Chapter 236: Meet again

As I emerged from thr cave, the darkness faded away as I stepped out into the icy air. The Shade was nowhere to be found, and I couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment that crept over me. It seemed like my search would continue.

I stood by the entrance, my eyes gazing out at the cold world before me. The snow-covered mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks hidden behind a veil of mist. The winter wind whipped past me, carrying the scent of pine and snowflakes.

For a moment, I simply stood there, taking in the world around me. The quiet stillness of the landscape was broken only by the distant sound of a river rushing over rocks. I felt a sense of calm wash over me as I took in the beauty of my surroundings.

The water elements were abundant in this area which only served to further elevate my mood and strength. But I could not linger here for long. My quest for the Shade was far from over, and I had to press on. Who knew what the bastard might do now that it's roaming freely. With a mighty leap, I launched myself into the sky, my wings beating powerfully against the frigid air.

As I soared higher and higher, I scanned the landscape below for any sign of the Shade's aura. The snow-covered ground stretched out before me like a blank canvas, but I knew that somewhere out there, the Shade was waiting.

I could feel the burning fire of determination and rage in my belly, urging me onward. With a fierce roar, I spread my wings and dove toward the earth below, my eyes blazing. The hunt for the Shade had begun. It was best to fly low just in case I missed the bastard's aura. It was too sneaky, after all.

I scanned the area around Icefang Mountain, my eyes darting back and forth as I searched for any sign of the Shade's aura. The snow grew thicker as I ventured deeper into the frozen landscape, but my vision remained unobstructed thanks to my affinity for water mana.

The world below me was a sea of white, and the air was cold and biting, but I barely felt it as I push forward.

As I continued my search, I noticed that the wildlife had grown scarce. The creatures that normally roamed these mountains had likely retreated to warmer climates, leaving the landscape eerily quiet. Lumia's winter was quite long, longer than that of the other kingdoms, it was famed for its harsh weather and strong headed people.

My eyes continued scanning the horizon for any sign of movement. The wind whipped past me as I reached out to the mana elements to help me.

As I flew deeper into the mountains, I began to notice subtle changes in the landscape. The snowdrifts grew larger, and the trees became sparser. The air grew colder, and the wind grew stronger.

It was there where I started to come across certain blacked clearings in the snow below, without a doubt caused by the Shade. It's aura was very strong so I had no doubt it passed by there. And so I followed the tracks. The snow-covered hills stretched out before me, their pristine white surfaces marred only by the occasional patch of blackened earth where the shade had passed.

But then, as I crested a small hill, something caught my eye. A clearing, barren of snow, lay before me. And in the center of that clearing, a pile of bodies.

I descended towards the ground, my powerful wings beating a steady rhythm as I approached the gruesome scene. The stench of death filled my nostrils as I drew closer, and I could see that the bodies were human, their limbs twisted and contorted in unnatural ways.

But that was not the worst of it. Their skin was a sickly shade of obsidian similar to what had happened to the villagers, these people could not withstand the aura and power of the Shade. This was the work of the bastard, of that much I was sure.

I was sure I was getting closer as remnants of the shade's aura were starting to become more frequent. Its stench was akin to a thread that guided toward the monster. First, I landed with a thud, my massive frame shaking the ground beneath me. As I drew closer to the pile of bodies, I could see that they were all different ages and genders.

'Was it another village that fell, victim?' I wondered.

After a few moments of searching through the bodies, I let out a deep sigh and shook my head before I leapt into the air and began to follow the trail of aura that the shade had left behind.

The trail was faint but still visible, a dark smudge against the stark white of the snow-covered landscape. I followed it for miles, my eyes scanning the ground below for any signs of movement.

It didn't take long before I came across a forest with some obvious signs of battle, the aura of the shade undoubtedly passed through the forest but the lack of dead bodies was puzzling.

'Was It Lana?' I wondered as I circled the forest in the air. 'Did she manage to fight off the bastard?' After a few seconds of contemplation, I continued on my way, following the trail.

That was when I found her.

****

As I tended to Shane's wounds, my ears picked up the unmistakable sound of powerful wings beating against the cold winter air.

I glanced up, and my heart leapt with excitement as I saw the majestic form of Lord Aether, descending toward me. I watched in awe as he landed gracefully, his massive frame casting a shadow over the snow-covered ground.

For a moment, I could only stare in wonder. 'Oh, he is truly magnificent...' As I gazed up at him, a wide grin subconsciously spread across my face. He had come.

"Lana," His voice boomed in my ears making me shiver in excitement. How lucky was I to hear my name uttered from his mouth? 'Ah, no good, I have to calm down, I can't let my emotions take over.'

"My lord, It is great to see you again!" I lowered my head in respect and gave him a deep bow when I felt his unfathomable mana reach out and pull me to my feet.

'Ah, how kind, he truly is perfect!'

"What happened here?"

"About that..."