Chapter 216 - VERONICA'S HIDEOUT

The freezing wind felt like cutting their face.

Everyone covered their faces and kept their eyes open.

However, the cold wind touched their skins and made them numb.

Veronica slightly shivered. Although she was wearing warm clothes, she felt cold.

'I guess living in a warm place made my body lazy. Before, I would wrap only a shawl around my body to visit this place and I almost felt nothing. If I tell Arthur that, I think he will freak out.'

She giggled as she thought about it.

"What's so funny?" Zinnia asked.

Veronica replied, "I was thinking what Arthur would do if he were to see my past self in the mountains."

"Why was it funny?"

Zinnia heard her and asked from behind. She wanted to talk and distract herself.

"Because I never wore this kind of warm clothes to come here before," Veronica confessed.

Zinnia replied without hesitation, "Arthur will lose his mind if he sees you like that."

Veronica giggled. "Right? I was thinking that would be the case too."

The girls kept chatting and the boys got tired of their silly gossip.

Nonetheless, no one tried to stop them since it was better than staying silent in the cold place.

They started their journey at dawn. They ended up in the cave in the afternoon.

"Finally! Ahahaha! We have come to our destination. I thought I was going to die. Haha!"

Darius was in absolute bliss.

Veronica put down her bag like the rest of them and walked inside.

Arthur grabbed her arm. "Nica, be careful. There might be some bandits or animals."

Veronica patted the arm that was holding her.

She assured him by saying, "Don't worry too much. No animals will come here leaving all the caves out there."

Darius was startled. He turned toward her, "What? There are other caves?"

Veronica readily nodded. "Yes, we have passed a few."

Ironin muttered, "I noticed a few of them on the way."

Darius thought that they all went crazy. "Then why didn't you say so? Why are we stopping here?"

Veronica cocked her head. "Why? It's because this is my personal hideout."

"Huh?!" Darius was speechless.

Veronica confessed, "I came here often before I met Arthur."

Darius looked at Arthur. "Didn't you say she never left the temple until she was eighteen?"

Veronica stated, "Arthur didn't lie. This area is under the temple. Can't you feel the air? It's so fresh."

Arthur and others sniffed and realized what she said was true.

The wind carried the scent of snow and a fresh smell. They even felt warmer.

Veronica was pleased with their reaction.

"This is one of the best caves in the mountains. I've kept this place clean. It's a secret hideout even from an animal. Make yourself at home. I'll get some wood."

"Wood? For fire? I'll help you." Darius followed her.

They went deep into the cave and found some woods, some broken pots, a jar of ice, and some frozen vegetables.

"Did you save water here in case of an emergency? That's brilliant!" Darius was thoroughly impressed.

"Thank you. Yes, I kept water here and whenever I needed to drink, all I had to do was to warm it up."

Darius pointed at the vegetables. "What about these vegetables? Are these edibles?"

"They look fresh. We won't know unless we try eating them. More importantly, they are the vegetables I grew secretly, breaking the rules."

"This is amazing. I never thought you could grow vegetables."

"My fellow brothers and sisters grew vegetables. I learned from them. I would ask for seeds from the cook. He would save some for me. Then, I would grow vegetables in a corner.

"Let's take them all."

Darius helped her carry the heavy objects.

Later, they set out a fire and started cooking.

Darius chugged down a mouth of alcohol and let out a satisfactory sigh.

"Ahh… now this is what I needed. Just a tiny bit of a problem. If there was some meat…"

Zinnia commented, "We can always hunt."

Darius agreed, "That's a good idea. It's already getting dark outside. Let's go tomorrow."

"Cold weather gives strength, but the excessive cold makes you sleepy and lazy." Zinnia yawned and stretched her arms.

Darius opened his mouth and yawned. "We should probably fall asleep."

"What's your plan for tomorrow?" Arthur asked his wife.

Veronica was dozing off as she felt warmth close to the fire.

She opened her eyes and looked at them with groggy eyes.

"I'll start my journey in the morning. You guys can stay here."

Arthur said, "Let us follow you until we can."

Veronica smiled. "I can't let you do that and you know it."

Ironin commented, "Just let her do what she wants. She knows this area more than we do."

