Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Final Push

The wind had grown colder.

It howled around them now, sharp and biting, carrying thin flurries of snow that cut through even their thick cloaks. Noel and Selene climbed steadily, their footsteps crunching over frozen stone and packed ice.

They had passed the halfway mark yesterday.

Now only the final stretch remained—the hardest part.

The air here was thinner, each breath a little sharper, each step a little heavier.

Noel led the way, Revenant Fang strapped securely to his back. Beside him, Selene moved with silent determination, her blue cloak drawn tight around her, wand ready in one hand.

The path narrowed as they climbed higher, winding between jagged rock faces and snow-choked ledges.

Noel glanced up at the towering peak that still loomed ahead.

“We don’t have much left,” he said quietly. “With some luck, we’ll reach the top today or tomorrow.”

Just as the words left his mouth, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.

[New Mission: Treat the disease and save Elyra’s mother. Time remaining: 10 days.]

His jaw tightened.

’I have to hurry. I really don’t want to find out what our friendly system would do if I fail this mission.’

He pushed the thought aside for now, focusing on the climb.

There was no time to waste.

The wind grew stronger as they climbed.

Each ledge they reached seemed narrower than the last, the stone slick with frost. The trail wound between jagged cliffs now, the sheer drop on either side hidden beneath swirling snow.

Noel slowed as they reached a broader ridge.

Then he heard it.

A low, resonant growl—deep enough to vibrate in his chest.

He raised a hand. Selene stopped instantly, wand already raised.

Ahead, massive shapes emerged from the snow—towering forms covered in dense white fur, taller than any man.

Snowclad Yeti.

Their eyes gleamed faintly beneath heavy brows. Each breath steamed in the frigid air, claws thick enough to shatter stone.

Noel’s voice was calm, but sharp.

“We need to be careful with these. From what you said, they’re Adept rank—we can’t afford to be careless.”

Selene gave a single nod.

Noel drew Revenant Fang in a smooth motion, the blade gleaming faintly in the pale light.

As the first Yeti roared and charged, Noel dashed forward—drawing their attention.

“Stay behind me!” he called.

He moved with sharp precision, weaving through the beasts’ slow but powerful swipes.

One of the Yeti lunged.

“Flare Trap!”

Flames burst beneath its feet, halting its charge with a roar.

Another swung from the side—Noel ducked beneath the strike, blade flashing:

“Fire Arc!”

A sharp line of flame seared across its chest, but it barely staggered.

Behind him, Selene’s voice rang out:

“Dimensional Hold!”

An invisible force wrapped around one of the Yeti—its limbs dragged as if through thickened air, movements sluggish.

Selene pressed the advantage.

“Glacialis!”

Shards of ice tore into the trapped Yeti’s flanks, freezing the joints.

Noel moved fast—he struck the slowed creature clean through the heart with Revenant Fang, twisting the blade deep.

The beast collapsed with a thunderous crash.

[You have slain Snowclad Yeti (Common – Adept). You received 0.20%.]

[Current Core Progress: 01.53% – Mana Core: Adept]

He spun toward the next one, shifting smoothly.

Selene watched intently, eyes sharp.

’He’s moving them around as he wants, keeping them from surrounding him and putting me in a safe spot so I can cast spells properly.’

As another Yeti advanced, Noel lunged in again, ready to draw their fury and clear the path for her next spell.

The battle had just begun.

They didn’t stop.

After the first battle, they pressed forward—moving deeper into the narrowing pass.

The wind howled between the cliffs, snow swirling thick around them.

Another low growl echoed through the air.

Noel cursed under his breath.

“More.”

Two more Snowclad Yeti lumbered into view—followed by a third, then a fourth.

Massive, powerful creatures—each step cracking the frozen ground beneath them.

Noel drew a sharp breath.

“I’ll draw them again. Focus on casting.”

Selene gave a single nod, eyes already glowing faintly with mana.

Noel surged forward.

“Fire Arc!”

A searing line of flame slashed across the first Yeti’s chest. It roared and charged—exactly as he wanted.

He spun away, drawing two of the creatures toward him.

“Flare Trap!”

Flames burst at his feet, forcing one Yeti to stagger.

Behind him, Selene raised her wand.

“Dimensional Hold!”

The air rippled—one of the Yeti froze mid-charge, limbs slowed by invisible force.

Noel met the next beast head-on.

“Ignition Surge!”

Flames wreathed Revenant Fang as he drove it deep into the Yeti’s side. The creature howled, swinging wildly—but Noel twisted away.

“Glacialis!”

A barrage of ice spears struck the slowed Yeti from behind, piercing deep.

Noel finished it with a clean strike to the neck.

[You have slain Snowclad Yeti (Common – Adept). You received 0.20%.]

[Current Core Progress: 01.73% – Mana Core: Adept]

He didn’t slow.

The next Yeti lunged—Noel darted aside.

“Frost Wall!”

A sheet of ice erupted before it, halting its charge.

Selene seized the moment.

“Glacialis!”

Another storm of ice tore into its exposed flank.

Noel struck low—Fire Arc slashing through weakened joints.

The beast collapsed.

[You have slain Snowclad Yeti (Common – Adept). You received 0.20%.]

[Current Core Progress: 01.93% – Mana Core: Adept]

Breath fast, Noel circled wide—keeping the last two at bay.

Selene’s voice rose again.

“Dimensional Hold!”

One Yeti slowed—Noel charged the other.

“Ice Spike!”

Jagged spears of ice erupted beneath it.

