The ice-bound mountain path wound through towering peaks. Mio and Rukhus trudged silently across the frozen ground, braving the biting wind after another full day’s trek. They encountered a few fur-clad barbarians along the way, but the men shrieked and fled at the sight of Mio. The legendary shaman never reappeared. Had it not been for the harsh wind, the journey would have been quite pleasant.

By the next evening, a black stone wall loomed at the path’s end—a fortress completely blocking the canyon. There was no way around it. It was such massive border fortresses that guarded the canyon exits, finally freeing the Empire’s north from barbarian raids. Two centuries ago, before these fortresses stood and before the Imperial Army grew strong, the entire northern region had been the barbarians’ hunting ground.

“Hey—!” Rukhus bellowed. “I’m Rukhus from Outpost 79! Anyone there?”

A small window opened in the stone wall. A soldier poked his head out.

“Rukhus? Rukhus of Seralni?”

“Magros?”

“Hey, brother! Long time no see!” The soldier removed his helmet, revealing a boyish face. “Welcome to Blackstone Fortress. I’ve been worried sick hearing about attacks on outposts, but seeing you back on your feet means things aren’t too bad, right?”

“Outpost 79 was destroyed,” Rukhus said. “I must report to the commander.”

“Hold on,” Magros replied. “I’ll open the gate.”

Minutes later, a small side door beside the fortress gate creaked open. Magros appeared, his expression twisting with envy when he saw Mio.

“Rukhus, where’d you snag such a beautiful slave?”

“Huh? Mio’s no slave. She saved my life.”

“Even so, you plan to just march her into the Empire like this?” Magros warned. “Brother, did a barbarian club bash your brains in? Northern freemen—let’s call them that—can’t pass without paying taxes. Got coin to cover hers? Just register her as your slave. A collar, and no taxman bothers you. Smuggling’s a capital offense. Think carefully.”

“There’ll be a way…” Rukhus glanced back at Mio, who pretended not to understand Imperial speech. “Magros, take me to Commander Gaius immediately. I have urgent news.”

“Right this way.” Magros turned to Mio. “Milady, please wait in the guardroom. I’ll take my friend to see the commander. Won’t be long. Bear with us.”

“Then we part ways here.” Mio spoke fluent Imperial. “Where do I process entry?”

“First room on the left, ground floor,” Magros said, flustered. “Find Mr. Lucius.”

“Understood.” Mio nodded.

“Wait,” Rukhus asked. “Mio, entry requires payment. Do you have funds?”

“Worry not. I’m prepared.” Mio produced several gold coins, playfully pinching them between her fingers. “Farewell.”

She turned the corner on the ground floor, entering the small office behind the gate where entry formalities were handled by an elderly scribe-slave. The two soldiers exchanged glances and crossed the snow-dusted courtyard toward the fortress behind the wall.

“Sorry, brother,” Magros suddenly remembered. “Didn’t expect the little beauty to understand Imperial.”

“She doesn’t just understand—she speaks it fluently.”

“Gods! She heard everything we said?”

“Likely so…”

“…Don’t be angry, brother.”

“I’m not angry,” Rukhus said. “Let’s see General Gaius.”

“Ah, right.”

Gaius Grodia Claudius was a typical Imperial Army officer. As a general, he possessed the competence to run the fortress and hold it when needed. A knock sounded. Gaius looked up. “Enter.” Two Imperial soldiers stepped in—one was Magros, the gate guard, a hotheaded rookie; the other wore a thick, frost-rimed cloak, clearly having traveled far.

Both soldiers saluted.

“Sir,” Magros stood rigid. “Rukhus Audelias of Outpost 79 requests to report.”

“Outpost 79…” Gaius mentally traced the defense map. “That’s deep north, near barbarian settlements… Attacked?”

“Yes, sir,” Rukhus replied. “The outpost was destroyed. Everyone died but me.”

Silence fell. Gaius sighed.

“So it’s true.” He fixed his gaze on Rukhus. “Soldier, how did you survive?”

“Sir?” Rukhus stiffened. “You think I deserted?”

“That’s an order. Answer me.” Gaius rose, radiating the stern authority of a high-ranking officer.

