The ambient temperature plummeted in an instant. The water splashed against the rocks before freezing in mid-air and falling back into the river. The river's water froze from the inside out at an alarming rate. And, jutting from the stream, a thin wall of ice soared into the sky. The wall got thick enough to stop the river's flow as more and more surrounding water froze by the second.
"Everyone, MOVEEE!!" I yelled to the group as the river current was obstructed by a thick wall of ice.
Everyone moved more swiftly. The river's depth was dropping, but on the other hand, water was steadily pooling near the wall, increasing pressure on it. Hale remained behind, pouring his remaining mana into the ice wall to keep it from crumbling.
Our group comprised about thirty members. Counting the ones who died, there are roughly twenty, not counting the two batches of slaves we had. One group comprised younger slaves ranging from children to adults in their thirties, while the other group comprised slaves over the age of forty. In addition, there were no females in the group.
The slaves were divided into two groups and transported in separate metal carts. On the ground, each cart may be hauled by a horse, but to cross the river, a group of six people raised a single cart each and moved through the river. It was the most effective method. It would be much easier, but not ideal, if one opened the cart and carried one slave per person. Even if they are wearing mana-sealing cuffs, they could always cause a commotion.
Hale was running out of mana, and we were still in the middle of crossing this creek.
"Captain, please! I can't hold it anymore." He yelled.
"Just a minute or two, and take these." I tossed a few mana crystals I found in the tunnel to his side.
"Absorb their mana; that should give us a minute."
Hale grabbed the crystals with his left hand and began draining the mana from them. The mana crystals were of poor quality, so they wouldn't suffice. And they are not intended to be used in this manner.
All the men crossing alone, including Cullen, made it to the opposite side, and the people carrying slaves moved. The water level had dropped below my knees, making it easier to move.
"Don't slow down!!" I yelled once more.
Jacob and Hale were the only ones who were left on this side. Stan was carrying the second round of slaves.
"Hale, leave it and get to that side."
"But-" before he could finish, "DO IT! NOW!!" He, too, left to cross to that side without rebuking my words.
On the other side of the ice wall, water pressure was rising. It could break at any moment.
"Will they be okay, Captain?" Jacob inquired, standing beside me.
I stepped ahead, gritting my teeth to assist them in carrying the slave cart. The first cart was almost there, but the second cart's pace was slower because of the greater number of slaves in it. Hale walked along the riverbank with the first group of people passing the cart behind him.
"Stan, put more strength into your legs," I yelled from the back as I attempted to drag the cart after me, but-
"Tup-"
My ears were startled by the sound of something cracking. It was the ice, and it was cracking because it couldn't take the pressure any longer.
I rushed to pick up the cart, but-
"Haah!!" Stan tripped and fell to his knees. As a result, the balance was thrown off, and everyone toppled in an instant.
"Tup, tup, tup, tup... crack!!"
"Ugh!!" Everyone yelled in agony as they fell, but that's the last thing we need to be concerned about right now. The ice kept breaking, unleashing water jets all over the place.
"Captain!!-" "C-Captain...!!" Everyone screamed.
"Stay BACK!!" Everyone took a step back, averting their gazes. I can't take any more risks than I have to.
"Leave the slaves ALONE!!" I yelled. That is the only logical option at this point.
"But Cap-"
"Just do it for Fuck's sake!!" It's a situation in which living is more vital than regretting later. That's the conclusion I arrived at.
"Crack! Crack! Crack!"
"Hurry, you cretins!!"
Everyone bolted towards the ground. Hale attempted to cast another ice spell, but it was futile; he had run out of mana and there was nothing he could do.
Stan was the first to reach, and I, who was following behind, carried two men, each in one hand, and burst into the sky by blasting mana beneath my feet, serving as a little propulsion. I landed on the ground right away, but-
"Crack! Crack! DOOOOM!! "
The wall finally gave way, and the sheer force of the flood swept everything in its path, leaving nothing behind.
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