Ch 95 - The Summit

The wagon trudged forward, climbing the steep mountain pass as I guided the pair of Woolmane Sixhoofs dragging the wagon through the snow-laden path. The wind had picked up speed, howling between the cliffs like a phantom’s wail. Snowflakes danced in the air, their delicate descent betraying the harshness of the journey ahead.

By now, the dense forests had vanished entirely, leaving behind nothing but towering cliffs, crisscrossing roads, and endless sheets of white.

I stole occasional glances downward—back to where Luc and the adventurers had confronted each other.

The swirling ice made it almost impossible to see, but occasional bursts of light flickered through the storm—mana attacks clashing against the darkening sky.

The sound of battle never reached me. Only the creak of the wagon wheels and the relentless whistle of the wind filled my ears.

As time goes by, the various sparks of light seem to have diminished, almost as if they have extinguished completely. While they may have been visible against the snow, they are now nowhere to be seen. Luc and the skirmish have faded from view, swallowed by the relentless storm below.

Even though he was proclaimed to be the Merchant of Death, could he really take on that many seasoned adventurers alone?

Luc's line of work was one drenched in blood—where grudges festered and vengeance never truly died. There was no shortage of people who would want him dead.

I could only hope he’d make it through.

Otherwise… I had no idea how I’d even get into Heirya Kingdom by myself.

Pushing the thought aside, I focused on guiding the bulls.

The mountain paths were treacherous, riddled with loose stones and patches of crumbling rock. One misstep and the entire wagon could plummet into the abyss below.

At one point, I had to stop entirely because a large boulder blocked the path. I had to climb down and push smaller rocks out of the way to clear the route. Then, we used the bulls to move the larger rock aside before continuing our journey upwards.

As we climbed higher among the peaks, the temperature dropped even more. The bulls snorted impatiently, their thick coats dusted with frost as they stomped on the frozen ground. Despite the struggle, they never faltered. Their powerful legs carried the wagon higher and higher until, at long last, we broke through the clouds.

A vast ocean of white stretched beneath me, rolling like endless waves frozen in time.

The sunlight painted the sky in hues of gold and silver, casting an ethereal glow over the snowy peaks.

The harsh winds finally softened, replaced by a tranquil stillness. And there—at the very summit—stood the entrance of the Heirya Kingdom.

After what felt like a herculean effort, we finally reached the summit.

As I crested the final incline, a breathtaking sight unfolded before me—a vast blanket of forests, stretching endlessly into the horizon.

The air was crisp and pure, untouched by the pollution of bustling cities. From this height, I could see the expanse of Heirya’s territory, a land shaped by the resilience of its people.

Unlike the dense woodlands below, the forests here were different. The trees stood tall, their roots gripping the rocky terrain, bred to survive in thin, oxygen-deprived air. Unlike the fertile lowlands, grass was scarce—the ground was mostly solid stone, shaped by time and the unyielding climate of the mountains.

The path continued forward, winding deeper into the kingdom’s rugged landscape.

But for now, I pulled the reins and parked the wagon at a clearing. The bulls had carried me this far without faltering—they deserved a proper rest.

Unloading the dried grass we had stocked earlier, I laid it before them. Then, as an extra treat, I tossed in some of the leafy plants I had grown during my training.

The bulls eagerly munched away, their deep snorts filling the otherwise silent plateau.

With them settled, I turned my attention to my surroundings.

Climbing atop a sturdy tree, I scanned the area.

At first, there were no signs of people—only the cold, quiet wilderness. But as I peered further, something caught my eye.

Through the sparse cover of trees, a massive white structure cut across the land like a serpent.

A wall.

A colossal, porcelain-like fortress wall stretched across the distant forest, winding its way toward the higher peaks. Towering watchtowers of the same material stood at intervals along its length, looming over the terrain like silent sentinels.

Even from here, I could tell—this was dwarven craftsmanship.

The Heirya dwarves were known as master builders and artificers, unmatched in their engineering prowess. The wall and towers were more than just stone and mortar—they were monuments of precision, likely infused with powerful enchantments.

I exhaled slowly.

For all its beauty, Heirya Kingdom was not a land that welcomed outsiders lightly.

