Snow Mountain Kingdom

Among the human kingdoms, only Alterac was covered in snow year-round. Many wealthy people spent the scorching summer here, but it was late winter now, and few visitors came. Silverpine Forest had not yet seen snow, and the road was fairly smooth for Nathanos and his group. Kana had rented a carriage for all the children. Nathanos sat at the back, admiring the scenery behind them.

"Nathanos, we'll be there soon," Larein said to him through the wooden partition. Nathanos nodded, whether Larein saw it or not. He was in high spirits today. Once today was over, he could go home. He had not seen his parents for several months. He missed them dearly, and he knew they missed him too.

"Look, up ahead!" Kasha excitedly pointed forward. White peaks rose in the distance. Nathanos leaned out to look, but he could not see the kingdom of Alterac standing amid the snowy mountains. He wondered how the people there managed to live in such a harsh environment.

"What are we going to do?" Nathanos asked. The other children all looked at Kana after hearing the question. They certainly could not spend the entire day admiring snowy scenery.

"The weather is wonderful today." Kana smiled. "Led by a guide, we'll hike halfway up the mountain, then enjoy our food and the surrounding view at a rest stop with an open vista."

"Sounds good," Kaishius said. He was not sitting beside Gray today, clearly intending to distance himself from him.

"Do these snowy mountains have grizzly bears?" a child asked. He had spotted a toppled tree by the roadside, marked with bear claw prints.

Gray sneered. "Not just bears. There are wolves and eagles too, all waiting to catch poor little sparrows."

Nathanos's brow twitched. Seeing that Nathanos said nothing, Larein shot back, "Really? Then you'd better stay far away from us. The stink of piss on your pants will attract the wolves."

"Hehe..."

The children around them burst into laughter. Gray's face darkened, and he stayed silent. Today, he would definitely teach these people a lesson. But first, he would deal with Nathanos.

Climbing a snowy mountain was physically demanding. Forcing one's feet forward through the snow took a great deal of strength. Nathanos followed at the back of the group, observing the surrounding cliffs. He had read about this place in a book by Brann Bronzebeard:

I have never seen a place like this. The land around Alterac is fertile, yet this place is barren, barely capable of growing crops. My hometown, Ironforge, is also nestled in snowy mountains. We can use geothermal heat to keep warm and develop our civilization. But this place seems cursed. Beneath the ice and snow is only more ice and snow. My drill has been working for hours, yet I dare not dig any deeper. An avalanche could strike at any moment. If the altitude is what keeps this place cold all year round, then I must admire the will of the Alterac people. They built their kingdom upon sheer cliffs, and this harsh environment has instead helped them keep threats at bay. But I do not like them either. I heard they once had dealings with Aerie Peak and treated those "cousins" of mine as honored guests. Hmph. I will dig up this place's treasure and take it away.

Apparently, Brann had been disappointed. There was no treasure here. He had surveyed the area several times and found few resources. He guessed that the people of Alterac had already discovered the secret hidden within the snowy mountains and used it to build their kingdom. In short, the Alterac people welcomed visitors, but not archaeologists, because every time they came, they took something precious away.

Watch the rear. A Rogue is stealing the point.

I'll save it, I'll save it.

Watch the front and kite them. Their backline damage is a little high.

They have three Frost Mages in the backline. Rogue, go switch targets.

How am I supposed to switch? They have Ice Block.

Be careful. Fall back and defend the high ground behind us.

"Was this place a battlefield?"

After they went up the mountain, Nathanos suddenly asked the question. Everyone turned to look at him. Kana and Kaishius found it strange that he would suddenly ask such a thing.

The guide walking ahead heard Nathanos's question and answered confidently, "Child, that is absurd. Alterac has stood proudly in these snowy mountains for centuries. We know how to face nature's challenges. No one can invade our homeland. And if they do, the wind and snow here will bury them."

The Elf mage Kaishius stroked his goatee and took the opportunity to say, "Quel'Thalas is the same. In the forest, no one can cross the Rangers' defensive line. The land that sustains us stands with us."

The two of them were praising their own countries, and Gray jumped in as well. He said that if his father came here to strike down the enemy, he would surely return in triumph. Nathanos had no intention of joining in, but he knew Gray's words were a complete joke. If Lordaeron soldiers came here wearing armor, it would be fine in clear weather, but if they encountered a blizzard, even taking a step would be a serious problem.

"We're here."

Kana assigned tasks to all the children. Nathanos was told to gather dry branches from the snow to use as firewood for warmth. It was a simple task. Such deadwood could usually be found beneath the thinner snow along the road. But unfortunately for Nathanos, Gray had been assigned the same task. He seemed to have deliberately asked Kana for it. Nathanos knew he was doing it on purpose and stayed on guard. Gray kept a short distance behind him. There were other children nearby too, though a few were Gray's lackeys. Every time Nathanos bent down, every movement of his hands left part of his attention on Gray.

"Ah... Help!"

A cry rang out in the distance. Nathanos hugged the wood in his arms and ran toward it. The sound had come from a cliff. Was the cry for help here? Nathanos looked around, but there was no one in sight. He searched carefully, yet still could not find the person who had called for help. Just as he was about to head back, he discovered that Gray and two of his lackeys had blocked his retreat. Only then did Nathanos realize that he had wandered quite far from the camp. There was also one extra person—the child who had shouted for help. Gray had sent him to lure Nathanos here.

"I'm curious. What kind of power makes you go to such lengths, Gray? What do you want?"

"What do I want?" Gray's eyes burned with rage. His fists clenched tightly, and a murderous smile curled his lips.

"I want you to pay for my dignity!"

The novel has been contracted. I hope everyone will support it.