The snowstorm had passed, but not the snowfall. Snow was still falling at a steady pace. A breeze swept through, and birds flew overhead.

  "How long till we reach the edge?" Lyra asked, shoulders slumped and posture bent. They had been walking since morning, and the sun was about to set.

  "Not long. We should camp in her cave," Arix replied, looking back at the beast walking silently behind them. Arix led the way, with the beast following at the rear.

  “Are you sure we are going the right way?” Tarin asked, walking beside Arix.

  “Yes, I am,” Arix replied.

  The snow was not deep in this part, but it was still enough to slow their pace.

  "I am tired," Lyra said wearily. Then Arix announced, "We are here.”

  She looked up to see the edge. Her tiredness faded, replaced by excitement. She walked ahead and went straight to the cliff.

  "Whoo!" she said, looking down the cliff.

  The others reached the edge and looked at the view–a village in the distance and fields that stretched endlessly.

  “Should we continue north?” Tarin asked, turning to Arix.

  “I see a village over there in the north. Let’s head there,” Arix replied, kneeling and looking ahead.

  “There is also a forest beside the village,” Tarin said.

  Meilie stood there, looking at the view and the village. The beast sat behind her, licking her paws.

  Let's go. The cave is not far," Arix said, turning downhill.

  Everyone turned and followed Arix downhill.

  Not long after, they reached the cave. The beast howled at the entrance as they all started walking inside.

  It was already nighttime. Stars were shining, and the air smelled fresh—but not for long.

  As they went a little deeper into the cave, the clean smell disappeared, and a foul stench took over. Everyone covered their noses, grimacing and trying to hold their breath.

  “What is this smell?” Lyra asked. She was walking behind everyone.

  The beast was in front, followed by Arix, Meilie, then Tarin.

  "I don't know," Arix said, then grew curious about Meilie. Can she smell it too? he thought, turning to look at her. She was holding her nose. I guess she can, he thought.

  “Ew, this is creepy,” Lyra said, looking at the dead bodies of rabbits and other creatures.

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  Everyone kept walking and reached the beast’s nest. The two little beasts were sleeping there.

  “Aww, so cute!" Lyra said, looking at them. She went ahead and looked at the beast. "Can I touch them?” The beast stared at her silently.

  Arix also stepped forward with Tarin and Meilie when the little beasts’ nap was interrupted by all the noise. They woke to see Arix and the others, then immediately ran toward them.

  “Come here, you sweet little creatures,” Lyra said, petting one beast’s head.

  The other ran toward Meilie, who looked frightened. She stepped back, trying to maintain distance, but it kept chasing her. She started running. She was not afraid of the little beasts but didn’t want them to climb all over her.

  “This is a good place to camp. Can we stay here tonight?" Tarin asked Arix.

  Yes. She won't mind," Arix replied, and they all started setting up their camp.

  That night, joy filled the cave. Lyra played with the beasts while their mother slept in the corner.

  Tarin and Arix talked about their plan for the future while Meilie slept.

  “We have to find someone who knows about the Divine Prison," Arix said.

  "Hmm," Tarin said. "Let's hope we find some other expeditioners so we can get information.”

  "Yes," Arix said. "I wonder what happened to the other humans who came to this mainland."

  “Probably most of them are dead. And if someone is alive, they would be far ahead of us.”

  “Why did no one find this weapon before us?” Arix asked, taking out his sword.

  "This sword was dropped here two or three years ago. Perhaps no one has ascended this mountain since then," Tarin answered.

  - - -

  In the morning, they bid farewell to the beast and her young before leaving the cave.

  The beast didn't join their journey because of her young. She seemed sad too, as if she wanted to go with them, but her young needed her. Her eyes were wet, and Arix noticed.

  He walked toward her, touched her head, then rested his forehead against hers and said, “Don’t worry. We will meet again.”

  The beast howled, looking up, and everyone finally went ahead outside the cave, waving.

  They started descending the mountain. The snow began to disappear as they went downhill.

  The weather cleared, and grass started sprouting again from the ground.

  They camped under the open sky that night, watching the stars.

  Arix stayed awake most of the night and only fell asleep when the sun was about to rise. The sword and her desire for revenge kept Arix awake the whole night.

  In the morning, they resumed their descent. At the foot of the mountain, trees dotted the landscape and grass fields stretched ahead.

  "We finally made it!" Lyra stretched her arms overhead.

  “We sure did," Arix said, stretching.

  "It feels so nice to finally be off that mountain," Tarin said.

  Meilie stood beside them silently.

  "How about we rest today? We're all tired," Arix suggested, sitting on the ground.

  “But it’s only morning,” Tarin said.

  “Come on. We deserve a day off,” Lyra insisted.

  Tarin agreed. They made camp at the foot of the mountain and rested for the day.

  - - -

  Not far from the village Arix was about to enter stood the same two-headed entity—two tails and four legs. But he was not alone. A human stood beside him.

  “Are you ready?” the two-headed entity asked the human.

  "Yes, I am," the human replied.