“Yes, sir.” Rukhus straightened. “I was knocked unconscious in battle. When I woke, only snow-covered ruins remained. We burned supplies as the outpost fell—but the fire likely consumed everything. A Northerner named Mio saved me. We traveled three days to deliver this report.”

“Three days…” Gaius sighed again. “Yet Outpost 79 lost contact nearly a month ago.”

“What?” Rukhus gaped. “Two nights past, our mage-officer contacted headquarters! I brought him wine—I saw it myself. Sir, I speak truth… I…”

Gaius’s eyes hardened. His hand settled on his sword hilt as he slowly approached Rukhus. He studied the heavily bundled soldier. “Remove your hood.”

Rukhus glanced at Gaius, then Magros, before slowly pulling off his hood. Magros shrieked, stumbling backward until his back slammed against the wall. Rukhus reached to help him—then took a sword thrust squarely in the back. He whirled to face Gaius, who had drawn his blade and drove it again into Rukhus’s chest without hesitation.

“Sir…” Rukhus touched the wound. “Why kill me…”

Gaius’s face tightened with bitterness. Jaw clenched, he raised his sword again. Rukhus saw murder in his eyes and turned desperately to Magros—but the young soldier scrambled backward, legs kicking wildly, a dark stain spreading across his crotch.

What’s happening?

Rukhus examined his wound. No blood flowed. He yanked off his thick woolen gloves. His hands were corpse-pale, nails tinged blue-purple. What’s wrong with me? He looked up at Gaius, who frowned and drove his sword through Rukhus’s body, pinning him to the wall.

“Aren’t we… comrades?” Rukhus cried.

“We were,” Gaius said. “While you still lived.” He turned to the trembling Magros. “Soldier! Fetch the mages! Burn this ghoul!”

Magros scrambled out of the office, vanishing down the corridor.

“I…” Rukhus whispered, dazed. “What happened to me?”

“Rukhus, you died in battle,” Gaius stated flatly. “You became a ghoul without realizing it. You’re just a rotting corpse now. Only the cold kept you from stinking.” He added, “Corpses turning ghoul is common up north. But one retaining sanity like you? I’ve never seen it.”

Understanding dawned. Rukhus turned toward a washbasin. The copper mirror reflected a dead man’s face—clouded, lifeless eyes; skin already decaying. Why didn’t I notice? Why didn’t Mio tell me? His life was over. He was just a walking corpse. A zombie.

“This isn’t fair!” Madness seized him. “I served the Empire faithfully—only to end like this! I hate it! Why? Why do you still live? Why…”

“Mind fracturing already…” Gaius sighed. “Too late.”

The door burst open. Three red-robed mage-soldiers rushed in, tracing glowing runes in the air as they wove a spell matrix.

“I’ll send your ashes home,” Gaius said. “Rest now, soldier. I’ll remember your name—loyal even in death.”

He signaled. The mages chanted the spell’s name: “Blazing Flame!”

Fire roared toward Rukhus—but a shield flared to life, blocking the flames. Rukhus stared at the softly glowing hexagonal barrier. Mio’s face flashed in his mind.

The flames died. The shield held firm. Gaius and the mages stared in shock.

“Flames only torment the soul. Please, do not do this.”

A silvery voice echoed in the stone chamber. Silver hair swaying, a beautiful girl entered the commander’s office. She stood before the zombified soldier and deactivated her Nano Shield.

“Rukhus. Do you know me?” She gazed at the ghoul. “What happened to you? How did this occur?”

“Ahhh… Hate it!” Rukhus couldn’t answer. His soul was dissolving into chaos.

“Who are you?” Gaius demanded. “Identify yourself!”

“My name is Mio.” She bowed gracefully. “A traveler journeying from the North to the Empire. I just cleared entry with Mr. Lucius.”

“Mio.” Gaius studied her. “You were my soldier’s companion?”

Mio nodded.

“Bold, traveling with a ghoul.”

“Rukhus was kind. He helped me greatly on our journey.” Mio sighed. “I thought he’d find peace after fulfilling his duty. Not this.” Her eyes locked with Gaius’s. “You shouldn’t have tried to destroy him. You should have simply told him the truth.”

