Riftan seemed regretful about revealing his feelings to her too.
This was evident from his downcast eyes and grim expression.
“There may be monsters hiding in the area, so stay alert,” Kuahel warned in a low voice as he led the knights between two ice-covered rocks.
Maxi tried to take his thoughts away from Riftan and observe his surroundings.
All over the snow-covered hill were large, jagged, hook-shaped rocks.
Its contours were so artificial that they did not appear to be the result of wind erosion, but neither were they man-made.
Fascinated, she was staring at the massive structures when Riftan's deep voice interrupted her thoughts.
“This must be a basilisk habitat.”
Maxi's eyes turned to him in surprise.
Halting his horse, Riftan surveyed the area before adding, "Basilisks build their nests by piling rocks like this.
The shape likely comes from the monster's breath, which melts some of the stone."
“Is it safe for us to be here?” asked Ulyseon, looking around warily.
Riftan nodded.
"There are no indications that the monster still lives here.
Considering how thick the ice layer is on the rocks, it must have left a long time ago."
Kuahel looked thoughtful as he muttered, “How lucky.”
Riftan turned to the Temple Knight with a frown.
“What do you mean by that?”
"If that's correct, there should be a cave nearby that the basilisk used as a lair.
We can make that our base."
"Is it wise?
He might still be there," said one of the Temple Knights who followed Kuahel like a shadow.
Ulyseon's face contorted with anger.
Clearly angered by the knight's audacity in doubting Riftan's assessment.
Before he could express his anger, however, Kuahel spoke first.
"When it comes to monsters, you can trust this man's judgment.
He rose to his current rank by hunting dragons, after all."
“How sweet of you to say that,” Riftan teased before lightly poking Talon in the side.
“Let’s find that shelter, then.”
Still apprehensive, the mages looked around the jagged rocks before reluctantly following the knights.
Rem looked nervous, steam coming out of her nostrils with each huff.
Maxi guided her around the rocks after the others.
They followed the winding trail for a while before finding an opening in a cliff at least thirty kevettes high.
The knights dismounted and inspected the cave first, then gave the signal for the mages to enter.
They cautiously followed the light of the knights.
The stone walls were smooth as if covered in plaster, and the floor was level.
Even with fifteen horses inside, the cave still had plenty of space.
Maxi sighed in relief.
Finding a place to shelter from the wind and snow was extremely difficult in this desert, and she was relieved that the space was more hospitable than she expected.
"So, this is what a basilisk lair looks like.
It's magnificent!" exclaimed Sidina as she looked around the cave.
Maxi frowned as he dismantled Rem.
“I’d rather not even think about it.”
"Oh, come on!
Why not?
It's not every day you set foot inside a monster habitat."
Maxi shook his head at Sidina's lack of concern.
She almost admired Sidina, whose optimism never seemed to falter even during such an arduous journey.
While Maxi's stomach was in knots from exhaustion and anxiety, Sidina remained herself as if she were on vacation.
Maxi marveled at her fearless friend as she placed her luggage on the cave wall.
Then she went to the wagon to help the other wizards light the torches.
While they lit the fires and melted the snow to water the horses, the knights built a makeshift stable.
The makeshift structure of boards and fabric near the cave entrance would house and feed their animals.
When each team completed their tasks, the group gathered around the campfires and ate a late lunch of bread and dried meat.
Although the meager food could barely be considered a meal, Maxi's hunger caused her to devour her ration.
She was amicably sharing her remaining half cup of beer with Sidina when Kuahel left his group of Temple Knights in the corner to approach them."We need three people to stay in this cave guarding the cart and horses.
One wizard and two knights should be enough.
Any recommendations?"
The mages looked at him blankly before exchanging glances.
As they hesitated, Ruth raised her hand from her crouched position by the fire.
“I will stay behind.”
“Ruth Serbel,” Riftan said softly without looking up from the open map in his lap.
“I suggest you put that hand down while I’m still being gentle.”
Ruth grumbled under her breath, but lowered her arm anyway.
Elliot, who had been silently observing the situation, cautiously suggested, "Why not choose between the women?
We'll be traveling on foot from now on.
It might be too physically demanding for them."
“It will also be physically demanding for me,” muttered Ruth, reluctant to give up.
The Tower mages glared at him before dismissively walking away to deliberate.
“I think we should leave Sidina or Maximilian behind, as the knight suggested.”
