Jack looked at Maya.
So that's why she was behaving like that…
"Do you still have that rope?"
Maya looked at him, surprised yet with a hint of curiosity.
"Rope?"
"Oh…"
"Yes."
She grabbed her bag that was tied behind her back, reaching in to grab something. Meanwhile, Jack stared at Aos.
"And you, tell me about that sword later, will you?"
Aos nodded with confidence.
Maya finally took out a long rope, handing it to Jack.
It was still slightly awkward between them since their last interaction wasn't so smooth. Well, they hadn't seen each other for three days—
that alone made him uncomfortable.
Maya spoke slightly nervously.
"What are you going to do with that?"
Jack began tying the rope to his waist. In doing so, he spoke:
"Well.
Normally, if I'm with you guys, I won't be able to go as fast,
since I can't just glide away.
But with this…"
Jack finished tying it to himself and approached Maya.
He grabbed another part of the rope and tied it to her slender waist. She turned red.
Jack, unnoticed, just kept tying the rope.
And then, the end of the rope he tied to Aos.
"You will be gliding with me."
Aos looked at him confused, speaking with a hint of curiosity.
"Are you sure this is safe?"
Jack faced towards the snowy forest, taking one last look at the map,
changing his direction, now facing it correctly.
"No."
He grabbed his staff that was laying behind his back, pointing it towards the snow below.
"So… Make sure to be careful."
A small sweat left Jacks face.
I hope this works…
He willed a bit of ice to form in front of him, now like a path of thin ice.
He commanded ice to go to his feet, still creating a path.
Maya spoke abruptly.
"Wait, wait—"
He dashed, interrupting Maya's next words.
First pulling Maya and then Aos, filled with worry.
The next second, the three of them were gliding towards the west, with a path created by Jack in front of them, pushing himself with the ice below, pulling the other two at the same rhythm.
He raised his voice for both of them to hear.
"Make sure to move your feet correctly!"
Both Maya and Aos, at first scared, began moving their feet nervously, stumbling over themselves.
Then they began matching the rhythm, now their faces turning slightly excited.
Ao's mouth turned into a nervous smile. His mind echoed:
How cool!
Maya, a few seconds later, caught up as well—
her eyes also turning from fear to excitement.
Now the three of them were gliding in the forest—
not as fast as Jack normally would be able to, but at a considerable speed.
After thirty minutes of gliding, Jack was already tired.
A tear of sweat fell from his pale face.
Since making a path of ice for them sure was convenient…
But his cold energy felt drained.
The night already seemingly darker.
But behind Jack, Maya was also getting tired,
sweat also rolling down her slightly tanned face.
Aos seemed more tired than ever.
His eyes were almost closing.
Losing concentration, struggling to keep up with the other two, he began slipping, losing rhythm. He shouted—
"Brace!"
Jack's eyes widened as he felt the pull from behind.
Aos had fallen, making him and Maya be pulled back.
Aos fell a bit behind.
Jack and Maya's bodies collided, making them fall on top of each other.
Jack was on the ground, his head making a dent in the snow with his eyes closed.
Ouch…
He opened his eyes slightly, feeling weight on top of him.
A soft voice entered his ear.
"Ouch… That hurt."
Maya was on top of him, her eyes closed. Her hair, untied during the fall, now slightly touched Jack's face.
Jack turned red at the sight of her face so close.
Maya opened her eyes slowly, raising herself up with her hands touching Jack's chest.
Her eyes widened at the realization, making her turn red as well.
Jack turned his face to the other side nervously.
She froze for a few seconds.
Maya spoke, stuttering.
"S-Sorry."
She stood up next to him.
Jack also stood up, both shaking the snow from their clothes nervously.
Jack grabbed his staff that had fallen right beside him, and looked at Aos,
who was already sitting in the snow with his eyes wide, his clothes still covered in snow.
His big sword now lay next to him in the snow.
He scratched his back nervously.
"Sorry…"
Jack stared at him for a while.
He untied the rope from his waist, prompting Maya to do so as well—
both still slightly flustered.
