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Chapter 308: The Lost Soul in the Northern Snowfield
Chapter 308: The Lost Soul in the Northern Snowfield
Perched atop towering mountains, the city of Kingston was a land perpetually shrouded in blizzards.
Piercing cold winds howled through the steep ridges, dancing with the swirling snowflakes.
The vast snow-covered highlands resembled a canvas, with pure white snowflakes dancing in the air as if each held a life of its own. They gently spiraled before finally settling on the endless expanse of snow.
Even in this frozen landscape, traces of life persisted.
Occasionally, one might spot animal tracks, soon to be covered again by the relentless wind and snow. At the end of these tracks, a moose stood motionless, its gaze fixed in one direction. Suddenly, as if it had sensed something, it bolted, its escape as swift as an arrow released from a taut bowstring.
The howling winds and snow persisted.
The undulations and textures of the snowy terrain gradually came into focus, and in the distance, beyond where the moose had fled, a small figure could be seen trudging against the storm.
At first, their movements were subtle, but as time passed, their steps became more frantic and erratic, stumbling as if they might collapse into the snow at any moment.
Beneath the heavy breathing of the youth, clad in a thick overcoat, lay a discarded suitcase. Scattered around it were his only remaining set of noble attire and documents attesting to his origins from the southern lands.
His skin was as pale as the surrounding snow, his eyes large and bright, reflecting his turmoil and anxiety. His flaxen hair, once neatly kept like that of a young lady from a warm and prosperous southern city, was now in disarray, tousled by the unforgiving winds.
Trailing behind him were four to five robust men, their pursuit relentless.
Dressed in thick hunting garb and donning hats made from magical beast hides, their faces wore cruel smiles. With each heavy step, they left deep imprints in the snow, drawing ever closer to the youth.
It was evident that these men were seasoned survivors of the harsh northern lands, and the distance between them and their prey was rapidly diminishing.
With each step, the soft snow threatened to engulf the youth, pulling at his feet as if trying to swallow him whole.
His breath came in rapid gasps, his cheeks stung by the bitter cold, yet he pushed on, refusing to yield.
The serene silence of the snowfield was shattered by their pursuit, their echoes reverberating across the boundless white expanse.
The distant ice-clad forest offered the youth a glimmer of hope.
He knew that if he could reach those trees, his chances of escape would improve, however slim they might be.
Even a faint chance was better than remaining in the open, exposed on the featureless snowfield!
"Come and play with us, young noble lady from the South!"
"Rest assured, we won't kill you right away."
Accompanying their taunts were the whizzing sounds of arrows and blades, aimed squarely at the youth's back. Yet, somehow, each one missed its mark, as if by some unseen force or an invisible shield protecting him.
"...!"
The youth gritted his teeth, daring not to look back, relying only on the sounds to gauge the distance between him and his pursuers.
However, that distance was closing far quicker than he had anticipated.
At this rate, he feared he would be caught long before reaching the sanctuary of the snow-clad forest, or even well before that!
As the youth and the bandits drew closer in the swirling snow, tension and peril hung heavy in the air. Yet, the unforgiving snowfield remained impartial, coldly observing this life-and-death chase, awaiting the outcome with indifference.
Here, in the realm of snow and ice, the law of nature prevailed: the strong preyed on the weak, and only the fittest survived.
Even those from the southern realms of the empire had heard tales of the harsh conditions in its northern territories.
Of course, the south wasn't exactly peaceful at the moment either.
The north was simply bearing the brunt of external threats, compounded by the empire's new bills and reforms implemented this year.
Journeying north from Kingston City and passing through several more cities, one would reach the northern frontlines. Even the route from the Boxian Mountain Province to Kingston City was fraught with perils and obstacles.
The young man's mind was in turmoil, and he couldn't tell if his legs were gradually numbing from the freezing snow or if fear was making them weak. He was struggling to keep going.
Several unfortunate events had befallen him.
His name was Xia Ya, the eldest son of the Candys family, a noble family from the southern region of the Protoss Empire. His ancestors had made significant military contributions to the empire, but due to two consecutive generations of decadent and wasteful patriarchs, the family was now deeply in debt and struggling to make ends meet.
As a result, he was sent to the north for an arranged marriage.
In a sense, he felt like he had been sold by his family, but essentially, it was a transaction that benefited both parties.
The Kingston family he was to marry into was not lacking in any way.
The Viscount of Kingston, Levin Kingston, was a well-known merchant in the imperial capital in recent years. With his personal talent, the scale of the family business accumulated over the years, and his own impressive martial prowess that allowed him to establish a foothold in the north, he gradually led the northern city-state and their family towards an unstoppable rise.
However, the Kingston family, being merchants by trade, had always been mocked by others as fake nobles who bought their way into nobility.
For this reason, Viscount Levin Kingston was often looked down upon by some of the high nobility whenever he visited the imperial capital. It could be pure disdain, jealousy, or even scheming by northern nobles aiming to squeeze him out.
Even if Xia Ya was good for nothing else, he possessed undeniable and illustrious war achievements as a member of a legitimate and ancient noble family. His noble bloodline was highly regarded, and his family had already made a name for themselves in the history of the Protoss Empire even before the holy war began.
This was what attracted the Kingston family.
It was said that his fiancee was an exceptionally talented and proud individual. At only 17 years old, she had already reached the third rank and would be directly entering the first year at the Protoss Royal Academy in the imperial capital this early summer as a noble student with a promising future.
Meanwhile, Xia Ya's family couldn't even afford his tuition fees.
To gain special admission, one would need to demonstrate exceptional talent. Otherwise, one would have to pay a substantial sum for enrollment.
Based on his abilities, Xia Ya had already failed the entrance examination for preparatory students once, and he doubted he would make it. He didn't like conflict and had no desire to harm others or the confidence to survive in such a demanding school.
His best hope for enrollment was to attend the academy as the fiancee's companion, accompanying her as she entered.
However, this made him feel like a kept man.
Her family could easily afford to hire a powerful companion for her.
He had no idea if she would call off the engagement and send him back home.
Everything was uncertain, and he didn't even know what his fiancee looked like or what her personality was like. Although there were dangerous and bizarre rumors circulating in the north, he had still traveled far and wide in the hopes of changing his fate.
Theoretically, if he could turn things around in dire straits and restore his family's glory, not only would they regain their seat in the upper house of the empire, but they would also reclaim the respect and influence they once held within the noble circles of the Protoss Empire.
However—
First, the railway was damaged, and the bad weather made repairs difficult. He could have otherwise safely traveled directly to Kingston City on a maglev train protected by the imperial army.
Now, to keep his appointment, he had to brave the wind and snow and cross the wilderness to reach the city.
And as if that wasn't enough, he encountered bandits along the way.
(End of Chapter)
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