In the clearing where the C-rank dungeon Glenwood Cavern had been, John sat cross-legged with Lyra and Aiko apart from each other, the earth still bearing signs of the previous fight and the scent of freshly turned earth filling the air.
"We need to grow stronger," John said, meeting the eyes of the two women. "Strong enough to take down the higher-ups once and for all."
Aiko crossed her arms while considering his words. "The Ice Mage, Elise. We could convince her to come on join us. She doesn’t hold any love for the higher-ups, it’s only her fear of the strongest mage that has her still following the higher ups every command."
John raised an eyebrow at that. "How strong is she?"
Aiko began to explain as she tapped her fingers against her arms. "She used to be the strongest among the Four Great Mages, but that changed with the arrival of the Space Mage, He had defeated her in a duel and took the title of strongest from her an also made them changed the name to the Five Great Mages.
"Space Mage... wasn’t there a man like that who was found in one of the explored rifts?" Lyra asked.
"That’s right," Aiko affirmed.
John frowned at that revelation. "The King is the cause of all of this, isn’t he?, why dont we take him out first?"
Lyra shook her head fast. ", yes that is true, The King is said to be the strongest man to have ever lived in all of Alderia. Even the dragons cannot kill him so its kinda impossible to target him an it is said he has two dragons at his command as well an his loyal retainers that could destroy alderia.
There was a heavy pause before anyone said anything. Even John felt reluctant at speaking of the man.
Eventually they came to an agreement. It was necessary that they secure a base of operations before any confrontations took place. The Cavern had been completely destroyed under Hiden’s magic, so they would need to find an alternative.
They began walking through the forest looking for a suitable place to operate in.
Hours later, the trio stopped walking an in front of them was an empty space. There was a distortion in the air that marked the place as a rift.
Aiko’s face became serious. "Move away from there. It’s a rift. They can be very dangerous, some of them take you to different locations. With no protection on your end you could be stuck there for months, or even years. Sometimes you’ll make it back, sometimes you wont. And when you do return it might be three hundred years or more."
John listened intently before smirking. "A perfect place for us to call home, dont you think? A place even the enemy can never find unless we die inside."
He chuckled darkly. "I know about rifts thanks to a certain strong swordsman. He told me you can freely enter and exit rifts, with no passage of time, as long as you have a rift key with you. And as it so happens... we have a rift key on us already."
Aiko gave him a look that screamed craziness. "Are you trying to get us killed John, because there is no way a rift key is just laying around."
John grinned at her. "Of course there is. A certain Hero that came from a rift called Japan. You see, you are our rift key. Because not only are you not from Alderia you also happen to be a Hero with two classes, it just so happens you might possess the ability to hold the passage open."
Aiko stared in shock. It was insane, but at the same time the situation called for something like this. She was an anomaly after all.
And so, after a long pause, Aiko stepped forward and entered the rift.
John and lyra stood outside the rift waiting for the queue to get in.
A minute later give or take, the rift opened up again and Aiko stepped out on the other side before giving them a thumbs up to signal the safety of the passage. Both lyra an john soon followed after her.
On the other side, they were met with an onslaught of cold wind and snowfall. Thick white snowflakes fell from the grey sky, surrounding the area in a white expanse. The landscape was an island of white, its rolling hills stretching into a horizon they couldnt see. The frigid wind bit at their skin the moment they set foot on the place.
John took Lyra’s hand, and in turn she took Aiko’s. Linked together so that none of them would be lost in the storm, they walked towards some kind of destination without knowing where they were going.
After minutes of walking through the snowy weather the snow began to thin out, until it dissappeared alltogether. Revealing a beautiful sight.
A snowy village lay in a vast white field. Wooden and stone buildings stood with snow-laden rooftops, the people who passed by in the streets wearing fur-lined cloaks, thick wool cloaks and sturdy boots.
When the villagers saw the three unfamiliar visitors they merely stepped aside and let them through. A short old man with a long white beard and heavy fur cloak approached them.
"Welcome to Frostveil," he said, his voice warm.
John asked the chief curiously. "Are there any dungeons here? Or hunting grounds?"
The old man blinked at him. "What are dungeons? If you’re looking for a place to hunt there are caves you can enter, but you’ll have to sign up in the guild first."
They had dungeons in Alderia, it seemed that here they had caves.
Aiko stepped forwards. "Do you have any spare rooms we could use until the weather clears up?"
The old man, apparently the chief of the village, gave a short nod. "We have plenty of rooms, however I can only offer you one. It has only a single bed, is that okay.
John nodded with a smile on his face, they did not want to sleep in the cold outside.
He gestured for them to follow him. The shed he led them to was small and cramped with wooden walls, a low ceiling, and a single bed pushed against the far end of the room. A small fireplace stood in the corner, the flames dancing across the cold air, casting barely-warmth onto the room. There was room enough on the floor for only a few people.
The chief left them alone in the room after showing them the room.
Awkward silence hung between the three of them. John and Lyra were both able to share the single bed with hardly any problem,they are lovers after all but Aiko was only an ally.
"You two can take the bed," John finally said, "I’ll sleep on the floor."
"No," Lyra shook her head, "I’ll take the floor."
"I’m the one who should sleep on the ground," Aiko huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "I wont let either of you freeze just because of me."
The argument raged between the three for a few minutes before they eventually came to a conclusion that nobody wanted the other to sleep on the floor.
They decided they would all share the bed.
Lyra climbed onto the bed first, taking up the middle with a slight smile on her lips that showed the hint of jealousy. John took one side and Aiko took the other.
The bed was small, their shoulders and legs brushing against each other, but the warmth of their bodies next to each other helped to fend off the frigid cold.
It didnt take long for the three of them to fall asleep in the bed in the cold an secluded village of Frostveil.
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A/N: So if you all like my novel just add to your library an vote with your powerstones please, am currently thinking about writing another novel too so continue to support me.