Happy times were always brief.
Once children started playing, they found it especially easy to lose track of time.
The climate in the Mountaintops of the Giants was harsh, with few sunny days.
It was also far from the Erdtree, beyond much of the reach of its golden radiance.
In the Lands Between, the sun alone seemed a little weak.
Night fell quickly, too.
Irina could not see the sky, so she had little sense of time passing.
Everything here was cold; there was no way to feel warmth on her face.
Nepheli's little dark face was flushed. She panted, clearly having enjoyed herself immensely, and simply lay down in the snow.
Irina lay down beside her.
"Should we go back?" Irina asked.
Nepheli watched the gradually darkening sky. "Did you know you can see stars in the Mountaintops of the Giants?"
"Stars?" Irina thought for a moment. "Those sparkling, twinkling things hanging in the sky?"
"Yes, those," Nepheli said. "In Leyndell, all you can see when you look up are golden branches and leaves. There's golden light everywhere, and you can't see the starry sky."
"Is the starry sky beautiful?" Irina asked.
"It's pretty when you first see it. Once you've seen it enough, it's nothing special." Nepheli waved her hands in the snow. "I think storms are cooler!"
"Haha, you really like Fortissax and storms." Irina rolled over in the snow and reached out to touch Nepheli's face.
"Cold." Nepheli swatted Irina's hand away. "Do you miss your master?"
"Yes." Irina returned the question. "What about you?"
"Me too." Nepheli sat up. "Come on, let's go home."
They were actually already a long way from Ordina, having nearly reached the edge of the Glacial River.
Walking back would take a long time.
They had been full of enthusiasm