Chapter 1: Journey to Ice Wind Valley
Amelia Nord gazed out the airplane window at the vast expanse of snow, her heart a mixture of excitement and trepidation. In the late autumn of 2035, the young archaeologist was about to embark on the most important journey of her career. The plane gradually descended, and the outline of Ice Wind Valley began to emerge from the clouds.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are approaching Ice Wind Valley Airport. Local time is 14:30, and the outdoor temperature is minus 5 degrees Celsius. Please fasten your seatbelts and prepare for landing," the captain's voice came through the intercom, pulling Amelia back to reality.
She took a deep breath, recalling her mentor's attempts to dissuade her from coming here. "Amy, Ice Wind Valley is too remote, and the Viking ruins there are of questionable research value." But Amelia stubbornly stuck to her instincts, believing that Ice Wind Valley harbored significant discoveries.
The plane's bumpy landing snapped Amelia back to the present. She picked up her backpack and followed the other passengers out of the cabin. A biting wind greeted her, and she wrapped her down jacket tighter around herself as she hurried towards the terminal.
The airport was small and rudimentary, nothing like what one would expect in 2035. Amelia noticed a huge mural on the terminal wall depicting a scene from Norse mythology: the wolf god Fenrir with his mouth wide open, devouring the sun and moon. The painting sent a shiver down her spine.
"Miss Nord?" a deep male voice called from behind. Amelia turned to see a tall, burly middle-aged man approaching her. "I'm Lucas Thor, the mayor of Ice Wind Valley. Welcome."
Amelia smiled and shook his hand. "Thank you for coming to pick me up personally, Mr. Thor."
"Please, call me Lucas," the mayor said with a smile. "Let me help you with your luggage. The weather's not good outside, we need to hurry back to town."
They walked briskly to the parking lot. Lucas's SUV looked sturdy, clearly prepared for harsh weather conditions.
As they drove out of the airport and along the winding mountain road towards Ice Wind Valley, Amelia noticed that the snow on the roadside was much thicker than she had anticipated.
"Winter came particularly early this year," Lucas explained, as if reading her thoughts. "Climate change has made our weather increasingly unpredictable."
Amelia nodded, suddenly remembering something. "Lucas, I heard that the Northern Lights are often visible in Ice Wind Valley. Is that true?"
Lucas's expression suddenly turned serious. "Yes, but the aurora has been appearing more frequently lately." He paused, "Miss Nord, I must warn you, it's best not to go out alone at night, especially when the aurora appears."
Amelia was puzzled, "Why? Is there something dangerous about the aurora?"
Lucas seemed to be choosing his words carefully. "The nights here are... not very peaceful. We have some local traditions, and I hope you can understand and cooperate."
Amelia nodded thoughtfully, deciding to pursue this question later.
The car continued along the mountain road, and the surrounding scenery gradually changed. Among the dense coniferous forests, ancient stone structures occasionally appeared. Amelia guessed these might be relics from the Viking era.
"Are those the subjects of my research?" she asked excitedly.
Lucas nodded. "Yes, those are all left by the Vikings. But the most important ruins are on the other side of town. I'll arrange for someone to show you tomorrow."
Finally, they drove into Ice Wind Valley town. Amelia was surprised to find that the small town seemed to be stuck in the last century. Wooden houses, cobblestone streets, and Norse-style sculptures visible everywhere all exuded an ancient and mysterious atmosphere.
"We're here," Lucas said, parking the car in front of a two-story building. "This is the best inn in town. I hope you'll be comfortable here."
After getting out of the car, Amelia was captivated by the scene before her. The sun was setting, and the sky had an unnaturally dark red hue. The distant mountains were shrouded in a thin mist, creating a beautiful yet eerie feeling.
Just then, a wolf's howl echoed from the distance, clear and long. Amelia couldn't help but shiver.
"Don't worry," Lucas reassured her, "it's just wild wolves. They won't come into town."
Amelia nodded, but couldn't shake the feeling that there was something unusual about that howl. She shook her head, silently chiding herself for being too sensitive.
"Come to the town hall when you're rested," Lucas said, "We have a lot to discuss."
After watching Lucas leave, Amelia picked up her luggage and entered the inn. What she didn't know was that a figure was watching her from the shadows in the distance, eyes glimmering with an ominous light.
Amelia Nord's journey to Ice Wind Valley had only just begun.
