Although the Alien Ghosts had temporarily retreated, the tense atmosphere in the air had not relaxed at all. During the few days of rest at the fortress, the wind and snow seemed to have calmed down a lot because of that great battle.
Taking stock of casualties, preparing equipment, reorganizing some teams, and making plans for the next steps—all of this took time. Time passed amid busyness and oppression, but there was an unexpected tranquility. At least when they weren’t fighting the Alien Ghosts, the only thing people had to guard against was the severe cold.
Although the Northerners had long become friends with the severe cold, Cecilia was still quite frozen. Fortunately, although the fortress environment was harsh, it was much more comfortable than traveling. During the days crossing the Northlands, there were no fireplaces or beds for rest.
Even though Lita also wanted to enter the Everfrost Wasteland as soon as possible, the army needed rest, and Cecilia needed rest as well. Moreover, the Everfrost Wasteland had many unknown dangers, so building up strength was a necessary step.
Another reason she hadn’t hurried to set out was that Rosalia insisted that Cecilia accompany her, and Cecilia had no choice but to agree. Although it was rude to say so, Rosalia was the most normal-looking among the five princesses.
A few days later, Cecilia finally recovered her usual complexion from the continuous travel. The army was mostly prepared, and over these days, they had been setting out one after another to garrison various outposts. It was also time for Lita to set out.
“Without bringing an army? Isn’t that too dangerous?” Brandon asked with a worried expression.
“The army’s target is too large, easy for the Alien Ghosts to spot. With just the four of us, it’s also more convenient to move, and this trip is to investigate the Alien Ghosts’ information, not to fight them head-on.” Rosalia adjusted her collar and then replied, “Besides, haven’t the Rangers been setting out one after another these past few days?”
Brandon clenched his fist: “Rangers are Rangers, and you are you. If something happens to the two princesses in the Northlands, how will I answer to His Majesty?”
“Even if we don’t go, Cecilia will definitely go. You know I can’t stop her. I’m going not only to gather information but also to protect her. You know that.” As she said this, Rosalia glanced at Cecilia, who was preparing to set off in the distance.
Brandon also looked over, watching Cecilia and Lita hanging their luggage for the trip on a saddle in front of a horse, and shook his head helplessly.
“I understand. I get what you’re saying. What I don’t understand is why Aierteer would give such a completely pointless mission.”
“Who knows? Maybe she has her reasons?” Rosalia shrugged.
The group of five rode through the four-layered giant gate of the Great Wall, truly stepping into the deadly land called the Everfrost Wasteland. That’s right, five people; at Brandon’s request, Shirley, who hadn’t had time to return to Snowfall City, also joined the team.
Although nominally for protection, Brandon also had the idea of having Shirley build good relations with the two princesses. Even if the Northerners didn’t like politics and didn’t participate in factional disputes, most supplies still needed to be transported from various parts of the kingdom, so building good relations would be beneficial for the future of the Northlands.
However, there were only four horses since Cecilia couldn’t ride, so she had to share one with Lita, huddling in Lita’s arms as they moved forward. Although Lita also didn’t know how to ride, she would take her horse out for walks in the name of practice when she had free time, but actually she would hypnotize the pony in a secluded place.
In just a few days, the pony had become completely obedient to Lita. Now, even without hypnosis, it would behave.
But even on horseback, their speed wasn’t fast. Compared to the interior of the Great Wall, this was a truly frozen kingdom. As far as the eye could see, it wasn’t a soft snowfield, but a snow crust hardened like iron after eons of accumulation.
The entire land was bare, with neither trees nor mountains. Traces of the Alien Ghosts that had worried Lita were completely absent; only a few ice spikes protruding from the snow like plants, pointing like fangs at the endless sky.
The ground was cold, the sky was also cold; this was the first time Lita felt the sun so far away. It hung right overhead, but the thin sunlight brought no warmth at all, instead being refracted by the snow and ice into dazzling, dizzying shards. Although almost everything in sight was snow, Lita instead felt that the white on this endless plain was more like ashes after being burned out.
The team advanced under the leadership of Shirley and Rosalia. At first, they would chat casually about something, but in the wind that seemed to freeze off their tongues, everyone finally fell into silence without saying a word.
After advancing in the Everfrost Wasteland for three days, they still couldn’t find any trace of the Alien Ghosts. Compared to the Alien Ghosts, their greater enemy was the severe cold. Although the environment was harsh, the group’s equipment was really good.
