Snow and wind raged together, the gale lashing their bodies with a biting chill.
There was no denying how perilous the snowy mountain training was. In such dreadful, extreme weather, surviving alone would be almost impossible without everyone helping one another.
"Is everyone still holding up?" As the group leader, Arthur was responsible for looking after every member and making sure no one fell behind.
"I'm fine."
"I can keep going."
"..."
Everyone indicated that they could still press on.
"All right, then. Hang in there a little longer. We'll reach the first rest stop soon," Arthur said, encouraging them.
"Right!" everyone shouted back with vigor.
Arthur made his way over to Christa. Of everyone in the group, she and Daz needed the most attention.
"How are you doing, Christa?" Arthur asked with concern.
"I'm fine, Arthur. I still have plenty of strength left." Christa shook her head to reassure him and pulled her clothes tighter around herself.
"That's good." Arthur smiled in relief, then glanced at Daz behind Christa with a troubled look.
He could already tell that Daz was barely hanging on and might lose the ability to move at any moment, which would burden the whole group.
Daz, what am I supposed to do with you? Arthur thought helplessly.
Although he could drag Daz along himself, he was also the leader and needed to guide the group. The others were only just managing to take care of themselves; dragging Daz along as well would be beyond them.
"Christa, I'm heading back to the front. Tell me if anything goes wrong, understood?" Arthur repeatedly reminded her before returning to lead the way.
"Mm, understood, Arthur." Christa nodded.
Arthur then returned to the front and continued leading the group onward. They trudged into the howling wind and snow for over ten minutes.
At last, Arthur brought the group to the first rest stop.
It was a wooden cabin built by the instructors, providing the trainees with somewhere to rest, recover their strength, and warm themselves up.
More than a dozen people crowded into the cabin. A fire was still burning in the stove inside, clearly left by the previous group to keep the cabin warm for those following them.
Everyone took out their rations and began eating.
"Here, Arthur. Have something to eat." Seeing Arthur studying the map intently, Christa handed him some rations.
"Thank you." Arthur accepted her kindness and thanked her.
"You're welcome. Oh, I should give this back, too." Christa shook her head as if to say it was nothing, then remembered something and took the wool hat Arthur had given her out of her pocket.
"No need. Keep wearing it, Christa. I'm sturdy enough to handle the cold," Arthur said with a slight smile.
"But it's yours. I don't feel right keeping it."
"It's fine. Just wear it without worrying. But you'd better take good care of it for me." Arthur jokingly adopted a stern tone.
"Mm." Christa smiled, looking lovely and adorable.
"Cough, cough, cough!" Just then, a violent fit of coughing shattered the brief warmth of the moment.
"Daz, are you all right?" The coughing came from the sickly Daz. The intense exertion combined with the freezing weather had already left him showing symptoms of a cold.
"I... cough, cough... I'm fine," Daz insisted.
Arthur frowned at Daz, who was gritting his teeth and stubbornly holding on. This was hardly an admirable quality. Calling him a man of perseverance would be utter bullshit.
To Arthur, Daz was being selfish. He had insisted on participating despite knowing full well that he could never complete the snowy mountain training. What was that if not selfishness? Now he was a ticking time bomb, liable to collapse at any moment and become a burden on the group's march.
"Daz, I suggest you stay in the cabin and withdraw from the training now. There's nothing shameful about it," Arthur advised him with good intentions.
"Captain, I can still do it. I just need a little more time to recover." Daz still refused to give up, suffering for the sake of saving face.
"You!" Arthur grew angry, but he swallowed it back when he noticed the others watching.
"Ugh... suit yourself." Arthur sighed and helplessly patted Daz on the shoulder. He had already said everything he needed to say.
"..."
"All right, everyone, we've rested long enough. It's time to set off." Seeing that everyone except Daz had more or less recovered their strength, Arthur spoke up.
Everyone nodded and began gathering their equipment, ready to leave.
"Move out." Arthur gave the order.
Once again, everyone stepped out of the cabin and into the freezing wind and blizzard, continuing their unfinished journey.