He told himself he stayed to repay the Ice Elves for saving him but his heart knew better.
He stayed because she was there.
There, he slowly got stronger.
Having a goal and soone to chase really felt wonderful.
And there, he tried everything to win her attention.
He dressed well, spoke politely, trained harder, even tried and failed to write poems after learning that Ice Elves have literally zero interest in artistic culture.
What a waste of his good potential?
However there were still many things to try.
He stood tall when she passed, hoping she would glance back. Smiled when she helped others, hoping she’d help him again.
Every ti she rode into battle, her blade glinting with frost, Kael’s heart stirred. And every ti she looked back to check on her soldiers, even if her eyes never t his, he hoped.
Day by day, battle by battle, Kael fought—not just against the demons, but for a place beside her. He bled, rose, and fought again, driven by admiration, by hope, and sothing deeper he couldn’t na.
And slowly... they began to notice.
The elves who once looked down on humans started calling him by na.
Asana started giving him orders directly. Trusted him with small missions. Then larger ones.
He rose in position.
From foot soldier, to captain. From captain to commander. And one day, he stood beside her not as a re follower, but as her right hand.
However that’s where things beca difficult.
The battle front with Fla Demons slowly ca to end and since he had shown his potential, he was pressured to contribute at other places.
The humans called him back eventually. A new front had opened, and the alliance needed to split its forces. The ti to part had co.
But Kael couldn’t leave without saying it.
Without telling her.
Without putting those chaotic, pounding, aching feelings into words—at least once.
And one night when the moon was high, casting pale light across the snow-covered cliffs behind the elven fortress. It was quiet, the kind of quiet that feels heavy.
Kael waited by the frost-covered balcony where she often stood.
And she ca.
Asana, in her silver armor, hair flowing like threads of winter moonlight, stepped into the light, her presence as still and graceful as always. Her sword rested on her back, and her gaze swept over the horizon like she was already thinking of tomorrow’s war.
She didn’t seem surprised to see him.
"You will leave tomorrow?" she said softly, not looking at him.
"Yes," Kael replied, his throat tight. "That’s why I... wanted to see you tonight."
A deep silence.
The cold air made their breaths visible, mingling briefly before fading.
"Asana," Kael whispered. "I know I’m just a human. I know I co from a world that’s not yours. But still..."
She turned to him slowly.
"I love you," Kael said, his voice trembling. "I don’t know when it began. Maybe the day you saved . Or maybe the first ti I saw you fight. Or every ti you stood strong when everyone else was breaking."
He paused, his heart pounding.
"You are... everything I ever admired. And more. I just—I had to say it. Even if you don’t feel the sa."
Her expression didn’t change.
She looked at him quietly for a long ti.
Then she smiled. But it was a sad, aching smile that hurt more than any battlefield wound.
"Kael," she said softly. "Do you know what you’re asking?"
He blinked. "I—"
"We’re miles apart," she whispered, shaking her head. "Not just in distance. In ti, in age, in fate. I’ve lived over a hundred years. You haven’t even touched 25"
Kael’s hands curled into fists.
"I don’t care."
"But I do," she said, stepping closer.
"Everything is different between us—our worlds, our people, our futures. You’ll return to your kind. You’ll grow old and despite you say this, you will feel hurt and regret seeing him young while you were withering. And what should I do after you die so you’ll find soone... who can walk beside you through all of that."
Kael looked away. "But I want it to be you."
She paused a bit. Her cold expression lted a at. Then Asana reached out and touched his face just once. A cold, soft touch. Her fingers lingered near his cheek.
"You are brave," she said. "You are kind. And foolish. And I will rember you."
Her hand dropped.
"But this... is not ant to be."
Kael felt sothing inside him break. But he nodded, even though every part of him wanted to scream.
"I understand," he whispered.
She stepped back.
"Goodbye, Kael."
"I hope you can find soone who loves you truly."
And without waiting for his reply, she turned and walked away—her figure vanishing slowly into the white light of the moon, her long hair swaying like snow in the wind.
Kael stood there with his heart slowly becoming hollow, eyes stinging not from cold, but from sothing far deeper.
The kind of pain that didn’t leave a scar on the skin but never left the soul.
He didn’t leave but waited hoping...
Hoping to co back if possible.
But no sign ca.
She never looked at him the sa way he looked at her.
For her, he was just... a human she had saved. A part of duty. A fleeting mont in her long, tiless life.