For example, the compass Shirley had taken from Brandon; Lita looked at it with a strong urge to pick it up and take it home. Even though Shirley said it wasn’t just a compass, but also a magical tool that could resist interference magic, had a lighting function, had superior defense and was not easily damaged, and provided continuous heating, in Lita’s eyes, its heating function was even inferior to her own Charm Aura.
Night fell again; the group tied up the horses, set up a tent in a relatively sheltered hollow, and lit a fire. After a simple dinner—actually just the cured meat and dry bread they had brought—everyone returned to their own tents to rest early. In the severe cold, conserve energy as much as possible to go further—this was something Lai Anna had specifically reminded them of before leaving Snowfall City.
But somehow, Cecilia couldn’t sleep, while Lita beside her was lying flat with a peaceful expression, not sure if she was really sleeping or exploring the memories left by Waerfeisi that she had mentioned.
“Lita.” Cecilia gently shook Lita’s shoulder.
Lita let out a murmur, then reluctantly opened her eyes. It seemed she was indeed sleeping. Cecilia thought, ‘She’s indeed asleep.’ Then she softly asked a somewhat redundant question, “Are you asleep?”
“Hm?” Lita blinked hard in a daze, then replied sleepily, “Mm.”
“Sleep, sleep.” Cecilia rubbed Lita’s head a couple of times, watched Lita turn over, then got up, stepped over Lita’s body, put on her shoes, draped the cloak hanging nearby, and went out of the tent.
Outside the tent, the scene surprised Cecilia. By the flickering campfire, the other three companions were sitting neatly in a circle. The flames cast an orange glow on their cold-reddened faces, and everyone had their lips sealed, not saying a word.
Cecilia adjusted her cloak, gathered the hem with both hands, and sat down on the empty ground by the fire. Even though there was a layer of fur underneath, she still felt the cold of the snow. But the fire was warm, making Cecilia sigh in admiration, “So warm.”
“Yeah.” Shirley hugged her knees. “Sitting by the fire, I can almost feel the warmth of Snowfall City.”
Shirley said, then from beside her she took a cup, poured a full cup of milk tea, and handed it to Cecilia.
“The warmth of the milk tea immediately spread through the cup wall into her palm.” Cecilia took the cup with both hands. No one spoke anymore; they just watched the fire crackling.
Not long after, perhaps just a few minutes later, Lita lifted the tent flap and came out, still with some drowsiness on her face. Seeing everyone by the fire, most of her sleepiness was replaced by surprise. She seemed to want to say something, but amid the sound of burning, all that came out was a soft, “Everyone’s not asleep?”
Then, Lita sat down right next to Cecilia by the fire, and Shirley also poured a cup of milk tea for her.
“Whew, it’s really warm.” Lita rubbed the steaming cup in her hands, letting out the same exclamation as Cecilia.
“Really, you two are like telepathic.” Shirley burst out laughing.
First bringing Cecilia to the Great Wall, then advancing together in the Everfrost Wasteland for a few days, plus Shirley’s naturally casual personality, she had long thrown etiquette out the window.
“What telepathy?” Lita was confused by Shirley’s out-of-the-blue remark.
“Nothing.” Cecilia raised her milk tea, taking small sips to stop her own mouth and also to prevent Lita from asking further. After another moment of silence, it was Lita who couldn’t help but speak.
“Why isn’t anyone talking?”
Shirley thought seriously for a moment, then revealed a bright smile. “Good question. I don’t know.”
“If you don’t know, then talk about family matters.” Brownie rarely took the lead in the conversation. “Maybe you don’t know, but I have a younger sister. She’s very cute…”
Brownie began to recount slowly, telling about the interesting things her sister had done. If Lita didn’t know Promi, she might have believed it. Unfortunately, she had heard some of Promi’s opinions about Brownie. To sum up Brownie’s words, one sentence was enough: ‘For more than ten years, the sister I thought was a tsundere actually really hates me.’
“Ah, that’s nice. My older sister isn’t like that. She completely ignores me. And my big brother too. Sigh, anyway, they’re busy all day long, and I can’t disturb their work.” Shirley rested her chin on her hand and shook her head, looking like she deeply related to what Brownie said. “Although I think it’s fine this way, having a sister who takes care of you so much is really great.”
“I think that’s incorrect. Little sisters are very cute creatures, so they must be cherished in every way.” Brownie said with her sour face, words completely at odds with her expression. It seemed that only in front of Promi did Brownie change like a different person.
“Sister, huh.” Rosalia, who had been listening to Brownie’s stories, repeated softly. Then she cleared her throat. “In that case, let me also talk about something related to my sister?”
As soon as Rosalia finished speaking, Lita’s peripheral vision caught sight of Cecilia, who was sitting beside her, suddenly lifting her head.