Act 1: Blue Ocean Pavilion - Chapter 191: The Snowbell Fruit

Act 1: Blue Ocean Pavilion - Chapter 191: The Snowbell Fruit

A small evergreen tree grew on top of the ravine; its leaves were dark green, thicker than normal leaves, and looked like tiny needles adorning a deep brown trunk and branches. It stood out from the rest of the ravine, covered in bright white snow, and was isolated from its tree cousins of the forest. But what stood out more than the tree was the bell-shaped fruit that shone a light-green color and was located on the very tip of the evergreen.

The Snowbell Fruit.

The Snowbell fruit grew perfectly upright, almost as if someone had impaled the fruit on the evergreen in the correct spot. It didn't hang on like regular fruits but balanced on the evergreen's tip without falling. Nothing seemed wrong with the tree and the Snowbell fruit, but Oscar and Mary had enough harsh encounters regarding these objectives.

"Oscar, can you be the bait this time?" Mary glanced at Oscar with a cheeky smile. "As a law of pairs, we need to alternate the roles to keep it fair."

Oscar harrumphed and cleared his throat. "I'm sure that's not a real law. However, didn't I suffer the most as the one who had to land the killing blow? It's no matter. I'll be the bait this time."

He stepped slowly. In the late morning, the winds were not in full throttle yet, but a breeze kicked up, blowing back his obsidian hair to reveal his forehead. Oscar raised his buckler to face ahead and roused his Ein, not to fight the blue frost because he possessed the Frost Orb but to be prepared for any attacks.

With each step, he crunched the snow under his soles, leaving behind distinct footprints. At the halfway point to the Snowbell Fruit, Oscar paused to observe; he glanced ahead, side to side, and behind but only saw Mary waiting in the back and the Snowbell Fruit ahead. There was nothing else.

"Am I overthinking it?" Oscar was confused. He continued walking until he reached the evergreen tree. With bated breath, Oscar reached out for the Snowbell Fruit and tore it off the evergreen tree. "What?"

Oscar felt the plump fruit in his hand. An enticing aroma wafted through the air thanks to the wind, making Oscar drool slightly. The green glow dimmed as a surge of information filled Oscar's head like with the Azure Feather.

"This is useless." Oscar sighed and turned around to leave. But he staggered a bit from Mary's shocked look. He lifted the Snowbell Fruit with a serious look and said, "We got it."

"Are you kidding me?" Mary was grinding her teeth and shaking, not from cold but from the unfairness of the situation. "Why was this fruit so easy to take?!"

Oscar passed the Frost Orb to her and put up his Ein shroud to deter the blue frost. He tossed the Snowbell Fruit around on his hand with a contemplative look. "I think the obstacle would have been getting up here from the start while dealing with the snow and blue frost. But we got the Azure Feather and the Frost Orb, so those were nonfactors."

"I'm done." Mary facepalmed. "Just get us back to the cave."

Oscar put the Snowbell Fruit away and took out the Azure Feather. Oscar's Ein streamed into it, causing it to glow. With Mary on his back, Oscar floated away down the ravine and back into the forest.

On the way, Mary asked, "What is the use of the Snowbell Fruit?"

Oscar looked bothered and unwilling to answer, but he could only laugh at the end. "Its aroma was supposed to attract the Nixagle when it flies around our area. Once it did, the aroma would cause it to enter a drunken state, making it easier for us to take it down together."

"Please don't destroy her family. As Exalts, just settle it between the two of you." Oscar didn't want Mary to be so entrapped in this little spat and affect people that shouldn't be involved. He also didn't want to see Serena's family ruined because of some petty grievances.

Mary shuffled her shoulders under her white coat. "As someone I respect and admire, I'm shocked you chose her side."

"I'm not choosing anyone's side." Oscar sighed, wondering why they couldn't fight it out of their system like Frederick and him or Frederick and Austin. "If I'm someone you respect and admire, then please listen to me when I say doing all this for an ill-gotten relationship over a mission is foolhardy."

Mary closed her eyes, not responding or moving.

Oscar couldn't tell what she was thinking but left her to stew over her thoughts. He went out to hunt another yak, which the two devoured in peace.

The fires continued to burn as the night covered the sky. The snowstorm outside was getting fiercer by the moment, so Oscar hung several furs to block the entrance, leaving a small hole for the smoke to leave the cave.

The second day ended, and the third began with clear skies and a fresh, smooth blanket of snow over the ground. Oscar woke up to find Mary was gone. "Where did she go?"

Then a slight snore came from the large bundle of furs.

"Did she bury herself?" Oscar unraveled the fur to find that Mary was red from the stuffy furs. Her aggrieved face returned to calm after it felt the fresh air. Oscar shouted, "Wake up!"

In the late afternoon, Oscar and Mary levitated past the icy lake without a single Frost Angaren trying to show its ugly maw. Oscar looked up the mountain with a tired look. It had been a long two weeks for him since the first time he set foot in the Spire of Ascension; now, it was coming to an end.

"There was a team holding out far from the mountain. Nice call, Adam." A rough voice resounded.

Oscar and Mary stared to the right and saw the last remaining team facing them.

"Edward Calpto and Adam Erio. If I remember correctly." Oscar said.

"Correct."

Oscar sighed. There was still one last obstacle to deal with.