On the horizon appeared the majestic mountains, towering above all.
They felt small as they approached the village bordering them.
The road they were on continued forward, a single path going through the valleys between the mountains.
The bordering village itself was small, Mori learned from Griswald that the people living here survived by hiking through the mountains and trading what they could find to traders,
What they went for was usually profession yields, as most people here barely trained in combat and tried to avoid any monsters that roamed the area.
No gates held them back, and no walls went around the place. They simply entered unbothered by anyone.
"There!" said Xannos.
"This is our last inn stop. Everyone, make it count."
"Yes yes," said Xannos, rolling his eyes as he jumped from the driver's bench.
He carefully folded the blanks he had laying over his lap, throwing them in the back of the carriage as headed straight toward the inn.
"How long are we staying?" asked Lilae.
"We're leaving tomorrow morning, don't get comfortable."
"Works for me, the beds here better not have mold, it's too cold to sleep outside..."
She joined Xannos inside.
"I'm guessing by now our... 'Friends' received the gift you left them," said Griswald with a twisted smile.
"Reaper might have been useful in the end. However, this probably won't take out a sovereign that leveled up properly."
Griswald walked away, shrugging, while holding both of his palms up.
He was right to react that way, thought Mori. Whether it had worked or not mattered little.
His only goal was to send a warning.
Aura was the last one to hop out. She looked out of shape, her eyes and lips pale compared to their usual shade.
As she approached him, Mori ran his thumb over her bottom lip, in thought.
"It's been too long since last time," he said.
"The price of the room is included with the price of the drink? Is that it?" asked Mori.
The man shook his head, massaging his forehead.
"No, no. You don't get it. 'Leave no one behind'. Out here, if something happens in the mountains, we treat you like family. We wouldn't leave our kids to die in the cold, like we wouldn't leave you guys to die in the cold."
"We're leaving tomorrow," started Mori.
"Exactly! And it's a tradition to eat and drink with your family before leaving and once you come back. Those who have nobody to go back to, come back here. And I enjoy hearing about their journeys. You'll have to do the same, rules are rules.. Now, what can I serve you?" he asked.
There was only a single painting in there, Mori noticed. It depicted a family of three, behind the bar on the far right side. The kid must've been extremely young, and the woman was stunning.
The inn, while full of warmth, felt empty. As if cold.
The man traced Mori's gaze to the painting. His eyes, while he was smiling, lost their glimmer for a moment, sadness flickering through them.
"What's your name?" asked Mori.
As if brought back to reality, from a distant past, the man blinked a few times, his smile back.
"Brök! Now, what should I serve ya?!"
"We'll have anything you'll serve us, Brök."
"Hah! Sounds like you're embarking yourself in a drinking contest!"
"No need to go through your stock just for us, especially if you're not making us pay," said Aura.
"Hey! Stop fucking this up for us. We'll have everything you're willing to give!" said Lilae.
"Hey! That's the spirit! This one gets it, I like her!" said Brök with his booming voice.
Everyone introduced themselves, Brök shaking everyone's hand.
Even Griswald's, although his creepy smile made Brök break the headshake quicker than the others.
"Alright, we're starting with shots! This stuff makes you feel like you're in a volcano in the middle of a blizzard! Hahah!"
Brök had lined up glasses in front of everyone, taking a bottle that had a red and blue design.
He served everyone, and as they raised their glasses, he made a toast.
"To leaving no one behind!"