5.7: Snowy Tranquility.

In the stillness of night, all is quiet expect for! He muffled crackling of the fireplace. Occasionally, a few sparks pop out from the flames, making a crisp sound.

After tossing and turning in my bed, I decided to sit in front of the fireplace and go through the files left by Grandma.

MC: (The Aether Core... Energy incomparable to other Protocores...)

MC: (Grandma knew someone might target people related to Aether Cores. Is that why she kept me in the dark for so long...)

MC: (What should I do now...)

Why my mind is a tangled mess, I hear a rhythmic tapping sound from the French windows.

As I turn, I see Zayne standing there with a thin layer of snow on his hair.

Zayne: “The aurora?”

**********

MC: “Will there really be one tonight?”

Zayne: “The weather forecast predicted heavy snowfall with cloudy skies, and the Kp index is low. It’s unlikely we’ll see an aurora.”

MC: “Then why did you...”

Zayne: “When visiting for the first time, an aurora is required to make the trip worthwhile.”

Zayne: “Look, the snow has stopped.”

Zayne: “Only at the very end will someone know if there is a watershed moment.”

MC: (Until the very end... Yet Grandma and those researchers... They...)

MC: “But there are people who persist until the very end, only to be defeated.”

Zayne: “I meant the aurora.”

MC: “Same.”

*There...

MC: “What’s that over there?”

Zayne: “Mt. Eternal.”

Celine: “Oh... I remember. It had an anomalous Protofield a few years back.”

MC: “Dr. Noah chose to live here in the Arctic. For your research project, right?”

Zayne: “Not necessarily.”

Zayne: “My friend sacrificed himself during the Protofield anomaly that took place here.”

MC: “I see... I’m sorry...”

Zayne: “Why are you apologizing?”

MC: “Is there more to his sacrifice... Like a secret?”

Zayne: “It was an accident.”

Zayne: “It’s already in the past.”

MC: “...Do you think the pain caused by death can truly the forgotten with time?”

Zayne: “It cannot.”

Zayne: “Time can’t heal everything, nor can someone simply forget the pain. However, people can become accustomed to sorrow.”

MC: “...”

MC: “But time has helped you and Dr. Noah find things worth living for, hasn’t it?”

Zayne: “The aurora.”

MC: “You’re right. An aurora is required to make an Arctic trip worthwhile.”

MC: “It’s a shame we can only enjoy it for a few moments.”

Zayne: “If you’re sad, let this stay behind to appreciate the aurora in your place.”

*Take

MC: “Is that snowman supposed to be me?”

MC: “Are you going to stay in Snowcrest for a while longer?”

Zayne: “Hmm.”

*Give

MC: “Well, I’ll leave this with you, then. Will... the snowman remind you of me?”

Zayne: “No.”

Zayne: “However, when I do think of you, I’ll just call.”

MC: “To give me more doctor’s orders? You’re a dedicated physician.”

Zayne: “After you leave here and return home, you’ll likely be quite busy.”

MC: (Yeah... Busy learning about the secrets of the Aether Core and Onychinus...)

MC: “Let’s hope both of us can find the truth we seek.”

——————————

Mt. Eternal: In the northernmost region of the Arctic is a place perpetually covered on snow. Humans rarely travel to it, an energy fluctuations often occur due to its proximity to Earth’s magnetic pole. This makes it a suitable location for many research institutions. There was a wide-scale Wanderer attack that resulted in many casualties. Linkon City dispatched several medical teams to participate in the rescue efforts at that time.