Chapter 12: The Frost Mage’s Trial

As I opened the door, the woman standing there exuded a peculiar aura.

It was difficult to describe—a refreshing presence, yet it carried a subtle sense of discomfort.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I greeted her.
“Ah, hello.”

“What brings you here?”

Her voice was kind, contrary to what I had been told. The guild receptionist warned me to be cautious because the client was supposed to be difficult.

Confused by the contrast, I tilted my head. The room number on the note confirmed I was in the right place… or could the receptionist have made a mistake?

As I pondered, the woman spoke again.
“Are you here for the commission?”

“Ah, yes.”

I nodded and handed her the note.

She glanced over it and nodded before calmly explaining the task I was to perform during the commission period.

It wasn’t the hostile situation I had feared, leaving me momentarily flustered.
“The exploration area is the Karum Mountains. You know the details, right? You’ll be escorting me for four days.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Then I’ll be counting on you.”

She extended her hand with a light smile—was this a handshake?

I wiped my palm on my clothes and took her hand.

“How should I address you?”

“Oh, just call me Rain.”

“Rain… Miss Rain.”

At my mumble, she gave a small nod, lightly shook my hand, and retreated into the room.
“Come here tomorrow morning, and we’ll leave right away. Can you manage that?”

“Yes.”

“See you tomorrow, then.”

Left alone in the hallway, I stared at my hand in a daze.

I had expected to be rejected, but she accepted me so easily.

Could she have some strange preferences?

I glanced suspiciously at the firmly closed door, but it was too late to back out now.

Recalling the promised reward, I turned and left the inn.

I spent the rest of the day gathering information about the Karum Mountains—things like the types of monsters living there and dangerous plants to avoid.

This kind of information was easily found in an old bookstore.

The Karum Mountains were known to have monsters, so I needed to be well-prepared.

I bought smoke orbs to ward off creatures and salves and bandages for treating wounds.

It was a hefty expense, but since the supplies would still be useful after the mission, I didn’t mind the cost.

The next morning arrived.

When I arrived at the meeting point, Rain was already there, waiting.

She looked quite different from the typical adventurers. A water-colored witch’s hat adorned her head, and she wore a blue robe.

On her back, she carried a large wooden staff with an unidentified gemstone affixed to the top.

She embodied exactly what one would imagine when picturing a wizard.

Her appearance was eerily close to my mental image of a mage. At first, I thought she merely had an unusual sense of fashion.

But now, it seemed I was mistaken.

“Welcome.”

As I got closer, Rain greeted me warmly.

She opened her mouth slightly, as if she wanted to say something, then furrowed her brow.

At that moment, I realized I had never introduced myself.
“I’m Ceris.”

“Ceris, huh? Are you all set?”

“Yes… but, are you a wizard by any chance?”

This world is filled with swords and magic—a fantasy land inhabited by orcs, goblins, and dragons.

Yet, as a 13-year-old girl who grew up in a rural village, I had never known the secrets that made this world so fascinating.

Even though I was born in it, I had never experienced its wonders.

“Is this your first time meeting a wizard?”

Rain’s question was a tacit admission of her identity.

I nodded, clutching my pounding chest.

She gave me a small, amused smile and beckoned me forward with a light gesture.

At that moment, a breeze swept by—not the chilly winter wind of the port town, but a refreshing, gentle one.

It grazed my cheeks before vanishing just as quickly as it had come.

It didn’t take long to realize that the breeze was Rain’s magic.

“Wow…”

It wasn’t a visible spectacle, as wind has no form, but I felt it on my skin.

The experience was indescribable, beyond words.

“Shall we get going?”

I quickly nodded and followed Rain as she led the way out of the port town.

As we walked, Rain asked me various questions—mostly about myself.

“Why did you choose to become an adventurer?”

“Because I wanted to see the world.”

“Is it tough?”

“I manage.”

Though she asked personal questions, Rain didn’t pry too deeply.

It felt as if she respected invisible boundaries, careful not to cross them.

It was clear from her avoidance of sensitive topics like family that Rain was more thoughtful than she initially appeared.

The Karem Mountain Range wasn’t far from the port town. However, we weren’t the only ones with business there.

Others were climbing the mountain, hauling large bags. Judging by their equipment, they were likely herbalists, resembling those I often saw back in my hometown.

“This way.”

“You’re not following the main path?”

“No.”

