The Horn That Would Not Sound and Yuri's Suspicions

"That sounds pretty romantic."

Yuri agreed, "Anything else?"

Brax paused, then continued, "I heard from my elders that our Hearth Family wasn't the only one to survive the great war two hundred years ago."

"However, the Hearth Family was already small, and since then their numbers have dwindled to less than five hundred."

"The people were scattered across this vast, boundless snowfield, divided into large and small tribes, hiding from the pursuit of the Bearfolk..."

"Didn't you ever think about joining forces? More people would increase your chances of survival, right?" Yuri asked.

"Of course we've thought about it."

Brax's expression was slightly downcast as he said, "But in this vast, boundless snowfield, our only means of finding our companions is the horn in our hands."

"When the bugle sounds, the Hearth Family spontaneously gather in Hearthhome; this is a long-established tradition."

"But... we've never found any other tribes in this snowfield."

"Perhaps, as you said, they're already dead..."

As he spoke, Brax seemed to finally accept reality and buried half his face in his arms.

Just then, a hand landed on his shoulder...

"Aren't you still alive?"

Yuri suddenly spoke, turning to look at Brax with a warm smile, "Since we still can't determine whether our companions are alive or dead, then you go and find them!"

He spoke with conviction, his words full of encouragement.

Brax stared blankly at Yuri in front of him, suddenly finding the other man somewhat unfathomable.

What kind of person is this guy?

Ruthlessly shatter someone's illusions when they are unwilling to face reality.

Yet, just when others have finally accepted reality, they rekindle their hope.

This capricious behavior is just like...

He's a lunatic!!

Brax did not reply, but instead presented his prized horn to Yuri and looked up at the night sky where only one star remained.

"Do you remember I told you earlier that every Hearth Family forges their own horn when they are seven years old?"

"Of course, my memory isn't that bad," Yuri said.

"I forged this horn on the day my tribe was slaughtered. Haven't you always been curious about what's so special about it?"

Brax suddenly turned his head and chuckled inexplicably, "How about it, want to try blowing on it?"

Yuri took the horn with a puzzled look, examined it carefully from head to toe, but found nothing special about it.

He placed the mouthpiece in front of his mouth with a puzzled look, took a deep breath, and blew it out.

"..."

Nothing happened.

The horn in his hand seemed to be blocked by something; not only was the deep, melodious sound of the horn gone, but even the howling of the wind and snow was louder.

Undeterred, Yuri picked up the horn again and blew it loudly once more.

But even as he strained his face until it turned bright red, no sound echoed under the snowy night sky...

"It won't make a sound..."

Brax a bitter smile, squatted helplessly on the ground, and two unstoppable tears appeared on his face.

The scene before him reminded him of the day his tribe was slaughtered.

He emerged from the furnace, utterly disoriented, and looked around at his people lying in pools of blood. He desperately blew his horn.

But apart from his crying, there wasn't a single other sound...

In the early morning, Yuri, having just woken up from a nap, lazily stretched his body.

Brax, standing next to him, also silently got up as if nothing had happened.

"By the way, aren't you cold?"

Yuri looked at Brax, who had slept all night away from the furnace near the cave entrance, and asked curiously.

Come to think of it, this kid isn't a mage, yet he's lived alone in this place known as a human no-go zone for three whole years, wearing only ordinary woolen clothes and a woolen hat.

Yesterday, it even hid itself inside a cold snowman; if it were an ordinary person, they would probably have frozen to death long ago.

Brax glanced up at Yuri beside him, took two red pebbles from his pocket, and handed them to him, saying, "These are Molten Fire Stones, a type of ore mined from volcanic areas. They can be used for both heating and starting fires; that's how the flames in the furnace come about."

"I see."

Yuri nodded, then asked curiously, "You mentioned a volcanic area... Are there volcanoes nearby?"

"Yes."

Brax pointed to the sky above them and said, "The Hearthhome above us is an active volcano."

Legend has it that the god created this mountain by combining the corpse of a fire Devil with his own forging power.

"Your gods have been missing for so many years, are you sure this mountain is still alive?" Yuri joked.

"Of course, since Molten Fire Stones can only be found in active volcanoes, as long as I can still find these stones here, it means that Hearthhome is still active," Brax explained casually as he packed his things for the journey.

"Then why do you still dare to live here? Aren't you afraid that a volcanic eruption will burn you to death one day?" Yuri continued to tease.

"No, it won't." Brax waved his hand to reassure Yuri: "Even in the two hundred years since the gods left, Hearthhome has never erupted."

"An active volcano that hasn't erupted in two hundred years?"

Brax's unintentional remark made Yuri frown slightly; he suddenly felt that something was amiss.

"Yeah, what's wrong?" Brax blinked, puzzled.

"How do you know it hasn't erupted in two hundred years?" Yuri pressed.

"That's what the elders in my family said. Besides, look how big Hearthhome is. If it really erupts, it'll probably be visible across most of the snowfield."

Brax raised his hands and gestured exaggeratedly.

Yuri did not reply, resting his chin on his hand with a furrowed brow.

Indeed, if the Hearthhome were to erupt, it would be an enormous disaster. Anyone who has witnessed it should have left some words in their minds. The Lu Hearth Family, have no reason not to know this.

But if all of this is really as Brax said...

Yuri's eyes widened suddenly, and he gripped Brax's shoulders with both hands, asking, "In the past two hundred years, have you ever been to the top of Hearthhome?"

"This..."

Brax said somewhat uncertainly, "Probably not, since it's always the gods who blow the horn before everyone ascends to the Hearthhome."

"At other times, no one from the Hearth Family would casually go up and disturb the gods."

Just as he expected!

"Quick, come with me!"

Yuri pulled Brax had just finished preparing the supplies, and walked outside.

Brax stumbled as he was pulled. "Hey! Where are you going? Even if you're going back, there's no need to rush."

Yuri turned around and said, "Shanglu Hearthhome!"

Upon hearing that they were to go to the Hearthhome, Brax panicked and said, "No... no! Without God's summons, the Hearth Family cannot go to the Hearthhome."

That place was like a sacred site to the Hearth Family, and they could not set foot there casually without special circumstances.

But as for Yuri...

"Who cares? I'm not Hearth Family anyway!" Yuri said without any restraint.

"But I'm Hearth Family!!" Brax struggled and shouted.

And it was only after they had walked away that a pair of eyes, seemingly tinged with crimson, emerged from the white snow...