Chapter 130: Past the Summit Untouched

Chapter 130: Past the Summit Untouched

Chapter 130

Past the Summit Untouched

They moved slowly, their pace strikingly decrepit. For every ten minutes that they walked, they spent hours huddled in a shelter waiting for the weather to get better--namely for the wind to slow down to the barely not blown off the side of the mountain speed. Still, though snail-like, the progress was there--even if it wasnt particularly evident. After all, day and night, all they could see was the white of the snow and the perpetual blizzard that blocked their sight.

Each step had to be taken with care, more so now than ever before, and though the frustrations mounted, they persevered. Sylas was mostly shocked with Agnes; he himself was virtually numb to the aspect of boredom, having lived effectively two weeks for a lifetime, and many more years spent doing little to nothing, but she was different. And yet, though it was clear that she was getting angrier and angrier by the day, she was yet to give up.

Noticing the wind picking up again, he hurried her forward and luckily found a partial shelter, though he realized immediately theyd have to use the talisman since the protection wasnt the greatest. They only had two remaining, but, at the same time, had no other choice.

With the fire started and the tea brewing and the talisman activated, the two huddled next to one another beneath all their blankets, barely maintaining a decent temperature even with all of that. It was a sordid experience of camping, and Sylas was ever-more-certain of his choice to be an indoor cat back on Earth, all things considered.

... you seem feverish, he suddenly said. Agnes usual pale cheeks had reddened and her eyes seemed hazy, as though a mist swirled in them.

Im not, she replied.

Wow, a great retort.

Shut up. Im not in the mood.

You cant die on me now, he said. Id be very uncomfortable hugging a corpse.

Ah, well, if you would be uncomfortable. Wouldnt want you to be uncomfortable.

You seem irate.

Of course I am! she exclaimed, glancing up at him. Arent you?! For heavens sake, weve been traveling for days barely making any progress! Not to mention that even when we do walk, it feels as though were just moving in place.

At least the companys good, though. Right? he replied with a grin.

... haaah, yes, yes, the companys great, she sighed, smiling still as well. Honestly, that dumb, hapless optimism of yours that seems entirely incapable of dying is infectious. Who else, while being sane, could possibly continue smiling in our circumstances?

Ah, Sylas sighed. Its cute of you to assume either one of us is sane.

Yeah, knew that was coming the moment I uttered those words, she chuckled. Youre getting predictable.

No, no, youre just further assimilating into the cult of assholery.

Doesnt sound good.

You really do think so little of me that you believe Id fault you for getting sick? he asked.

... no, Im sorry, she replied, sighing and nesting her head into her knees. I... Im just so weak. I never realized just how weak I am before.

Weak? Sylas scoffed. Are you out of your fucking mind?

W-what?

Look at where we are, he said. You think theres more than ten people in the entire Kingdom that could be here too? Hell no.

The only reason Im here is because of you, she said.

So? Most people would have checked out weeks ago, with me or without, he said. Fuck, sometimes youre more depressing than me. Its like were swapping our mindsets over time.

No, no, youre still the cynical, depressive asshole who hates the world, she said. I just like to think that sometimes, me being around lights you up and reminds you of the good old days!

Pfft, ha ha ha, I suppose so, he laughed freely for a moment as she unburrowed her head from the knees and leaned it against his chest.

Ill take a quick nap, then. I could use some rest.

Nap away. Want me to sing you a lullaby?

If you could?

...

Doesnt feel good when I dont buy your bullshit, eh?

Khm, Sylas coughed for a moment before suddenly bursting into a song. Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are! Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky. When the blazing sun is gone, When he nothing shines upon, Then you show your little light, Twinkle, twinkle, all the night--hey, hey, you werent supposed to laugh!! You were supposed to be falling asleep!

Ha ha ha ha, sorry, oh my Gods that was--ha ha ha ha...

After a full days rest, the two finally resumed their journey, once again moving slowly and sporadically, when the harsh and biting winds would let them. Days passed as such, though the mood never got as sour as before.

Almost ten days later, and over two months into their climb, a change finally happened--the winds... slowed down. For the first time in weeks, they slowed down. Both Agnes and Sylas noticed specifically because they were so used to the wind speed that they traveled within. Seeing it as a sign of the good things to come, the two of them began to climb faster and harder, and it grew easier and easier with each climbed yard.

It was as though they were descending, with the weather slowly clearing up and the temperatures rising and even the amount of snowfall decreasing. Two and a half months into their journey... they reached the mountains summit.

It was wide and spacious and laced in frosted surfaces that reflected the brightly-shining sun above. Glacial spikes numerated the edges like fingers of a claw, and the round clearing was like a giant throne room for the wind, though lacking the distinct feature of the throne room-- a throne. The two stayed for a moment to rest and admire the vista that no other human eye had likely seen before moving forward, toward the other side.

They expected the other side of the mountain to be relatively the same, which was what made the shock of discovery all that greater--for the view from the mountain was crystal clear and beautiful. Most importantly, however, they saw a sight that shouldn't be possible--tucked and nestled between an endless row of mountains on all ends was an emerald-dyed lake, surrounded by a beautiful canopy of purple-dyed treetops and, most strikingly, what looked to be several stone-cast, human-made structures.