One Bottle of Ice Wine - Ice Fantasy fanfiction - Chapter 14

At first glance, nothing seemed to change. Above the towers of Snow Blade City the wind blew merry shreds of clouds, the Guards' horsemen whipped up a cloud of dust rising high in the middle of the Hump Filled Plain, and as Ying Kong Shi left the last trees of the Snow Fog Forest, the mountains greeted him with a familiar glisten. However, as he turned his head, he noticed a reddish glow from the corner of his eye. Where he had previously seen only dull, dirty grayness, there was now the light of a long-seen fire illuminating the surrounding peaks. He was struck by the realization that someone had moved back into the realm of the former Fire Clan.

There was no time, he thought, and hurriedly awoke a spell, stretching the distance separating him from the Palace to nudge the Chief Adviser to the side without any particular ceremony. Liu Shu groaned frightenedly behind his desk, but sensing the origin of the magic, he nodded politely and stood up to head for Mirage Hall. Shi fluttered nervously with his wings and flew around the towers of Snow Blade City. He didn't want to leave anything to chance, he checked the guard carefully as he had to entrust the Ice Clan to them while he was away.

Time… Long-long ago he was willing to wait patiently for millennia if it was necessary, and now he began to count almost in hours, as if he were mortal, for whom even a heartbeat of time could be equal to eternity. The knowledge that Yan Da had fallen into the hands of the Ancient Spirit made him so impatient. Suddenly it seemed nonsense to entrust mortals with tracing Hui Heise and his father's sword. Can he trust a team of newborn Guardians and their hot-headed Captain, whose attention may be distracted from time to time by a dreamy pair of eyes?

He frowned. This danger threatened him himself. He was unable to get Yan Da's gaze out of his head as she looked at him and uttered his name… Yan Zhu laughed at him because she thought it would hurt his pride that the girl's first thought was a mortal boy who didn't even really exist. The Ancient Spirit was wrong, of course. Considering that for the Fire Princess it all started there, on that particular river bank, Shi wasn't even surprised. He smiled faintly and landed on the balcony of Mirage Hall with one last flick of wings. He changed back and put on his princely dress. He felt the light weight of the crown in his hair and entered the suite.

He took a deep breath to inhale the familiar scent of snow lilies when there was a knock and the door opened. Liu Shu did not waste his time. Shi turned to him with a smile, as an unexpectedly frosty stream of air swept away the curtains behind him.

- You damn, lunatic, stupid…

Shi waved his hand in horror, and the moment the High Counselor straightened up, the doors to the balcony closed with a huge bang. The Prince could only hope that Snow Bird would stay out there. Liu Shu raised an eyebrow, but then kept his opinion and bowed again.

- Your Highness, I'm glad you're back.

The Prince asked impatiently:

- What did you find out? Tell me quickly… Yu Yan's Dream Cube was not very talkative…

- The Dream Weaver and the Praedor will be here immediately to report to Your Highness. Hei Zhao preferred to stay in the Shadow Cave with some members of the Bear Clan. According to his message, even those hooded men are willing to stay calm even in the absence of the clan chief, only because of his persuasion.

Shi sighed and glared at the balcony. He blew one. No movement. For the time being…

A jingle signaled the arrival of the Chief of the Mermaid Clan. The Dream Weaver followed in silence, but after the bow, he began to speak not waiting for the Prince's questions.

- Your Highness, according to the dream, Hui Heise went south following the Gray Crab River. He probably escaped the villages and the Guard Camp making a large circle, as nobody but this one man saw him.

- Very cunning, - Shi growled. - Who was that one?

- Unknown to us. Something like a peasant named Chou Lou. I have to say, Your Highness, his dream was a child's play to decipher. He’s not filled with too much sense, that is for sure. But he had a nightmare… About Hui Heise killing him in his dream. His grew three hands and he wielded a sword in each of them.

- Three hands? - Shi laughed in relief as he remembered Yan Da's story of the two villagers and their strange companion with his swords. - So he did steal my father's sword?

And he followed us to the house to kill that poor horse and scare Yan Da to death, he added silently. He nodded.

- Thank you, Yu Yan. I think this is some very useful information. Now I know for sure where the villain went. He will probably cross the path of one group of the Guard as he heads backwards.

- Back? - the Praedor asked in surprise.

The Prince nodded.

- He is heading north toward Yan Zhu, who has moved into the former fortress of the Fire Clan. The Ancient Spirit must have promised him a remarkable reward in exchange for my father’s sword.

