To take a detour through Frost Kiss Corridor, they first had to leave the city. The carriage could only stop by the roadside and could not enter the mountains, so Shade and Vanessa got out at the fork in the road connecting City of Time Wheels and Kael-Todd Town.
A mountain-closure warning sign bearing the Fatu People's emblem stood not far from the fork. Locals generally believed that the Fatu People truly possessed miraculous Curse Power, and unless outsiders were fools, they would not ignore the warnings and head into the mountains during such heavy snowfall. Thus, a single sign was enough to stop passersby in their tracks.
Naturally, Shade and Vanessa simply went around the sign and continued uphill.
"Frost Kiss Corridor" was an extremely romantic name, and the scenery here was indeed beautiful. Featherlike snowflakes drifted diagonally through the air, crunching softly beneath their feet, while frost flowers clung to the pine needles beside the road like a dusting of white sugar.
As the wind swept snowflakes across his cheek, Shade inexplicably remembered Winnie's kiss. It had been cold enough to make him shiver, yet just as gentle.
Vanessa linked her arm through Shade's as they walked together, very glad that she had not objected to coming here on a whim:
"The scenery around Claire's hometown really is lovely. I can understand why this is such a popular place for dates. How about we watch the sunset together before heading back?"
"The others on the ship will worry."
"Worry about what? That the Seer Association will detain the two of us? It's fine, Shade. Slow down a little. I'm reluctant to let time pass so quickly. Let us move forward one footprint at a time, and let the earth remember that the two of us once came here."