"I have no choice. I can't pretend I didn't see this. Our options have run out, and I need to do something about it urgently. Even if it's a desperate measure…" Ryan sighed, looking at the slave who was fast asleep. "We'll have to keep moving through the night. Even if it's just as dangerous as…" He stepped closer to wake him, but then hesitated at the last moment.
He kept staring at the slave, then clicked his tongue. "We are too exhausted. We need to rest, even if only a little." He sighed.
Ryan then walked to the exit and looked at the moon, its reflection shining in his eyes. He soon closed them, his mind quickly entering a meditative state that didn't replace sleep, but came close, as he waited for a few hours to pass just to recover part of his lost energy.
At three in the morning, with the moon at its zenith, Ryan opened his eyes and moved swiftly, waking the slave once again. "Wake up, champ. We need to move." Once again, he woke slightly startled, but soon calmed down and stood up.
"What's going on?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.
"They're too close. We need to get out of here right now," Ryan said calmly. "Besides, since you're our guide, I need you to tell me more about the region so I can come up with a plan. Because I highly doubt our escape will last much longer."
The slave swallowed hard as he noticed Ryan's shadows deepen. Even though his tone remained neutral, the pessimism was obvious, so obvious that it made the slave consider surrendering right then and there.
Maybe they would suffer less that way.
Ryan noticed this and quickly stepped forward, bumping into his shoulder. "Don't give in to despair, or you'll have already lost the battle. There's still hope. Trust me." The slave nodded, lifting his head. "Anyway, I need you to tell me where we are, what's in these woods, and what I can expect on the road ahead."
What was revealed next made both of their expressions grow heavier. Ryan had imagined the situation was bad, but not this bad.
"Right now, we're above the Uriel Mountains. We're far from home. Very far. The only path that offers warmth is the one we came from, and we can't go back." Ryan nodded. "The path ahead takes us deeper into the glacial continent, where not too far from here, we'll reach a crossroads with three paths."
He paused for a moment, then continued.
"To the right, there's a plateau, and on it rests a human city that, despite the cold, can only be described as warm. It's a common stop for travelers, who settle into inns, eating roasted meat and drinking beer. In a way, it's a slice of paradise for travelers before they continue their journey."
Ryan raised an eyebrow briefly, sensing the dark tone in his companion's voice, but soon his expression cleared, and he nodded before asking with tension, "We're not human… will they accept us?" The slave smiled broadly.
"I'd be satisfied with a quick death." He chuckled softly before continuing.
"The middle path leads to a descent that gives access to the continent. It's narrow, and there are many abominations, as well as bandits. Nothing is certain, except uncertainty. Everyone takes that path anyway. After all, in the plains below, there's an ocean of opportunities. There are Alter tribes, people like us, and also great human cities."
Ryan nodded again and asked, "Those bandits… will they try to enslave us too? And those tribes, will they accept us? And finally, how long would it take to cross?"
"Maybe. 'Maybe' is the answer to everything." The slave shrugged. "There are many types of bandits, from those who just want money to those who will sell you at the market. And tribes… they're complex, but they usually reject outsiders. As for the time… at least a week to cross the region. Still, we could think about returning home from there, since it connects to other continents."
Ryan shook his head, they didn't have that much time to run. Soon they would be caught, and they needed a faster alternative. He took a deep breath, hoping the last path would be the solution, and asked him to continue.
"The last path climbs toward the clouds. Few have ever dared to tread that region, and even fewer have returned. It's what they call a Death Zone. It's the home of the Glacinata Bears, regarded as symbols of misfortune and calamity. Each time they descend, they wipe out entire cities just to satisfy their thirst for blood…" He swallowed hard as cold sweat ran down his face, and once again continued.
"But the worst was when they discovered why they descended from their caves, going so far from their territories… The Glacinata Bears were always great hunters, crowned by nature itself, but there was something… something unnatural… that began to hunt them. That something made them flee in fear… no, not fear… but absolute terror."
The slave looked at Ryan. "The Glacial Wolves, a tribe of demonic savages, led by a demon himself and his cursed witch. They make blood sacrifices to evil gods, as well as many profane rituals. They don't ask questions. The fate of anyone who crosses their path is a violent and merciless death."
Ryan sighed heavily, throwing his head back as he stared at the ceiling. "What you're describing is one nightmare worse than the other."
"Indeed… there's no solution… we should surrender…" The slave lowered his head again, and Ryan glanced at him in total silence before standing up swiftly.
"Anyway, it's time to go," Ryan said, and the slave looked at him. "Come on, don't just stare at me. We have to move… and besides, thank you." The slave flinched, surprised.
"For what?" he asked.
"I would've given up if you hadn't told me all this…" Ryan let out a slight laugh. "It's ironic, the very thing that made you despair only reignited my determination." He then looked toward the deep forest.
"I have a plan, but first we need to tame the night and keep moving forward."
The slave behind him didn't know what to say, but slowly stood up, a strange glint in his eyes. For some reason, it was easy to trust Ryan, so easy, in fact, that the despair quickly faded, giving way to hope.
"What lies ahead of us?" Ryan asked once more.
"Abominations, Cursed Beasts, and all kinds of terrifying things," the slave replied. Ryan shuddered briefly, then quickly hid his expression. "You're not going to get scared now after all that talk about determination, are you?" the slave teased him.
"O-of course not…"