The wind had grown colder.
It howled around them now, sharp and biting, carrying thin flurries of snow that cut through even their thick cloaks. Noel and Selene climbed steadily, their footsteps crunching over frozen stone and packed ice.
They had passed the halfway mark yesterday.
Now only the final stretch remained—the hardest part.
The air here was thinner, each breath a little sharper, each step a little heavier.
Noel led the way, Revenant Fang strapped securely to his back. Beside him, Selene moved with silent determination, her blue cloak drawn tight around her, wand ready in one hand.
The path narrowed as they climbed higher, winding between jagged rock faces and snow-choked ledges.
Noel glanced up at the towering peak that still loomed ahead.
"We don't have much left," he said quietly. "With some luck, we'll reach the top today or tomorrow."
Just as the words left his mouth, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.
