In a harsh, unforgiving land in the northern region, existed the Riffy Cliffs, a small town that clung desperately to survival beneath a relentless storm.
The settlement stood at the edge of towering cliffs that marked the border between the Northern Kingdom and the Amada Mountains Here, the temperature often dropped to a bone-chilling minus thirty degrees, which was far too cold for people to endure and snow fell without pause, driven sideways by shrieking winds that howled through the mountains day and night.
And everyone knew that this wasn't just a natural but a storm that was influenced by a C rank Dungeon.
The Dungeon had opened decades ago, deep within the mountains, and ever since then, the blizzard had settled in permanently, sweeping over the entire region. Unfortunately, The Riffy Cliffs was too small and lacked the strong warriors necessary to tackle the Dungeon's dangers so it could only endure the harsh weather. It also stood at the fragile boundary between Safe Zones and Danger Zones, causing most guilds to refrain from establishing themselves here.
The risk was just too great for them, and the townsfolk adapted as best they could.
They wore thick, fur-lined coats crafted from monster hides that retained heat even in supernatural cold. Their boots were reinforced to guard against frostbite and jagged ice. Scarves and protective goggles concealed their faces, leaving only weary eyes exposed to the storm.
Their wooden buildings were reinforced with iron beams and inscribed with heat runes. They stood packed tightly together, their roofs buried beneath heavy layers of snow. Smoke rose weakly from chimneys, only to be devoured by the wind moments later.
Today, however, the town felt unusually quiet and this silence wasn't due to the lack of people though.
Instead it was the tension building around the risky expedition planned for the day.
Snow, a young boy with striking white hair and bright blue eyes, stood among the crowd watching the brave warriors prepare for their daunting mission.
He was dressed in an oversized brown coat that was almost large enough to swallow him whole. He stared at the warriors before him with a grim expression.
'This is stupid '
He exhaled sharply.
Today's expedition would either latter produce news of celebration or news of mourning.
The "suicide squad," as Snow privately labeled them, consisted of the eight strongest warriors Riffy Cliffs had to offer. Most were D-Rank knights while a relative two were E-Rank mages.
Various snobs, cries and farewells were resounding throughout the place as many citizens gave their farewells to the warriors.
Snow watched this scene with mixed feelings.
He found this whole expedition to be ridiculous.
Just because some self proclaimed seer claimed that she saw a vision where the dungeon evolved to a higher rank bringing ruin to the Cliffy Riffs, everyone had suddenly became all worked up claiming that the dungeon needed to be dealt with immediately, which was an impossible task given by the fact that the strongest force the town had to offer was merely ten D ranks and one needed at least eight C ranks being led by a B rank powerhouse to be able to conquer a C rank dungeon.
And besides the dungeon, there was the matter of arriving at that place in one piece.
The dungeon was located at the center of the treacherous Amada Mountains, the large rocks that served as the border between safe zones and danger zones.
What this simply meant was that, to get there, the brave warriors who were embarking on this expedition had to first face the terrifying beasts inhabiting the danger zone region around the Amada Mountains before reaching the dungeon.
And this task was no less harrowing than the former, infact Snow believed that this was the most harrowing part of the expedition.
"l still think this is stupid "
Snow said flatly to Edward, not even bothering on suppressing his voice.
The man who was being addressed by Snow, was a tall hulking brute clad in bronze armor with a large hefty greatsword equipped at his back.
His eyes were black carrying the trace of hard earned experience in them.
This was the representative leader of the Cliffy Riffs, Chief Edward Cane.
The chief of the Riffy Cliffs stared at his son with a resigned smile.
Edward let out a quiet sigh.
"You could at least try to keep your voice down," he said. "You're attracting attention again."
Snow glanced around.
As expected, several townsfolk were glaring at him.
He didn't care though.
"Well, someone has to say it," Snow replied flatly. "Pretending this is anything other than suicide won't change reality."
At this moment a scoff came from the infuriated crowd .
