The next day arrived with a freezing cold breeze that made their bodies shudder despite the bear fur they'd wrapped around themselves. Moon glanced at the skills he'd gained from Selene's powerful class, pulling up the details while Selene stirred awake beside the dying embers of their fire.
[Four Element Affinity]
[Rank: Rare]
[Proficiency: 10%]
[Details: You have low affinity to the four elements. Water, Earth, Wind, Fire. +10% Extra Control]
--
[Elemental Attack]
[Rank: Common]
[Proficiency: 12%]
[Details: You are able to conjure an elemental attack using mana and your affinity towards the element. +10% Extra Damage]
Looking at both skills, Moon was able to conclude that the extra effects—more damage or better control—only arrived at specific milestones.
His Elemental Attack was at twelve percent proficiency, but the extra damage boost had appeared at ten percent and hadn't increased yet. Likely it would jump again at twenty percent, then thirty, and so on.
Still, there was a more pressing question brewing in his mind.
What target proficiency will allow me to inherit the skill completely?
The question remained unanswered for the time being, but Moon knew the answer was bound to reveal itself eventually. Would it be at fifty percent? One hundred?
Hopefully, I can find the answer before it's too late, Moon thought with growing concern over their dire situation.
Luckily, he had found the answer to one of his old questions. He had copied Selene's class once again, and he had found that his proficiency he'd built carried over.
Unfortunately, they were still unable to get a lead on what kind of conditions they needed to satisfy to escape this cursed realm.
"Are you ready?"
Moon nodded at Selene. "Let's go."
Both made their way out of the small cave, squinting against the harsh morning light reflecting off endless snow. The area was quite mountainous, making travel across it tedious and treacherous. Every step required careful placement to avoid slipping on hidden ice or rocks.
Before venturing out, they'd decided to head in a different direction this time around, exploring more of the hidden realm they'd been thrown into unwillingly. Staying in one area would eventually exhaust its resources and leave them vulnerable.
After hours of travelling through the brutal landscape, they came to a stop. Their cloaks and robes were sodden with snow that had formed stiff patches, but that wasn't what made them halt.
Before them, bizarre three-toed animal tracks were visible in the snow, leading off into a claustrophobic forest of twisted, ice-covered trees that hadn't been visible from a distance.
Beside the tracks, a bright crimson streak had been absorbed into the perfectly white snow, creating a trail of blood droplets leading into the dark woods.
"This is new... should we follow it?" Selene asked, kneeling to ruffle the snow near where the blood was freshest. It was still liquid, not yet frozen.
Moon remained silent for a brief moment, contemplating their next move carefully. His eyes traced the treeline, noting how the branches seemed to block out some light, creating deep shadows within.
"It's risky... but it's a new territory. We can't stay in that small cave forever." He checked the sky, noting the sun's position. "Since the sun is still up, we can try to get some intel on the area. Learn what lives here, what resources might exist. But we stay cautious, and we turn back before it starts getting dark."
Selene nodded, standing and brushing snow from her hands. "Agreed. And if we run into whatever's left that blood trail and it's too strong..."
"We run," Moon finished.
With their decision made, both ventured into the forest, following the blood trail and the strange three-toed tracks, unsure of what they would encounter deep in its frozen woods.
The trees closed in around them, and the temperature dropped even further in the shade.
Following the tracks of the three-toed creature, they moved deeper into the frozen forest. The trees grew denser, their branches heavy with ice that occasionally cracked and fell with sounds like breaking glass. The blood trail continued, growing more sporadic, as if whatever had been wounded was either recovering or dying.
Then the forest opened into a small clearing.
And they discovered an abandoned camp.
Moon raised his hand, signalling Selene to stop. They both crouched low, observing from the treeline before approaching.
The camp was clearly human-made. An improvised tent constructed from animal hides sagged in the center, partially collapsed under accumulated snow.
A fire pit sat cold and dead, its ashes long buried. Supplies were scattered around, a broken spear leaning against a tree, a torn backpack half-buried in snow, cooking equipment overturned and frozen.
But there were no bodies or any signs of the people who'd made this camp.
"How long has this been abandoned?" Selene whispered.
Moon studied the scene carefully. "Hard to tell with the snow covering everything. Could be days. Could be weeks."
The three-toed tracks led directly through the camp, disturbing some of the scattered supplies.
"We should search it carefully. There might be supplies we can use."
Selene nodded, though her expression was wary. "What happened to whoever was here?"
Moon didn't answer, but they both knew that the possibilities were all grim.
They approached slowly, both on high alert. Moon moved toward the collapsed tent while Selene checked the scattered supplies.
The tent's entrance flap hung open, frozen stiff. Moon used his foot to push it wider, peering inside.
It was mostly empty, except for the abandoned bedrolls and a few personal items—a journal, some clothing, a small pouch.
Moon reached in carefully and grabbed the journal, its pages stiff with cold. He opened it, scanning the entries.
His expression darkened as he read.
"Selene. You need to see this," he called quietly.