"Thanks Martha," Al said as he received the bowl of warm porridge.

"No problem, dear. That should help you with that cold. 

At least your thankful, though. 

Unlike a certain brother of mine.

Finn, why aren't you ever as thankful, huh?!"

Al sweat dropped.

After their encounter with the bandits, Al and Old Finn set off for Zern City on foot despite the dangers. 

It was still Winter.

And neither of them wanted to have an encounter with a spirit. 

Freezing to the death was also not an option.

After half a days walk, they reached the city gates.

Fortunately, Martha, Finn's older sister, was just returning to the city. And was already at the gate. 

So we were allowed in without questioning by the guards.

"Why do I have to thank you? You still owe me one for introducing you to your husband." Finn supplied as he continued reading the daily paper. 

"Are you still on that? 

It's been over 30 years Finn. Grow up." Martha huffed as she continued to prepare breakfast.

"Speaking of. Where is he? Come to think of it, I haven't seen Marie either." Finn asked, putting down his paper. 

Martha suddenly stopped what she was doing.

But Finn hadn't noticed and continued, "Is Marie still mad I didn't take her on my last trip? I told her I was sorry."

But Martha did not answer.

She had been strangely quiet. 

Not even daring to look back.

Finn finally got the hint something might have been wrong. 

"Hey Al, can you go get me a new...uh...a new... bowl! 

Yeah, go get me a new bowl from the market."

Finn said tossing Al a coin pouch.

"And get yourself something as well."

Al wordlessly finished his porridge. 

Then he took the pouch, put on his cloak, and left through the door.

Then scrambled up the wall to try and get to the roof.

[Eves dropping isn't very heroic, Al.] 

Voice happily supplied.

'Not the time.'

Al answered, pressing his ear against the roof, straining to listen.

"What do you mean they're gone?" Al heard Finn ask, loudly.

"Exactly as I said. Marie was out collecting firewood. And she hadn't come back for two days, Finn!

Henry and I were worried, and he insisted on going to look for her himself. 

It's been 4 days, since!!" Martha cried out.

"What about the Town Guards?" Finn asked, voice heavy.

"In the middle of Winter, none of them are willing to risk an encounter with a spirit for some commoner's plight." Marie spat out the word commoner with distaste. 

And it was true.

It was dangerous to be outside the city this close to the solstice. 

And so. 

Martha had tried to look for them herself.

She had just returned  unsuccessfully, when she found Finn and Al at the gate. 

"And the Guild?" Finn asked, his voice trembling a bit.

Sure it would be dangerous.

But. 

As long as they had a mage in their party, it would be far safer.  

"No one has taken the mission. 

The pay's too low for them to risk their lives out there this close to the Winter Solstice.

I would need to offer up another 5 gold coins before anyone offered to take up the quest. 

Otherwise....., " Martha let out a heavy sigh. 

"Finn, I even offered to pay half the money now, and the other half later.

But none would take it. 

I'm at my wit's end. I don't know what to do, Finn." Martha sounded as though she was crying at this point. 

"Hey. Shhh. It's ok. It's ok. 

We'll figure something out, ok-"

*Achoo*

Al suddenly let out a loud sneeze. 

Silence.

And then. 

Al scrambled off the roof

He didn't need to hear the rest.

He was already bolting across the street. 

Towards the guild building at full speed. 

With a plan in formulating in mind. 

[Mind filling me in, genius.]

But Al didn't answer.

Instead, he took a left down the street.

And after a few minutes. 

He found himself infront of the Guild Hall.

Steadying his breathing, Al walked in. 

[Your not doing what I think you're doing, right? 

Al you know better then most the dangers of going out in the winter.]

Still Al did not reply.

He walked into the Adventurers Guild Hall before stopping at the registration box.

Wordlessly, he placed the money pouch Finn gave him on the table.

[Al, this is stupid and you know that.]

Finally, Al answered him. 

'Finn did say I could get anything I wanted, right?'

Putting on his best smile for the registrar, he said:

"Excuse me, I would like to register as an adventurer."

__________________________________

"For today's lesson, I will be teaching you something different," Old Lady Nana said as the cold winter breeze swept by them.

They were inside her cottage, Al seated down as he looked at Lady Nana attentively. 

"I will teach you why we all fear Winter.

And why you should never, for any reason, be out during the winter. 

Ok?

Well, firstly. 

Interactions between the denizens of the Living and Spirit worlds are heightened during the two solstices.

We cannot say for sure why this happens. 

All we know is that we have a responsibilty to warn the people of the winter solstice.

Better known as the Eve of Eternal Slumber. 

Why? 

This is because, during the Winter, the Sun-Spirit King slumbers.

And is eventually reborn during the Spring.

However. 

Without him.

Their is no one to administer the Spirit Lands.

And many rogue spirits use this as an opportunity.

To cross the border into the Living Realm. 

Causing much chaos and strife. 

And not many are equipped with the knowledge necessary to banish these spirits back into the spirit realm.

Especially out here in the Wilds.

And so. 

Unless you were in a place the Kingdom provided with permanent wards.

Or you were a druid.

Or someone trained in the spiritual arts.

You wouldn't be able to fend them off.

And that's if you survived the second and most dangerous issue of winter, the Ghost Storm.

Which was almost impossible. 

And so, you must never, ever be aware from the village or the cities during the winter, Al.

Ok. 

However.

It is possible to make temporary wards to protect yourself. 

Which will be the subject of our next lesson. 

Class dismissed-"

Al had already ran out the cottage before Nana had finished speaking.

Towards the village. 

Sighing to herself, Nana picked up his tomes and study notes.

Before walking to the base of the stairs. 

And depositing them into a slot. Which let out a satisfied burp.

Nana then went to her chair by the window. 

And watched as Al played with his baby sister in the snow. 

A small smile gracing her face.