Chapter 23: Snowy Mountain

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In the stillness of night, all is quiet except for the muffled crackling of the fireplace. Occasionally, a few sparks pop out from the flames, making a crisp sound.

After tossing and turning in your bed, you decided to sit in front of the fireplace and go through the files left by Grandma.

Y/N:
          (The Aether Core... Energy incomparable to other Protocores...)

You reread rhe files and hoping to see something you must've missed.

Y/N:
          (Grandma knew someone might target people related to Aether Cores. Is that why she kept me in the dark for so long...)

You are tired of reading. You lose hope in finding answers.

Y/N:
          (What should I do now...)

While your mind is a tangled mess, you hear a rhythmic tapping sound from the French windows. As you turn, you see Zayne standing there with a thin layer of snow on his hair. You walk to towards him.

Y/N:
          What are you doing here? Can't sleep?

Zayne continue to fix his gaze in the dark blue sky.

Zayne:
          The aurora...

Y/N:
          Will there really be one tonight?

Zayne'
          The weather forecast predicted heavy snowfall with cloudy skies, and the Kp index is low. It's unlikely we'll see an aurora.

Y/N:
          Then why are you...

Zayne:
          When visiting for the first time, an aurora is required to make the trip worthwhile.

Zayne finally looks at you.

Zayne:
          Look, the snow has stopped.

He walks towards the bench near the window. He sit there and you followed him.

Zayne:
          Only at the very end will someone know if there is a watershed moment.

You look down.

Y/N:
          (Until the very end... Yet Grandma and those researchers... They...) But there are people who persist until the very end, only to be defeated.

Zayne:
          I meant the aurora.

Y/N:
          Same.

You lift your head to look at zayne but instead the mountain far behind him catches your attention.

Y/N:
          What's that over there?

You point it by your fingers. Zayne turn his head to look at it.

Zayne:
          Mt. Eternal.

Y/N:
          Oh... I remember. It had an anomalous Protofield a few years back.

Saying those words you realize something.

Y/N:
          Dr. Noah chose to live here in the Arctic. For your research project, right?

Zayne:
          Not necessarily.

Zayne looks at you and again back to the sky.

Zayne:
          My friend sacrificed himself during the Protofield anomaly that took place here.

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