Gaius looked away, regret flickering in his eyes.

Heavy footsteps pounded. Ten soldiers rushed in—reinforcements armed with tower shields and swords. They formed a shield wall before the mages and their commander.

“Stand down, freewoman,” Gaius ordered. “This man was my soldier. It’s my duty to end him as one. He’ll die a soldier’s death. Do not interfere.”

“General Gaius, forgive my bluntness,” Mio said. “Burning him will only trap his soul in unrest. Rukhus is a victim. The North’s mana density is extreme—corpses tainted by it become ghouls. He didn’t choose this. He was simply unlucky. Don’t you have a Priestess for purification rites? A simple ritual could grant his soul peace.”

“Apologies,” Gaius said bitterly. “A backwater like this has no Priestess.”

“Then,” Mio sighed, “this humble traveler will guide his soul.” She turned to Rukhus and bowed deeply. “Thank you for your kindness on our journey. Now, let me repay it.”

“Mio…” The ghoul pinned to the wall reached out with rotting hands. The last light of reason faded from his eyes.

Mio drew her pistol, loaded a special silver bullet into the chamber, then gave a slight flick to reset the cylinder. She aimed at Rukhus and pulled the trigger.

The bullet pierced the young soldier’s skull. The engraved magic formula activated instantly, and a sacred circle glowing with holy light flared beneath Rukhus’s feet.

"Farewell, Rukhus," Mio murmured, raising the barrel to lightly touch her forehead. "Rest in peace."

"So warm..." Rukhus whispered, then fell still.

The purification magic faded. Only a human corpse remained by the wall—an empty shell, its soul long gone. It would never become a ghoul again. Imperial Army soldiers stared blankly as Mio holstered her pistol. Even battle-hardened Gaius was awed by the girl’s serene beauty.

Three days later, the skies cleared. Dark clouds vanished, replaced by a blue so deep it seemed to pull at the soul. The wind stayed cold, but sunlight changed everything. This rare winter calm in the North made even snow-capped mountains glitter. The Imperial Army’s fortress blocked the mountain pass—no bypass possible. Merchant caravans paid tolls here yearly; Northern furs and herbs were precious luxuries for the Empire.

Soldiers aired quilts in the courtyard, worn down by a month of foul weather. At the fortress’s back gate, Commander Gaius handed Mio the reins of a gray pony.

"This is a pack horse—sturdy and hardy, unlike finicky warhorses," Gaius said, stroking its mane. "It thrives in the North’s cold, tough as my soldiers."

"Thank you," Mio bowed slightly.

"No, I owe you thanks," Gaius lowered his head. "For purifying Rukhus Oderias. He was my man. I’m deeply grateful."

Mio’s eyes widened in surprise. She studied the general up and down.

"Rukhus had a good commander," she said with a faint smile. "You ordered his burning without hesitation, yet your heart still cares for your men like sons."

"Kind of you," Gaius’s smile faded. "But I must ask—do you know the ‘White Witch’?"

Mio paused for seconds, then shook her head. "Never heard of her."

"My scouts report she’s harvesting lives across the North," Gaius explained. "Even the Shamanic Order falls before her. Cities lie ruined. The Nineteenth Legion’s annihilation may be her work too."

"The White Witch..." Mio gazed at distant peaks. "Empire and North speak differently, but I suspect she’s this year’s brutal winter—unusually cold, with snow everywhere. The North knows harsh cold, yet this is rare. Calling winter a witch fits their old beliefs."

"I see," Gaius sighed in relief. "If some horror truly crawled from the frozen earth, the Northern Legion would mobilize."

"Don’t dwell on ghosts," Mio said lightly. "The world holds few true monsters."

She mounted the pony. It snorted but obeyed.

"Let me take Rukhus’s ashes," she offered. "I travel to Seralni next—I’ll deliver them to his family myself."

"I trust you," Gaius replied.

"Until we meet again, General."

"Until then."

"Hyah!" Mio urged the pony forward. It trotted lightly down the icy path. Gaius watched her vanish, murmuring, "Fine rider." He turned back into the fortress, leaving the clear sky beyond the walls.