Andrey didn't sleep. Retreating into his crystal prison, Andrey considered what he had learned during the day, sitting down beside a table and quietly taking notes upon a scroll.

From what he knew, he was now being carried around by a four-man group of researchers of unknown origin. They had mentioned a company, one that didn't need many researchers… Quickly, Andrey wrote down a list of companies he knew of, before stopping and crossing them out halfway.

For all he knew, all that knowledge was obsolete now. The world could change much in a few decades; making blind guesses would only confuse him.

Nonetheless, he still had to find something to pass the time with. What else did he know?

Writing down their names on the scroll, Andrey started thinking of all he had learned during the day. He didn't know much about their leader, Levina. She reminded him of Frostnova, however–

Andrey shook his head to get rid of the persistent image of Frostnova in his head, without much avail. Continuing on, he noted down a few more bits and pieces of information as he waited; nothing much, just simple information about race or roles.

He didn't know nearly enough.

Checking the clock on the wall, he sighed; only an hour had passed. Five more, at minimum, until the research team would wake up.

Great, now what?

Activating his Arts, he searched their surroundings for anything of interest. Nothing, other than the four researchers sleeping in their tents. No Frostnova – oh, there he went again.

Searching again, Andrey noted the lack of any beasts of burden or anything else to carry their supplies. The Colombian military had used "ration bars," Andrey recalled – the researchers likely had something similar.

Chuckling, Andrey remembered the journal entry that had contained that information. Beside it was a quick note – "Poison the factories," if he recalled correctly. Apparently, his past self had decided that any information needed to be pressed into service immediately.

Andrey considered the feasibility of killing them in their sleep for a moment. Going by his strength before being captured within the crystal, it would take ten minutes to kill one of them… it was perfectly viable.

Again, however, they were also innocent people. And Fredrich was an Arts user; if he somehow identified Andrey's attacks, he could easily smash the crystal Andrey was contained in.

And given the last time that happened he had lost all of his memories, he would much rather avoid that.

It was frustrating that the power of his Arts depended on his opponent's willpower. Against anybody with Arts and sufficient strength to resist, he may as well have been slapping them across the face. Painful and annoying, but in no way useful.

If only he had a physical body… but then again, that would also subject him to the mortal needs of such a body. Logically, it was inefficient.

But he longed to feel as he did in his memories…

Turning to the clock, Andrey counted the time left. Four and a half hours.

Andrey ended up simply sitting in his chair for said four and a half hours, mind wandering – too bored to even consider doing anything.

And to his relief, the researchers were finally beginning to wake up. Levina was first, befitting of her role as a leader; the woman quickly packing up her tent in a roll which she attached to some straps upon her back. Watching through her eyes, Andrey couldn't help but be astonished by the weight she could carry; a heavy winter coat, a tent, and supplies for a month couldn't be light.

Fredrich was next, Andrey making sure to stay away from him as soon as he woke. The Caprinae exuded a strong presence, as if the world around him was constantly being studied by a million miniature eyes. His Arts, most likely.

At least he didn't seem to be able to detect Andrey, at least not yet.

Anne woke next, letting out an exaggerated yawn and groan of effort before she got up. Nonetheless, the Cautus seemed as efficient in packing up her supplies as the rest of them, leaving only Ben snoozing in his tent.

A tent which Fredrich promptly folded up on top of him.

Looking from Levina's eyes, Andrey watched as Ben crawled out of his now-collapsed tent, before hurrying to ready himself.

Andrey studied Ben as the man hurried to and fro. It was quite a spectacle to see the stocky Ursine man frantically attempt to organize what he had and stuff it into the bags he had on his person.

"Seriously?" The Ursi said incredulously after he was done, fishing a foil-wrapped bar out of one of his many pockets and beginning to munch on it.

"You're awake now. I'd call that a win." Fredrich said, also holding a half-finished bar of rations in his hands – stuffing it into his mouth after he finished speaking. "Feels like a brick."

"You always say that." Ben replied, munching on his own rations. "Tastes normal to me."

"To you Ursi, even dirt tastes normal."

"Dirt tastes like dirt. Believe me, I've tried."

"Wait, since when?" Anne interjected.

"Since a very drunken bet with a few friends half a year ago."

"Ursi can get drunk?" Fredrich said.

"Vodka can get anybody drunk." A shiver passed through Levina at that, even as she stood far away from the conversation.

"Let's go." Levina called to them.

The group was soon on the move again. Endless hills of snow and the occasional spikes of Originium passed seemingly in an instant. The group was making good pace, Andrey noted; slightly slower than the Yetis, but that could be forgiven due to the weight they were carrying.

Again, he pondered revealing himself, before deciding against it. The instincts of researchers would only lead them to one thing if the made his presence known – taking him apart, somehow. Especially if the researchers were from Rhine Lab.

The researchers soon stopped for lunch, melting some snow with heating packs and refilling their canteens. They were far better prepared than the Yetis, though perhaps less experienced.

Andrey wondered whether things would have been different, had he found this group first, and only later met the Yetis. Would he hide himself from the Yetis, as he was doing now, or would he reveal himself?

Was there something special about the Yetis, or were they just another group of people within a world of so many?

…that was leading him nowhere.

