Fourteen - Slow hoar

The more I approach the top of the mountain the colder it is getting. The desert nomads had prepared me clothes for the cold weather but they had no idea how cold it actually is here.

The desert is very cold. At night the temperatures dropped almost to zero. Here it is below zero now and with the high humidity, the wind is freezing and cutting into my skin.

Grandma used to say how the Mountains of Dushaeso were wary to visitors. Now I understand. I am freezing here. I need to stop on the next inn and I also need warmer clothes.

I am still in disbelief that I could find my friend Du alive. That was an encounter that not even the gods would predicted. I admit, it was rough.

We were not seeing eye to eye.

I have made my choices and she made hers.

I do not blame her.

What we went through, no one should experience.

I do not hold against her the hostility. I strayed from fighting because I know that deep down she feels the same way as I.

We do not need more fighting in our lives.

After all of this is over we can start talking again.

The sight of my house burning down it hurt less than I expected. Does this mean I do not care anymore for my family?

It was just a house.

I still do not know if that was the best choice, but alas.

This wind is my only worry now.

It is a different sensation, but somewhat a similar experience. The sandstorm in the desert kept me from moving, weighted me and drowned my into sand. This wind makes me feel weightless, I could be set flying anytime. Either way it shows how insignificant we are in comparison to the forces of nature. Now I understand why we should keep the balance.

The strength that comes from the push back is destructive.

We are very fragile creatures.

I arrived at an inn.

This one is empty.

An odd reward for taking the less traveled route.

The owner is a family. Two women and their six children. They all help with the costumers. I do not think they have that many.

They are very welcome.

I feel safe.

Normally I would strain from family households but after going back to mine and seeing my friend again, this one is calming me down. A gut feeling is wrenching my insides. But now, instead of repulse…

I want to look at it.

After the meal, they were very kind to provide me some appropriate gear to face the below zero weather.

I paid for everything.

I slept through the night without any dreams again.

In the morning I ate again before departing. They said it would be better since the next stop is only a day and half away. Right before the Passage of Clouds. I will have to sleep outside for one night, but there is no problem in using my fire magic here to keep me warm.

The wind is less strong today. I can keep my eyes open without fear of them freezing.

The Passage of Clouds once was a tourist attraction here on the south. People would come from all the places to experience the snow and the cold weather.

Why, I wonder?

Walking across such uneven terrain on purpose could not possibly be anyone's idea of ​​fun. I do not thing that now they are getting many people visiting. The owners of the inn said that a couple of years ago their place would be full capacity this time of the year. Now, traveling for pleasure became less common. People are scared. I wounder if there will be capital guards there. It is such an inaccessible and forgettable place now that I do not think they could bother.

My goal is the city of Fojstar.

After the Path I can get there by one more day of walking.

It is a big place even up here in the mountains.

An old city built on top of the mountain.

The Capital can not get here very easy. They are prepared for the rain, not snow.

That did not stop them from trying.

All were failures.

They are being very kind to accept this many refugees from all the way around.

They follow and respect the balance. They were here way before the Capital even existed and they plan to be more years after.

However, with individuals joining the resistance movement, a range of diverse knowledge flowing in, all with a common objective, perhaps they now possess the strength to retaliate.

The mountains are still a free place to use magic.

That makes me excited.

I have not been with people that actually kept using magic after all this years. Anything is done hidden inside and covered down at the Capital. Seeing magic on the open and what people have done with it, what we could have been if we kept researching and using.

The night is falling already.

I need to keep walking a little bit more. I have to find a place outside of the road to spend the night. There are wild animals in this woods.

I have to sleep on the top of the threes.

I do not know much about the kind of animals they have here.

A situation damned if I do but damned if I don not.

I think the higher I go the best.

The trees here are not as tall as Skyfold, they have cities on top of the trees there.

Here the branches are thinner. The cold do not let the trees develop too much. But I think I can fit on the top of one.

It is past the mid of the night already.

I can not see properly ahead and the wind is stronger now. It is time to stop. I am already at a safe distance from the main road.

I climb a tree.

I use my fire magic to make my body warmer.

I sit hugging my legs and wrap myself completely in my cloak. I tie the hood and settle in to sleep.

I have already slept in worse situations.