The Master of Uradan

Rohan felt the cold numbing his limbs as he walked a step after another under the darkness of the cave. There was only a faint blue light, seemingly and strangely coming from the ice hovering on the ceiling. He thought he was walking slower than a snail, but he still managed to catch up with the group of warriors.

Among them, the weaker ones were rank 2 Beginner Warriors. Just looking at them, struggling and shaking, was enough to prove how tough it was to pass this cavern.

If an ordinary person was in this place, Rohan was certain he would only be able to crouch down and wait for death to come. Even the Intermediate Warriors were shaking under this terrible cold.

Although this cold could be normal, Rohan was sure it came from the lake which should be filled with this magical water. The reason for that was that he could feel the waves of mana around him fused with the cold.

Mana was everywhere, in all the places of the world, even if the quantity greatly varied from place to place. Rohan had only visited so many places, and it was only the south part of this continent. But it was the first time he sensed the ambient mana flying around. It could only mean that the quantity or quality was far above everywhere else.

But since it was the Barren Lands, it didn't make sense either way. As Rohan felt the coldness spreading on his body, the group bore the suffering and continued forward.

The steps echoed on the long corridor as the only light came from the strange blue hue. It was weak, extremely so, but it was better than nothing. Since no one had tried to use a torch, Rohan believed that the coldness was too high for any flame to appear. The young warrior frowned as it was strange. Maybe they were simply all so fanatics that they didn't want to light a fire there?

The answer suddenly appeared on his mind as Rohan kept pondering about this cold. It wasn't that the quality or quantity of mana was far above anywhere, it was simply that the mana inside this cave had merged with an element. It was the same feeling he had when he sensed his own spell: the mana corrupted with element!

A normal flame would have no way to subsist here surrounded by cold mana extinguishing it in a second. It also explained how this cold was potent enough to make a group of warriors move like a bunch of grandpas. Furthermore, the light should probably be the secondary effect coming from the ice tainted by the mana.

The group continued without talking a word. They walked enduring the cold as if it was a test before reaching the lake. The corridor was long and headed toward the center of the mountain. Sometimes it turned on the right, sometimes on the left. It went up for a couple of meters, then it went down.

The path constantly snaked in the center of the Kolmos mountain, losing Rohan. After a few minutes of walking, the warriors finally reached the area they wanted to see.

Before Rohan, the tight path enlarged significantly. The walls were pushed on the side while the ceiling went up several meters. The faint blue hue lightened the whole area and the clear water standing still in the center of this large cave.

Huge and long stalactites hung from the ceiling, aiming at the transparent lake with their sharp tips. The lake itself was a distance away from the group, but just looking at this water made Rohan shake even more.

His eyes didn't linger and he only glanced at the lake before looking around. He was quickly disappointed. The area was closed, and only the lake was in this large room in the center of the mountain. The only path permitting them to come was obviously the one he had taken, and no other opening was seen on the smooth stone surrounding the lake.

The warrior that had led them here faced them and whispered gently. It was as if he was currently in one of those churches from the homeland of Horim.

"Took out the recipient we have given to you, you have the right to fill it with the water. Be quick! We leave in a few minutes."

Rohan took out the small jar he had been given. It was a small pottery that could be found anywhere, it was far from being as incredible as the vials the wizards used to store the potions.

Rohan reached the lake in no time. The water was extremely clear, and even with this terrifying cold, there wasn't any ice on it. The ceiling was perfectly reflected, and the bottom could be easily seen.

He looked deeply at this water. He could feel the concentration of the mana being somewhat higher on the water than the air, but the quantity of mana that could enter his jar was less, far less than the mana from a weak mana potion. Compared to the mana cores from the dracasses he had on him, this water was simply useless.

Rohan sighed, letting a white fog leave his mouth. There was no passage inside the lake either. He could only take out the water and get out of there. He would have to think about what to do.

He bent on the shore, and like all other warriors, he carefully put the jar inside the water. There was a small handle, permitting his gloved fingers to not touch the water. He was far from bored enough to put his hand inside this liquid ice.

As he put the recipient near the shore to take the water, his eyes widened. He nearly shouted out loud as countless questions popped into his mind in a second. His recipient was now full, but Rohan didn't care anymore about it.

Just there, below his feet. Not even a meter from the surface, there was an opening on the wall. It was dark, and this corridor full of freezing water was large enough to permit Rohan to pass through it.

He couldn't believe it. Was it the passage to reach the core of the mountain, or was it a random dead end? How could he know about that? He certainly couldn't ask those mad lads that were piously taking the water as if it was the blood of a god.

Rohan didn't know what to do anymore. He was sure the instant he would plunge the warriors would charge after him. Or maybe the cold of the water will stop them. After all, there was a big chance to die inside this damn water.

But he didn't have a solution. He couldn't leave their company in the middle of the descent. The rank 6 Intermediate Warrior was enough to catch him up in a second, less the old man from the great clan.

Coming back alone was also almost impossible, as all the practicable paths were heavily kept from intruders. He was almost sure to be found out if he tried to search a way to climb up with how much those clans treated this mountain.

That much could be easily guessed, as there was this magical water in the middle, and although it was cold, it was easy to have access to it. Thus, the four great clans must keep the surroundings of the mountain under tight control, and Rohan really didn't want to try them.

His eyes were glued on this clear water. His fingers were still holding the small jar, a few centimeters away from the water. He was wearing leather gloves, but he could feel the cold from there. He gulped down.

Should he jump?