"You best watch your tongue boy, for l am afraid that even Edward won't be able to save you this time. "
Another scoff sounded again from the crowd.
This time it came from an elderly woman with gray-white hair.
"See as usual, the boy has already begun cursing this trip. Not that its a surprise given his vermin connection with that dungeon. "
Snow who had been insulted was about to give the man and the elderly woman a piece of his mind, when Edward gave him smack in the head and stopping the attempt in the process.
After receiving the blow from the large hand of his father, Snow glared at Edward.
Edward however piad him no mind and turned to the crowd.
He performed an apologetic bow to them and said.
"Please forgive my foolish son. I'm sure he means no harm."
"No harm?" someone from the crowd shouted. "Are you kidding me? That kid's very existence is harm! Lady Agatha said so herself!"
Snow, still glaring at Edward, couldn't help but sigh at the familiar comments.
"Here we go again," he thought.
Due to his weird commodities, his unusual Snow white hair which according to old legends was an omen of misfortune and due to the analysis that lady Agatha gave at his birth, Snow was regarded by most of the town people as a cursed child, and was often labeled as the human incantation of the winter that plagued the Riffy Cliffs.
Edward gave a side long glance at Snow and then turned to the crowd.
"That's enough," he said firmly, though his tone was not harsh. "Today is not a day for division. Our people are marching into danger. So if you must raise your voices, raise them in prayer—not in blame."
The murmuring crowd gradually quieted.
The man who had spoken earlier pursed his lips but said nothing more. Others lowered their gazes, shame mixing with anxiety.
Snow clicked his tongue softly preparing to speak once again.
Edward then shot him a warning look making him close his mouth.
He just released a scoff and looked away.
Edward at this moment then decided to move towards the eight warriors who were ready to embark on this expedition.
.
At their head was Rolland Cane—Edward's younger brother and Vice Chief of Riffy Cliffs.
Rolland sat astride a white ice-breed horse, its breath misting in the frigid air.
As Edward approached, Rolland chuckled, glancing toward Snow.
"You've got your hands full with that one."
He turned to Snow and grinned.
"Why so glum, Snowflake? Keep scowling like that and you'll have wrinkles by twenty."
Snow ignored him.
Rolland only laughed and looked back at Edward.
Edward exhaled slowly.
"I should go with you," he said quietly.Edward then let out a quiet sigh.
That was the truth.
More than anything, he really wanted to.
He was the strongest warrior in Riffy Cliffs. The only one close to C-Rank, so surely his presence would greatly increase their chances.
Rolland however laughed.
"Is this your way of trying to escape your duties?"
Edward frowned.
Rolland shook his head and then said with a firm tone.
"You know that the town needs its Chief, and if something happens while we're gone… if monsters attack, they will need you here."
Edward knew that too.
Responsibility was a chain heavier than any iron.
"…Tch."
He could only click his tongue in frustration.
Edward then reached forward and gripped Rolland's shoulder.
"Come back alive," he said quietly.
Rolland smiled.
"I'll try."
The eight warriors were them about to set off before an elderly female voice suddenly sounded from the crowd, forcing the eight warriors to stop their horses.
"Wait !"
Snow at this moment, noticed a woman emerge from the crowd.
The lady was old with gray-white hair, and her body was thin and crooked, wrapped in layers of gray and white cloth that resembled burial shrouds more than clothing. A long staff of pale wood rested in her hand.
Her eyes were cloudy pale betraying the hint that she was blind.
As soon as he saw the elderly lady, Snow coudn't help but scoff.
This lady was none other than the seer of the Riffy Cliffs Lady Agatha.
The one who had claimed that she foresaw ruin coming from the C rank dungeon and coming to engulf the town.
She was also the one who had ten years ago labelled Snow as a cursed child.
As lady Agatha approached the eight warriors on the white ice breed horses, she then said slowly with a gentle tone.
"Please allow this blind lady to bless you before you set on your journey "