Third Person’s POV

This old tracker was hiding something from all of them, and it was definitely something extremely dangerous.

And whatever scheme he had already set into motion, it had not ended yet.

That realization caused the armored aura master to grow even more alert toward every future mishap that might arise next, and what would be the hidden goal of this old man in all that.

Meanwhile, Arlene had nearly forgotten the paranoia and caution awakened earlier by her aunt’s secret warning.

The sudden wolf ambush, the desperate battle, the terrifying power of Ice Burial, and the exhaustion of survival had all washed over her mind like a violent tide and pushed those earlier suspicions into a dim and neglected corner of her thoughts where they now lingered faintly, almost forgotten.

The armored aura master knew very clearly that, as of this moment, the old man named Caspian was already one step ahead of him, and despite being aware of that uncomfortable truth, he could do nothing openly against him.

That was what frustrated him the most.

He had suspicions, and he had his experience that had been sharpened through years of danger and bloodshed.

Yet he possessed no proof against him, no visible flaw to expose, and no proper reason with which he could act against an elder guide who had just nearly died in service of the princess.

Because of that, he could only watch this old fox continue walking among them with the face of a harmless and exhausted man.

Still, he did not wish to remain entirely in the dark regarding whatever danger might be waiting ahead for them once they reached the Ice Emperor City.

If this old man truly had hidden motives, then the road before them would not be peaceful.

Just as he was worrying inwardly and considering how he might once again caution the princess without causing suspicion or offending her pride, a sudden idea flashed through his mind.

Without changing his expression, he silently compressed a thread of his cultivated aura into a narrow, invisible line and guided it toward Arlene.

It was a secretive sound transmission technique.

Normally, he would never have used such a method in this expedition.

All the hardships, uncertainty, and dangers of this journey had originally been intended as a trial and training for the princess.

It was supposed to help her sharpen her judgment, courage, and decision-making through real experience.

But the current situation had already drifted too far from that purpose, and too many strange things had occurred.

His instincts warned him that whatever danger would hit them was not something that could be categorised as a simple trial anymore.

At this point, he no longer cared much for the rigid limits of the Chief Priest’s orders.

If something truly went wrong, protecting the princess mattered more than preserving rules.

Meanwhile, Arlene was walking not far ahead, beside old Caspian and his grandson.

After several minutes of travel, the old man had seemingly recovered enough that she no longer needed physical support, though he still appeared to have occasional weakness.

The group had already left behind the battlefield that had transformed into a frozen wolf graveyard and was now moving deeper into unknown terrain.

As they continued forward, Arlene gradually realized they were no longer descending directly toward the plains, but instead moving sideways along the slope of a mountain. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

She noticed this when the dense trees around them began to thin slightly, allowing her first clear sight into the wider distance since entering this cursed forest.

The final ridges of the mountain range stretched away nearly a hundred kilometers from their current position, their jagged heights half buried beneath storm clouds and snow.

Between those ridges lay valleys packed with dark conifer forests that spread like an endless green ocean beneath sheets of mist.

The forests climbed the lower and middle heights of the mountains before thinning into barren white stone higher above.

Snow winds moved through everything without pause and dragged the cold mists through the trees, blurring distant sights into ghostly shapes.

This forest was known as the Ghost Pine Woods, a name given because of the mournful sounds that endlessly echoed through it whenever the perpetual winds passed through the towering conifers, creating cries so eerie that many travelers believed spirits dwelled there.

Still, from this elevated path, Arlene could finally judge the terrain more clearly.

She realized that they had indeed taken a major detour earlier and had wandered high into the mountain slopes instead of following the safer lower routes through valleys and natural underpasses that were normally used by the travellers and hunters.

Yet now that she could see the path ahead more openly, some of the heaviness in her mood began to ease, as at least they were now moving with direction once more.

But just at that very moment, a gruff and serious voice suddenly sounded directly inside her head, startling her so much that her heart nearly skipped.

It was exactly like the earlier moment when her aunt’s voice had entered her mind without passing through the air.

’Princess, it’s me. Do not react in any manner, especially after what I am about to tell you.’

Arlene was intensely shocked, but her upbringing and discipline showed their worth.

She maintained the same calm and faint smile she had worn since the beginning of the journey and didn’t allow even the slightest twitch to betray that anything unusual was happening.

Her steps remained steady, and her breathing remained even, though her pulse had quickened.

The voice continued.

’This old man Caspian is definitely planning something nefarious and malevolent. I can sense the greed and hidden darkness deep within him through my intuition and instincts.’

Arlene’s fingers stiffened slightly beneath her sleeve, yet outwardly, she remained composed.

’From now until we reach the capital city, we must remain absolutely cautious. Anything dangerous can happen at any moment.’

There was a brief pause before the final thought arrived.

’I may be wrong... but the chances of that are very small.’