- Shouldn't we stop him, Your Highness? - Liu Shu asked politely, but with some concern in his voice. - When the Ancient Spirit obtains the sword…

- But she won't. - Shi interrupted. - Trust me, and I'll make sure Hui Heise doesn't see the snow-capped peaks ever. All the Ice Clan can do now is get ready. If Yan Zhu hides something else in her bag, we have to be ready to defend ourselves. The best of the Royal Guard, led by the General, will soon be here. High Counselor, it will be your job to take care of their accommodation.

- Yes, Your Highness. - Liu Shu bowed.

- I'm staying too. - the Praedor declared. Shi nodded at her with appreciation. The Mermaid Clan was never famous for participating in battles. Their current support was more symbolic, but it meant even more to the other clans.

- Thank you, Praedor. Yu Yan… please notify me immediately if you find out anything else. - the Prince added, then dismissed the others with a wave of his hand.

As the door closed behind them, he took a deep breath. There was no time to blow out, and Xian Xue was already there right in front of his nose, with eyes blazing sharp snow crystals swirling around him, that pierced Ying Kong Shi's skin.

- Stupid boy! - he hissed. - What did you think? Are you completely out of your mind?

Shi stepped back and pulled himself out with feigned calm.

- What is wrong? Why are you so surprised? I woke up the Princess and then what?

- Surprised? Don’t you think you should have chosen a better place and time? You have exposed us to Yan Zhu's mercy! She now has the Princess, and as I hear, your father's sword is not far from her either. What on earth could separate her from victory and unrestrained destruction? Your mortal friends?

Shi opened his mouth in response, then fell silent as he grasped the meaning of Sno Bird's words. Friends? He had made the mistake of trying to solve everything on his own countless times before not appreciating enough the support of those who voluntarily sided with him.

- Yes, Xian Xue. My friends… They’re trying to help, and I’m not going to let them down. We get the sword back, then we go after Yan Zhu.

- We? - the other asked with his head tilted.

- Come with me. To the mortals. And we both will do our job.

Snow Bird pulled his mouth.

- You're too confident again. - he remarked disapprovingly. To his surprise, however, Shi only said softly:

- I won't have another chance. Ever…

The Applicants of the Royal Guard and the officers accompanying them followed the river north. They rode in a comfortable trot, the pace was dictated by Kai Xi Wang, who had ridden for hours in front of the team without ever looking back. Which, of course, was very difficult. Especially when he heard Bai He’s tinkling laughter, as she could no longer take a serious face when listening to Lu Shan’s many jokes about fish. He looked up at the sky, counted the already flickering stars, and decided it was time to rest.

He raised his hand and ordered them to stop. He Bian and Lu Shan immediately gathered their own team around them and began handing out short orders. Some Applicants watered the horses, a few others stood guard around the resting team.

- It's darkening soon. Where do we camp? - He Bian asked the Captain, who supervised the preparations with his arms folded.

- I think they could have marched a bit more - Lu Shan added. - Look, none of them sat down.

Kai Xi Wang looked around, then farther away, looking at the very first trees in the forest.

- We must catch a lone warrior in the Heights. And we are too loud.

- What do you want us to do? - He Bian asked back. Lu Shan, who had been telling jokes since they left the Camp, remained remarkably silent. - They're just Applicants, what did you expect from them? In addition, riding on horseback…

The Captain walked away thoughtfully. Maybe he miscalculated their odds? Only thirteen Applicants… He remembered the Prince, who spoke in a determined, confident, and calm voice during all their conversations. Yet he clenched his hand into a fist behind his back again and again. Even for being an immortal he feared something. He took a deep breath and looked up at the mountains.

- There's a clearing behind the first peak. - he remarked, staring at the green wilderness. - We'll camp there.

Lu Shan followed his gaze.

- Behind the peak? - he hummed. - Then the horses will stay.

- Unpack them. Yun Tian will take the horses back to the Camp. If he takes mine on a halter, the others will follow anyway. Then he should talk to my father and follow the General to Snowball City. I'd be happier if I didn't even have to worry about him as well.

- Yes. - Lu Shan saluted, and they ran away with the other officer.

The Applicants obeyed without much grumbling. After He Bian dropped a word or two about unsolicited words about the Selection, everyone speeded up and quickly gathered themselves. They were done in just a few minutes because everyone wanted to overtake the other to get good points. The Captain checked his sword, then pushed it back into its sheath and walked up the narrow path with a satisfied face. As the last ray of sunlight faded below the horizon, the team disappeared into the darkness among the trees.

