Still with a distorted face.
If he let his guard down for even a moment, that madman with a seemingly fine exterior could do something strange again, so he couldn’t ease up his vigilance.
“What’s this kid going to help with?”
Atar looked at the man who claimed to be his teacher, furrowing his brow.
If it were up to him, he would have roughly pushed Sharne, who was standing awkwardly next to him, aside, but if he did that, he didn’t know what excuse the man would come up with next.
To be honest, Atar already suspected that Asher wouldn’t give him normal teachings.
‘Wasn’t this the man who would always mutter strange things like “Use honorifics to elders” as if it were a habit?’
He expected the same outcome this time and just wanted to give up.
But this time, it was different.
No matter what, he couldn’t understand traveling with this burden.
It was like adding extra weight.
And this “girl who had nothing to do with the battle and was just a saved child.”
But still, “I could tell you with words, but you wouldn’t understand. It’s more important that you realize it yourself.”
“What does that mean…?”
There was no change in Asher’s instructions.
Suppressing the rising discomfort and irritation, Atar tried to calmly persuade Asher, but the answer that came back was always the same: to act alongside Sharne.
“…It’s a waste of time.”
“Well, you’ll understand if you wait and see.”
“This isn’t my problem!”
“If it weren’t my problem, I wouldn’t be doing this.”
There were only a few months left before the trial.
During those remaining months, Atar had to continue training.
He had to strengthen his body, learn to fight, and prepare to survive.
However, Asher’s order to “move together” didn’t just mean to act in the same place.
Literally, it meant that they had to move in such a way that Atar could protect the other at any time during battle.
‘But why?’
Atar couldn’t understand this order at all.
Sharne had no power.
She couldn’t help in battle, and she couldn’t even use magic properly.
If he went to battle with a girl who could only use a few basic healing spells learned from Asher, she’d just be a burden to protect.
‘Asher, who should have known this, Why was the sage doing this?’
Even as time passed and Sharne became part of his daily life, Atar still couldn’t understand a single word Asher said.
***
“That light is just blinding.”
A few months had passed since the uncomfortable journey with Sharne began, and one day, Atar glanced up at the northern sun and muttered in a gruff voice.
The thing floating in the sky was indeed there, but it never gave off any warm feeling.
The wind was still sharp, and with every breath, white mist scattered in the air.
Yet, despite the bitter cold that seemed to pierce through to the bone, there were still warriors training in the northern fortress.
It was natural.
For them, the bitter cold of the north was already part of life.
Anyone who lived in the north had to learn to endure the bitter snowstorms.
Of course, Atar was also familiar with the harsh climate of the north.
Just like the many warriors from the north, Atar had grown up in the cold.
It made no sense that a descendant of the White Lion, challenging the trials of the north, would struggle with the cold.
However, unlike the other northern warriors, “Young master, wait a moment…”
Even when training his body, he had to be with someone.
And that someone was a fragile figure, holding bandages and medicine.
Atar frowned as he carefully tried to treat his own scratches, focusing on Sharne’s delicate face.
Even though it had been quite a while since he rejected being called “young master,” Sharne still addressed him this way, imitating the castle’s maids.
Everything Sharne said and did, from start to finish, was meaningless.
Clumsy, useless actions.
But today, like every day, Because Asher was watching them, Atar’s best was to treat Sharne like a transparent person.
‘What is he even thinking…’
Unable to voice any complaints, he simply gripped the axe in his hand once more and looked ahead.
The training resumed.
Once again, under the unbearably bright, meaningless sun, he swung his weapon, again and again.
This was just another ordinary day.
But as the sun set, And only the torches in the fortress illuminated the dark night, “Are you ready?”
“…Yes.”
“Good. Then, let’s go.”
For a training session that was different from the usual, Atar had to follow Asher out of the fortress.
Of course, Sharne came along as well.
‘Her steps are so unbearably slow.’
Sharne was weak from the start.
And in the north, weak people had no place.
Atar knew this painfully well.
It was surprising that she stayed by his side without a single complaint, But it didn’t mean any real change.
Sharne was still weak.
She was not a comrade to rely on, but a burden to protect.
However, Sharne, in her own way, also knew what was in Atar’s heart.
Maybe that’s why, “If you can’t keep up, I’ll leave you behind.”
Atar coldly threw the words, and Sharne flinched but nodded right away.
Since Asher had entrusted her to Atar, she had to follow him wherever he went.
There was nowhere else for her to go except Atar’s side.