Rain ignored the well-trodden road and deliberately chose a more challenging route, heading toward uncharted terrain.

The snow, packed tightly beneath our feet, crunched with every step. I had to shake off my shoes now and then to prevent the snow from melting, refreezing, and turning them into slippery traps.

“Hah… hah…”

Rain’s breathing grew heavier as we climbed. Though she was an adult, she seemed to lack stamina.

For me, a 13-year-old used to running through mountains and fields, the ascent was nothing too difficult.

“You’re… pretty good at this.”

“I’m used to it.”

“Hmm…”

Rain stopped, scanning the surroundings, seemingly looking for a suitable spot to rest.

Following her lead, I began clearing away the snow to prepare a place to sit.

Suddenly, Rain reached for the staff on her back.

Swoosh—

A gentle breeze gathered around us. It wasn’t the biting cold wind of winter but a soft, refreshing spring breeze.

The breeze caressed the snow, which shattered into fine crystals and floated skyward.

Like petals in the wind, the snowflakes danced, captivating my gaze. The air shimmered white, enchanted by Rain’s magic.

With a flick of her hand, the snowy breeze dissolved into the sky.

“Shall we take a break?” Rain asked with a warm smile.

How could anyone say no to such an offer?

We sat on a large rock, sharing a moment of quiet.

I had so many questions for Rain, but the words wouldn’t come out easily.

There’s a certain beauty in mystery—something that goes beyond knowledge or logic.

Magic, to me, was such a mystery.

It was a blend of awe and fear, and I didn’t want to lose that feeling—not before the mission ended.

“Shall we continue?”

Once Rain regained her strength, she stood up, ready to press on.

The harshness of winter made the mountain’s monsters even more aggressive. Hunger drove them to the brink of madness, making them far more dangerous.

Just then, a beast appeared before us.

Grrr!

A savage presence filled the air—a wild, untamed ferocity that sent shivers down my spine.

I froze, realizing I was feeling what the books called Monster Fear.

The creature that emerged resembled a white mountain goat, though calling it that seemed like a stretch. Its fur and horns were those of a goat, but the sheer malice it radiated made it anything but ordinary.

Instinctively, I reached for the sword on my back.

The chilling sensation of the sword in my grip helped steady my nerves. No matter how strong that goat seemed, it couldn’t be tougher than the other enemies I had faced so far. Only a monster as powerful as an ogre might stand a chance in a battle of strength against it.

Victory seemed unlikely. Just as I was about to suggest we run, Rain pulled out her staff.

“Rain?”

“Can you hold out for 20 seconds?”

“Wait, what—”

Before I could respond, the goat charged, its enormous horns lowered in my direction.

The sword in my hand had clearly provoked it.

Kicking up snow, I dodged to the side as the goat’s hooves thundered across the frozen ground. It wasn’t charging in a straight line, either—it veered sharply, scattering snow into the air with every turn.

Boom! Boom! The earth trembled beneath its relentless assault, sending chills down my spine.

Gritting my teeth, I kept running.

Luckily, I noticed that the beast slowed slightly whenever it changed direction. But even with that advantage, it was closing the distance faster than I could escape.

Snort!

Its breath was now right behind me.

In desperation, I swung my sword mid-sprint.

Slash!

A glint of steel streaked toward the goat. The tip of my blade grazed its thick fur, but the awkward swing had little effect.

Whoosh!

The goat barreled past me, missing by mere inches. The gust trailing behind it nearly knocked me off balance.

There was no stopping it—the goat pivoted once more, preparing to charge again.

Could I dodge it this time? I wasn’t sure.

Feeling a cold sweat trickle down my back, I tightened my grip on the sword with both hands.

Countering wasn’t an option. With its overwhelming speed and mass, attempting to block or stab it head-on would shatter my arms.

Thud, thud, thud! It was coming again.

I inhaled deeply, forcing myself to stay calm despite the ground shaking beneath me.

Then—

Crack!

The white goat froze in mid-charge, its body encased in solid ice.

It crashed into the ground, immobilized in the very stance it had been charging with.

That’s when I noticed—the air around us had turned bitterly cold, so frigid that even my breath seemed to crystallize.

“You okay?”

Rain looked at me with concern, her staff radiating an icy glow.

“Sorry… that spell takes a bit of time to prepare.”

The tension in my legs gave out, and I collapsed to the ground.