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This is...

My home.

Last I saw, they were going the opposite way. It's safe here. I'll wrap you up, and then you need to leave.

Thank you. I—

Don't talk and don't fidget, Silverash.

Your wounds aren't that bad. There was some distance, and your thick clothes absorbed some of the impact.

But the bolt has a hooked head. It'll hurt when I pull it out. I'll try to be steady.

The young huntress snaps the arrow shaft and grabs the remaining part. She glances at the wounded woman, who simply nods, showing no sign of fear.

The huntress takes a deep breath and slowly pulls the arrow. Even she shivers at the sensation of the hook grating against flesh.

She does her best to keep her hands steady, until the arrowhead is completely pulled out.

Phew—finally...

Thank you... very much...

I'm not done yet. Hang in there a little longer.

She takes out a packet of powdered medicine, lifts the edge of Enya's dress, and rubs it skillfully on the wound before bandaging it up.

You can yelp if it hurts. I won't laugh.

I don't want to make you more nervous.

It'll only hurt more if your hands are shaking.

Hmph.

...Huh?

A slender, snow-white cloudbeast pokes its head out of the huntress's hood, hanging onto her braids with its claws and poking its wet nose around Enya's fur collar.

Then, it reaches out to sniff at the stranger's scent.

Don't touch it. It doesn't like strangers.

Before the huntress can finish, Enya's finger has already reached the little cloudbeast's chin. Simply touching its soft fur seems to bring warmth to her heart, even in the bitter cold.

(Whisper) Get back in, Rift Cloudbeast...

You call it... the Rift Cloudbeast?

Come to think of it, I don't know your name yet, my hero.

Joanna.

I don't need to know your name, Silverash. Don't think for a moment that we're friends.

Why? You've been good to me.

And how have you people treated me?!

Hmph... forget it. Nothing to do with you, anyway.

By 'you people', do you mean Clan Silverash?

Or Enciodes...?

Not just him.

My dad says the Silverashes have been obsessed with blaspheming Kjeragandr ever since Enciodes's father was clan leader.

He poured asphalt on Kjeragandr's backbone, and poison on Kjeragandr's tail. His greed led to his downfall.

Enciodes hasn't learned his lesson. He's done even more to wreck Kjeragandr's peace.

But his greatest sin was the hole he dug in Kjeragandr's flesh. This disaster is proof that Silverash has angered Kjeragandr.

But Kjerag can't stay in the snowy mountains forever.

Haven't industry and trade brought us better lives? Why would the kind Kjeragandr punish us just because we're living better lives?

Better lives?

You Silverashes sit by the warm fireside, eating the best food and drinking the best wine...

But who has to pay the price?

Us, we do!

Many beasts lived at the foot of the mountains when I was little.

For a thousand years they lived off the land—drank from the rivers, and went back to the forest to find berries and leaves.

But Karlan Trade's railroads divided the mountains and rivers, forcing the beasts to risk their lives crossing the railway.

You even blame them when your trains run them over!

The beasts were forced to move higher, but there isn't enough room there for large packs. They had to fight each other for space and food, and their numbers dwindled.

Not to mention all the cloudbeasts that are sensitive to noise... you have no idea how many died, and how I ended up taking in my Rift Cloudbeast!

But the farmers by the mountains need the fertilizers and seeds that the trains bring. And sick people on the mountains need medicine.

Where's the bountiful game that Kjeragandr once gifted us, then?

The beasts grow fewer each year. Even water from the springs is less sweet.

My family made a living hunting in the mountains for generations, following the holy teachings of Kjeragandr, and we show our faith by sculpting statues in Her image.

Dad... myself, and my siblings, we've always prayed to Kjeragandr, always paid our respects.

Why are WE the ones who have to pay the price?!

Spooked by the sudden outburst, the Rift Cloudbeast leaps down from a trembling Joanna and goes over to Enya.

Enya bends down and lifts it up, placing it back on Joanna's shoulder.

Don't move, or your wounds will reopen.

This is the first time I've heard about any of that.

If you want to argue, go ahead, Silverash.

No, I don't.

I'm... different from the others. I have to stay at home most of the time, and what I know about the land today comes mostly from the accounts of others.

Sometimes I go out and experience things for myself, but it's not enough.

Kjeragandr will never abandon any children of Kjerag. I promise.

Hmph...

You better promise yourself that you pull through whatever's going on...

What was with those bandits, anyway? I know all the hunters living on the mountain. I didn't recognize any of those guys.

I think... they came for me.

For you? Do you have enemies?

Hmm... It's a long story.

If that's the case, you'd better stay put tonight. They won't give up so easily.

My dad's friend has a shop in town, and my siblings have been helping out these past few days. I'll go get some medicine from him.

And get help to fight the bandits.

No, don't.

Why? Are you afraid to be on your own? I'm fast and strong. I can be back by tomorrow morning if I go down the mountain now.

That's not what I'm worried about...

Why? You Silverashes are such a bother. If you have something to say, just say it.

If you can't fight, I have no choice but to get help from town. That's the deal.

Wait, I can tell you—

Enya hurriedly gets up, tugging at the sleeve of the huntress who is about to leave, causing her own cloak to fall off.

The S-Saintess...?

Actually, I'm...

I-I'm sorry!

Please, Your Holiness, punish me for my insolence!

No, I'm not going to punish you...

Please, just sit down...

Enya tries to stop the huntress, but she quickly takes a step back, putting more distance between herself and Enya.

She turns to leave, but then seems to remember something, and spins back around and bows reverentially to Enya, before finally leaving the room.

*sigh*...

General Gulo...

Could you knock on the <i>cheibe</i> door before barging in, Matterhorn boy?

What are you doing here?

I was accompanying Lady Ensia for a checkup. She suffered a car accident this morning, but fortunately she's unharmed.

I was told you were here too, so I thought I should pay a visit—are you alright?

Hmph, just a scratch. But—

Wait, you said something happened to the young Silverash lady?

Lady Ensia was delivering something to Sir Enciodes when she suffered a head-on collision with another vehicle on the way to the Vine-Bead Court. It was fortunate that Madam Degenbrecher quickly arrived on the scene.

You said she was going to the Vine-Bead Court too?

Strange. My master received a summons from the Vine-Bead Court this morning, saying there was a meeting, and it was on the way there that we were struck by falling rocks.