More than anything, it was Asher’s warning that without Sharne, Atar’s life would be in danger.
Stumble.
… Thud!
… Ha.
Even when Atar gave him a disapproving look after he made a rare mistake and fell, he silently got back up.
No matter if Atar sighed or not, he had to follow behind.
***
‘How much time had passed since then?’
In the snowfield, covered in snow and ice, only the footsteps of the three of them left deep marks.
The winter wind grew stronger the farther they got from the fortress.
The sharp snowstorm also pierced through their clothes and cut their skin, but Atar paid no attention.
The only thing he was concerned about was one thing.
‘Could Sharne endure this snowstorm?’
Atar glanced to the side.
And there, biting her pale, frozen lips, was Sharne, desperately following behind.
Her small, thin legs were not suited for walking on this rugged terrain, but still, she didn’t cry or sit down.
Yes, that was the one thing that could be acknowledged.
However, when Sharne eventually collapsed from the cold, it would be Atar himself who would need to take care of her.
Until they reached the place Asher wanted to take them, they had to stop occasionally to check on Sharne.
***
Then, at one moment, Bang.
Without any warning or prelude, something flew rapidly from a distance.
Then came Asher’s light voice, as usual.
“Over here.”
Almost simultaneously, the ground caved in.
With the cloud of dust that followed, a shockwave spread out.
Atar reflexively grabbed the axe at his waist and adopted a defensive posture.
As the dust around them cleared, what emerged was a massive, beast-like creature.
“… What is that…?”
Atar couldn’t continue his words.
What lay beyond was a being on a whole different level from the usual northern monsters.
Just one howl shook the air, and the surrounding trees bent.
It felt as if a small natural disaster had occurred.
“Ice Dragon. Looks like a female.”
However, Asher was completely unfazed by such a creature.
Instead, he turned his attention to Atar and Sharne and said lightly.
“Now, try fighting while protecting Sharne.”
“What?”
“Be careful, it’s in heat.”
“Wait…!”
In an instant, Atar’s mind went blank.
Still, Asher didn’t care and vanished with a swift motion.
Soon, the gigantic monster that came flying at them looked like it was furious.
It was probably the territory of this Ice Dragon where Atar and Sharne were standing.
It seemed like it would attack mercilessly to drive out any intruders during its mating season.
“Damn it…!”
If he couldn’t avoid it, he had to face it head-on.
Of course, for Atar, who was known as the Mad Dog, this wasn’t anything new.
But the situation was different now.
“Hey, you. Stay behind me!”
He wasn’t fighting alone.
There was someone he had to protect.
It was a first for Atar.
The hand gripping the axe trembled.
Normally, Atar would move instinctively in battle, but this time, he couldn’t act purely on instinct.
‘How should I fight?’
Glancing between the gigantic Ice Dragon charging from the other side and Sharne by his side, Atar was for the first time thinking.
This was another first for him.
Even if all of this was caused by Asher’s forceful intervention, Atar had to find an answer.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t even be able to challenge the northern trials.
Like it or not, passing Asher’s test was the only way for Asher to guarantee Atar’s “qualification.”
And so, as Atar’s face clearly showed his concern for the first time, Asher, looking down from the high sky, smiled with satisfaction.
After that, he turned his gaze toward another Ice Dragon flying fiercely from beyond.
“Sorry, but I’m in class right now.”
The Ice Dragon, even larger than the one on the ground, certainly seemed like the male and the ruler of this area.
Asher slowly moved toward it.
The only reason was that his lesson couldn’t be interrupted by an uninvited guest.
Even though they were the ones who were the uninvited guests.
Hoo.
As if the enormous creature approaching him was no big deal, he slowly inhaled.
Soon, a shadow so massive it blocked his view appeared.
!!
The icy frost rose in the sky.
The absolute power within its claws tore through the sky as it descended.
If it reached the ground, the snowfield would split and everything would be destroyed.
However, in that instant, something reached out from the air and stopped the Ice Dragon’s claws.
An overwhelming clash.
The air split, and the sky trembled.
When the enormous forces collided, the atmosphere itself shook.
It’s really huge.
The unwavering eyes focused on the enormous body of the Ice Dragon blocking the sky.
In his hand was a massive axe that had taken shape in the air earlier.
Soon, Asher’s hand, gripping the axe, collided directly with the Ice Dragon’s claws once again.
As long as Atar’s battle continued, they couldn’t be sent back to the ground.