Extra's POV: My Obsessive Villainous Fiancee Is The Game's Final Boss-Chapter 326: It’s Not You, Is It?

The morning air was cold enough to bite, but the sky was clear, and the wind gentle.

Snow still clung to the edges of Ur, but the mountain paths ahead were open, leading out of the mountain and into the rest of the Arondale mountain range.

The sun hadn’t risen fully yet, casting a pale silver light over the landscape. It was quiet.

Ren, Thorn, and Lilith walked just outside the town, bundled against the chill.

Ren had his bracers secured tightly over his sleeves, Lilith was busy testing the edges on her throwing knives, and Thorn yawned loudly, sipping from a steaming cup of herbal tea that smelled faintly of lemon and mint.

"Where did you get that?" Ren asked with a frown.

Thorn took another sip of his tea before answering. "Traded it with a secret."

"What the hell..."

Dario was already waiting for them, seated on a smooth rock just a few feet ahead. He waved as they approached, his straw hat angled low over his eyes, a small bundle resting beside him.

"Morning." He greeted lazily. "Hope you’re all light sleepers. The mountains aren’t known for being considerate."

"Good morning." Ren said, offering a respectful nod as he looked the man over.

Thorn grinned. "You look like you just woke up."

"I did." Dario replied with a smirk. "Best sleep I’ve had in months. Something about mountain air and the threat of death that really knocks me out."

Thorn burst out laughing. "Finally, someone who gets it."

Dario stood up and stretched his arms over his head until his back cracked. "I have a theory," he said, "that the best way to survive the mountains is to be just lazy enough that danger forgets you’re there."

"And yet you’re our guide." Lilith said, raising an eyebrow.

"Exactly. If the mountain doesn’t see me coming, it can’t kill me."

Thorn gave Dario a mock salute. "We’re going to get along great."

Ren chuckled but his expression remained watchful. "Any sign of Nero and Contessa?"

"Nope." Dario said, glancing back toward Ur. "They’ll come. They’re the punctual sort, just in their own way."

Minutes passed in comfortable silence. Dario and Thorn chatted lightly about trail rumors, dangerous fauna, and bizarre mountain weather until two figures emerged from the town.

Cloaks trailing behind them like waves of shadow and snow, Nero, in his black cloak, walked beside Contessa, who wore pristine white. Their masks were on.

They moved like they belonged to a different tempo of the world, untouched by the cold or the worries of the world.

"Apologies for the delay." Nero said as they arrived. "We had to ensure Luna received a message before we left."

Ren gave a short nod, but his tone was clipped. "You’re here now. Let’s move."

Dario clapped his hands together. "Right! Time to earn our passage."

They departed, leaving Ur behind.

The path turned quickly into winding trails and narrow ledges. Snow crunched beneath their boots, and wind howled through crags above them. Despite the treacherous terrain, Dario kept the mood light.

"Watch your left here. That rock ledge’s a bit flirtatious. Likes to let you think you’re stable before dropping you."

"Very encouraging." Lilith muttered.

"That’s what I’m here for." Dario replied with a grin.

He kept up a steady stream of commentary as they climbed.

"We’re heading through the Shiver Ridge first. Expect sudden shifts in wind and maybe an avalanche if we make too much noise. Then it’s across the Echo Flats. Don’t shout unless you want to be deaf for a day. For tonight, we’ll have to camp near the Whispering Crags."

"Sounds like a nice inn." Thorn said.

"If you count frostbite and haunted caves that want to know your deepest, darkest secret, sure." Dario replied cheerfully.

Nero and Contessa remained mostly silent as they walked, occasionally murmuring between themselves, always a few paces apart from the rest of the group. They didn’t eat. They didn’t drink. They just walked. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Ren kept his attention on the terrain, but part of his focus never left the pair.

As the sun began to dip, they reached a wide ledge nestled between cliffs. Jagged rocks rose on either side, forming a crude windbreak. Dario called the halt.

"Good spot for camp." He said. "Sheltered, quiet, and not too haunted. Also not too close to the crags."

They set to work. Ren, Lilith, and Thorn unpacked their tents, driving stakes into the frozen ground and laying out thick blankets and heat stones. The cold was intense, but their equipment held.

Dario unrolled a thin mat and flopped directly onto the ground, snoring within minutes.

"He wasn’t kidding about being lazy." Thorn muttered.

Nero, with a casual wave of his hand, summoned a mass of swirling shadows that twisted into a small dome. He and Contessa stepped inside, vanishing behind the veil.

"Show-off." Thorn added, but his voice lacked heat.

Night settled over the camp. A fire crackled at the center, casting flickering shadows on the rocky walls. Lilith sat beside it, sharpening her knives. Thorn leaned back, chewing on a piece of dried meat and staring up at the sky.

Ren got up quietly, mumbling something about needing to relieve himself.

He walked away from the firelight, moving a few dozen paces into the dark. The stars above were brilliant, sharp against the black canvas of the night. A few clouds drifted lazily across the moon, casting long silver shadows across the snow.

When he turned back toward camp, he saw a figure in his path.

Nero.

Ren stopped. His fingers curled slightly..

"You’re quiet." Ren said.

"It’s a quiet night." Nero replied, his tone even. He stood with his hands relaxed at his sides. The darkness clung to him like a second skin.

Ren narrowed his eyes.

Nero tilted his head slightly. "Were you the one who killed the Chained Man?"

Immediately, Ren tensed. His stance shifted, weight balanced, bracers ready. The quiet air around them grew colder.

"That depends." He said cautiously. "Why do you want to know?"

Nero raised both hands, palms up. "Peace. I mean no harm."

Ren didn’t relax. "Then don’t ask questions like that."

Nero looked toward the campfire, the flickers of light reflecting in his eyes. "I sensed something. On Lilith. A trace of energy that doesn’t belong in this world."

Ren said nothing.

"Yggdrasil." Nero continued. "The World Tree. You’ve encountered it. Haven’t you?"

"What makes you think that?" Ren asked coldly.

"The scent." Nero said. "It clings to her soul. Corrupted roots. Old memory. Like something trying to rewrite her." He paused. "It’s not safe. Not for her. Not for you."

Ren took a slow step forward. "If you look in her direction again like that, I’ll kill you."

The air tightened.

Nero looked at him with something almost like sadness. "I only wanted to help. But if that help isn’t welcome, that’s none of my business."

He turned and walked away, his footsteps silent.

Ren watched him go, fists clenched and heart thudding.

What was going on?

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