Chapter 527: Light at the End of the Tunnel

"It’s okay."

"It’s going to be okay."

It was Irene who had been on this journey before and was far more used to snow than he was, but despite everything they were facing at that moment, she couldn’t help but smile at his quiet insistencies while a snowstorm raged on outside.

In times like this, it felt like Henry had received her father’s approval because he was very much like him in the way that he worried. Reassuring her reassured himself. Her father was like that; her husband was as well.

Neither of them was entirely sure how long they had been standing there, but there was a point when the fur being held over their heads stopped moving as the winds occasionally pushed up underneath it. It had also gotten heavier, certainly because of how much snow had accumulated on top.

"It must be late in the night by now," Henry guessed.

"I think it’s safe to try and build a camp," Irene responded. "I’m so hungry."

There was nothing else to be said. His wife was hungry, so they needed to eat.

Cautiously, the two knights used one hand to support the top of the fur while their other one was used to lift it. Sure enough, a massive pile of fluffy snow fell off in sparkles as it fell from on top of them.

Irene was shocked that she could see the particles of snow at all, but she soon realized why as Henry stood at her side, his mouth hanging open as he witnessed the most beautiful display of northern lights that he had ever witnessed. It wasn’t the first time the two of them had seen them together, but it felt the most meaningful.

Irene couldn’t help grasping Henry’s hand as they stood there for a few moments. The sky looked alive as green and faint blues and purples twisted above their heads and much further north.

Irene had been worried that they wouldn’t be able to tell which way was north as they set up their camp, but now there was no doubt. It was nearly as light as daytime. Their path ahead couldn’t be clearer, as even the white snow looked like a painted canvas as the lights danced off and caused the pristine surface to sparkle.

The first time they saw it together, they were on the back of Sylaron, who showed it to them out of surprise. It was a magical moment even then.

The Sunstoian people said that the lights created in the northern sky were sparks flying while the gods forged weapons. Thinking about her culture made her father and grandmother feel close to her for a few moments.

"I will never get used to such a sight," Henry admitted. "People from Hydrogia can’t imagine the thought of moving to Chemois or even further. There is beauty in this place that is so untouched by man. Or perhaps it’s touched by man who doesn’t do everything in their power to change it."

Irene smiled at that. That was her people. They respected nature and didn’t want to add anything that took away from it, unlike the massive palace in Hydrogia or the buildings that reached towards the sky and the roads that hardly allowed for movement. She knew that place wasn’t for someone like her.

"Let’s move more quickly so that we can set up a camp before the lights leave," she insisted.

Henry nodded.

The two of them were able to pull their horses away from the piles that had been created on their rumps. They were truly good and loyal steeds, not to flinch and trust their masters as the snow fell upon them. Even though they had to pull their reins a couple of times so they wouldn’t back away, they stood still for as long as the knights had to.

They would spend the night surrounded by practically nothing except for snow. It made for a vulnerable sort of feeling, but as their eyes scanned their surroundings, there truly was not another soul to be seen on that plateau. Monsters wouldn’t venture to a place like that. Any regular person would turn away from having to take on such a dangerous journey in the dead of winter.

There was also some comfort in the fact that husband and wife were two of the greatest knights the kingdom had to offer.

That night, they set up their tent and pulled leather on the ground below them, making it so that the snow melting from their body heat wouldn’t soak them in the night or they would be in worse shape than they were before.

While Henry set up their tent, Irene crouched next to a small fire and began to melt down snow until the water was at a boil. She added a bit of salt before pouring in oats, lentils, and a tiny bit of dried herbs so that it wasn’t an entirely tasteless dish.

"I feel most husbands would be ashamed if their wives cooked something so repulsive-looking for a dinner," Irene joked as she handed Henry his spoon when he joined her.

At that, Henry leaned towards her and kissed her on what was visible of her forehead.

"Most husbands weren’t stuck in a snowstorm with their wives as they braved her ancestor’s lands while trying to find a magical monster," he retorted. "I’m thankful that you still think of me even when we’re traveling. I have eaten worse, but when I’m next to you, everything tastes like honey."

Her nose was certainly cold, but he made her head feel hot.

"Eat," she muttered her insistence.

Henry was merely pleased to bother her and fill his stomach.

When the small pot was empty, it was scrubbed out with snow, as were their spoons. The tools were put away before Irene climbed into the tent first and Henry sidled up next to her, the best he could, wearing armor and all the layers so he wouldn’t freeze to death.

As the northern lights faded, their spirits remained high. A lack of sleep was nothing for nights that had braved wars. All that was left for them to do was sleep hand in hand by a fire that only needed to be built up only once in the night.

And then they were shaken awake by the sound of a grouse chirping as it flapped away from them. It likely wasn’t used to seeing visitors in this area of the plateau.

However, Irene sat up at that.

"We made it much further than I thought," she realized. "Birds mean we’re close to the edge."