Thin Ice (M/M Transmigration)

Chapter 8

Cale was the first one to step out of the carriage when it finally rolled to its final stop. He kept a hand on the doorframe as he peeked out and carefully stepped on the two-step staircase before he dropped down the last bit to the ground.

They were in the middle of the town at the bottom of the mountain. In actuality, the mountain that Aurelis Academy was located on was not very high, its ideal defensive position was instead due to a combination of low valleys, deep crevices and rushing rivers. It took barely over an hour for the carriage, at top speed, to reach the town. That was faster than when Cale had traveled to the academy in the first place. But then again, he hadn't exactly been rushing. He had spent the whole journey to the school quietly panicking and taking the opportunity to try to relax.

Try, being the keyword.

Cale's feet stepped on the cobblestone and he straightened out, moving out of the way so that Julius could follow him. Stepping to the side, he held out a hand to Julius when the younger boy started to step down from the carriage. Cale's lips curled in amusement when Julius rolled his eyes at him but still gripped his hand.

Julius stepped down on the road and smoothly transitioned the grip on Cale's hand until it was much more comfortable and they were holding hands. Cale stared at their connected hands for a solid three seconds, his mind blank, before he forced his gaze up to Julius face and asked, "Where to now?"

"This way," Julius said and started walking, Cale dutifully keeping pace with him.

It was getting closer to midday and they were smack in the main square of the town. As they moved west, they came closer to a line of houses, the buildings old and stately, with storefronts facing the square. Some large windows had mannequins in them, others simply showed a peek into the store, and even more had workers standing in front of, eagerly walking up to those that seemed to be hesitating in front of the shops.

In the middle of the square made of cobblestone was a large fountain, surely at least three meters across. It was round with three round circles of stone in the middle, each circle getting higher the closer to the middle it was, and a sprinkler sitting in the very middle, the water oozing down the circles to be collected at the lowest one.

Many people were out, dressed in fashionable winter wear. Coats, hats and mittens were visible on almost everyone, in many different colors. In comparison, Cale was dressed in the same manner that he had been in the summer, and it felt even more comfortable than before.

Julius was wearing a proper winter coat though, a white one that was tailored to perfection and must have cost a fortune.

They walked along the line of buildings on the sidewalk, the occasional carriage passing by them. The snow laid heavy on the cobblestone, bundled and shoved down in the gaps between the stones until there was virtually no gaps at all. Glittering frost covered streetlights and benches, the sun an unwavering force of light in the sky.

"Here," Julius nodded at a building ahead of them. They weren't very far from the square but when Cale looked back, he couldn't see it, the curving of the road and the high buildings hiding it from sight.

As they stepped up to the building that Julius had indicated, Cale peeked in through the front window. It was high, with artfully placed brickwork around it like a frame and when he looked through it, he could see the inside of a restaurant. It appeared nice; there weren't many people there and it had elegant air even through the window.

The door was opened from the inside by an employee of the restaurant. The woman held the door open and Julius and Cale stepped through the doorway, still holding hands.

The fact that Julius was wearing gloves was only a little bit helpful.

Julius coldly stated, "Reservation for Claymore."