Chapter 91: Stay with me
1299 Words
“I think... I know where we can find the ice we’re looking for. It's quite dangerous but I’m sure about it.”
Yuna attracted The attention of the three other kids with her words. She lifted her head and searches for the sun. She pinpointed the direction where they were in and afterward she used her index finger. Pointing toward the northern land.
“There! The Ice can be found over there.”
“What do you mean by there? It's just stiff mountains I can see over there.”
Noah said.
“Nope above that stuff mountains… Sister told us that in a higher place the temperature was lower, became of the cold climate above the mountain glaciers are created.”
“Going there just to get Ice was far too dangerous. Just climbing that mountain makes a high probability of a monster encounter… I don’t want to risk my life because of one cold stone.”
Noah’s words make sense. It's true for kids like them. Climbing a stiff mountain full of monsters is dangerous. Outside the wall of Stella was already dangerous. The forest beside them lurks monsters that can eat them any time. But there are locations protected by “Warding” provided by the church. Warding made monsters go away in certain areas.
An only a limited part of the outside world was warded for the residence of Stella city to get the materials they needed nearby. Example firewoods, fishing in lakes and rivers, etc.
The group was saddened after this realization and after thinking about it. They just turned their glance to the stiff mountain. In the end, they give up on getting Ice.
The sun was about to set. The adventurers, travelers, and another adult were going inside the city going home. Same for the four kids who played around all day in the lake.
The basket that was used to contain the sandwich was filled with fish, some edible wild vegetables, and mushrooms. Yue was the one carrying the basket with the help of her two arms wrapped together. Its weight is fine for her to carry. Yuna meanwhile took Yue on her back. Shun and Noah have a pile of firewoods on their back.
Yue still looking sad about what happened earlier. Was noticed by her big brother.
“Don’t worry about it, Yue… Someday, we’re going to climb the mountain and have some Ice.”
“Don’t make promises that you can’t do.”
“I’m just making her feel happy… Then, it's all about Yuna. Yuna will learn scared arts in making ice and then we'll all be happy.”
Yue while they are walking noticed a glimmering stone washing away together with the flow of river water. It glimmer when the sunlight reached it. Shining like a diamond.
Like normal girls. Yue was extremely happy when seeing normal simple shiny things.
“Where are you looking at Yue?”
“Look over there… Something shiny is floating in the river.”
The other three turned their heads and immediately saw the shiny thing Yue was talking about. At first, they thought it was a luxurious piece of stone.
They nodded to each other and excitedly run toward the river bank to investigate. Shun and Noah go to River and pull it on the soil.
“Is it a diamond?”
“We’re rich.”
“No… It's too cold to be Diamond and it's melting.”
“That means…”
“Correct this is a block of ice.”
“A block of ice floating in river… Where did this thing can from? The river was directly connected to the mountain. Maybe, this ice is from the mountain. But Ice was located at the top of the mountain. There is no river over there so it's impossible.”
“Then, how about a huge block of Icefall from the top of the mountain down to the river. It's logical right?”
Noah added.
Yuna put her finger to her chin and closed her eye. She is in a state of deep thinking again. Like everyone knows in the city. Yuna has exceptional talent and genius in memorizing. She saw the continent map and recalled that the river route won’t go near or past the stiff mountains. She explained this to Noah and Shun.
This information just added more mysteries to the location of the ice or where did this thing come from.
“... I’m curious.”
“Let's not think about that and just share this ice. We use it in many things.”
Shun said and get a dagger from his waist. Using it he strikes the block of ice into tiny fragments. Checking its “Life” there was 20. It's getting lower there sis not enough time for it before its returns to its water state.
The ice was too many to carry by them. They just get Ice they can have and leave.
They go back to slumps.
Shun takes Yue and carry her on his back. Yuna went home same with Noah. Their house were all located in a different locations. The only last spot where they can see each other was at the crossroad.
…
Evening.
Shun boiled water and then filled up a huge wooden basin. He pours cold water on it and dips his hand on it. Checking if the bath was good for the skin. The water was lukewarm. Shun made a satisfied expression on his face and called out Yue.
“Yue… Time for a bath.”
“B-Brother… Can I take a bath alone?”
“Why? You have trouble reaching your back and your arms were not that strong to lift water to your head.”
“I can lift a small pail of water on my head… It's just… Alicia told me that girls should be… Umm…”
Yue was embarrassed about what she’s about to say. Her face turns red and averted her eyes away from Shun. Shun as a male noticed it and realized that his little sister was still a girl.
She’s on the stage where she started thinking about the stare around her.
They are siblings and they take baths like always, but being suddenly aware of it made things a little awkward for both of them.
“Yue is a girl after all… We can’t take a bath like always after all. I’m closing the door. Just tell me if you're done.”
Shun stood up and left.
After the door was closed.
Yue crawled to the water basin and take her time on hot water. While she is taking a bath. She called her big brother.
“Big brother… Are you there?”
“What is it?”
“Umm…”
“Is there something troubling you?”
“Well, I was thinking about the future. When we grow up and you got to married a woman. Who will take care of me?”
“Why thinking such things?”
“When big brother turned fifteen. You’ll be an adult, you can become an adventurer like you always wanted. Adventuring with a disabled person like me is just a burden right?”
“I won’t think that.”
“Still, time will come and big brother will leave me.”
“I won’t leave you… No matter what happened. I’ll protect you, you’re the last family I ever have. I’ll do anything for you… Even we are not blood-related… I’ll stay at your side… Because I love you so much.”
“I love you too Big brother…” Yue dip his face down to the water and whispered with a low-toned voice that never reached Shun’s ears “… No, I love you, Kiri.”
- Writer
