What would happen if a race were tortured and exploited, simply because of the mistakes of their ancestors who cast all those punishments upon babies born in the future?
Would anyone stand on their side? Even though they are not guilty, they are always insulted for living as their descendants.
Is it possible that a time will come when they will be regarded as noble again by everyone? How long would it take for that day to arrive?
Until when will they continue to live in the shadow of death? Is that their fate as a race that carries the bloodline of those ancestors?
A day where they can laugh together, enjoy proper food in a warm place— is that nothing more than an impossible dream for them?
Do people not have any sense of empathy, even though they all possess human souls in different vessels?
With such great power, they should be able to take revenge on everyone who has ruined their lives, but once again, their ancestors do not allow them to live according to their own will.
Their power is sealed by a curse, one that only they themselves know how to break free from.
They are merely innocent souls; if they had known the treatment the world would give them when they were born, would they still have chosen to be born into this world?
——
Cold... Cold...
The wind kept blowing fiercely, piercing through the thin clothes I was wearing. It only made things more painful.
My skin felt as if it were freezing like ice. The longer it went on, the more it felt like my legs would fall off and run away from my body.
Only I could hear how loud my stomach was growling. I truly had not eaten anything for the past two days.
However... I cannot cause any more trouble if I end up collapsing. I would only become a burden to them all.
My steps grew weaker; I walked slower and slower with the large bag I carried on my back. Could it be that I would die crushed by the very things I carried myself?
The footwear I wore was already badly worn out. It felt as though I was walking on freezing snow without wearing anything at all.
"What's wrong..."
I asked when the person in front of me suddenly stopped. I lifted my stiff head.
The voice sounded like a whisper; cold air escaped from my mouth as I tried to breathe through my blocked nose.
One by one, we entered a cave covered by piles of snow above it. It looked like a resting place in the middle of the snow.
"We'll stay here. We'll leave early tomorrow morning. Don't do anything that would let the monsters notice our presence!"
Kayo, the leader of this group, let us go in first while he checked if anyone had gone missing or was left behind.
My legs started to hurt badly the moment I stopped walking. I found it difficult to move again as the person in front of me began to enter.
Everyone behind me passed by without trying to care or help carry the burden on my back. Their faces all looked exhausted, just like mine.
I don't know how many times I held my breath in my chest just to stand up again, until finally I managed to walk as before.
When I reached the mouth of the cave as the last person before Kayo entered, he suddenly blocked my way.
I completely stopped and looked at him with slight fear. Did I do something wrong?
Questions like that kept filling my mind as he stood right in front of me, as if I alone would be left to rest outside the cave.
"P-please! Let me go inside... I-I'm carrying firewood in this bag, so please—"
In panic, I tried to beg him with both of my numb hands.
My eyes felt incredibly heavy. I didn't know what to say, even my tears felt as though they had already dried up.
"Lin, are you still thinking about that?"
My back suddenly felt lighter as I closed my eyes, surrendering to whatever he was about to do.
I flinched and opened my eyes, then reached back to feel for the bag on my back that had already disappeared—
When I looked at him, Kayo had already taken the bag from me and slung it over both of his shoulders, as if taking over my role.
I could only stand there in silence, staring at him in confusion. I didn't know what to do after he took my bag.
D-did he want to leave me here, is that why he took my bag—
"Hey Lin, are you okay?"
"H-huh—"
Without warning, Kayo touched the hood covering my head. My ears felt pressed by the warmth of his palms.
"Relax, Lin. We'll all be fine. Now, let's go inside. We're going to prepare food for today—you want that, right?"
He said that while turning his back. He briefly glanced at me before stopping mid-sentence, then walked into the dark cave ahead.
...Did he leave the choice to me? B-but, he never told me to stay outside...
Oh right, now that I think about it... Kayo is my childhood friend. How could I forget something like that? Has the constant blizzard been slowly eroding my memory?
...
"W-wait for me!"
Before he disappeared into the darkness of the cave, I shouted and ran toward him with the remaining strength I had.
Even though my legs felt like they were about to break, somehow my chest felt warmer after remembering the bond I had with him.
I stood beside him, tugging at the side of his clothes. I felt like I wouldn't faint as long as I held onto him.
Kayo looked at me as if surprised, but then he smiled sincerely at me.
He let out a small chuckle before releasing my hand from his clothes. Instead, he held my hand tightly with his.
None of us wore gloves. I could feel just how warm and comforting Kayo's hand was against mine.
My face felt warmer after his touch. Maybe I was happy...
"Your hands are really cold, Lin. I wonder how you can endure without thick clothing." He laughed after seeing my reaction.
"Your hands feel really warm too... What did you do to keep them like that? Magic, right?" I asked in response.
Kayo didn't answer my question, but we continued walking side by side into the cave.
As we walked, I began to remember how to regulate body temperature using the magic we used to practice. I had even forgotten this... how foolish of me.
Well... I'll ask Kayo to teach me again later. I want to learn how to use magic, especially if it's with him.
—
"But yeah, I'm confused how we can carry such heavy bags. Are you seriously still a girl?"
"W-what do you mean by that...? Are you starting to insult women now?"
"No, no! This bag is seriously as heavy as what an adult man would carry. I just want to know where your strength comes from."
"If you want to know, why don't we go back and visit their graves to find out?"
"...Never mind. I guess Lin really is still a girl."