The tension between dwarves and humans had simmered for centuries, ever since Zephinya’s kingdom adopted its strict racial hierarchy. Hostility brewed along their borders, and neither side had extended a hand in peace for generations.

Though humans, elves, and dwarves were regarded as the three pinnacle races, their unity was a fragile myth. Even the Heavenly Virtues—the legendary warriors chosen from these races—were rumored to despise one another, their racial pride too deeply ingrained.

If I marched into the dwarven capital alone, as a human, there was no telling how I would be received.

Nothing good, most likely.

For now, the best course of action was to wait for Luc.

Nightfall descended upon the plateau, the campfire casting flickering shadows across the rocky terrain. The bulls had long since settled, their exhausted forms curled up near the wagon, their thick wool providing warmth against the bitter cold.

I sat near the fire, stirring another pot of bland vegetable stew. It was far from appetizing, but hunger was hunger.

As I ate, my mind drifted back to Luc. There was a real possibility that the adventurers had overpowered him, and if that was the case, they might be heading here next.

Would they come for me? Maybe not. Maybe they’d see me as just some clueless kid who had hired Luc for a job.

If they did show up, I could just feign ignorance—act like I barely knew the guy. "Yeah, I could use that excuse," I muttered to myself, nodding at my own brilliant plan.

Still, the night felt... off. An uneasy sensation prickled at my senses, the kind that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It felt like I was being watched.

I glanced around, but the darkness beyond the fire’s glow remained silent. I can now see well in the dark but they had masked their presence well.

The dwarves were known for their vigilance, so it wouldn’t be surprising if their scouts were already monitoring my movements. Zephinya had patrols along its borders, after all—why would Heirya be any different?

Despite the feeling of unseen eyes, nothing happened. I spent the rest of the night on guard, fighting the drowsiness creeping into my bones.

By dawn, my eyelids were heavy, my limbs sluggish from lack of rest. The golden light of the rising sun stretched across the plateau, warming the frost-covered stones.

And then—

A lone figure emerged from the horizon, walking lazily through the morning mist. For a moment, I tensed, my body bracing for the worst.

Then I saw his familiar deadpan expression. A slow grin spread across my face.

Luc. The bastard was alive.

He approached the camp with his usual unbothered demeanor, his boots crunching softly against the frost-laced ground.

“So, you’re still breathing,” I called out, standing up to greet him. “How’d it go?”

The man appeared unscathed after dealing with about a dozen adventurers by his lonesome. No wounds or even bruises; it was almost as if he had just returned from a long, pleasant walk.

Luc let out a long, tired sigh before flashing me a small, knowing smirk. Then, without a word, he swung something off his back and dropped it in front of me.

A massive Windtalon. Its enormous wings folded lifelessly against its body, its razor-sharp beak gleaming under the morning light.

I stared at it for a second before looking back at him.

"Breakfast?" he offered dryly.

A laugh escaped me as I exhaled in relief. Finally—something other than damned vegetable stew.

Luc didn’t bother explaining what happened with the adventurers, and I didn’t press him for details. All that mattered was that he was here.

The wagon rumbled along the winding forest path, its wheels creaking in rhythm with the soft crunch of fallen leaves beneath them. Luc lounged lazily on the driver’s seat, one hand resting lightly on the reins while the other dipped into a small bag filled with donuts and candies.

He popped a donut into his mouth, chewing slowly as if savoring every bite—completely unfazed by the events of the past few hours. He had just fought off a group of grizzly adventurers who had ambushed him. There wasn't a scratch on him, and he showed no signs of exhaustion. In fact, I had never even seen him sleep.

Who—or what—was he?

Curiosity gnawed at me. Finally, I leaned forward.

“Luc,” I started, “do you also want to hunt the Virtues down?”

Luc turned to me, brows raised. “The Virtues?” He scoffed. “Nah. I’m not nearly as obsessed with them as your guildmates are.” He shrugged, biting off another piece of his donut.

I frowned. “But aren’t you part of our Havoc Guild?”

