assistirfilmes Chapter 116 - Leaving the Tribe's Village
Chapter 116 - Leaving the Tribe's Village
"Are you ready?" I asked, glancing at her with a hint of concern as I noticed she'd only brought a weapon.
No food, no backpack, not even a coat to guard against the biting cold. I couldn't help but worry that she'd freeze out here. But then again, she'd lived her whole life in this unforgiving place. Maybe the cold barely fazed her, the way Canadians or people from icy regions back on Earth could shrug off what others would consider unbearable.
"I am," she replied, her voice steady, betraying not a hint of hesitation.
She was dressed in form-fitting clothes that accentuated her athletic figure, garments designed for agility rather than warmth. In a different time, under different circumstances, I might've imagined her surrounded by admirers. But this was hardly the moment for such thoughts.
We stood at the village gate, and I took a final glance back at the place where I'd spent the last two months, training as if my life depended on it—because it very nearly did. The memories felt surreal. I never would've thought I'd end up sacrificing half my strength for access to an energy I hadn't even known existed, a power as elusive as it was mysterious.
Still, as I stood here, feeling that energy pulsing faintly within me, I knew it had all been worth it.
"If there's nothing else you need, let's go."
She nodded, and we stepped beyond the village's boundary, the path before us leading straight into the stark, white wilderness of the Snowy Mountains.
"This is your first time in the Snowy Mountains, right?" she asked suddenly, her voice slicing through the quiet as we trudged through the thick, undisturbed snow.
"Yeah, first time," I said, scanning the endless expanse of white stretching in every direction. "I didn't even know this place existed until someone I know mentioned it."
Phoebe's eyes widened for a brief moment, a glimmer of surprise that quickly faded as her expression returned to its usual calm.
"Alright, then I'll give you a quick rundown of the Snowy Mountains—and why so many outsiders either die or vanish within them."
She chuckled softly. "No, that's just part of our superior human physiology. We're not affected by heat or cold from birth. I never actually managed to enter the lake—when I finally found it, Zero was already there, and months of searching came to nothing."
A shadow passed over her face, and I was struck by just how much effort she'd poured into finding that place. I had assumed this journey would be quick, especially with her by my side, but it seemed I'd misjudged the challenge.
"Will it take us months again?" I asked, a trace of worry in my voice.
"No, not this time. I've got a map," she said with a faint smile. "It shouldn't take us nearly as long. But our best hope of reaching the Icy Lake quickly is with guidance from the Ice Elves. They know every inch of these mountains."
"Then let's find them and ask for their help."
She smiled, though there was a hint of doubt in her eyes. "That would be ideal... but there's one problem."
"What kind of problem?" I asked, frowning slightly.
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"They aren't exactly friendly to outsiders, to put it mildly. I have no idea how we'd convince them to help us. And they're no pushovers; they're powerful and would have the advantage of their own territory if it came to a fight."
"What's the fastest way to find the Icy Lake and Zero?" I pressed, disregarding her concerns.
"Through the Ice Elves, no question. But as I sai—"
"Then take me to them. I'll talk to them myself and find a way to convince them to help us."
Phoebe's eyes lingered on me, a mixture of admiration and skepticism. The Snowy Mountains loomed ahead, silent and vast, as if waiting for us to make our move.