There was a part of August that thirst for the sunlight. The feeling that it burns his skin made him feel comfortable.
After the ruthless battle which he didn't participate in, August only brought a pair of fangs from the black wolf corpse. He could have brought more, but he's too week to carry more than this. Two fangs and a sword already weight so much he could barely keep two in his arms, making the way out was entirely different experience from before. The worst part is the trip back to bonfire was twice as exhaust. Rein might have a reason to left everything behind. But for August, all parts mean money. If it doesn't rot, he might even come back and take some more.
Once arrived at the bonfire. Rein was already there. He's sitting beside his sled, using it to support his back. He whispered as he used a piece of cloth to clean all the blood on his body. Seeing this, August just felt at ease. He didn't actually fight a monster, that's a relief. But if him being honest, he expected more than just a couple minutes fight from Rein. He could had taken that opportunity to learn a technique from him. But since it didn't happen, he just covered his disappointment to himself.
Wait... what could I possibly learn from the man who only use his fists!?
He uses sword, while Rein just used his pure strength. If the fight was gone longer, he could have learned nothing!
Sighed, he walked toward the bonfire. Sitting in the dim moonlight, surround by the shear-cold winter, he decided to say something, "How are you."
Fine! He's fine!
"Good." Rein answered calmly while rubbing the cloth on his right forearm. There's not a lot of blood stain left. Most of his body was already cleaned, the part that didn't, those blood were already froze.
"Hey, uh-mister Rein."
Rein shifted his gaze to August, "Hm?"
"Why didn't you bring anything with you? Isn't that the reason for hunting?"
Rein chuckled, smiled but can be barely seen through his thick beard, "Well, it was hard to carry all that, you might know that already."
August's mouth twitched; he could bare maintained his polite smile, "Yes."
"Second, it's simple, I hunt for fun."
August froze by the answer he heard.
Oh... Great Mother.
Hunting to survive was one thing, hunting for fortune is rather acceptable. But for fun? That's cruel and unnatural. August could never bring himself to killing life just for the fun of it. Not only it goes against his fate but also against his moral. While having a lot of doubt and uncertain, he was sure that he, himself, was not a killer.
Before August could has more comment on Rein, he continued, "But also, that wolf, back there. It was not a usual wolf. As you can tell."
He stopped cleaning himself, "It was called 'Winter Beast', as its name state, it appears only in winter. Hunting every living being it see. It was my duty, to kill it every winter. There are not many villages around in the north, six, to be exact. One perished ten years ago, from the fangs of this beast, I was weak, back then. So, while I'm enjoying myself back there, I also felt the burden of their lives that weight on me. While those villages raid on each other, while the deadly weather took so-so many lives. I just want to get rid of unnecessary death, as much as possible. But yet, it returns every winter."
The intense yet depressing story gave August a goosebump. He could give a million reasons to avoid that battle, but Rein took the only reason to fight and take it personal. After digested such a story, August began to give Rein even more respect. The fear and threatened feeling started to disappear. It might be a good choice to stick around with this old man.
"You hungry?" Rein asked.
August shook his head, "I just ate."
And Paley ate my dinner...
"I see. Well, tell me about yourself."
August didn't know where to begin. He told Rein about how he got here already; is he need something more personal?
Struggling, he tried to find most appropriate topic in his mind.
"Uh...as I said, I was a history professor."
"How old are you? You look too young to be one, no?" Rein lifted his eyebrow out of curiosity.
"Well...Mha'rea is a City of Knowledge, the privilege of us-uh..." August immediately regretted his choice of topic; he couldn't address himself so arrogant.
"Prodigy?" Rein finished his sentence, though, his face showed a sign of disbelief.
August nodded awkwardly. He later added, "I'm twenty, by the way."
Twenty was just a few years earlier to graduate in Mha'rea. Most people do so at their late twenty. August sure is a prodigy in his area. His knowledge of history was the top of his year, surpassed the previous history professor by many times. But again, to be able to teach such a group of students require the most intense and deepest layer of knowledge of that subject, which August didn't even grasp the essence of them just yet. Dying really ruined his whole career.
Rein looked at him with pity, "Do you wish to go back?"
August nodded without thinking. To be able to return home was his objective at this moment. He wants to see his family again.
Rein sighed, "You do know that crossing the White Wall is near impossible, right? Either you are an incredibly strong ascender, or you are extremely rich, now, you have no chance to cross that wall."