Luc let out a low chuckle. “Havoc Guild? So that’s what they’re calling themselves this time?” He shook his head, sounding amused. “Sorry, kid, but I’m not one of them. I’ve got ties to your leader, sure, and they hire me now and then for certain… let’s just say, delicate jobs. But I don’t belong to your rebellion.”

His words sank in slowly. “Then… how long has the guild been around? Where are they based?”

Luc’s gaze drifted toward the horizon, his expression unreadable.

“They’ve been around since ancient times,” he said at last. “Always moving in the shadows. Always plotting against the Virtues. Every time they clash, they get crushed. Every time they’re scattered, they regroup. They always come back, under a different name, a new banner—only for history to repeat itself.”

My stomach twisted. “Wait… they’ve fought the Virtues before?”

Luc nodded. “Many times. And sometimes, they’ve won.” His voice remained casual, like this was just another story to him. “They’ve taken out a few Virtues over the years. But the Virtues always find new vessels to replace the ones they lose. It’s a never-ending game.”

I leaned back, rubbing my temples. So I got roped into a war that’s already been lost a hundred times over?

Luc must’ve caught my expression because he chuckled. “Relax. They’re not completely hopeless. Right now, they’re stronger than they’ve ever been. If anyone has a shot at toppling the Virtues, it’s you folks!”

I exhaled slowly. “To be honest… I don’t care whether the Virtues live or die. The only reason I joined was because they had the cure to reverse my curse. I owe them for that, sure. But I don’t have a personal stake in their war.”

Luc glanced at me, eyes sharp beneath his usual lazy demeanor. “You wanted power, didn’t you?”

I hesitated before nodding. “Yeah, I did.”

“Well, you got it.” Luc’s tone was calm, matter-of-fact. “You took their master’s hand. That means you owe them. If you hadn’t accepted their power, maybe you’d still be free. But now, your fate’s tied to theirs.”

A bitter taste settled in my mouth. He wasn’t wrong.

I clenched my fists. “As long as I can get strong enough to reach my own goals, I don’t mind helping them. But I’m not about to let them control me like some puppet.”

Luc smirked. “Smart kid.” His gaze flicked back to the road, his expression unreadable. “Use them. Use their resources. Let them help you get what you want. But don’t let them pull your strings. You’ve got your own path to walk.”

I leaned back, staring up at the endless canopy of trees.

The guild. The Virtues. The cycle of bloodshed. It was all so much bigger than I’d imagined.

But if there was one thing I knew, it was this—

I wouldn’t let anyone dictate my fate.

Not the guild.

Not the Virtues.

Not even Luc.

The wagon rolled on, the forest stretching endlessly ahead. Somewhere in the distance, birdsong broke through the quiet.

The first white tower rose ahead, its towering form slicing through the thick canopy of trees like a needle. It stood stark and defiant against the sky, the sunlight glinting off the polished mirrors at its peak. Strange runes etched into its surface pulsed with faint, eerie light, sending ripples through the air. A low hum vibrated, almost too subtle to notice, but it was there—a reminder that we were no longer in familiar lands.

“What’s that?” I asked, eyes drawn to the strange sight.

Luc glanced up, his face unreadable. “An outpost of the Heirya Kingdom. We’ve crossed into their territory. And trust me, they’re already watching us.”

I shivered, my skin prickling. The forest around us was unnervingly quiet, the kind of silence that made my instincts itch. “Well, let’s hope they’re a bit more hospitable than the folks at Layile’s Guild,” I muttered.

Luc’s lips twitched into a half-smile. “Yeah, I’m sure this’ll go smoothly.”

We rolled closer to the massive stone walls marking the kingdom’s border. The air felt thick, oppressive, and just as I was about to ask Luc if he had any tricks up his sleeve, the ground suddenly trembled beneath us. Before I could react, thick walls of earth shot up from the ground, sealing off any escape.

The bulls bellowed in panic, their hooves scraping the dirt as they tried to back away. My hand instinctively went to my daggers, but Luc, as usual, remained calm. He yanked the reins and whispered something soothing to the bulls, his voice low and steady.

“Easy now,” he murmured, as though a fortress of earth didn’t surround us.

