CHAPTER 238: Alaska, a Safe Place - 4

CHAPTER 238: Alaska, a Safe Place - 4

The icy wind struck mercilessly while the three of them advanced through the thick snow. Each step sank several centimeters, making progress difficult in those endless mountains.

Fenix walked a few steps behind, breathing heavily. His clothes were covered in frost, and his bandaged arm was already beginning to stiffen from the cold.

—How much farther…? —he asked, his voice tired but firm.

Selene, who was at the front clearing the way, did not stop. She only turned her head slightly.

—Not much —she replied—. We'll be there soon.

Lucian, wrapped and held against Selene's chest, barely poked his head out, watching in silence.

Fenix frowned.

—That's what you said an hour ago.

Selene sighed, this time stopping and unfolding the map between her hands, which were already trembling from the cold.

—The village is called Vandrel —she explained, pointing to an almost imperceptible dot—. It's small… almost forgotten. But once we get there, we'll be close.

Fenix moved a little closer, looking at the map without much interest.

—Close to what exactly?

Selene raised her gaze, serious.

—To the White Nocturnes.

The wind blew harder again, as if reacting to those words.

There was a brief silence.

Fenix exhaled vapor through his mouth.

—That place better really exist.

Selene folded the map carefully.

—It exists.

She looked at him fixedly.

—And you better hold on a little longer.

Fenix did not respond. He only nodded slightly.

Then, without saying anything more, the three of them resumed the march through the storm, advancing toward a place that, with luck… was still standing.

Minutes later, the wind began to calm slightly… and the landscape changed.

In front of them appeared Vandrel.

A small town lost in the snow, composed of aged wooden houses, many of them with sunken roofs or partially collapsed walls. The doors hung from a single hinge or had simply disappeared. There was no smoke in the chimneys… no signs of life.

Only silence.

Fenix advanced a few steps, looking around with a frown.

—This place is dead…

Lucian poked his head out from Selene's coat, looking at the empty streets.

—Uh… —he said—. And now who are we going to ask for directions?

Selene scanned the place with her gaze, serious.

—It seems the town is abandoned… —she murmured.

The creaking of wood and the wind slipping between the houses was the only thing that could be heard.

Fenix narrowed his eyes… and then raised his arm, pointing into the distance.

—Hey.

Selene and Lucian turned their gaze.

There, at the top of a snowy mountain, almost hidden in the storm… something impossible to ignore rose.

A fortress.

Giant.

Dark.

Imposing.

Its walls rose like an unbreakable rampart, and its towers pierced the low clouds, dominating the entire valley.

Selene's eyes widened slightly… and a small smile appeared on her face.

—Bingo.

She put the map away.

—We found it.

The wind blew hard again, as if trying to warn them.

But this time… they already had a destination.

And it was right in front of them.