Yan Da was crouching on a rock. She no longer felt as hot as when she first regained consciousness. The heat that had initially stopped her breath had now subsided. Or rather, she herself began to get used to it, and after a while she felt nothing hotter than the fire that burned from within her. The moment Yan Zhu grabbed her from the garden, the eternally burning fire ignited again in her soul. Sounds were born in her head, whispering and playing a shadow play to her, and memories of the past slowly surfaced from the dance of the pop-up figures.

The Ancient Spirit visited her several times to tell her stories from her own perspective, but Yan Da just lay on unanimously and half-listening. It took a while for her to remember the Rememb’rer, a spell she had fabricated herself, with which she could preserve the memories she treasured. From then on, everything was much easier. She waited for Yan Zhu to disappear and peeked in secretly. She soon became convinced that only one half of the truth had been told to her. Slowly the pieces came together and she finally decided what is what she wanted.

- We could eat something. - the voice of the Ancient Spirit came behind her, and she turned back, forcing a meaningless expression on her face. - Meat and wine. I hope it will be enough. Unfortunately, the options here are a bit limited.

- I don't understand why you brought me here. - Yan Da remarked as she took the plate and the cup. - The Fire Clan is destroyed. There is nothing here.

- Nothing? - Yan Zhu snapped angrily, then continued in a slightly calmer voice. - We needed a quiet environment where no one bothered us. At least until you get back your strength. Eat. - she ordered.

Yan Da saw no point in debating. She was thinking about Ying Kong Shi without pause. As he spoke to her, as he tried to comfort her and convince her that everything was fine… Everything was not right, obviously, but whatever Yan Zhu thought about her feelings, she was wrong. This was not the first time she had been reborn. But for the first time, it was not the Fire Clan, not the Ancient Spirit, but something else that gave her strength. She didn't know how yet how, but she was willing to do anything to return to the Prince. Anything but, of course, to submit to Yan Zhu's insanity. She regained her old memories, but she did not lose the new ones either. Her brother, Bai He, and her father… she had to think about them too. She began to eat with a sigh.

Yan Zhu walked up and down beside her.

- Where are we going? - she asked.

- If you can fly, we'll fly. Closer…  to our enemies.

- To our enemies?

- We're going to destroy the Ice Clan, Princess. Together with the Prince and the Guardian who betrayed us, over and over again.

- The Guardian?

- Xian Xue, the Snow Bird. The Guardian Spirit of the Ice Clan. - Yan Zhu explained. - Didn't your father tell you about him?

- My father never told me stories. - Yan Da murmured, swallowing her last bites.

- Snow Bird is as traitorous as Ying Kong Shi. He ignored my feelings and left me.

- Do you miss him?

- What? - the Ancient Spirit looked back at the Princess, who was sipping wine with an empty look.

- Do you miss him? His face, his gaze, his smile?

- Don't be ridiculous, Yan Da. What would I do with a silly Guardian who cares only about the Ice Clan and some little princes?

- You could love him. As before.

Yan Zhu was silenced in shock. Then she stirred such a fire storm that the rest of the fried meat collapsed like a black ash heap on the rock after the plate crumbled beneath it. As the Ancient Spirit furiously vanished, the Princess stroked her hair, which was tangled by the hot wind, and smiled to herself. Here we go.

In the Elm Heights, under the rich, deep green canopy of the trees, the Guard marched in dead silence in the deepening darkness. Kai Xi Wang looked into the eyes of each Candidate at the beginning of the trail - Bai He was no exception, of course - and reminded them thoroughly: he would kick out with his own feet anyone whose voice he hears before reaching the campground. Thus not a single twig broke, not a single sigh was heard. The wind began to dance among the branches, whispering quieter or louder and cracking the twigs. By the time the darkness covered the mountain with the cold mist drawn behind it, they reached the clearing that Xi Wang was talking about. The Captain stopped the Troop and sent the officers forward to look around carefully just in case. He only allowed to set the camp when they came back founding no trace of a soul around.

A few suitable, huge-growing trees were selected, at their feet the whole troop could hide almost unnoticed. He didn’t let them start fires. He divided everyone into groups of two and assigned a continuous guard.

- What are we waiting? - He Bian asked in a whisper as Kai Xi Wang was about to leave for an inspection.

- For Prince Ying Kong Shi.

