’Ugh... what happened?’
Reena woke up lying in a warm, comfortable bed with a fire crackling nearby. But she didn’t get to enjoy it for long, as a powerful migraine slamd into her head. It felt like the aftermath of an all-night drinking session, every thought ca sluggishly, and focus was nearly impossible.
With her eyes still closed, knowing that even a bit of light might hurt, she tried to recall what happened. ’I managed to open a portal back... I think I did. But after I hit the ground... it all went black. Ah... mana overdraft.’
It didn’t take her long to pinpoint the cause of her pain. She raised her hand and reached toward her spatial ring to retrieve a mana potion, only for nothing to happen.
’My ring is gone?’
"Here."
A voice ca from her side, and she felt the familiar shape of a potion bottle being placed into her outstretched hand.
She accepted it without a word, popped off the cap, and drank it without even checking its contents. Warmth surged through her as mana began to flow through her again. It wasn’t enough to end the effects of mana overdraft, but it was refreshing, like water after walking a whole day in the desert.
"Ah... thank you..."
She didn’t recognize the voice that handed it to her, so she pushed herself up and finally opened her eyes, only to see Sol sitting in a chair next to the bed. The To of the Fell Fla rested on his lap, his thumb marking the page he’d been reading.
Sol waited a mont to see if she’d say anything. When she simply stared at him in shock, he felt like he should break the silence.
"Mornin’."
"It’s you!" She snapped out of her daze and instinctively tried to scoot away, only for the blanket she was under to trip her up. She tumbled right off the bed and landed face first on the floor.
Sol silently covered his mouth as he resisted the urge to laugh. He had expected surprise, but this reaction was more than he’d planned for.
He considered helping her up, but decided it would be better to keep his distance and instead leaned around the bed so he could see her. "How are you holding up? Need help getting back up?"
Reena’s cheeks flushed from embarrassnt as she scrambled back to her feet and looked at him warily.
"Were you watching over ? Why?"
"Why?" Sol tilted his head. "Well, we couldn’t just leave you unconscious in the snow. Who knows what could’ve happened to you?"
Reena narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. Feeling her mana had recovered enough, she attempted to teleport away, only to find herself unable to recall how to use her magic.
Sol recognized her expression and sighed. "Sorry for sealing your law technique, but can you at least hear out before you try to leave?"
Only now did Reena realize why Sol was waiting by her bedside. It was to prevent her from leaving the mont she woke up.
"What do you want from ?" she asked bluntly.
"Not much." Sol shrugged and didn’t bother hiding his intentions. "Just a small favor, can you portal us back to the Great Forest?"
"What?! No! Why would I help you?!"
Reena was astonished that he’d even ask that. He was their enemy! Why would she ever assist him, let alone help him return to Sylmasera?
She vividly rembered how effortlessly he’d dispatched a group of A-Rankers after fusing with Thorwyn. Bringing him back could lead to another disaster.
Sol wasn’t fazed by her reaction. He understood her reasoning, but he wasn’t ready to give up just yet.
"Then what if you take us to the western edge of the forest?" He offered. "Or even better, directly to the Sapphire Scales Alliance? That way, we won’t be a problem for Sylmasera, right?"
"No! Absolutely not!" Reena snapped. "Even if I did send you to the edge of the forest, you’re clearly a bad human! You lie and steal like one! You’re the kind of person my Jendar would hunt down!"
"What? Okay, I won’t deny the lying. Who hasn’t lied before? But when did I steal anything?"
"Don’t play dumb! I know you stole the map to the Great Forest from the Adventurer’s Guild!"
"..." Sol was speechless and genuinely felt wronged by the accusation. "Would you believe if I said my sotis ethically challenged friend was only retrieving sothing that could technically be classified as hers?"
"Stealing is still stealing! No matter the reason!" Reena snapped. "And even if you didn’t, I still won’t help you! That truce in the void was a one ti thing!"
She was also worried about how Jendar would react if he found out she’d helped them escape the void. Helping them again would only make things worse.
"Alright. If that’s your choice, so be it." Sol replied, his tone calm.
Reena was relieved that he wasn’t pushing the matter further or resorting to threats. Still, she noticed she couldn’t use her law technique yet.
"Can I leave, then?"
Sol shook his head. "I’m sorry. While I respect your decision and won’t hurt or force you, I can’t unseal your law technique unless you agree to at least take us back with you."
"What?! Isn’t that the sa as forcing ?!"
She was trapped, either help him and potentially endanger her ho, or refuse and remain stuck here. It was a lose-lose situation. But when she thought about how Jendar would react, the decision beca clear.
With a huff, she crossed her arms and sat back on the bed.
"Fine. I guess we’re stuck here, then. Because I’m never helping you."
Sol tried to hide his surprise, but his smile cracked slightly at her stubbornness.
’She’d rather be stuck here than go ho? Did she inherit that Jendar guy’s stubbornness or sothing?’
He hadn’t really planned for what to do if she still refused. He ant it when he said he didn’t want to force her, but keeping her here until she agreed was also not ideal and he didn’t want to keep her prisoner.
As for killing her and taking her space magic for himself, he would never even consider doing such a thing. While she did trap them in the void and caused them a lot of trouble, Sol knew she was only trying to protect her ho from the so called invaders.
Very unwilling to kill or harm her, he didn’t have many options. But he simply couldn’t afford to let her go freely.
Letting out a long sigh, he said, "Alright. Have it your way. But at least let’s go enjoy the festivities. Maybe that’ll change your mind."
"Festivities? Wait... where even are we?"
Until now, Reena hadn’t even thought to ask. She wasn’t even able to take in her surroundings before collapsing into the snow.
Sol stood from his chair, stored the to in his spatial ring, and gestured for her to follow.
He led her out of the bedroom and through a short hallway, then opened the front door.
Imdiately, a chill draft greeted them, nipping at their face.
Before them stretched a massive city built into the side of a mountain. Stone paths wound tightly between hos, shops, and towers, all blanketed in a soft layer of snow. The architecture, though sowhat odd, clearly suited for the mountainous terrain.
But what stood out the most were the people.
Orcs.
Sol turned to Reena with a grin and extended his hand.
"Welco to the capital of the Frostaxe Clan, Kragfrost."
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