As they journeyed farther north, the air grew heavier with every step. The wind lashed against their faces like sharpened blades, and the snowflakes did not fall from the sky—they seemed to rise from the depths of the earth itself. Kael pulled his cloak tighter around him and noticed the light of the crystal fragment trembling in his hand.
"The crystal is suffering here," Kael said. "It's as if this cold can freeze even the light."
Lira opened her book, its pages trembling beneath an icy breath.
"The prophecy says, 'At the heart of the ice, a forgotten fire lies dormant. Whoever finds that fire shall restore the light.'"
Kael nodded.
"Then we're not only here to find the crystal... we're here to find the fire as well."
At the end of the valley stood an enormous cave of ice. At its entrance were statues carved from the frozen walls themselves. Each bore a different expression: fear, hope, anger, and love. Lira studied them carefully.
"They represent the states of the human heart. This cave is a trial of emotions."
As they stepped inside, the icy walls reflected the light, revealing their own images with every step. Yet something was different. Kael's reflection appeared strong, but utterly alone. Lira's looked wise, yet fragile.
"These... aren't us," Kael murmured.
"No," Lira replied. "They are the reflections of our fears."
At that moment, a voice echoed from deep within the ice—deep, powerful, as though the cave itself had begun to speak.
"Those who seek the fire must first melt the ice within their own hearts."
Kael raised the crystal. Its light resonated through the frozen walls, but the fire did not appear. Lira opened her book once more, and a single sentence began to glow.
"Loyalty gives birth to fire."
Kael looked at Lira.
"We've already proven our loyalty to one another. Then the fire must be here."
Suddenly, the wall of ice cracked. A crimson light seeped through the widening fracture. Kael and Lira reached out at the same time. The light merged with the crystal fragment. In an instant, the cave was filled with flames—but they did not burn. They only brought warmth.
Then a figure emerged from the shadows.
It was the echo of Varzoth.
"You have found the fire... but fire can also destroy. If you cannot master it, it will consume you."
Kael stepped forward.
"We did not come to control the fire. We came to walk beside it."
With a piercing scream, Varzoth's echo dissolved into nothingness. The crystal fragment now shone brighter than ever. Within the heart of the ice, it had become one with the fire.
Lira smiled.
"We've claimed another fragment. Our journey now continues to the west."
Kael took a deep breath.
"But now we know Varzoth is waiting for us. Every step we take will only make him stronger."
Notes: Translation and photos were created by artificial intelligence.
