The light shone upon Winter Mountain. The night passed, and it was time for another day.
The glistering snow shone hundreds of kilometers as the towering mountains stretched towards the clouds.
While most of the mountain was lifeless, there was a village situated near the middle of the mountain, around a kilometer away from the ground.
There was a flat space that fit the large village that housed close to a thousand villagers. Around the village were the tops of the large mountains that extended towards the clouds. From the village's entrance, endless snow hills went further down the mountain.
Step step, creak.
A sleepy-looking villager who wore a modest-looking linen shirt stepped out of his room, looking like he had just woken up.
After opening his groggy eyes, his foggy vision cleared up, and he saw the frost-covered windows. The weather was cold as always, but the house continued staying warm with the help of the fireplace that was blazing.
As the fire burned strong, the man stepped towards another door next to his room. Without knocking, he opened the door and said sleepily:
''Brother, wake up…''
The time was nearing 6 o'clock in the morning, but it was the usual time when the villagers woke up to do their daily chores.
After opening the door, he saw an empty room, the bed looking tidy like no one hadn't used it last night.
The frost covered the windows, and curtains hung from the side.
He frowned and ran his hand over his hair. Once revealing his face, surprisingly, he looked exactly like the person who attacked Isaac and the co. He was the hooded figure's twin brother, named Hallwell.
''Mother, have you seen Kornwell?'' He asked while peeking towards the kitchen where a thin-waisted woman cooked breakfast.
''No, he isn't there?'' His mother stopped cooking and looked curiously towards the empty room. A slight worry began sprouting inside her heart.
''Last night he went to patrol, but he should have been back by now.''
Hallwell's face turned serious, and he immediately picked up his jacket. He left the house under the shouting of his mother. However, he shrugged those off and stomped straight towards the modest-looking building.
The building seemed empty and dark.
However, Hallwell's face turned angrier as he saw that. He stopped before the door and knocked heavily on it.
Knock, knock, knock!
''Blair, open up!''
Tap… tap… tap…
Slow rhythmic footsteps echoed behind the door. Then, the door opened, and a cold-looking man rested his fatigued face against the door. His ears were pointy, and his body was well-toned with a chiseled jawline and broad shoulders.
''Has my brother, Kornwell, returned from his patrol?'' Hallwell asked in an anxious tone.
''Ask from Guards,'' Blair replied coldly and smashed the door shut right in front of Hallwell's nose.
Hallwell looked stunned, but he didn't know what was he expecting. Blair was the infamous leader of the Dagger squad that patrolled the surrounding area and worked as hunters.
He was infamous because of his cold and detached attitude. He rarely helped anyone from his squad and only cared about himself.
The reason that he was the leader was that he was the only Chain Breaker in Dagger Squad.
Hallwell shook his head and ran straight to the gates of the village. In there, two warmly-dressed Guards stood proudly with their backs straight. Even though the village barely had any visitors, they still took their duty seriously.
''Enzo, Jacop!'' Hallwell's shout attracted the Guards' attention, ''Has my brother returned?!''
''Ah, I don't think he has.'' Enzo turned to look at Jacop, who also shook his head.
Hallwell's face changed shades, and he immediately turned around and returned to Blair's quarters.
Bam, bam, bam!
This time, he smashed his fist against the door.
''Blair, he hasn't come back! Something must have happened to him!''
''Then go search for him!'' Blair's irritated voice came from his bedroom. He cuddled in the blanket and closed his eyes. Soon, his calm snoring noises seeped through the windows.
''Grr…'' Hallwell gritted his teeth angrily and smashed his fist at the wooden door one last time. Then, he turned around and saw the members of Shield Squad walking in the streets. However, he didn't ask for any help from them even though he was also part of that Squad.
Members from Shield Squad stayed in the village and never ventured away from the village. Thus, his faith lay on the shoulders of his brothers' comrades. However, if even the leader didn't help, who would?
There was still a third squad, Sword Squad, and also the strongest squad. However, they weren't fond of helping other squads.
''Hallwell?'' Then, three seventeen-year-old teenagers walked down the street. Two were pale-faced young men, while the third was a young woman with pointy ears like Blair's.
''Oh, hi…'' He said with a voice that sounded exhausted. His shoulders drooped, and he looked like he was carrying a boulder on his back.
''Is something wrong?'' The pointy-eared young woman asked.
''M-My brother has gone missing,'' Hallwell said while grimacing in pain.
''Are you going to go search for him?'' One of the young men asked, his eyes slightly sparkling.
''Yes, I have no other choice.'' Hallwell fixed the collar and looked towards the gates. He decided to go search by himself.
''Can we come?!'' The young man asked with excitement.
''You are too young,'' Hallwell said while shaking his head, even though he felt emotional that someone wanted to help.
''But we are only a year away from the official age, and we also know how to track! Do you?'' The pointy-eared woman pushed her chest forward, proudly stating.
''Sigh, fine.'' Hallwell nodded, and the three cheered loudly. Soon after, they left Blair's house and went straight to the entrance.
The Guards, at first, didn't want to grant them permission. However, Hallwell managed to turn their heads around, getting permission to leave the safety of the village.
After the gates swung open, they left the village and started their journey with the help of a scrap of paper.
The Guards gave them the paper, which had the notes of the usual route taken by patrol. They planned to move the same route, and if find any tracks, they would use them to find Kornwell.
