Cold.
It's cold.
We spawn on a small stone platform in a desolate mountain range, buried in snow.
The cold cuts through our armor as if it isn't there. It's freezing—so cold. Reyna sustains a small flame, letting it hover around us like a restless firefly, keeping us warm and preventing the snow from piling on us.
This floor isn't like the other tutorial floors. It's different. The cold is relentless. A few trees are scattered across the barren landscape, but the rest is nothing but rock and snow.
The runes engraved into the weathered stone are illegible, though I imagine they aren't much different from the ones I've seen before—Runic Teleportation. A lost art to the NPCs. A convenience for us.
I scan the floor, but there's nothing. Just snow, piling on top of more snow.
"Where do we start?" Reyna asks, looking to Teruki for guidance.
"We'll just keep walking until we get too cold and teleport back," I say.
"It's quiet," Sera mutters.
"It's pretty creepy," Teruki continues. "A lot more so in person."
"Should we set up camp?" Viri asks.
"There's no point," Reyna replies. "It's a frozen wasteland."
I nod in agreement as we follow a faint, barely noticeable trail of footsteps leading down the snowy path.
The footsteps stop for a moment near some frozen trees. Their bare branches stretch toward the gray sky like cold fingers. The wind howls through the mountains, blowing snow that bites at their skin. Every step sinks into deep, fresh snow. Their tracks fade almost as soon as they are made.
Viri lets out a sharp breath, watching it curl into the frigid air. "So… what exactly are we doing out here?"
"RG usually scouts out the floors first," Reyna answers, her voice steady. "Sho ordered it."
That explanation is enough. No one argues. Sho's decisions are final, and none of us want to test her patience.
The cold surrounds them, never letting up. A small flame floats nearby, flickering weakly against the freezing air. Everything is silent. No sounds of animals. Nothing.
Sera suddenly stops, her head tilting slightly. "There's something up ahead."
She moves ahead without a word, her steps careful and slow. We follow her, watching as she kneels by a snow mound. She brushes away the snow. A small rabbit lies hidden. Its fur is same color as the snow around it.
It barely moves, its breath slow, deliberate. When Sera gently lifts it, we see its eyes—two glowing blue orbs, like frost-coated gemstones. The light within them is unnatural, almost hypnotic.
"How are you not freezing?"
She blinks, clearly surprised by the question. "I… don't know."
She gently holds the rabbit, studying it. Even though it looks frozen, it doesn't move or seem bothered.
Behind us, the rabbit twitches its nose, then suddenly hops forward, following in our footsteps.
Viri sighs. "Great. Another mouth to feed."
No one disagrees.
As we continue walking, the rabbit follows closely behind, its glowing eyes never leaving us.
Viri watches the rabbit for a moment before letting out a sharp breath. "Want me to kill it?" she asks, already resting a hand on her weapon.
Before anyone can answer, Teruki scoops up the rabbit, cradling it in her arms. "No way. We're not killing it." Her tone is firm, leaving no room for argument.
Reyna crosses her arms, eyeing the rabbit's eerie blue eyes. "You know, those could fetch a good sum. I heard they're rare."
Teruki sighs. "No chance. Look at it—it's way too cute." She strokes behind its ears, and the rabbit remains eerily still, its frozen blue gaze unblinking. "Besides, it's an adult. It's survived this long."
Reyna shrugs. "I used to have a rabbit. Looked just like this one."
There's a trace of nostalgia in her voice. She doesn't push the subject further.
They all turn to Sera, waiting for her opinion.
"What do you think, Sakura?" Reyna asks.
Sera barely glances at the rabbit. "If you want to keep it, you can. But it might die if we take it off this floor."
Teruki frowns, staring at the rabbit in her arms.
"Yeah… you're probably right." With a sigh.
She kneels and gently places it back in the snow.
"Sorry, little one. You belong here."
The rabbit twitches its nose but doesn't move at first. It just sits there, staring with those icy blue eyes. Then, as if understanding the decision, it turns and hops back into the cold, frozen landscape.
Teruki watches until it disappears into the snow before standing up. "Let's get moving."
No one argues. The cold is pressing in again, and there's still a long way to go.