Alex had worked long into the night at the fractionalizing still, taking crude oil from the mines, and converting it into large amounts of kerosene. Either he was designing a new weapon, or coal wasn't good enough for him.
The house was permeated with the smell of kerosene, but Alex had grown used to it. At times he would open the windows to allow it to air out, so that there would be less danger of a serious fire. Alex had worked himself into near exhaustion tonight, but was relentless in getting his work done.
He soon noticed that the howling of the wind outside the house had ceased. Curious, Alex donned his jacket and took an excursion outside. To his disbelief, for the first time in nearly fifty years, it was not snowing. The air was crystal clear, and every star of the sky could be clearly seen, as well as a full moon, which cast an eerie blue light on the scenery.
"This is incredible..." Alex whispered to himself in a low tone. Alex walked further out to look over the enormous Glacia canyon, which separated the mountains from the valleys below. It was one of the most beautiful sights in the region, the canyon itself was over a mile wide, and over five hundred long. From where Alex was standing, it was a good five thousand feet down to the very bottom of the canyon. Passing through the canyon was the only way to get out of the Glacia region, far down below to the Kingdom of Asgarnia. Alex had only journeyed out that far a few times before, and going out unprepared meant certain death. A journey through the canyon meant facing random blizzards, feral wolves, and temperatures thirty below zero. However, the Kingdom of Asgarnia was well worth the hellish travel. Natural resources were plentiful, there was always work available, and it was rarely as cold as it was in Glacia.
"If I set out now, it'll be a good bit of walking to Asgarnia...I MIGHT make it by morning if I take all of the shortcuts."
Those who had lived in Glacia for a while knew where all of the cut throughs were to shave hours off their travel time. However, these obstacles were not for the faint of heart. Extreme athletic skill and agility was needed to clear these treacherous passes, some hanging over thousand-foot drops, where one mis-step meant certain death. Alex was well-versed in these shortcuts, as he had taken them before.
There was a saying amongst those who lived in Glacia, "To survive the canyon, you have to be as hard as the ice atop the peaks." Not just anyone could pass through here. The conditions were too extreme for outsiders. It is for that reason why so few Asgarnians make their way up to Glacia in a healthy state. From where Alex was standing, the elevation was about seven thousand feet above sea level. To the people who lived in the flatlands, the air would be too thin to breathe comfortably. For an Asgarnian to reach Glacia, it took months of acclamitization, going up and down the mountains to get the body used to the conditions.
Alex knew where he was headed. He knew the risks. He knew the rewards. Alex turned from where he stood, taking one last look at the ebony sky and the crystal-clear air, and made his way back to the cabin. While walking back, Alex noticed snowflakes which seemed to be hanging in the air, backlit by the moonlight. Scientists would say because the air is oversaturated with water and could not hold anymore, but most people call it the "Magic of Glacia."
As soon as Alex got into the cabin, he began putting supplies together for his trip, his goal fresh in his mind. He was going to Asgarnia.
