“I don’t know if it’s from being submerged in water or if that damn lightning fried it, but less than sixty percent of the systems are functioning. Plus, one of the main thrusters is completely scrapped... It looks like this big guy and I will have to stay put and wait for the maintenance team from home to bring tools and parts for a rescue.”
Ronald shook his head helplessly, using a towel to messily wipe the oil from his face, his brow furrowed with frustration.
Seeing this, Midir patted him on the shoulder, handed him a clean wet towel, and said gently.
“Don’t take it too hard, Ronald. No one wanted this to happen. But don’t worry too much; if it comes down to it, we can stay and keep you company for a few days. We can continue our journey once you’re ready.”
Ronald took the towel and gave Midir a grateful look, but then he sighed again.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I don’t want my problems to delay your itinerary. Especially Aila—her vacation time is limited, and I can’t let you two waste any more time. Besides, the distance from here to Emerald City is only a few days’ walk for the two of you. I’d still prefer it if you moved on as planned.”
At that moment, Aila walked in carrying the freshly cooked dinner. She smiled and handed a bowl of steaming meat soup to Ronald, saying half-jokingly.
“Yeah, but if we leave, who’s going to chat with you and keep you from getting bored, ‘Master Mechanic’?”
Ronald shook his head with a smile, a hint of warmth hidden behind his dismissive expression.
“It’s fine. I’ve been following my uncle around with these mechanical inventions since I was a kid; I’m used to being alone. I don’t have as many worries as you two. There’s no telling how long No. 23 will take to fix. You can’t stay here and fish with me for a month, can you?”
Seeing Ronald’s firm stance, Midir and Aila could only silently exchange glances, agreeing to rest for one more day before setting off.
A day passed quickly, and under Ronald’s urging, the two finally resumed their journey toward Emerald City.
Before leaving, they left him enough dry rations to last a month and thoroughly renovated the cave so his life in the wilderness wouldn't be too harsh.
Ronald hadn't been idle either. He used the time to export a detailed map from No. 23 for them, marking their current position, the best route to Emerald City, and various dangers or points of interest they might encounter along the way.
According to the map, they had actually already entered the territory of the Emerald City-State, though there was still a long way to go before reaching the capital city itself.
After walking due north for a full day and passing through a desolate forest, the two finally returned to the broad main road. Scattered figures could be seen walking toward Emerald City.
Although Emerald City was at a similar latitude to the royal capital, its proximity to the Valley of Ice meant it stayed at a very low temperature year-round. Moreover, it was now deep autumn, and white frost had begun to cling to the branches by the roadside.
Feeling the temperature drop sharply, Aila quickly signaled Midir to take out the clothes they had carefully selected in Azure City from the storage space.
She picked out a lavender wool cloak and wrapped it gently around her graceful figure. While it covered her playful side, it also added a touch of gentleness to her appearance.
“Are you really that sensitive to the cold? I didn’t think the temperature here was much colder than at the top of the mountain in Azure City,” Midir asked, looking at Aila all bundled up.
He had noticed that when it got cold, his body would subconsciously release the fire elements within him, keeping him at a warm temperature. This made him less sensitive to external temperature changes.
Even though the cold air didn't affect him, Midir still took out the blue scarf gifted by Rosal from the storage space and wrapped it gently around his neck. He did this both to cherish the sentiment and to avoid looking too conspicuous among the crowd.
Aila gave Midir a playful roll of her eyes. Toying with the white hem of her cloak, she spun around lightly. Her skirt fluttered, looking like a violet in full bloom dancing in the cold wind.
“I spent good money on this; how could I not make use of it? What do you think of this cloak? Does it fit?”
“It’s quite nice. Didn’t you say you hadn’t been to Emerald City before? Then how do you know so much about the things here?” Midir nodded and continued asking.
“You’re being so perfunctory! I’m not even twenty yet, okay? The continent is so big, how could I have seen it all? But speaking of which, when I was little, I thought about sneaking off to see the Valley of Ice. My mom caught me and dragged me back, though. I even had a fight with them over it,” Aila answered after thinking for a moment, a look of nostalgia in her eyes.
“Oh? Why did you want to come here as a kid? Was there a reason?”
“There wasn't any special reason. I think I was about ten? Uncle Roland mentioned how beautiful the snow was here when he came to visit. Driven by curiosity, I tried to sneak into their caravan when he left... But well, a child's tricks can't hide from adults. I was eventually caught and brought back.”
“Roland? Why does that name sound familiar? Who is he?”
“That would be Christopher Roland, the current Saint Lord of the Holy Church of Light. They even sent people to recruit you; could you at least pay a little attention? He might have become your boss!”
“Hahaha, but I turned them down! So you never made it here after that? It seems your parents were quite strict with you. If there’s a chance, it would be nice to meet them.” Midir laughed as he listened to Aila’s description.
“Actually, they aren't that strict. They’re usually very busy. There were only two reasons they didn't let me come. First, the magical beasts in the Valley of Ice are too dangerous. Second, in their words, the Valley of Ice is some kind of resting place of souls that shouldn't be disturbed. But the more they forbade it, the more I wanted to go. That’s why I prepared all the information on this place long ago. It just happened to work out since you were coming here anyway.”
Thinking of her past blunders and her parents' discipline, Aila pouted in slight dissatisfaction but continued to talk incessantly.
“You certainly are carefree. But with your current strength, you'll definitely be fine protecting yourself no matter where you are,” Midir teased with a smile, though his words were full of genuine acknowledgment.
Aila feigned indignation, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Hmph, are you looking down on me? Protecting myself? This young lady is an expert who can hold her own! Take this!” With that, she gave a light leap, the air around her filling with the sense of laughter and challenge.
...
The two continued their journey in a pleasant atmosphere, but their pace was not slow at all. To Midir’s surprise, the two frenzied dragons did not appear again.
Just as Ronald had said, at noon on the third day, they finally arrived at the banks of a magnificent, surging river.
The rushing water reflected the greenery on both banks and the prosperity in the distance. On the opposite side of the river lay their destination—the Emerald City-State.
Rate on N.U.
