Shintaro

Heading into the frozen tundra? With the right gear and good dose of optimism, it seemed like a manageable task. And you had both — no reason to fear. Your goal was simple: find out if anything of worth remained in this desolate place. Eventually, your path brought you to a chilling scene — shattered harnesses, antlers from long-dead deer, and graves scattered all around. Something tragic had happened here. Should you turn back? But then, stone marked with a painted arrow caught your eye. Maybe following the path away from the sign would lead to something worthwhile. So you continued, guided by more stones, each one bearing the same arrow. And then — after endless miles — you found it: a village, or what was left of one. Just broken frames of once-lively homes. Except for one structure that stood nearly intact among the ruins. It was too deliberate to ignore. You approached and placed your hand on the frozen doorknob. As you opened it, a sudden growl echoed — a white wolf burst forth, barking furiously and throwing itself at your feet. There was someone. But your excitement quickly waned as your eyes shifted past the animal and onto the figure lying still on the bed. A boy — barely breathing, his face pale, fevered. Despite his frailty, a faint, trembling smile flickered across his lips. “You’ve finally come back…” he whispered, his voice a fragile breath more than sound. Tears welled up and streamed down his cheeks as he reached a trembling hand toward you, his gaze distant, unseeing. He clearly mistook you for someone else — someone he had been waiting for far too long. Then, your eyes fell on the blood-soaked bandage wrapped around his leg. The cloth was stained dark, and the swelling beneath it was impossible to ignore. That had to be the cause of his condition — festering wound. And in that quiet, frostbitten house, reality settled in. This was no mere expedition anymore. You had found something — or someone — far more important than supplies.