She was a warrior. A queen in the making.
He was just a boy who fell too easily.
And yet... he never forgot her.
And never would cause just because they couldn’t get together didn’t an she hadn’t given him anything worthwhile.
...
"Why are you smiling?" a voice broke into his thoughts.
Kael blinked, the vision of the past fading. He turned to see Alvera, her silver hair swaying lightly in the wind, her eyes curious.
"No," Kael said softly with a chuckle.
"I was just rembering... your mother....Asana. I didn’t know she was her. I just rembered her because an old picture seed sowhere.."He lied
Alvera looked thoughtful, her fingers brushing lightly across the edge of the wooden table.
"After the Demon War," she said slowly, "she returned to the ice kingdom. The tribes united under her. She beca queen... ruled for over 150 years."
Kael’s breath caught.
"...And the king?" he asked carefully.
Alvera looked up—and shook her head.
"She never married," she said plainly. "She didn’t love anyone. I... I was adopted. Not her real daughter."
"I see..." Kael said, his voice soft, trailing into silence. A strange heaviness settled in his chest.
She had never loved anyone.
He had thought that maybe she had truly forgotten him the mont he left however...
Alvera’s words gave him hope despite being so vague.
He felt a dull ache, a sadness that crept quietly into his bones. The kind of ache that only mories could bring.
Alvera glanced at him, sensing the shift in the air. Then, with a small shake of her head, she changed the subject.
"We should focus," she said, her voice firr now. "We didn’t co here to talk about the past."
Kael nodded. "Sure."
Alvera’s eyes narrowed slightly. "There’s sothing you need to know."
Her tone changed. It was no longer soft—it was sharp. Cold, even.
"Humans..." she said, pausing. "Your kind... are destroying this world."
Kael stared at her, but didn’t respond. He had no words.
There’s sothing you need to know," she said, her voice sharper now. "Humans... your kind... are destroying this world."
Kael tilted his head, uninterested. "That’s old news, isn’t it?"
Alvera narrowed her eyes. "Recently, a human kingdom—Night Star—built a port near the Southern Glacier Ridge. They call it a trade zone, but it’s nothing but a blight on the land."
She flicked her wrist, conjuring an image midair—a hazy projection ford by frost magic.
Kael stared at the image of a large, dark port surrounded by ships. Thick smoke belched out from their chimneys, spreading like a disease across the ice-filled sea.
"Smoke. Oil. Waste. It poisons the snow, the air, and the beasts around it," Alvera said, her tone darkening. "What’s more—there’s a massive deploynt of military knights. Not traders. Not just workers but ard personnel"
Kael watched the image. "That doesn’t look like your average trading post..."
"No, it’s not," Alvera said, voice cold. "We tried to sneak in. But we are caught.If we were found again than this might result in war which we don’t want."
She looked at him again. "That’s where you co in."
Kael blinked. "?"
" You’re not bound to our laws. And you are human, not an elf.."
Kael leaned back slightly. "And what if I say no?"
Alvera raised an eyebrow. "Then walk out. The gates are open. Leave."
He crossed his arms. "You think threats work on ?"
"No," Alvera said, eyes sharp. "But if you do walk out... you might lose sothing precious."
That caught Kael’s attention.
His brow furrowed. "What precious thing?"
Alvera stepped closer, her breath misting in the air. "There is a prophecy passed down by our seers. When the chosen of Viseron appears, the Ice Throne shall gift him the sacred relic ant to awaken the Heart of the North."
Kael froze and his eyes snapped wide too.
"You’re saying..." Kael muttered, his voice quiet now. "...there’s sothing here?"
Alvera gave a small nod. "We don’t know what it is. It’s sealed. But we were told it belongs to the one Viseron chooses."
Kael’s ears perked up. His usual aloofness shifted to interest.
"So... if I help you check this filthy port, I might get this ’thing’?"
"If you truly are the chosen," Alvera said, crossing her arms. "Then yes. But I won’t just hand it to you. You’ll earn it."
Kael smirked, his eyes glinting. "Now you’re speaking my language."
Alvera turned away. "We’ll give you a guide. And so support.Also don’t die out there or say that you were brought Ice Elves if caught.."
"Ouch! That’s harsh."
"It is but I will make sure the compensation is worth the risks,"Alvera answered.
Kael muttered to himself with a grin, "Guess I’m gonna go crash a port..."
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