the wind screamed past Alex's ears his torch was his only source of warmth it felt like a solitary raft of warmth in a sea of cold and he was clinging to it for dear life he trudged through the knee deep snow with every step the siren like song seemed to grow stronger and pull him closer than he already was he held the sword out like a shield as it really was his only defense against unknown terrors it had suddenly occurred to him that Elesarius had never even told him what one of these things looked like but did that even matter anymore wait why was he here oh yeah that songs its pulling me to it a strange sensation of warmth began to overtake as sudden realization dawned on him it hit him like a horse running at top speed Elesarius had said "When you get out their keep your wits about you they will try to draw you in and kill you that way it will grow stronger with every step but you can fight off their influence by thinking about something other than them try thinking about that girl back home you are going to marry i read that warding off a mental attack like that may hurt them" so Alex concentrated with all his might on his lovely girlfriend back home he thought of ever detail and how he had asked her to marry him before he set out for the northern shores of the empire and his joy when she said yes and that she would wait for him just after he started to think about that he heard a shriek as though something unholy was in immense pain when he saw a figure approaching he looked at the figure and gasped "Commander Antonius" he said just before he was stabbed by his superior officers blade the man standing in front of him was not the commander or wasn't anymore his hair had gone white and his skin was now covered in frost his eyes glowing a dull blue color Alex fell to his knees there was no hope for him he was dying he was so cold his vision was fading and he knew there was nothing he could do but maybe commander Antonius could be saved just maybe he knew this thing didn't like fire if he could just throw the torch a few feet in front of him he may be able to save his commanding officer he thought but his arm refused to move all he could do was silently scream at himself to move just as darkness started really setting in he felt as though a barrier in the back of his mind shattered as though something his mind had been holding back was released out desperation and he felt his lips form the words "AESTU ES!" there was a blast of heat and he could feel the snow melting the darkness set in good now
he was roused soon by the sound of the words "na therapefteí" he knew not the words spoken but he understood the meaning he was being healed