Astral Flow

Chapter 28

The winds howled as the storm picked up, making it progressively harder and harder to see as time went on.

Snow began to rise higher and higher, making further progression all the more treacherous.

A deadly obstacle to be sure, but not one that'd stop those who desired to survive.

Though Ryder didn't feel well about leaving Melia in Shade's care there wasn't much else that could be done, the longer he waited around the more likely it was that someone else would wind up dead.

Aranea, Oto, Feros... he couldn't bring himself to just sit and wait while they were out there.

So reluctantly he packed up and set off into the storm.

His only companion was his thoughts as he braved the blizzard.

Step by step, marching through the storm in hopes of finding anyone or anything.

He had to find someone, anyone.

Even if one person survived, that was good enough, he hadn't failed everyone.

One step after the other, he pushed through the blizzard, snow building on his armor and cape, freezing him to the bone.

Ryder couldn't tell if he was losing his mind, but it felt like the storm was only growing stronger and stronger the further he walked in this direction.

The winds grew louder but now a different sound was mixed in, it sounded alive, it sounded human.

Like a person letting out terrible cries of anguish, only masked by the raging whirlwinds of the area.

Their cries melded together with the storm, if one temporarily calmed so did the other, if one grew more violent then so did the other.

This was no natural storm, someone or something was causing it, and the sooner he found it the better.

With the blizzard down that'd be one less obstacle in his way.

All that would matter then would be finding his comrades and then facing the Lord of this land.

As he kept marching he felt as if his entire body was freezing over, his movement beginning to slow every so often before returning to normal as a status effect would pop up then vanish.

Soon it was completely impossible to see as he came up on what seemed like a wall of swirling snow, spinning fast enough to freeze him in an instant.

It was certainly a spell though as the new passive kept him safe, keeping him from entirely freezing on the spot.

Was whatever awaited beyond the wall causing the storm? Would he find more of those drifters awaiting him back there?

There was no way to know for certain.

With a deep breath and heavy sigh he readied his blade, putting his free hand forward he pushed through the storm wall, feeling the cold try to rip him apart.

Yet the further he pushed the more alive he felt, wondering just what awaited on the other side.

Each step furthering excitement until he emerged into a new zone, a clear snowfield of some kind.

In the distance was a mansion that looked as if it'd been long forgotten.

Upon taking one step forward the name of the location popped up.

[The Hunter's Haven; Wolfsbane Manor]

Ryder didn't let the name deter him from moving closer, semi confident that something in this place was causing the storm, or at least diverting it from this specific area.