He needed to focus on the present. Ignoring the persistent thoughts, Andrey went back to gathering information about the group now carrying him alongside them.

Earlier…

"These tracks?" Frostnova asked, pointing towards a series of footprints in the snow, lit up by the early-morning sunlight. They stood out easily from their surroundings, pressed deeply into the snow beneath them.

"Yep." Petrova replied.

Frostnova knelt down beside the footprints; inspecting the markings left behind. Lightly brushing away the powdery snow left by last night's winds, she touched the compressed snow beneath with a finger, feeling the firmness. It almost felt like solid ground, the snow still holding faint imprints from what looked like boots.

Whoever had crossed this icefield had been carrying very heavy equipment. Frostnova did a quick check of the usual suspects; Infected Patrol were lightly equipped and thus out of the question; Sarkaz bands had far larger footprints, and standard Ursus Army were usually equipped with spiked soles. Not to mention all these groups were present in far larger numbers.

So, either she was facing some highly abnormal Ursus Army, or something entirely new. Couldn't things just be simple for once?

Standing up, she turned back to Petrova. "Are these the only footprints?"

"Mhm. Looks like four people."

"These are new. They are not too far ahead of us." Frostnova said.

"Sounds like we're pursuing." Petrova chuckled. "What is it, exactly, that's so important? Another one of those crystals?"

"Yes."

"Why don't we just grab one from the altar?"

"They're unique."

"They look all the same to me." Cupping his hands around his mouth, Petrova shouted to the Yetis. "Come on, we're going!"

It was a testament to the loyalty – and skill – of the Yetis that they were on the way in less than half an hour, without a doubt or question. Frostnova supposed they trusted Petrova to do the questioning for them.

The Yetis were equally as quick to begin tracing the tracks down. The four sets of tracks were surprisingly similar: flat-bottomed pits of compressed snow, with the exact same pattern of pressed ridges in each. Standardized equipment. The footprints stood out distinctly in the icefields, the otherwise even snow pitted and scattered where their targets had stepped. But Frostnova couldn't fault them; her own Yetis weren't bothering to hide their tracks either, both for speed and considering the utter lack of anything so far north.

Their targets couldn't be far. The ice beneath them soon gave way to solid ground, the ground gently curving as they walked; not enough to encumber them, but enough to add a bit of uniqueness to the monotony.

Even the bushes and shrubs were gone in this white canvas, the extreme cold stopping all life. The Yetis' breath froze in the air, forming little clouds of mist as they walked. Many of them had pressed their hoods upon their skin, conserving what little heat they could. Perhaps they could use some masks… though again, where would they find those?

The only thing of marginal interest as they walked were the spikes of Originium jutting out from the landscape, each easily the height of a short tower. Likely, they were remnants of some Catastrophe. They radiated a cold energy that Frostnova could innately feel, the temperatures near the massive crystals almost as cold as her own Arts.

Fortunately, it seemed whoever they were pursuing had also decided to avoid the crystals, the trail of footprints steering clear of the massive monoliths. Frostnova considered cutting a few corners as they walked and taking a few shorter paths then their targets; but losing the trail could be disastrous.

All she knew was that they were close. As to how close… they could be anywhere from just over the horizon, to a full day and night's walk away.

Sending out scouts was an option, but as far as she was concerned, four enemies beat a Yeti any day. She'd much rather not bleed manpower unnecessarily.

Not just manpower, she reminded herself. Lives.

Maybe she could go alone?

No, the Yetis would be in danger – but would they really be?

And she would be far faster if she went without the other Yetis. She checked her bag; there were easily enough provisions for a few days. Enough to weather out a short blizzard, if that was what it took.

She paused in her steps, considering it.

No time to waste. Turning to the Yetis, she spoke. "I'll move forward alone, along the path. Petrova, keep everybody safe."

"Somebody's eager." Petrova quipped. "Got it, Sister. You should be more worried for your own safety."

"I'll be fine." Quickening her steps, Frostnova left the other Yetis behind, breaking into a slow jog as she studied the ground ahead of her; continuously tracking the trail of footprints as she ran.

And soon, the Yetis disappeared behind her as she crossed a small hill. Sparing a quick look at the sun, Frostnova realized it was already late noon; time to stop for a break.

She could make do without one. Quickening her pace, she kept running along the trail, thankful that their targets had left such an obvious lead to their position.

Four on one… it would just be an easy ambush, then. Even if said four members were Ursus Army, she still had confidence to take them on.

She cautioned herself against overconfidence. It could easily kill, as many of her opponents had found in the past; and she didn't want to fall to it too.

She lost herself in the repetitive motions, and the hours passed quickly, Frostnova maintaining her pace as she kept following the path. For a fleeting moment, a collapsed snowbank had obscured the footprints, and Frostnova's heart jumped at the thought of failure; but soon she was back on track.

Leaving the Yetis behind seemed to have been a good decision.

AN: 50k words! Can't believe I'm halfway done. Thanks to everybody who reviewed, favorited and followed!

Something about this chapter: Is the "Earlier…" in italics fine with everybody? Couldn't find a more elegant method that would avoid confusion.

To The 7 Forgotten Kings: Huh, chapter 23 seems to be working for me. How exactly is it not working? Thanks for telling me!