smile while both Valen and Ryne cried out in shock and horror when they saw a figure blur through a window. She landed and immediately began staring daggers at Sylas. Valen found himself speechless at the sight--the woman was... breathtaking. But it wasn't the kind of beauty that floored a man and made him entranced. It was the kind of beauty that made a man feel strange, as though she were unreal, a ghost of something abstract. "The apple of me' eye. Welcome home, honey."

I swear, a thousand painful hives arent enough for you! Agnes cursed out, sitting down. I thought you were done with the whole wife shenanigans.

Why would I be? Sylas said, taking a bite of an apple. I only recently got to hold you tightly in my arms. Were making progress.

... I just may loathe you more than the Gods themselves, Agnes said with a sigh.

Wow, thats a tall order. I dont think even you can go so far.

Do you really think talismans will help? she asked, pouring herself a cup as well, but only taking a sip before recalling that the castles wine was awful.

I dont know, he shrugged. Im hopin and prayin. We do need something, though. Watching you shrivel up and die like that... yea, not gonna lie, it hurt. Otherwise, youll just have to stay behind with these goofballs.

Itll work, she said. It has to.

While your obsession with sticking with me is cute and adorable and Im really glad we had a breakthrough in our relationship, he said while she grunted. You were the one who repeatedly criticized my banging the head against the wall approach.

... it will work, she repeated. So, this discussion is pointless.

Okay, I am so utterly, completely, unfathomably lost, Valen said, glancing between the pool of blood on the floor, completely fine Sylas, and the utterly confusing and breathtaking newcomer. It felt as though his entire world was flipped upside down and everything he knew turned out to be a lie in the span of five minutes.

Treasure the feeling, Sylas said. Its the happiest a man can ever truly be.

I echo that, Agnes added. Before meeting your friend over here, I thought men heroic and brave and courtly. Now I think you jaded, bitter, and corrupt. Sylas grinned and she grinned back mockingly, though his grin, for a brief moment, turned into a candid smile. A memory lingered, both harrowing and heart-cracking. At least he knew his heart wasnt a frosted rock no longer. It still beat.