194: THE PEAK WITHOUT MIST

THE PEAK WITHOUT MIST

"SOME of the wild beasts here are a great source of food.  There were even a lot of edible fruits and vegetables scattered around.  So even without enough money, we haven't been starving," Clay said when Aurum asked where they get their food.  "But some of us still go down the mountain once a month to buy supplies we couldn't find in the forest."1

They were still a quarter away from their destination.  Clay wanted to continue talking.  Because that way, he wouldn't have the time to think about the soft hand he was holding.  If he let himself drown in that feeling, he probably wouldn't want to ever let go.  Which was really bad in itself.  Because that's a thought he shouldn't ever entertained.  

"But wasn't hunting those wild beasts dangerous?" Aurum said after she heard Clay's answer to her question.

"We only pick those wild beasts that we're sure we could handle.  And we set traps around, so sometimes we don't necessarily fight them face to face."

"Hmm.  Then where do you get your money?  Do some of you also work?"

Clay gazed down at Aurum and grinned.  "Whenever we raze a village orphanage under the Temple, we also steal from them.  You can't imagine the amount of gold coins we got from that."

But that amount was still not enough.  Especially since the number of people joining them were continuously growing.  There were even children among those.  So they needed more to support and help those people properly integrate back to society.  That's why Clay didn't hesitate to agree with Argent when he said that he's willing to sponsor their cause.  After all, if there's someone in this world who didn't lack money, then it's Argent Blackbourne.

His only requirement was for Clay to let him see the pendant that his father left him.  That was not really such a hard thing to do.  That could not even be considered as a sacrifice.  In comparison to the benefits he and the others would gain, letting Argent borrow his pendant was almost nothing.

As they walked closer to their destination, the mist was also slowly receding.  Aurum could now see her surroundings much clearly.  

"The mist is disappearing," she commented.

"It's because we're nearing the peak of this mountain," Clay said.  "The mist thinned more and more as you walk closer to the top."

"Oh I could see a number of wooden houses in the distance," Black said.

"We built those as a temporary housing for us."

Clay and the others who were thrown out of the village with him worked for a bit in a carpentry job.  That's why they were at least able to build these rudimentary houses.  It's not the best looking of houses but it was certainly enough for them.  

"Wouldn't the mist lose its purpose if it disappeared by the time you get to the top?" Aurum asked, if she's not mistaken, this mist served as a camouflage for Clay and his friends so that they wouldn't be immediately found by people.

"It's fine.  Normally, people wouldn't even go here.  Aside from the abundance of wild beasts, there's also a lore going around this area that prevents people from climbing these mountains.  It was said that these mountains were cursed by the goddess.  That's why it was surrounded by mist all-year round.  As time went by, the lore just became more and more out hand.  They say that stepping here, people would immediately be swallowed by the mist.  That there's no possibility of them going back.  Instead of the mist, that lore is more useful as a camouflage than anything," Clay explained.

Well, the people in the five continents were all suspicious by nature.  So it's not really a surprise that people believed something like that.  If she didn't grow up with her brother, she would also probably be the same.  "And yet, you guys still chose this place as your base."

Clay shrugged.  "Who has time to believe some lore when you have to look for a place you could settle into?"

Their group consisted of 11 young adults and four children.  It's their main priority to find a place to temporary settle.  At least for the children.  It wouldn't be good to constantly change places, especially with four kids in tow.  Good thing they found this place.  It didn't only provide them with land but it also gave them an abundant source of food.

"We're here!" Black announced.

Aurum looked around, the mist already completely disappeared.  She could now clearly see the surroundings.  The peak was not steep, like most mountains.  The ground was a bit flattened.  That's probably why Clay and his friends were able to build these simple wooden cabins.  But the first thing she noticed was the huge and tall tree standing at the very middle.  It's like some sort of umbrella encompassing the whole area.

"Do the wild beasts here not attack this area? Aurum asked.  

She noticed that there wasn't any sign of the place being ravaged by beasts, something that's quite ironic considering how this mountain was supposed to be teeming with them.  

"No.  Weirdly enough, they don't go to places that's not surrounded by the mist," Clay said.

On their first night here, everyone was on guard.  But as days passed by, they slowly noticed this strange phenomenon.  Which probably only added to the advantages of this place.    

Her brother would surely want to study this mist if she was here and heard that.  That's what Aurum first thought.  Argent was simply the type to study anything that awaken even the slightest of her curiosity.

"Isn't that Boss?" called by a voice from their left.  

"What, the Boss is back?" followed by another.

Then four young men who were near the place they're at, came running towards them.  All of their attention was on Clay.

"Boss, was your mission successful?" one asked.

"Did you manage to save the elf?" added another.

"Everyone, calm down.  I'll tell you all about it later," Clay said, trying to get the people surrounding them to back away a little.

And then finally, one of the four noticed Aurum and Black's existence.  Well, not really Black, just Aurum.  

"This is…?" he said while staring at Aurum in awe.

Then the other three also turned to Aurum.  The girl had long flowing golden hair tied in a high ponytail.  Her big amber eyes were surrounded by long golden eyelashes.  Her lips were pinkish red.  And her delicate skin was as white as expensive porcelain.  

All of them couldn't help but just stare.  This was the first time they had seen such a beautiful girl.  No, it's more accurate to say that she was the most beautiful girl they had ever seen.

Aurum smiled at the four.  "Hello."

And the four just felt that their hearts had just been hit by an arrow.

Looking at the four's bewitched expression, Clay furrowed his brows.  There was a prickling sensation inside his chest.  He suddenly thought that these four looked a bit annoying.  

"Boss, who is she?"

"What's her name?"

"Boss, you didn't kidnap her did you?"

Clay felt like a few muscles on his face were starting to tick.  "Go back to whatever you're doing earlier," he almost growled.

Then he pulled Aurum towards the cabin that he shared with his sister, almost stomping on his way.

Aurum stared at Clay's back and she couldn't help the tender smile that crossed her lips.  

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