Of Ice, Death & Monsters

Chapter 97 : For Mountains Are A Trial

11 Days Ago.

Travel was just around a day or so, really, it took long because I had to rest every so often, but we managed ourselves until finally, Koschei pointed east to a tall mountain close by. It seemed to stand alone, no forest clearing, no lakes, no rivers. It was simply a lone mountain that shot through the heavens.

Other than that, it seemed normal-

Out of nowhere, a loud screech could be heard, as if a bird mixed with a fighter jet flew through the air, echoing an ear-piercing song that caused Charlie and me to wince in pain. Then, the clouds themselves emanated an orange-red glow, completely dousing the blue skies with a noticeable tint.

“Whoa… Is that-”

Sil grinned and nodded with glee, twirling in the air. “Correct~ That was the Firebird! Ahhh it noticed your presence! Come on, let’s go say hi!” 

“Yeah, we better get moving!” I dashed towards the mountain, climbed up its side with haste. It was steep, so I had to be careful; each step got me seven leagues up. The air got thinner, and while I kinda got used to walking, climbing just felt weird. What didn’t help in fact, was when all of a sudden, the boots stopped working.

I did one step up… And instead of bringing up another seven leagues, I simply got a foot ahead.

“Huh…-” That was all I could say before I screamed, nearly falling down with the others, before Sil and the rest of the faeries grabbed my back and forced me onto the mountain trail, patting us down as she sighed.

“Looks like the day was up.” 

I groaned aloud and sighed as if I were a child throwing a tantrum. “Oh come on! We were like…” I then checked up the mountain and saw that we were about 3/4ths of the way there. 

“So close too! Man…” I raised my arms in annoyance while Charlie patted my back. 

“It’s fine, we can take the rest of the time to climb up.”

Koschei laughed and stared above. “I’ve never actually seen the sides of the mountain like this before. It had been shrouded by the Mist for a long time.”

“Yeah, it’s been a good thousand years since this place was visitable.” Sil flew around as I finally looked around the place.

It seemed like your everyday kind of mountain, of rock, stone, and snow that padded its edges… Until I noticed that everything here looked smooth, as if instead of being perused and molded by nature, it was instead crafted by the hands of man. It was as if we were in some kind of temple grounds.

I knelt down, moving the snow by my feet as I saw a chiseled floor instead of a simple dirt path. “Who made this mountain?”

“Ah, that shall be the work of the followers of Jarilo, god of Spring. This great mountain was carved bit by bit to be a temple dedicated to him and his majesty. The Eastern Mountain that would denote the coming of spring when it defrosts… And it has not for over a thousand years.” Sil laughed and slid her body across the ground.

“Looks like we’re the snow shovelers then!” I cracked my knuckles, grinning ear to ear as I looked up at the mountain. “It... Shouldn’t take that long, right?”

“Maybe a week or so, we'd better get comfortable.” Sil yawned before placing herself on my back, humming away with a grin.

I internally groaned again. Oh well, I guess all the fun and exciting parts are over… Or maybe there’s gonna be some super secret boss that I’m gonna have to face here!

I raised my hand up into the air, hollering away. “Alright, Court! Let’s get to hiking!”

1 Day Ago.

It was both the hardest and also the most boring part of the entire quest I have ever done. There was almost nobody and nothing here at all. We climbed and hiked for days and days. Food and water weren’t really a problem; Sil managed to get us food and water. The cold wasn’t really an issue too, Fae blessings and all that. The biggest problem was the monotony.

The only reason I didn’t go stir crazy was because Sil was there to entertain us by telling stories about their lives, and also every once in a while, she directed us towards the temple shortcuts for us to use.

It was kinda cozy inside, albeit dark without any lights other than the outside glow of the sun and or the luminosity of the moon. 

The rooms were carved ornately, focusing on style and picturesque artistic qualities. Rounded out with the walls engraved with hundreds of stories and tales that seemed to go on forever and ever.

Sil pointed out one of the first murals and the most intricately carved ones. It was of a serpent with antlers like a deer, grabbing hold of a small baby, running away from a man with an axe that seemed to sparkle with electricity.

“Our journey begins with the birth and kidnapping of Jarilo from his father Perun by the vile and loathsome Veles.”

“Wait.” I tilted my head and stared at the wall for a moment. “Like Skiper-Weles?”

“Well…” Sil twirled around. “Depends on who you ask. Some people think they’re the same, others think they’re separate. Who knows really~”

I blinked. “Wait, you just don’t know? Like at all?”

“Correct! Some of these stories are older than I am. Anyways~ Veles went on to raise him as one of his own in the Nawia, where he met…” She then dramatically gestured to the next mural.

It depicted a beautiful couple, a man and woman together wearing dresses of green, red, and gold. They lived amongst both deer and bear by the lakeside.

“His sister, Marzanna, goddess of snowfall and dreams. Look at them, all happily married.”

I blinked for a bit before repulsing back. “Eww… His sister? Really? Ugh, nasty.”