It's the truth, throughout his life, no one he knew has ever cross the White Wall their entire life. Maybe the number of ascenders might be even more than White Wall crosser.
That's the problem. Either I get stronger or get richer, one way or another. Even with my extreme stamina isn't enough. Don't even talk about my strength.
It might take weeks or month just to get to the tip of the lowest mountain, another month to get down. It's basically the suicide mission.
August couldn't let go of the thought to abandon his past, he must go back, "Then, what do you suggest?"
Rein thought for a moment, "First, you come back with me to Snow Grove. There, you can find some job or train yourself, which ever you want. You can live with me, no problem."
...
"You want me to live with you? Why?"
Rein chuckled, his voice began to dry, "I was raised by wolf, kid. I am one of them, it's our nature to take care of a hopeless cub. But you don't have to, that's your choice."
Cub? I'm twenty!
"Also," Rein continued without given August to reply, "I might need a good teacher."
I'm afraid you might be too old...ahem....stubborn to learn anything old man.
While mocking Rein inwardly, August didn't have enough courage to say it out loud, so he just politely asked, "Why?"
"I can't just let my children live without a proper knowledge, no?"
Your...children? You have children!? Impossible!
"You have a child?"
Rein laughed out loud, making some chunk of snow fell off the tree, "Not just one! I have many, many children, haha!"
Will I be regretting this later...haha...
"Sure."
He gladly accepted the offer. To have a place to sleep and a food to eat, just teaching some young kids is a pretty acceptable offer. Besides, he could need something to sharp his mind while being here in the far north.
Rein smiled widely. He's please with such an outcome of this conversation. Throwing that piece of cloth away. He pushed himself up, somehow seems harder compared to fighting against the gigantic wolf. He cried out of pain, "Ow...augh, my back."
Back pain...seriously?
After completely stood up, he walked back to his sled. A lantern appeared in his hand; it has no flame in it. A simple looking lantern was made of glass and metal. The design is bland with nothing special. He opened the lantern, suddenly, the fire on the burning wood was pulled into the lantern. Every essence of smoke and ash vanished into the heavy snowstorm.
Rein carefully placed the lantern back into his sled. He turned back to August, "Let's go."
"What!? Now!?" August blurted out.
"Yes. Sadly, the sled only available for one seat. So, you have to take Paley's back."
August glanced at Paley slightly, the wolf didn't seem to notice his gaze. It quietly licked its paw.
"That's fine." August easily accepted his fate. There's no reason to argue back, just get over it.
Now it's time to pay back my dinner!!!
"Just careful with the sword." Rein warned, but August wasn't sure if it's for him or Paley.
He nodded, but so do the wolf. Paley slowly walked toward August; it lowered its body by crouching for him to hop on. Surprisingly, August was still in trouble climbing over Paley's body, this made him realize how weak he currently is.
He carefully placed his sword on Paley's back, using his left hand to hold it. Paley's fur was even softer than he thought, it's like riding a cloud. There was no place to hold to. No saddle, nothing. He just grabbed a chunk of its fur with his right hand and tried his best not to pull it off by accident.
Rein sat on his sled, he shouted loudly, "Paley! Home!"
After finished his sentence Rein closed his eyes.
Paley rush forward recklessly. It was faster than before, maybe it slowed itself down to remain behind its master.
While being recklessly carried through the forest. August couldn't think of anything, all he did was trying to hold back his vomit. Rein, on the other hand, resting nonchalantly on the aggressively swing sled. It swung left and right, hitting dozens of trees but Rein just didn't care and continued to sleep.
In the darkness, snow was the only thing that visible. Three of them travelled hundreds of kilometers in just two hours. By foot it could take week! Along the way August didn't see, hear, or sense any kind of human. Maybe he just didn't concentrate enough or there's simply none. If so, he could spend entire week without any company before he reaches the first civilization. Just think of giving him a terror.
After another hour has passed. August saw something in the sky. Lays of light was lit up in the sky. Moving around without pattern. But that was enough for a tear to froze on his cheek. He found a city!
Finally!
The forest area ended before entering the entire new area. The great plain full of snow. There was nothing in sight except the ginormous structure that shed light from its rooftop.
August lost his word, no matter how hard he tried to describe whatever in front, he couldn't.
A faint yawn drifted from behind, August turned back. Rein was pleased to see that structure.
He smiled, "Kid. Welcome to the Snow Grove."