Arthur pondered for a while and then gave up. "Fine, do whatever you want."

Veronica's face beamed. "Thank you! You are the best."

She hugged his neck and pecked on his cheek.

Later, Arthur noticed that she was tired and made a bed for them.

He made the bed close to the fire so that she felt warm.

Without a word, Veronica lied down and closed her eyes. Before she blinked, she fell asleep.

Darius commented, "Man, she looks hella tired. I thought she was a mountain girl."

Arthur defended his wife, 'It's been a while since she has had that kind of adventure. Moreover, she is mentally exhausted after that mass murder incident."

"All right, lover boy.  We all understand. You don't have to say anymore," Darius teased.

Arthur looked around but couldn't find what he was looking for. He asked others, "Where is Ironin?"

Zinnia replied, "I noticed him going out."

Arthur went out. The night had come. The darkness fell over but the white mountain range illuminated a slight hue.

Arthur looked around but couldn't find Ironin.

Thinking of something, he turned around and raised his head.

Ironin was sitting above the cave, on the snow.

Arthur followed his trail and sat beside him.

"Can we talk?"

Ironin nodded.

Arthur inquired, "Why did you support her? What if something happens to her?"

Ironin answered, "I was thinking. A girl, who grew up in the temple, could be a good nun. But she was more into climbing mountains than do her duty to the temple."

"When I saw her guiding us today, I saw her happy expression." He turned to Arthur. "Do you think she is happy with us, in the tower, always protected?"

Arthur furrowed his eyebrow.

"Are you saying we are keeping her in a cage? What I'm doing is protect her."

Ironin agreed.

"I know. I think she knows that too. But is this what she truly wants? I know she is shaken by incident after incident. It must be hard for her."

"Even so, I don't think she likes it. Why don't you teach her self-defense and teach her the way of life?"

"Oh well, even if you don't do it, she will learn herself. You did see how she managed without Felix and Darius's help."

Arthur lowered his head.

"I know what you are saying. I'd hate to let her be a caged bird if she wanted to be a free bird.

"But, I'm so worried. This is the first time I have had someone I treasure more than myself. I just don't know what I will do if she is gone."

"You are confessing to the wrong person." Ironin was blunt.

"I'll talk to her when the time is right," Arthur promised. 

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The next day, Darius went hunting with Zinnia. They brought a huge polar bear.

Arthur and Ironin cooked. Veronica had a hearty meal.

Afterward, she was ready to leave.

"Please take care of my house till I get back."

Darius readily replied, "Yes, yes, we will keep it clean, I promise."

Arthur held her hand. "Be careful on the road."

She advised, "I will. If there is a storm, make a snow wall to cover the entrance. Don't turn on the fire."

Darius scoffed. "We will be frozen to death."

"If that's true, then I would be as well. I'm off. Bye-bye!"

After waving at them, Veronica started her journey. Alone.

"See you soon!" Zinnia waved her back.

Darius and Arthur waved at her too.

Only Ironin stood leaning against the cave. His eyes were on the parting figure.

After she was out of sight, everyone counted inwardly…

One… two… three… four… five… six… seven… eight… nine… ten!

As soon as they were done counting one to ten, Zinnia, Ironin, and Arthur followed her trail.

Darius stayed behind to guard Veronica's home. He was looking at his alcohol collection.

"Let's see… which bottle should I open now…"

In the meantime, the other three followed Veronica for quite some time.

Veronica was wearing white fur warm clothes. Her silver hair was covered by the hood.

All of a sudden, she paused in her tracks and took off her hood.

'What is she doing?' Arthur became nervous.

He was ready to go to her when Ironin stopped him by grabbing his arm.

When Arthur looked at him, he only shook his head to stop him.

Arthur glanced at Veronica.

She took her long hair out of the clothes and set them free. After that, she smiled broadly and spread her arms.

She took a deep breath and inhaled the scent of the snow she loved so much.

She wasn't able to do it before because Arthur was worried that she would catch a cold.

He was caring about her so much that he wrapped her in warm clothes and turned her into a furball.

"How much I missed you snow," Veronica said loudly. "Did you miss me too?"