Noel struck through the opening.

[You have slain Snowclad Yeti (Common – Adept). You received 0.20%.]

[Current Core Progress: 02.13% – Mana Core: Adept]

Another surge of ice and flame—another beast fell.

[You have slain Snowclad Yeti (Common – Adept). You received 0.20%.]

[Current Core Progress: 02.33% – Mana Core: Adept]

They climbed higher—another group met them near a frozen ledge.

Four more.

Noel led them again—cutting, burning, dodging—Selene’s spells locking them down.

[You have slain Snowclad Yeti (Common – Adept). You received 0.20%.]

[Current Core Progress: 02.53% – Mana Core: Adept]

[You have slain Snowclad Yeti (Common – Adept). You received 0.20%.]

[Current Core Progress: 02.73% – Mana Core: Adept]

[You have slain Snowclad Yeti (Common – Adept). You received 0.20%.]

[Current Core Progress: 02.93% – Mana Core: Adept]

[You have slain Snowclad Yeti (Common – Adept). You received 0.20%.]

[Current Core Progress: 03.13% – Mana Core: Adept]

The last Yeti fell with a final, bone-rattling crash.

Noel stood over it, breath steaming in the cold air.

’This is what I meant, system. Now this—this is worth it. 0.20%, that’s a whole different game. And now that I’m Adept, my mana reserves are way higher than before.’

He looked back at Selene.

They were both tired—but still standing.

Noel gave her a small nod.

“Let’s find shelter.”

The wind was growing worse.

The wind was brutal now.

Howling down from the higher ridges, it whipped snow across the path in blinding gusts. Even with their cloaks pulled tight, Noel and Selene were forced to move carefully, leaning into the wind with each step.

Visibility dropped sharply.

Noel scanned the cliff faces as they climbed, eyes narrowed against the stinging snow.

“There,” he said finally, pointing toward a narrow fissure in the rock wall ahead.

A deep gash in the mountainside, half-hidden by ice and shadow.

Without a word, they made for it.

Inside, the space was narrow—barely wide enough for two to move comfortably—but the walls of stone blocked the worst of the wind. The air was still bitterly cold, but without the gale tearing at them, it felt almost warm.

Noel set down his pack first.

“This should do for the night.”

Selene nodded, her voice low. “It’s good enough.”

The wind howled faintly beyond the stone walls, a distant, constant sound like a mournful voice lost in the night.

Inside the narrow fissure, the world felt small.

Closed.

Quiet.

Noel and Selene lay back to back, their cloaks drawn tight. The stone beneath them was cold, but after hours of fighting and climbing, exhaustion dulled the discomfort.

Even so, Noel found sleep elusive.

The narrowness of the space meant their backs touched lightly through the fabric—warmth passing between them in the smallest, almost imperceptible way.

He could feel her breathing—steady and measured, but not quite asleep.

For a while, neither spoke.

The fire from their battles still hummed faintly in Noel’s veins. The System message from earlier echoed in the back of his mind, a quiet pressure he couldn’t shake.

And yet… here, in this strange, narrow shelter, another weight pressed on him—one harder to name.

He shifted slightly.

“Sorry… I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

There was a pause—soft breath, then a quiet reply.

“It’s okay.”

No more than that.

Noel let out a slow breath, closing his eyes.

Then, after a long moment, her voice rose again.

“I have a question… can I ask it?”

He opened his eyes, surprised by the tone.

There was a hesitation there—a tension he hadn’t heard in her before.

’The always cold Selene wants to ask something? Now I’m curious.’

“Of course.”

A pause. He could almost feel her gathering the words.

“Why did you do it?”

Noel frowned slightly. “Do what?”

A breath.

“Why did you help me?”

The words hung in the air, fragile as glass.

He felt her back tense slightly against his.

Even through the fabric, even without seeing her face—he knew this wasn’t easy for her to ask.

“You mean why I… ’kidnapped’ you?” he asked softly.

“Yes…”

A beat.

Noel’s throat tightened for a moment.

’I can’t tell her it’s because I know what her mother’s like and how much I hated reading that in the novel.’

For a breath, the silence stretched.

Then he spoke—steady, but not entirely smooth.

“I thought having the top student from the Imperial Academy of Valor with me would make things easier.”

Even as the words left him, he knew she would hear the hesitation in them.

And she did.

On the other side of the thin space, Selene’s breath caught faintly.

She didn’t press—but the doubt in his voice was clear.

She felt it.

She knew.

Yet she let it go.

A long silence followed.

And then—so soft he almost didn’t catch it:

“Happy birthday.”

The words were whispered, hesitant, almost shy. But given their closeness—back to back, no more than inches apart—Noel heard them perfectly.

His heart stilled for a moment.

He hadn’t expected that.

He swallowed lightly, a faint warmth rising in his chest.

“Thank you,” he murmured back—low, genuine.

The words seemed to ease something in the space between them.

For Selene, even this small phrase had been a step—a big one.

The girl who rarely spoke unless necessary, who kept her words sharp and cold… had offered something simple.

Something soft.

A small gift in the quiet of the frozen night.

Noel smiled faintly to himself, unseen.

Another pause.

Then her voice again, soft but a little steadier now:

“Good night.”

Noel’s reply was gentle.

“Good night.”

Outside, the wind continued to cry against the cliffs.

Inside, in the narrow warmth of the stone, two figures lay quietly, separated by little but their own guarded hearts.

And something had shifted between them.

Not loudly.

Not fully.

But enough.

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