[66.1] The Secret of the Mountain

I stood at the foot of the vast, snow-capped mountains. From far away, they looked so small… But up close…

I craned my neck with a blank expression on my face.

It's huge! 

This is the famous Snowy Mountains?

It does look pretty daunting…

Not to mention-

I stepped forward once, "Snow."

I stepped back once, "No snow."

Huh.

This is the first time I've ever seen a mountain with snow starting exactly at the base. Usually, the addition of snow is gradual the further up you travel, but this looks like there's an invisible field holding the snow in.

I bent down and closely stared at the very start of the snow. I reached my hand out and ran the tips of my fingers over it.

It sent a chill down my spine and caused my stomach to burn in pain. I held my stomach in surprise, but as soon as I pulled away my hand from the snow, the pain disappeared.

Odd.

Is this the effect of the mountain? They did say anyone who entered had never returned and that magic behaved irregularly here.

The wind blew past my ear like a comforting embrace.

Wait…

Shouldn't I have brought a winter coat?

Before I realized it, I was already inside and standing ankle-deep in the snow. Instead of feeling cold, it felt like a summer day.

I looked down at my feet buried in the snow feeling confused.

It's not cold…

At all.

How is that possible?

What kind of magic could do that?

I tilted my chin up and squinted against the sun. A few specks of snow were falling making the mountain appear serene and peaceful, but under that peace was a strange feeling causing my soul to feel uncomfortable in my own body.

I started dredging up the mountain, being pulled by an otherworldly force. In that trance, I hadn't even realized how long I had been walking for. It felt as though power was funneling into my body, allowing me to walk without stopping to rest. 

I could feel the air swirling around me, embracing my skin as if it were a piece of me that had been missing for too many years. Each flake of snow that fell on my skin felt like sparks dancing along it.

I didn't know how long I had been walking until I suddenly kicked something with my foot, causing me to stumble and fall into the snow. I blinked in confusion, finally freed from the strange sensation possessing me.

Eh?

Where am I?

I turned around.

I felt the air leave my lungs, sucked out by the crisp breeze. I stood overlooking all of the world.

Or at least, that's what it felt like.

Beautiful landscapes sprawled out in front of me, literally taking the breath out of my chest. The further I looked, the more I could see. 

On one side, I could see the dense trees and foliage of the Macabre Forest. 

On the other side, I could see the vast unending ocean.

Farther in the distance were sprawling dunes and in front of me…

Was the Odalis Kingdom.

I let out a sigh, "I bet it would have looked even better before-"

-Before me.

My lips pressed together and I forced myself to turn away from the picturesque scene. It was then that I finally noticed the piece of wood sticking out of the ground which had finally broken me out of my trance.

I knelt down and stared at it closely.

It almost looks like some kind of structure.

I tried pulling on it, but it wouldn't budge. I took a few steps back and took a deep breath. As I exhaled, the snow at my feet melted.

I slowly drifted down…

Further…

And further…

Until-

My feet hit solid ground. 

I looked up in amazement. The snow had disappeared, revealing a part of the mountain that wasn't visible before. Strangely enough, as soon as I caused it to melt, the snow stopped falling.

I walked on the frozen ground to the uncovered buildings and ran my hand along the wood that had not rotten nor changed since the day it was first covered by snow.

I stared at it stupefied, "This… Isn't it the traditional Korean style houses?"

This world shouldn't have such a thing.

I stepped into the courtyard and walked along the walls in surprise, "This had to be made by a Korean… There's no other explanation. It had to be another arriver."

I guess that makes sense.

I couldn't have been the only Korean arriver, and judging from this structure, they couldn't have been from my era.

I passed several rooms as I walked through the courtyard and counted each room. There was probably enough space to fit a dozen people.

I wonder who lived here before?

I passed through an arc and caught sight of stairs disappearing into the snow. I took one step, melting the snow as I climbed them. Eventually, they led to an opening in the mountainside.

Wait… Is that…

A cave?

Before I stepped into that cave, a shout came from behind me.

"Stop!"

I spun around in surprise to see a single figure walking up through the snow and into the courtyard.

His bright orange eyes vibrated as shadows twisted around him like angry snakes.

I snickered, "What? You're not coming in your real form today? You still dare to hide inside the body of my friend?"