A section of the wall slid open, revealing a group of adventurers, their armor gleaming in the dim light. Eight of them in total, their weapons sharp and their gazes sharp, too. But it wasn’t the weapons that stood out—it was their height, or rather, the lack of it. They were all dwarves, and they weren’t happy to see us.

The leader, a muscular woman with braided hair and sun-kissed skin, stepped forward, her long spear held tight in her hands. “You,” she barked, her voice carrying the weight of authority. “The one who deals in death. What business do you have in the Dwarven Kingdom?”

Luc, as always, didn’t skip a beat. He smiled and raised both hands in mock surrender. “Ah, greetings, noble warriors. I’m just here on a little merchant business, delivering goods—nothing to do with death this time. Just a harmless errand, I swear.”

“This is your last chance,” the dwarf woman growled, her weapon raised. “The guards are on high alert. We’ll attack without mercy. Turn back, or be obliterated.”

I shot Luc a glance, tension coiling in my gut. “So... plan’s a bust?”

Luc looked at me with a playful glint in his eyes. “Now, now, let’s not be hasty.” He reached into the wagon, pulling out a small satchel. “I’m here on Lord Jaltar’s orders, delivering a special package from the Dark Continent.”

The leader’s eyes flickered for a moment. “A package?” she repeated, clearly thrown off by the mention of Lord Jaltar.

Luc nodded, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Oh, you wouldn’t have heard of it. It’s a secret deal, after all—”

Before he could finish, the woman flicked her spear, its tip shooting forward with alarming speed, stopping just inches from Luc’s throat. A thin trickle of blood welled where the blade grazed his skin. “Don’t test my patience, human,” she hissed.

The other dwarves tensed, weapons raised, their stances poised for action. I instinctively gripped my daggers tighter, ready for whatever might come next.

Luc raised a hand, a calm, almost bored look on his face. “Alright, alright. No need to get so dramatic. We’ll turn back.”

The dwarf leader smirked, clearly thinking she had won. “Wise choice. Return to your human kingdom—your kind isn’t welcome here.”

Luc scratched the back of his head, eyes darting around as if pondering his next move. “You know, I guess I’ll just have to write a letter to Lord Jaltar, telling him his border patrol denied me entry to deliver this precious cargo…”

The dwarves exchanged uneasy glances. The leader’s smirk faltered, and for a split second, doubt flashed in her eyes.

Luc, sensing the shift, didn’t miss a beat. “It’s such a shame, really. These materials would have been used to craft some legendary artifact. But, well, I suppose I’ll just have to sell them to the humans instead.”

The dwarf woman scoffed, but there was less conviction in her voice this time. “We Heiryans have all we need. We don’t need your human goods.”

Luc sighed dramatically, then turned and climbed back onto the wagon. “Of course, of course. Who am I to argue with the mighty Heirya Kingdom?” He cracked the reins, guiding the wagon away.

The dwarves watched us intently, their weapons still held high, but they didn’t move to stop us. Once we were out of sight, Luc guided the wagon down a steep, rocky path, the bulls struggling against the incline.

“Well, that was a disaster,” I said, breaking the silence. “What now?”

Luc grinned, eyes glinting with that mischievous sparkle I knew all too well. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”

We came to a stop midway down the mountain, the clouds swirling below us. The view was breathtaking, but the chill in the air bit at my skin. “We're setting up camp here?” I asked. “If we keep moving, we could reach the bottom before sunset.”

Luc waved a dismissive hand. “Nah. We’ll set up here. Just do as you’re told.”

I grumbled, but got to work setting up the tent on the rocky ground, glancing nervously at the cliffs above. “What if a boulder falls? Or the dwarves decide to attack?”

“Leave that to me,” Luc replied, already scribbling on a piece of paper. I tried to peek at the script, but it was written in a language I didn’t recognize.

Once he was done, he sealed the letter in an envelope and placed it in the middle of the road. Then, he stepped back, waiting.

Moments later, a bird of ethereal light swooped down from the sky, snatching the letter and vanishing into the distance.

Luc grinned, satisfied. “The dwarven speed post is something else, huh?”

I raised an eyebrow. “What’s the plan now?”

Luc looked at me with a gleam in his eyes. “Now, we wait.”