Chapter 181: Lives
In the northern reaches of the Kingdom of Fiore, the weather was even colder than Magnolia.
The snow out in the wild hadn't melted yet, and faint tracks of hares and mice crisscrossed the white landscape. Occasionally, you could spot patches of tall, dried grass poking through the snow, the little circles around them melting slightly faster than the rest.
There were no sanitation workers here to sprinkle snowmelt or clear the streets. The snow on the main roads had simply been trampled down by people, livestock, and wagons until it became packed and icy hard.
Anyone feeling a little childish could try sliding across it, though they'd better watch out for unexpected bumps unless they wanted to faceplant into the snow.
On one such road, two large crabs marched in single file, their sturdy claws crunching over the hard snow and leaving little dents behind them. Their traction seemed surprisingly good.
The crab in front was carrying two people on its back, while the one behind was pulling a flatbed cart.
Specifically, the cart packed with Erza's luggage. It had been tied upside down on top of their carriage during the ride here, but now that they were heading into dangerous territory, Erza and Rhodes had sent the two drivers back to town.
From here on, the crabs had to handle the rest.
By noon, the sun was shining brightly, the kind that made your eyes ache after traveling through it for too long.
Casually, Erza pulled out two pairs of sunglasses, the kind she usually wore to match different swimsuits and beach outfits, and handed one to Rhodes.
It wasn't the time to be picky about style. He accepted it gratefully and made a mental note to prepare a proper pair for future snowy travels. Snow blindness was no joke.