The lead-gray sky hung low, as if pressing tightly against the distant, rolling snowline, shrouding heaven and earth in a solemn chill. Inside the carriage, Ivette wore a thick cloak and watched the vast, monotonous white world outside through the curtains that the wind occasionally lifted.
The crunch of wheels over the packed snow road and the heavy breathing of the camel beasts formed the main background sounds of the journey.
Having left the relatively warm south, the scenery along the way consisted of nothing but snow and coniferous forests buried beneath white. Occasionally, low villages built from heavy stone and timber appeared, thin streams of smoke rising from their chimneys.
Ivette had originally hoped to take an airship directly to the Snow Kingdom. But after asking at the airship port, she learned that there were no direct flights to the Snow Kingdom. The closest destination was only the northern Xite Kingdom.
Left with no choice, she first took an airship north to the Xite Kingdom, then made her way to a small border town. After some trouble, she found this merchant caravan willing to carry passengers to Ice Hammer City, beginning this slow journey that had already lasted several days.
Of course, she could have gone on foot herself. But first, the map descriptions were far too abstract, like treasure maps scribbled in simple lines, and she doubted she could even find the right destination. Second, racing alone across the Snowfields would be too conspicuous. This was, after all, the Snow Emperor's territory. Before she understood that deity's position and attitude, she wanted to keep a low profile.
And so, after several days of travel, a city built against the mountains finally appeared on the distant horizon—the capital of the Snow Kingdom, Ice Hammer City.
As the convoy drew