- What? - the officer stared at him with his mouth open. - Are you talking about the Prince of the Ice Clan? Is he coming here? What will the Applicants say?

- Nothing, I recommend. - Xi Wang growled impatiently as the other raised his voice, forgetting about himself. Then he regretted it. - I'm sorry. You will know everything in time. Calm the Applicants.

- You calm yourself. - He Bian grinned. - You're so tense you would soon explode. She's fine, don't worry. For now… - he chuckled, leaving the Captain, who was whirling to himself, for in the present situation he could not even throw a single branch after him.

The Applicants seemingly were not be be worried about. They especially enjoyed the situation because they sat there in the thickening darkness as commanded, moving only when necessary, and by some miracle making the least noise. Kai Xi Wang walked around the trees. He stepped slowly, every breath echoing in his ear. Luckily, the wind was still blowing, so at least the trees were rustling loud enough over their heads. He rewarded everyone with a few soft words or a pat on the shoulder. He only realized that something was wrong when he was standing there turning to the blackening woods, with the little group behind him, and someone was missing. He spun around seeing the girl nowhere. He tried to force himself to calm down, but soon gave up.

You're the Captain of the Guard, he scolded himself. Behave, Xi Wang.

He headed back. As he walked up the easy slope, the forest around him began to lighten. He pushed down a swearing, angrily scolding some careless immortals, but by the time he reached the edge of the clearing, he realized that it was not the Prince who had arrived, only the Moon had risen. Its wide crescent glowed as if a thousand lanterns had been lit up there in the heavens. He lowered his head in despair. In the faint light Hui Heise will be able to move much faster wherever he goes, while his troop will not be able to move. He retreated into the woods, but then something sparkled in the corner of his eye. He turned there, but saw nothing more. He froze and watched, maybe he would notice again. Then he laughed at his won stupidity. Probably just some bugs. He took another step, but his foot bumped into something.

- Hush… Careful. - a voice whispered in the wind softly.

The Captain crouched on the ground and fell to his knees. He half-closed his eyes, as he had been taught in his own time, and watched. Suddenly, something sparkled before him as the moonlight shone in the eyes of the figure hiding behind the tree trunk, then it disappeared again.

- Bai He… - he whispered in relief, his voice smiling.

He forbade the Applicants to speak loudly, but wished he could hear her voice again. He held out his hand and grinned as her fingers touched his.

At once, it was as if light had been sucked out of the world. Clouds covered the Moon, stronger gusts of wind began to besiege the forest, and out of nowhere chunky raindrops began to knock on the tree trunks around them.

- Damn it. - Xi Wang growled, grabbing the girl’s hand. - Come on, things have changed. We can't stay here.

He pulled her up to him, and now, not caring about the noises, they hurried up to the others to the edge of the clearing. The first lightning struck near them, so he could cry out with a calm heart:

- Line up by two! We leave immediately! Tighten those straps! We will not stop for the sake of anyone! Don't leave your mates!

Bai He just shook her head. By the time she came to herself, all the Applicants, along with the officers, were lined up behind the Captain, and she was standing there alone, again, buffled. The next moment, however, she was already running with Kai Xi Wang at the head of the troop, who wouldn’t have let go of the girl’s hand for all the treasures in the world.

They didn't get far. The blaze of the next lightning strike illuminated a figure in front of them, and Xi Wang immediately stopped.

- Where are you heading in such a hurry, Captain? - Ying Kong Shi grinned at him, only his blue eyes gleaming in the dark. He took a mortal shape, his dark hair already dripping with water in streams, and his clothes soaked in the sudden shower. But apparently he didn't care.

Xi Wang nodded toward the troop lined up behind him.

- A hint would be nice.

- Go on. - Shi nodded. - I'll show you the way.

Ka Xi Wang continued to run. Bai He and the others after. They just rushed forward blindly, more carefully in the dark, and faster in light. Barely a minute passed, and somewhere in front of them a snowbird cried. Xi Wang immediately changed direction. They moved forward so without stopping and resting, up a hill, down the valley, then up again, following Shi's voice. Their feet stumbled in the invisible stones, slipped on the soaked tufts of grass, and their eyes were already dazzled by the never-ending cruel play of darkness and light.

Suddenly Ying Kong Shi appeared before them. Xi Wang halted, and Bai He, stumbling behind him, hit against his back. The Captain's heart sank as he heard the girl desperately gasping for air.

