It’s the next morning, and we’ve finally reached the base of one of the mountain range’s deadly giants the kind of mountains that seem to scrape the sky and swallow the sun. The air here is colder than anything I’ve felt before, the snow dull and relentless, pressing into every inch of exposed skin. It’s the kind of cold that gnaws at your bones, makes your teeth ache, and leaves your skin numb. I stand there, staring up at the towering peaks that loom above us, feeling the weight of hopelessness settle deeper into my chest.
Part of wants to just end it reach for my sword and cut my throat. I think about it darkly, a twisted thought that flickers through my mind like a dying ember. Why keep fighting, why keep breathing, when the cold will finish off eventually? I feel that overwhelming despair crawling inside , whispering that maybe it’s better to just let go and die now before slowly freezing to death.
And then, unexpectedly, I sense Lucian’s presence soft, insistent, probing just beyond the edge of my consciousness. It’s like a door opening, like a whisper in the dark. Without really thinking, I allow the connection, the silent telepathic link between us.
Lucian’s voice cos into my mind calm Are you good? You could do a better job of containing your emotions.
I reply simply, voice telepathic and flat, Sa as last night. Peachy.
A faint ntal nod from him and a tone of pure disbelief. Sure, sure let know if there’s any issues.
He ends the connection. I roll my eyes, muttering inwardly, Yeah, sure. You’re like a fucking mother hen now.
Suddenly, Vihaan slips past , his face set in a mask of cold detachnt. His eyes are hard ice, really which is fitting for the climate and I catch the way he glances up at the mountains, like he’s already sizing up the danger. His expression is distant, almost like he’s already resigned to dying here, in this frozen wasteland. Or maybe he’s just pissed off about the weather.
Without warning, he snaps at Rye, voice sharp and biting. "Can you give us so heat? Or do I have to freeze to death before you bother?"
Rye’s eyes flash with irritation, and she sneers. "Watch how you speak to , Vihaan."
His eyes gleam with murderous intent. The kind of look that makes my skin crawl. Yet, he doesn’t say anything right away. Instead, he settles back, his expression unreadable, and then, with a low, dangerous chuckle, he asks, "Or what?"
Dominick steps between them instantly, voice firm and steady. "Stop fighting amongst us. It does nothing but waste energy and distract us from surviving."
Vihaan’s gaze flicks to Dominick, then to Rye, and he seems to weigh sothing probably whether it’s worth tearing into soone else or not. He finally settles, but his jaw clenches tight, and I notice the flicker of anger still burning behind his eyes.
I watch this unfold with a mixture of disgust and annoyance. Honestly, part of wishes it had been him that the monster killed anything to get him out of my way. His beef with Imara is another problem, another wedge of anxiety gnawing at the group’s cohesion. I refuse to let anyone die before I reach the academy. I need them still and I didn’t fight an ancient horror for this prick to ruin it.
The others are tense, too. Dominick’s eyes dart nervously between Vihaan and Imara and Rye, his jaw clenched. Imara’s sneer has hardened into a sharp, foul expression, and she’s already glancing around the desolate landscape like she’s ready to puml sothing. Niko gaze is concerned his broken arm in a half assed sling we made for him. Zaria’s molten glow flickers faintly, trying to bring warmth to the oppressive cold but knowing it’s a losing battle.
The mountains cast long shadows over us, their peaks piercing the gray sky like jagged teeth. The snow still blankets everything, untouched and relentless. It’s brutal here, a place that strips away anything unnecessary, leaving only those strong enough to endure. I know I have to be one of those people. I have to hold us together, no matter how much I want to give up. I refuse to be a weak failure.
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The first few miles are the easiest the snow is heavy and the cold is oppressive as ever but we have relatively stable footing. Rye and Zaria take turns channeling their magic to lt and carve a narrow path through the snow, their powers working in tandem to keep us from slipping and freezing. Rye’s fiery warmth flickers in the air, a flickering beacon against the biting cold, while Zaria’s molten rock heats the ground beneath our feet, creating a thin, icy shield. Their combined efforts keep us moving steadily upward, but the terrain grows steeper, more treacherous with every step.
The snow thickens as we climb higher the wind picks up, howling through the narrow passes and whipping around us like a living thing. It carries the sharp scent of frost and mountain pine, and every breath feels like inhaling shards of glass. The air thins, and I can feel my chest tighten with each labored inhale. My muscles ache, limbs trembling from the effort, but I push forward, knowing we’re only just beginning the real climb. The ascent becos a brutal test of endurance.
Vihaan’s voice cuts through the wind, sharp and commanding, as he pushes us to keep moving. "No stopping," he snaps, eyes scanning the path ahead. "We’re not making this easier for ourselves by wasting ti
We press on, the climb relentless. The path narrows to a thin ribbon winding upward, snaking through the jagged rocks and icy outcroppings. Imara picks her way ahead, her eyes sharp, scouting for the safest route. She warns us of unstable patches and sketchy foot holds, her voice steady despite the howling wind. I catch a glimpse of her focused expression, and a flicker of admiration sparks inside despite everything, she’s still the best at navigating this type of terrain.
As we reach a particularly steep incline, Imara leads the way, her boots gripping the icy surface like a mountain goat. Her face is set, eyes focused, the cold no longer bothering her as much as the effort of the climb.
One foot in front of the other. Only a few thousand miles left how hard could it be.
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