The Author's POV

"Huuuuamm..."

Yawning, a white mist escaped from my mouth. Although it was mid-winter, only now that I was awake early in the morning did I fully realize that winter was upon me.

Perhaps it was because I was less sensitive to the cold, it never truly hit me until now that it was already that time of the year.

6:30 A.M.

Checking my watch, I rubbed my hands together as I sat on a bench. Currently, I was at the train station, patiently waiting for the air train to arrive.

Moreover, apart from waiting for the air train, I was also waiting for someone to come...

Kevin.

I had already texted him beforehand that I was waiting for him today at the train station. Although the events with Gilbert had happened not so long ago, he should've already made a full recovery. Therefore he should be able to make it without a problem.

The only thing that I wanted to know was whether he received my message or not...

-tssss

"...It's snowing"

Snapping me out of my thoughts, extending my hand forward, I watched as an ice crystal gently landed on my jacket and melted straight after.

Glancing at the falling snow in the sky, I couldn't help but softly mumble to myself

"...five months huh?"

I've been in this world for five months...

Watching the ice crystals continuously fall from the sky and land on my jacket, I couldn't help but look back at what had happened these past few months.

"Time sure flies..."

Going from a reclused introvert to exploring dungeons, creating companies, finding comrades, meeting a new family...

"...Really, fate is truly strange in many ways."

Who could've ever guessed that my life would change so much in a matter of five months...I really couldn't explain how I felt at this moment.

Everything sort of felt like a blur...

-Voooooooom!

Snapping me out of my thoughts, the sound of an air train gently landing on the platform of the station resounded across the area I was in.

Frowning slightly, I glanced around me. However, noticing that I was the only person in the station, I couldn't help but be slightly disappointed.

"Mhhh...did I perhaps miscalculate?"

...I really thought that Kevin would've without a doubt shown up considering what had happened with Gilbert, but did I perhaps misjudge something?

Shaking my head, I discarded such a notion

Kevin, how could I

way and something was holding him up. Like for example, an old grandma had fallen down the stairs and he was helping her

6:34 A.M.

watch, and seeing that there was only a minute left before the air train left, my brows

where in

"Am I late?"

I was about to give up and leave the train station and go back

looking behind me to see who the

"Just barely"

...

[Lock station - Departing]

-Clank!

doors of the air train closed, lifting up in the air, it soon smoothly picked up its speed and disappeared into the

the opposite ends to each other in the air train, Kevin and

one of us spoke

the snow coated the rooftops of

...It looked truly beautiful.

how empty the train was as apart from me and Kevin, no one was present. Perhaps because it was early in the morning or because the

a while, breaking the silence, Kevin looked at me for a couple of

are

answering him immediatly, I responded with a

take your presence as you agreeing to

feet for a couple of seconds, clenching his fists tightly,

"...yes"

"Great"

big smile appeared on my face. Resting

going to

couldn't help but shoot

"The Clayton Ridge?"

"Yeah..."

got the [Seed of Limit] and

last time, I was going on further upwards of the

Clayton ridge was huge...and when I mean huge, I mean huge. We're talking like thousands

Limit] and

a three hours journey from the Lock, approximately

Kevin couldn't help

where the

I nodded my

middle part so you better rest as much as you can as

me in confusion, Kevin

"Challenge?"

head, as I leaned on the window and stared at the world outside that was dyed in white, a light

me that you expected me to just give you a five-star

bringing him to the place

with me, I wouldn't have asked for him to meet me this early in the morning to go

this, opening his mouth, Kevin tried to find words to say,

"No..I get it"

noticing Kevin's crestfallen expression, patting him on the