The fairy shrugged. “It’s the gods, why does it matter?”

“I-I guess…” I remembered Peter talking about the stories of gods and how most of them seemed utterly disgusting and revolting; they would marry their sisters, aunts, and go around eloping with random women.

“Their unity was as bright as a summer’s day, ah, it was beautiful and warm like a fireplace. But like all summers and fireplaces, it couldn’t last.”

Sil then flew over to a mural that depicted a man surrounded by multiple faeries, now naked, with flowers covering his body.

“He was seduced by us~ or well, Faeries in general, consorting with the Watcher of the North. Marzenna found out and…”

She then gestured to the next panel, which depicted Jarilo being literally ripped apart by the woman from before, who grew wolf-like claws. 

“Deserved.” Charlie said as she gazed upon the scene.

“Yeah, totally. He fucked around and found out… Literally.” I laughed at my own joke before I found the next panel where Marzenna was sitting on a throne wearing a crown made from a skull.

“Woah… Queen shit.” I nodded along with a grin on my face. “That’s his skull right?”

Sil flew on by. “Yup, and the rest of his body was turned into her castle in the Nawia. Great, isn’t it? During her rage, she went on a rampage throughout the world, until, of course, she would be murdered by Perun.”

 She gestured towards the next scene where the man with an axe beheaded the woman.

“Afterwards, Veles would gather both her and Jarilo’s bodies, remaking them at the cost of their memories… And the cycle would continue, again and again.”

I stared at the final scene, where the horned man was constructing their bodies back together again. “Wow… That’s horrible! Doesn’t he tell her that it wouldn’t work?”

Sil shrugged again. “Maybe, maybe she wanted to know if it would work, or maybe he thinks it would be different this time around. But, the last time it happened though… Marzanna actually went and killed Perun, after he fought off the invaders from Balthalem during the last days of the war.

“Huh… Guess this time she won… That’s hmmm, well maybe we could find her. Would love to see another free woman walking around.”

“Well, you’re in luck then.” Koschei’s voice scared the shit out of me as I nearly fell on one of the altars.

“There’s a rumor that she lives up north, or perhaps she lives in the center. Wherever winter comes forth, she shall be there. Of course, that is if you could survive her strength and power.”

“Leave it to us~” I sang along as I walked ahead, examining more of the strange structures and lore of this place. 

“Kinda weird how this place was meant to worship a cheater. Like, why would anyone do that?”

“It does not matter what actions they bring. Only that they bring forth the Spring, and for that, the people adored them.”

“It’s like how people still love Ephitet.” Charlie muttered aloud as she stared at the mural of Marzenna on the throne. “Even if they would do the cruelest of things, and even if the people knew… They wouldn’t ever turn away.”

I gritted my teeth at that as my hair lit up a bit. “Yeah… Well, we just have to make like Marzenna and build our world out of their bones then.” 

1 Day Ago.

Finally, after spending days and nights on and inside the mountain, we were finally approaching the peak. It was in the middle of the day too, where we saw the sun shine just above the cloudless sky… Well, mostly cloudless, because I was sure we passed a few of them going up. The air was thinning hard, but we didn’t need much oxygen, thanks again to Sil. 

You know, I was starting to appreciate Fae, and now I could start to understand how people could be seduced into joining them. When they were on your side, they felt like they could do anything. Although uh, probably why they could easily kidnap kids.

I looked up, finding the peak just within walking distance. My eyes widened as I waved my arms like a kid in a candy store. “Ahhhh! We’re here! Come on guys!” I rushed on over, running as fast as I could towards the peak.

I didn’t dare look back. Finally, we were here, and my heart felt like it was on fire! Then, I looked down, and saw that I actually was on fire! I yelped in surprise as I rolled onto the peak, looking around frantically as I started to strip off the clothes that caught on fire.

Finally, as I rolled around, I found the source of the flames: The firebird feather I hid in my bra. I stared at it in wonder as it was literally catching fire. I nearly dropped it out of my hand in surprise before I realized that flames don’t actually hurt me.

I laughed awkwardly as I put my clothes back on while the others behind me finally came to my side.

“Did something happen? Are you alright?” Charlie knelt beside me as I shook my head.

“Nah, it’s fine, just a little surprised by.” And then I pointed at the feather that was now floating up into the sky while on fire.

It was then that the sky started to blossom with a flower of flames. All around us, a beautiful yet haunting melody echoed. It was a song that struck a chord within my soul like a matchstick catching fire.

The clouds in the sky parted ways, transforming into a deluge of white smoke that smothered the flames, clashing with its intensity.

Charlie readied herself, while Koschei and Sil seemed to simply stand, arms stretched out as if they were preparing for something to go off.

And then… It did. Up above the world so high, like a ruby, in the sky. An image of red and orange flew akin to a comet, heading straight down towards me.

If unfurled, revealing a large bird covered in flames of red and gold, screeching like a hawk as it grabbed me within its talons.