- Gulch. - Shi said, with some frustration in him voice. He was aware that mortals had their limits. Xi Wang was not so restrained. He suppressed a swearing, then looked at the Prince, who summoned a faint sphere of light in his palm so they could see each other somehow.

- We can't contnue in dark and pouring rain.

- Hui Heise increases his advantage by every minute.

- I know. But I will not risk our lives. We stop now and leave in the bright morning.

- We have to catch up with him before the Fire Mountains. This forest is nothing compared to what is still ahead of you, Captain.

Ka Xi Wang took a deep breath. He felt the gaze of the others on his back and knew he had to make the right decision now.

- We'll stop. I'm not arguing about that. In the meantime, if Your Highness thinks so, find out exactly where this Hui Heise is going to. See you across the gulch tomorrow morning.

Ying Kong Shi looked into the Captain's eyes, but realized he was right. Together with Snow Bird they can nose out the clan chief’s tracks, and the rest can be left to the Guard. He nodded, then disappeared.

Kai Xi Wang and the officers directed the troop to a small area surrounded by dense bushes. Now he could really see that the Applicant had reached the end of their strength. They fell to the ground where they stood, one after the other. To the officers' hustle and bustle, a few ran through the hiding places of the bushes, searching for dry leaves and branches, so they finally managed to light a few small fires to at least warm their hands. The tents were not set up, but some sheets were stretched between the tree trunks with ropes, so they were at least protected from the rain, and after some were hung on the sides too, the lights of the small fires remained hidden.

He Bian conjured a corked bottle out of his pack and handed it to the others. Everyone took a big sip of the palinka, then ate a few bites. Bai He shook her head as the bottle was handed to her, because she no longer had the strength to speak. She threw herself at the feet of one of the trees, threw her back against it, tilted her head to the wet trunk, and closed her eyes. She would have fallen asleep immediately if Xi Wang hadn't shrugged her shoulders. He pressed the bottle of palinka into her hand, waited for the girl to sip and cough up a little. He pulled a piece of rice dumplings from the small bag he had brought with him and gave it too to the girl. Bai He tried to protest again, but he insisted. He knew very well that the girl needed to regain her strength in the short time given to them until morning. As she chewed slowly, he picked up the girl’s own sack and pulled the blanket out of it. He tucked her up with it, Bai He swallowed her last bite, muttered something, and the next moment she was asleep.

Kai Xi Wang watched her for a while, but then was forced to check on the others.

- No one is an exception? - remarked Lu Shan right next to him.

- Shall I cover you up too? You just have to say it. - the Captain growled back making the officer grin.

- I didn't say anything.

The officers began the guarding as usual, to woke up the Candidates later for the shift at dawn. Kai Xi Wang also chose a tree to relax a little. He slept almost awake, dreamless, because from time to time he opened his eyes to watch the sleeping girl.

Hui Heise forged ahead in the dark forest without stopping. His two swords were held by strong buckles strapped to his back, and he kept the third in his hand. He has eventually never put it down in the last days. He still had his black hood on his head, even right here in the middle of the woods. Her clothing was made of a material that was waterproof, so it was almost spotlessly clean, his boots alone covered with mud. First he was helped by the glow of the Moon, and later by the unexpected storm, ensuring that he went unnoticed. He was not really interested in the fools for queen had warned about. They were nothing compared to his Fire Queen. How right she was. She foretold how things would happen, she saw the past and the future at the same time, and he, Hui Heise, was blessed to have Yan Zhu chosen him as her helper. And he happily offered all his knowledge and talents. The Queen entrusted him with her magic ring. Although the hidden spell was only enough for one trip, he did not get rid of it even after that, but kept it as a real treasure tied to a chain above his heart. Her queen never left him alone. He dreamed of her every night, and the Queen just called him, just called again and again. That's why he was in a hurry. Only in the middle of the night he allowed himself to have some rest, when he reached the last trees of the Elm Heights, and as he took a deep breath he smelled snow in the air. At the foot of huge rocks, he found himself a resting place where even grass was dry, got comfortable and asleep with a smile. He was waiting for his queen.