Jack sighed and regained composure.
"I guess that's a sign that we should rest…"
**
After some time, the three of them were sitting in front of a fire made by Aos.
Some fish were resting on top.
Maya was wrapped in a black coat, covering herself.
She let out a cold breath, absorbing the heat from the fire with her eyes closed.
Aos was rather used to the cold, only bringing with him a light coat that was easier to transport.
Jack, on the other hand, sat a bit further from the fire, only wearing his sleeved shirt and cloak.
Aos took out the fish that had finished cooking and handed one to Jack and the other to Maya, touching her shoulder for her to open her eyes.
They all ate calmly.
Jack stared at Aos taking a bite of the fish.
"By the way… What about that sword?"
"How are you able to lift it?"
Aos stared at the sword.
"It's the only thing my parents left…"
He smirked nervously.
"Aside from me, obviously."
Jack gave him an empathetic gaze.
"That…"
"How are you able to lift it?"
Aos stared back.
"Oh! That?"
Aos stood up, grabbing the sword by the hilt.
Raising it upward with only one hand.
"It's light actually, but…
That seems to be the case only for me."
"I don't know why, but anyone else seems to have problems handling this greatsword."
"Here, take a look."
Aos finished taking his last bite with his other hand and approached Jack, leaving the sword on the floor in front of him.
Aos spoke.
"Actually, the reason why I'm so tired is because I practiced with this sword…
So I could help you…"
Jack smiled warmly and grazed his hands along the corners of the blade.
His mind entered into thought.
Sharp…
The intricate design seemed like it was carved into the sword.
One spiral next to the other.
At the ends of the spirals there were symbols of leaves, surrounding the greatsword.
Jack stood up and slightly crouched, grabbing the hilt with both of his hands.
He attempted to lift it.
His hair began turning from silver to white.
He was attempting to move it with all his might.
His eyes shining in deep blue.
Sweat coursed around his arms.
His eyes concentrated on the task.
Finally, he lifted the sword slightly—only for him to drop it a second later.
Jack's breath grew heavy.
He held onto his knees, catching his breath.
He raised himself up, his hair returning to raven black.
"Well…
You… are right."
"That is really heavy."
Jack stared at the two of them, their eyes widened looking at his hair.
Aos spoke in disbelief.
"Well, that's new…"
Jack looked at his hair curiously until finally, realization hit him.
Oh, it's the first time they see my hair turn white…
Jack scratched his face.
"Oh yeah, that kind of happens when I exert my power strongly."
Aos looked back at the sword. He spoke.
"Never mind that."
"You are the first to raise the sword."
"Even Nicholas only managed to move it slightly, never lift it…"
Jack stared at him indifferently.
"I can imagine… It is quite the task."
Aos smiled slightly.
Sweat fell from his face.
This guy… became a beast.
**
After a few minutes of conversation, they all lay down in their respective places.
Finally letting themselves sleep.
After all of them slept, a shadow approached the camp slowly.
The shadow walked in between the trees.
A silver cloak could be seen approaching them as they slept.
The steps—quiet.
Suddenly, after the first cloaked figure signaled behind,
others with the same cloak—some with swords, others with bows—approached.
Jacks body shivered his senses telling him something is wrong. He rapidly opened his eyes, shining in blue—the absence of heat warning him of the threat.
He grabbed his dagger, unsheathing it quickly, pointing it at the cloaked figures.
He opened his mouth, attempting to wake up the other two.
"GU—!"
But to no avail.
Another figure behind him placed a small towel over his mouth and nose, covering them completely.
Suddenly, his eyes were starting to close.
This towel… it has som—
His mind turned off, his will attempting to keep his eyes open for a couple more seconds.
The first cloaked figure took off the hood, revealing his face.
His face was robust and pale.
Dark hair fell to his face.
A black beard hung from his jaw.
His eyes—dark, with bags under them.
His voice was gaunt and commanding.
"Tie their hands and take them…"
Jack's eyes finally closed, more voices beginning to fade,
his mind shutting off once again.