Chapter 469: Hopelessness
21 years ago… deep in the Rupture Mountains…
Mother Sabina was wrong and right about Mt. Pale-Stone. It was true, the place was devoid of any fauna, though there was an abundance of flora decorating the landscape. Various kinds of flowers and trees Aurelia had never seen grew all around the mountain. She was stunned by the vivid plants, trees larger than any she had seen, and flowers growing in large pristine patches. It felt as if she was waltzing through a dream and she wasn’t the only one who shared the sentiment.
The stoic hunters and the stringent priestesses all had glimmers of wonder in their eyes as they trekked up the mountain. Virella picked up whatever flowers she could get her hands on and soon enough the others followed suit.
Most of the 5-day trip had felt slow, each day Aurelia pushed the group to keep going with little rest. There was little time to waste, her mother’s vitality was weakening by the day. The sooner she could bring the selevine flowers to Ivory the better. Yet as she entered Pale-Stone she felt almost as if she had entered a different realm.
Mother Sabina was wrong about the air, it was neither cold nor unnerving. It was clean and every breath felt as if her tired muscles were invigorated with newfound strength.
As they reached the top of the mountain the trees gave way to moss-covered crags and beds of colorful wildflowers.
“This has got to be it…” Aurelia muttered to herself. She glanced back at the group climbing behind her. “We’ve arrived.”
Virella’s eyes lit up with hope. “Does that mean—!?”
Aurelia smiled wryly, “Yes, we can take a break.”