Chapter 545: Paranoia and Plotting (1)
Third Person’s POV
A place where no external threat would be able to reach it and, most importantly, a place where whatever secret lay within that coffin would remain hidden, at least until her aunt returned.
While Arlene steadied her breathing and quietly composed herself, her thoughts remained firmly anchored to the warning her aunt had delivered directly into her mind, its weight lingering far heavier than her outwardly calm expression suggested.
At the same time, the blue-haired woman did not linger any further after delivering her instructions, as she simply turned around and ascended into the sky.
Her figure streaked forward like a comet before she vanished from their sight within mere seconds.
A faint, lingering trail of pale, icy light remained suspended in the air for a brief moment behind her before it dispersed into the cold winds.
And it was only then that the group truly understood the extent of her speed, as well as the deliberate restraint she had shown in the past few days while matching their pace across the treacherous terrain.
Seeing her disappear so abruptly, Arlene drew in a slow breath before turning her gaze toward the vast, forested valley that stretched ahead of them, her expression regaining its usual composure as she spoke in a steady tone,
"Let’s move."
At her command, the group resumed their journey and descended the final slope of the towering mountain that marked the end of the Aurora Frost Mountain Range.
Their figures gradually left behind the jagged, icy heights as they entered the dense expanse below.
The conifer forest that awaited them was ancient and imposing, its towering trees rising high into the sky with thick, interwoven branches that formed a natural canopy, blocking out much of the sunlight and casting the entire forest floor into a dim, muted gloom.
The ever present clouds overhead further suppressed what little light could have filtered through, leaving the surroundings cloaked in a dull, lifeless grey that carried an unsettling stillness.
As they walked, they noticed that there were no signs of life in the forest, nor were there any sounds of wild beasts.
There was no sound other than the faint crunch of snow beneath their boots and the distant whisper of cold wind weaving through the trees.
As they moved forward, their figures left behind long, fading trails upon the snow, like fleeting ghosts passing through a forgotten land.
Arlene led from the front and maintained a careful pace while keeping the ice golem within her line of sight.
Her attention repeatedly shifted toward the dark blue coffin it carried, as if ensuring its presence had not somehow vanished in the silence of the forest.
The golem itself moved with heavy, deliberate steps, each one producing a low, dull sound that echoed faintly through the stillness, and though it did not falter, the sheer weight of its movement caused a subtle unease to form within Arlene’s mind.
She knew this forest was far from safe and, more importantly, her aunt’s warning continued to echo within her thoughts, making her senses sharpen instinctively as a quiet paranoia began to take root in her mind.
At the same time, behind her, Uncle Caspian followed at a measured pace with a calm and composed expression as he occasionally guided their direction, ensuring that they remained oriented toward the distant Ice Emperor City despite the winding and confusing paths that stretched endlessly through the forest.
On the surface, he appeared to be fulfilling his role perfectly as a reliable guide for whom he had been included in this expedition in the first place.
But beneath that composed exterior, a different storm of emotions, like frustration and restlessness, brewed within him that slowly bred into a form of growing impatience.
He had been waiting for an opportunity and a moment where he could act on his goal without drawing attention.
Yet no such chance had presented itself before, especially when the blue-haired woman had suddenly appeared amidst them.
He had despaired at that moment as he had realised that he would not be able to make any move according to his original plan and had given up those thoughts days ago in that cavern itself.
However, now that she was gone, that restraint had loosened.
The faint hope he had nearly abandoned earlier now resurfaced and flickered within his mind as he recalled the true purpose for which he had said yes to this expedition, along with the rewards that awaited him should he succeed.
Still, caution bound him tightly, as from Arlene’s expression alone and his rich experience that she had become far more vigilant after her aunt’s departure.
She had become paranoid, and he could see the anxiety on her face that had sharpened her awareness in a way that made reckless action from him impossible.
So he waited for an opportunity and an opening that he could exploit to fulfil his goal.
And that opportunity came sooner than he had expected.
The group had been following a narrow trail carved faintly into the snow, but as they progressed deeper into the forest, the path gradually thinned until it vanished entirely, leaving them surrounded by indistinguishable terrain with no clear direction forward.
Naturally, they came to a halt.
Deciding to rest, they settled briefly and allowed their exhausted bodies to recover as they replenished their mana reserves, while the quiet stillness of the forest pressed in around them like an unseen presence.
After nearly half an hour had passed, Arlene rose once more, and her gaze shifted toward Uncle Caspian as she spoke with calm authority,
"Uncle Caspian, please find a path. It seems we have strayed again."
At her request, Uncle Caspian nodded without hesitation and closed his eyes as he raised his hand slightly, casting a tracking spell.
His soul sense turned into thin, focused arrows that spread in the forest like wind.
It went far beyond the normal range that the soul of a mage of his strength was capable of, as he soon found the perfect opening he had been searching for.