"But none of them can use offensive magic.
If only one of us stays, shouldn't it be someone more versatile?
What if a high-grade monster attacks?"
“Those of us who need to leave the cave face the same risk, and we need capable mages to investigate the monster's base as well.”
"That's why we should take the earth mage with us.
She will be of great help with search magic."
Albern, Geoffrey, and Nevin looked darkly at each other before turning to Sidina and Maxi.
“What do you think?” Albern said.
“We leave the decision up to you.”
Maxi studied Riftan's face.
His expression was dark as if he was considering whether it would be better to leave her behind or take her with him.
Unable to make a decision, Maxi nervously shifted his gaze.
Seeing his hesitation, Sidina intervened.
"I'd like to help with the investigation.
It will certainly be physically demanding, but I'd rather do that than stay here not knowing when you'll be back.
Besides, I'm quite confident in my stamina."
Sidina flexed her arm as she spoke.
Maxi looked thoughtfully at the fire.
Moments later, she raised her head.
"I-I'd like to go too.
I'm sure my tracking spell skill will come in handy."
“That means one of us will have to stay behind,” said Geoffrey, scratching his head.
He looked from Albern to Nevin before fixing his gaze on Nevin.
"It should be you, since you're the most fragile among us.
I'm sure it won't be an easy task to carry that flabby belly."
“Did you think those insults would make me refuse?” Nevin replied with a growl.
“As I don’t mind being left behind, I will gratefully accept your consideration.”
Kuahel, who was patiently listening to their deliberation, unfolded his arms.
"Then it's decided.
Two paladins will stay behind with you."
He then turned to Riftan as if daring him to object.
“Is there a problem?”
Riftan looked at Maxi uncomfortably before shaking his head with a sigh.
He was probably hesitant to leave her in a place like that.
"None."
"Good.
Then let's start packing.
We won't go far, but we should still pack enough food for two or three days of full reconnaissance.
Make sure you pack enough food."
Maxi quickly got up to start packing.
Although he only filled his backpack with the essentials to keep his luggage light, it still ended up weighing as much as a set of iron bars.
Snorting, she used a rope to tie it around her waist.
It was then that Riftan approached and took her backpack.
“Just add extra food.”
“B-But it’s my“”
Maxi stopped talking when he gave her a cold look.
“Climbing the mountain alone will be challenging enough, so stop being stubborn,” Riftan snapped.
He threw the backpack over his shoulder as if it weighed nothing and left the cave.
Although she pouted, Maxi secretly heaved a sigh of relief.
In fact, she was relieved that she didn't have to climb the mountain with such heavy luggage.
With his endurance, he knew he would have to do his best to keep up with the constant pace of the riders.
And it didn't seem to be just her, one of the mages also received help from the knights.
While their fellow mages were now without backpacks, the knights carried additional baggage on their backs.
Maxi watched them with a wry smile as Kuahel signaled their departure.Soon they were crossing the snowy hill.
As she struggled to keep up with the knights' steady steps, Maxi was glad she had asked Nevin to cast restorative magic on her before their departure.
Although traveling on horseback was difficult, on foot was incomparably more demanding.
Maxi concentrated his weight on his legs to keep from slipping as he made his way across the frozen rocks.
Eventually, the incline became steeper, leading them to a rugged, ice-covered mountain trail.
Riftan must have been worried that she would trip.
“Hold this,” he said, holding out a rope to her.
She readily accepted, and he silently led her along the way.
As a result, she was able to climb the mountain with relative ease.
They had been walking up the trail for an indeterminable amount of time when Kuahel, at the front of the group, abruptly turned and gestured for them to hide.
A little exhausted from the climb, Maxi didn't immediately notice the sign.
Riftan pulled her close to him and made her lie flat on top of a rock.
Surprised, she held her breath.
The howling wind muffled his ears.
The only thing clear was the sound of his heart pounding from the strenuous climb.
Because of this, she didn't immediately realize what was happening.
It was only a long time later that he heard the soft footsteps and the tinkling of the spinning wheels.
He felt his heart freeze in his chest.
Concentrating, she heard the approaching noises.
When her curiosity got the better of her, she slowly raised her head and saw Riftan peering furtively up the steep slope from behind a jutting rock.
Far below in the valley, dozens of trolls moved in a long procession, pulling fifteen or more carts.