CHAPTER 490: 490. SNOW CAMELS

The group finally stepped out of Neve Fort after what felt like hours of tedious negotiation. The icy fortress still loomed behind them, majestic and cold, its centuries-old walls glittering faintly beneath the pale sun. Myrtle let out a long sigh, tugging her cloak tighter around her shoulders.

They were now traveling on a carriage drawn by two snow camels. The vehicle creaked softly as it rolled across the frozen landscape, the wheels leaving grooves that were quickly covered by drifting flakes.

Snow camels were a rare creatures outside these snowy Territories. At first glance they resembled ordinary desert camels, but only in the shape, there are many striking differences.

Their entire bodies were covered in thick, snowy-white fur that shimmered faintly under the pale light of the winter sun. The fur wasn’t just for warmth —it also concealed their movements. Even though the beasts were much heavier and stronger than their desert cousins, their padded hooves carried them across the frozen plains without leaving a single trace. It was as if the wind itself carried them forward, erasing any sign of their passing.

"I’m just glad they let us leave after paying the fine..." she muttered, the tension in her voice betraying how close things had come to spiraling further out of control.

From her side, a youthful, sing-song voice chimed in. "Told ya... Tyler is rich."

Myrtle turned her sharp gaze toward the speaker —Zuzia, the dragon princess whose innocent tone rarely matched her chaotic behavior. "Princ— Zuzia..." Myrtle corrected herself mid-word, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Listen to me. We’re just going to find whatever it is Tyler is looking for, and then we leave. You can enjoy yourself however you like afterward, but please —don’t do anything more outrageous."

Zuzia, entirely unbothered, crossed her arms and sat squarely on Tyler’s lap, flipping her hair with a huff. "Hmph. That lizard was full of lust, trying to hit on me. When I ignored him, he got aggressive. You know that old saying—’if someone slaps one cheek, you turn the other’? Well, I turned his cheeks, all right." She smirked and turned her face away dramatically.

"That’s not how the saying goes," Myrtle muttered, exasperated. "Never mind... And you—" she shifted her attention to Tyler, who was still clad in shimmering red scales. "What exactly were you doing? Why were all those lizard-elves draped all over you?"

"I was asking for..." Tyler coughed, looking away, "...directions."

Myrtle narrowed her eyes, unconvinced, but she let it slide with a weary sigh. "Fine. So where’s this ’thing’ you’re searching for?"

"West," Tyler replied confidently. "That’s all I know. I don’t know the exact location, just the direction. We’ll keep moving until we find it."

Before Myrtle could argue, Mana’s head popped up from the floor like a curious specter. "West has many manufactories. Tens of millions of Draconians work there."

Tyler perked up. "What kind of factories?"

"Many," Mana answered matter-of-factly. "Abyss Steel factories, chemical refineries, plants that make immortal dream powder."

"Immortal Dreams?" Lanny tilted her masked face, delicately sipping coffee as though the name itself intrigued her.

Tyler leaned back, crossing his arms. "It’s a type of drug. Pretty addictive. Dangerous. If a mortal so much as takes a whiff within ten meters, they’ll keel over dead instantly. Don’t do drugs—" he paused for effect, smirking, "—instead do b!tches."

"I’m a girl," Lanny deadpanned.

"Then do sons of beaches."

"..."

Silence fell for a beat. Even Zuzia had to look away, covering her mouth to hide her laughter.

"...How do you even know all this?" Myrtle asked suspiciously.

"Mana paid a little extra." Mana answered in her usual third-person manner, her tone as casual as if she’d bought bread at a market. "That Snowbear man gave Mana a full explanation."

"You could have asked me," Myrtle retorted, her tanned skin glowing faintly as Prana stirred beneath it. "I know plenty about this region too."

Tyler waved his hand dismissively. "We’ll start moving tomorrow. First, we need to figure out the best way to travel in these snowfields."

"If we’re leaving," Mana said, "there are two routes. One is the frozen sea path—ice bridges connect this island to the next. The other..." her eyes flickered, "...is through Catacombs Island."

"Catacombs Island?" Tyler tilted his head.

Myrtle stepped in to elaborate. "It’s a flying island. A graveyard, actually. But more importantly, it’s where they produce Melty Ashes."

Tyler straightened, his tone suddenly sharp. "There are Melty Ashes here?"

