The Mountain Challenge

Getting what they needed, it took the two the whole day to bury their loved ones and friends before leaving the village since it is no longer safe for them to stay, but the problem is where would they be going to?

With a sadden look on their face, the boys continue to head out of the bamboo forest and it seems to be the first time they have stepped foot out of the forest and came to their view was a mountain covered in snow. 

"If we are to make it to the other side, then we'll need to get past that mountain" said Alden while staring at the mountain.

"Then what? Where will we be going once we make it past the mountain" asked Ethan with a worried look as he stares at Alden? 

Alden paused for a minute before continuing with a serious look on his face as he replied to Jason. 

"Once we make it past the mountain, then our next objective is to search for a place to stay, and I doubt there won't be any village on the other side".

"We need to move now before it get really dark" he added before settling out. 

Since it has gotten to this, Ethan and Alden continue with their journey to get past the mountain, but it was easier said than done as they both find it difficult to make it past the mountain given the powerful wind pushing them back with great momentum. It wasn't easy for them with the cold sipping into their skin.

"I don't think we will be able to make it to the other side Alden, why don't we turn around and look for another way" Ethan suggested with his teeth due to the heavy cold. 

"There is no other way other than through this mountain, Ethan. If we don't get through this mountain and search for a place to settle in, it would be only a matter of time we run out of resources" reply Alden with gritted teeth as he tried to push through. 

"But there is also a chance we might lose our life in the process, so let's just turn around. I believe there is another way to the other side, all we need to do is take our time to search around" said Ethan as he tried to persuade Alden. 

"No can't do Ethan, we have climbed this far to give up" Alden refuses as he continues to move forward even when the mountain becomes difficult to climb with the wind slashing into his skin as he continues to push forward. 

With a sigh, Ethan continues to follow him from behind, knowing fully well that he's all he got as a family and leaving him behind isn't an option since it would increase the difficulty of surviving on his own. 

After climbing the mountain to some point, they begin to find it extremely difficult to move their body as they were immobilized by the cold to the extent that even speaking becomes a problem for them. 

"I'm… sorry, Ethan" said Alden as he struggled to speak.

"You don't have to be sorry…. Ethan, we are just not strong enough to make it to the other side" replied Ethan as he begins to lose consciousness.

It didn't take long before the two of them lost consciousness while standing close to each other as they prepare for their dismissed but just after losing consciousness, the pendent Ethan was wearing suddenly let out a ding sound as a green energy begin to flow from the pendent as he engulfed the both of them before shooting into the sky at an incredible speed before descending into the ground as it clashed into the ground not far from a city surrounded with some strange iron in form of a fortress.

All it took was just a minute for the green energy to shoot into the sky and landed not far from the City with both of them unharmed but were still unconscious. 

It took a long time before they managed to gain consciousness and when they did, they were surprised to see that they were no longer in the mountain but rather in a dark room with nothing to see apart from a burning fire in the distance.

"Where are we?" asked Ethan as he tried to make out where they were.

"Not sure but it isn't the mountain so we are saved for now I guessed" replied Alden as he sat straight before breathing out in relief. 

"Seems like someone came to our rescue after we lost consciousness" said Ethan as he began to make his way towards the burning fire to warm himself as he could still feel the cold in his body. 

"Guess we have luck on our side for being saved, but the problem right now is where are we" that is the only thing on Alden's mind since gaining consciousness.

Just as they were trying to get some warmth from the fire, the door suddenly swung open as a bright light Pierce into the room lighting the whole room. With the light from the outside brightening up the room, they were able to make out the exterior of the room.

They discovered they were kept in some kind of storage room with swords, spear, axe and other weapons arranged in the walls together with some raw materials. 

"Looks like the both of you have woken up" a feminine voice rang from the outside. 

Turning around to see who it was, they were able to discover that the voice belong to a lady that seemed to be in her late thirties. Haven't gained their attention, the lady let out a chuckle before inside with a bowl in hand as she begins to approach them. 

"I thought you would take so long to wake up given your condition but now that you are awake, you just saved me the stress of feeding you both this soup" said the lady with a smile as she passed the soup to them.