The next morning, Arix was tying his shoes at the entrance of the cave, ready to head out. His shoes were made of Tilen, a fine material found only on the island. Tilen was a thin, brown, but strong material used in making clothes and armor. It was also an expensive material.

  Arix saved eight silver coins before the competition just to afford the full armor set made of Tilen. It took him five months to save up that money.

  After tying his shoes, Arix rose to look at the snow wall in front of the cave. He was carrying his backpack filled with food and bandages in case of an emergency. He was wearing his cotton coat.

  He took a deep breath, and vapor misted from his mouth. He was ready to head out when Lyra spoke from behind, "Shouldn't you carry a weapon before heading out?” Lyra asked. Her hair was messy and her eyes barely open.

  Arix turned around and replied, “I am going to search for the weapon.”

  “No, I mean it will take time to find the weapon. Pick mine or Tarin’s sword.” She stood beside Arix, staring at the same snow wall and the snowfall in front of her.

  The snowstorm had eased a little since the day they found the cave, but it was still strong enough that Arix could hear the wind blowing and feel the cold through his cotton coat.

  “I will be fine without it. Tarin’s greatsword is too big for me, and your needle is too uncomfortable for me,” he replied.

  “How will you survive if that beast attacks you?” Lyra rubbed her hands together. She was getting cold, as she hadn’t come to the entrance with her coat.

  “Running doesn't require any weapon,” Arix replied, grinning.

  “I guess that’s true.” She shivered.

  “You should head inside. You don’t want to catch a fever too, like Tarin.”

  “I’ll be fine. Have you packed your food? I cooked rabbits for your lone expedition,” Lyra said, raising her eyebrows.

  “Yes, Mom, I packed my food.' He smiled, then asked, 'Is Tarin okay?”

  “His fever has cooled down a bit, but it will still take a few days before he is fully recovered.”

  “Meilie is still sleeping?” Arix asked.

  “Yes.”

  They stared at the snow for a while. Then Arix took a deep breath and walked out. “Okay. I am heading out. Make sure Tarin recovers.”

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  “Okay, bye,” Lyra said, watching Arix walk out into the snow. She stood there for a while, watching him fade into the distance, then headed back inside the cave, shivering.

  — — —

  Arix’s feet sank into the snow as he walked ahead. His breath was heavy, vapor misting from his nose and mouth.

  He walked slowly, following the path toward the peak of the mountain. He stopped a few times to look back at the endless snow, then kept walking ahead.

  The wind was blowing hard, and its sound reached Arix’s ears clearly, along with his own footsteps and breath.

  “This is a huge gamble,” he thought.

  “I am just a burden to the group right now without a weapon. I had to take this gamble. Even if something happens to me, Tarin will guide this group nicely.” Thoughts raced through his mind, making him question his solo journey.

  “I have enough water and food for the next three days. I can catch rabbits for food, but I will not get water, so I have to drink strategically,” he whispered. As he stumbled upon two big rocks. The rocks leaned against each other, creating shade between them. He took a deep breath and went to them, sitting and relaxing in the shade of the rocks for a moment.

  “What would Elena think of all this?” He started spiraling in his thoughts again.

  “Would she let me go alone to look for a weapon? She would probably come with me.” He was thinking all this when he saw Elena's face. Her long black hair, her beautiful glowing face, and her amazing smile—she was sitting at the beach with him, talking and laughing like on a normal day. The sun was shining brightly with a few clouds in the sky, when suddenly his eyes opened and he found himself surrounded by snow.

  “Was I dreaming? When did I fall asleep?” he thought, standing up and clearing the snow from his coat.

  His eyes filled with tears at the thought of her. He started walking again, following the path to the peak.

  After a few hours of walking slowly, the sun was about to set. A few birds flew past him and some rabbits crossed his path. He kept walking slowly, preserving his stamina.

  “Does the sun set quickly on the mountain?” he thought, looking up at the faint shadow of the sun. Clouds and snow obscured it.

  “I should probably find a place to set my camp for tonight,” he said, and kept walking ahead.

  After a while, he found a big rock resting on two vertical rocks of the same size. It was the perfect place to rest for the night.

  He went to the rock and sat in its shade. The snow still reached it, as the rock was not wide, but it would have to do for tonight.

  Arix took his bag off and rested, leaning on one rock, when something poked his back. “What is this?” he said, turning around to find a mound of snow in a particular spot.

  “Is it some kind of rock covered in snow?” he thought, dismissing it. He took out his bedroll for the night. He could not start a fire in all this snow.

  He took out the rabbit that Lyra cooked and ate it for dinner. He fell asleep easily, probably because of all the walking he did.

  The snow kept falling throughout the night, with the wind blowing at a steady pace.

  Arix was shivering throughout the night, but he didn’t realize it, as he was deep in sleep.

  The sun began to rise. The snowstorm was weaker than yesterday. Snow was still falling.

  Arix woke up, satisfied with his sleep. He stretched his arms, then opened his eyes fully.

  He saw the shadow of something in front of him. He couldn't make it out at first, but then he saw it—the same beast from the start of the mountain, staring at him with prey in its mouth—something larger than a rabbit this time.