The sun must have risen, as it brightened, but the morning brought only a gray, cruelly moist mist, nothing else. Several of the Applicants got up before the alarm, arranged their equipment, or joined those on duty. Kai Xi Wang exchanged a few words with everyone, praised them a little, but only in a way that they would not be too overconfident. As he took a closer look at the road ahead, the sheer path that left the forest and led to the next valley, his throat tightened. Muddy soil with smaller-larger stones and rocks showed up among the wet blades of grass. He couldn’t see far because of the fog, but he only saw a few larger scrogs nearby that they could have clung to, and because of that there wasn’t much hope left that the situation might improve later. He returned to the small team. For the two of his loyal officers it was enough to look at his face and they already knew what was going on. Kai Xi Wang pursed his lips, then issued the order:

- We're leaving. But be careful. This will be the hardest part of the road. Watch the one going in front of you, never step in the same rhythm with him. Try rather by turn. And if someone slips, catch them. You will be Guardians, you have to trust your life to the other.

Bai He bit nervously on her lips. She gripped the sword that Xi Wang had chosen for her, not even trying to ignore the cold. Her pride would not allow her to show weakness, though she was deadly tired from the previous day's rush, she felt all her parts wet inside and out, barely had any sleep, and she was getting more and more nervous about Jian Ming. She lined up somewhere in the middle, looked at her companions in front of and behind her, and entrusted her life to the heavens.

They began to descend down the valley. They submerged into the fog a few minutes later. It was as if they were just bathing in milk. He Bian, who remained at the end of the line, could not see his Captain at the front, only Lu Shan, who was walking in the middle, two paces behind Bai He. They tried to keep up with the march, but it was easier said than done. One by one, they slipped on the road and clung desperately to the cloths of those stumbling in front of them as they lost their balance. Bai He felt all her muscles tense and starting to burn as she tried to stay on her feet. So far she was lucky, the path was wide enough to stay on the inner side, away from the threatening slope on the other, where they could not see either the far side or the bottom.

- Look ahead! Not around! - the Captain shouted from the front.

She stepped inside, but then noticed that her companion in front of her was moving in the opposite direction. A large piece of rock spread out there, taller than all of them, its smooth side covered with moss so they couldn’t even hold on to it. Bai He tried carefully to get around it, but when she put her palm on it to find some support, her hand simply slipped off. She took another step, but that move was even more uncertain. She groaned as she felt the world spin around her.

- Bai He…! - Lu Shan shouted after her, but she was already sliding down, waving desperately with both hands to find something to grab. But the smeary blades of grass slipped out of her fingers like silk.

It took Kai Xi Wang's breath away when he heard the girl's name shouted. He turned on the narrow path and rushed backwards. He held out his hand to push aside anyone who got in his way, but the officers and even the Applicants had more sense and they let him through. A few moments only and he knelt on the side of the road where she slid into the deep.

- Bai He ...!

Fear lurked in his voice. He felt it too, trying to compose himself, because when he spoke again, he was already hard and insensitive.

- How can you be so clumsy?

Her eyes widened as she slowly slid down the slope. When the wind rummaged throgh her hair, she turned her head sideways and looked down. The wind blew the fog away for a few seconds, and so she could see what awaited her: the grassy part did not last long, there were already bare rocks beneath it, and a few feet below the rock wall became vertical and led into the depths. Bai He pulled her head between her shoulders and closed her eyes tightly. She felt the tears pouring out and tried to resist the despair. She would have been ready to fight for herself, but had no idea how.

- Bai He…! Look at me! - Xi Wang cried again, and she obeyed. She stared at him with teary eyes as she slid down a few inches again.

She didn’t dare speak up because she was afraid she would either cry or simply fall. She just shook her head, which made the Captain feel like he was going crazy from helplessness there. Nothing mattered anymore, neither the Guard, nor the foolish war of the immortals, nor the Oath, nor his sister, nor the team behind him he was entrusted to. He moved, but even with that little motion, his legs slipped. Behind him, Lu Shan caught up and grabbed the bindings of the Captain's armor.

- You're all slipping down! - He Bian shouted at them from the end of the line. The Applicants whispered nervously among themselves. Whatever low opinion they had of the girl, her perseverance had already won their sympathy. None of them wanted her to get hurt. It was as if the thought had been born in the minds of all of them at once, locking hands together and leaning as far as they could over the edge of the slope. Kai Xi Wang felt more secure on his feet, as if he had just been tied to. He held out his hand, but in vain, Bai He was already far away.

I cannot reach you, he thought. I do not want to lose you…

However, Bai He has already given up… She saw clearly that there was no way out of this trap. She had no master of her body, the depth pulled her down, a thousand tentacles of fog wrapped her legs around and yanked her with them.

- Kai Xi Wang…! - she screamed, then disappeared into the whiteness that closed tightly around her like a grave.

The Captain was held fast by five men so he could not throw himself into the depths after the girl.