Zuzia tilted her head innocently. "What’s that?"

"It’s..." Tyler hesitated, then smirked, "...a by-product used in high-level cosmetics."

"Cosmetics?!" Zuzia’s eyes lit up like stars, her earlier mischief instantly forgotten.

"You can’t use it raw," Tyler quickly crushed her enthusiasm. "Taken directly, it makes you forget everything— your memories, your feelings, even who you are. You’d basically erase yourself and become someone else."

Zuzia pouted, her cheeks puffed up. "Tch, what’s the point then?"

Tyler’s tone grew more serious as he explained further. "Melty Ashes have different applications depending on the ritual and compatibility. They’re one of the key ingredients in Immortal Dreams, but that’s just one use. They can temporarily clear memories, heal spiritual damage, heighten perception, serve as ingredients in sacred rituals, and even unlock dormant abilities. It’s not something to take lightly."

The group fell silent at his words, the weight of them pressing down on the snowy air.

"...Mathilda’s the one who told me about Melty Ashes," Tyler added after a pause. His gaze softened slightly. "I didn’t understand why at the time, but now I think I do. She probably needs some."

Myrtle folded her arms, her expression turning grim. "Even so, Catacombs Island doesn’t sell to outsiders. Not willingly."

"That just means," Tyler leaned forward, his draconic eyes glinting with determination, "we’ll have to find another way."

Myrtle leaned against the wooden side of the cart, brushing a strand of hair from her face as she gazed at the snowy horizon. "It feels strange," she murmured. "Such huge creatures, and yet they move without a sound. If one didn’t know better, it’s like we’re floating across the snow."

Lanny, her small frame bundled tightly in layers of thick fur, tilted her head. The mask covering her face gave her voice a muffled, curious tone. "So no one can track us if we use these camels?"

"No Dumbo," Mana popped her head out from beneath the cart’s blankets, her eyes blinking lazily. "The wheels are still leaving trails. But still, These are best way to move in snowy planes. That’s why travelers rent them in the Snowfell region. ."

"Convenient," Tyler muttered.

The driver tugging the reins with a casual flick of his wrist. The camel moved in a good speed.

Tyler’s red-scaled arms gleamed faintly, In the group, he and Zuzia is the only who who doesn’t care about the Cold because the cold doesn’t bothered them a little.

Zuzia Hugged Tyler like she was ’suffering’ from cold. "Hmph, you’re the one who insisted we travel by land for now. I am feeling cold. Can I fly ?"

She reached out, letting her fingers brush his scales, "If you feel cold, I can warm you up here? How about some rough exercises like...."

He then whispered something in her ears.

"Huh... The carriage will break." Zuzia said seriously.

"But Let’s give a try." Zuzia eyes brightened and tried to undress herself.

"S-Stop... Whatever you want to do... Please do it after finding a place to stay." Myrtle quickly said in panic.

Lanny let out a soft, disappointed sigh. The sound was small, almost swallowed by the creaking of the carriage, yet it was enough to draw the attention of everyone seated around her. She immediately turned her face away, pretending to study the swirling snow outside. The faint flush beneath her mask was hidden, but her stiff shoulders betrayed her unease.

The cold wind howled faintly across the barren expanse, carrying with it flakes of snow that glittered like shards of crystal in the pale northern light. The landscape stretched endlessly in every direction. Many snow covered trees, houses and the drifting silhouettes of floating isles high above the horizon can be seen

Pulling her cloak tighter, Lanny changed the subject. "At least the camels are steady. In this weather, even a flying boat would be tossed around."

Mana leaned closer, her voice slipping into Lanny’s mind through Divine Sense. "Well... if you’re interested, you could always join us, you know."

"Us?" Lanny’s eyes widened slightly.

"Mm. Mana too." Mana gave a small nod, her violet hair swaying.

"But how?" Lanny asked hesitantly, her gaze flicking toward Mana’s hand as it passed effortlessly through the carriage wall.

"Mana can even eat food," Mana replied with a mischievous grin. "Of course, Mana can swallow Tyler and his..."

Her words trailed off into a teasing hum, and Lanny quickly turned away again, her ears burning beneath the mask.

Outside, the snow camels trudged on, their breath steaming in the frozen air. The wheels creaked, the wind sang, and the group pressed deeper into the endless white.