Aeron was left in a state of confusion after the mysterious creature disappeared from in front of him. He called out into the room, hoping that he would get an answer. No sounds returned back from Aeron's call, and nothing but silence filled the void of the room. He saw an object stuck in the back wall of the creatures holding cell. He slowly walked toward it and with closer examination, he noticed that a sword that was stuck in the wall. When he grabbed the hilt of the blade, he tried pulling on the sword, but it stayed in the wall. He kept trying to take the sword out with all his might, but his effort proved ineffective as the sword sat in the wall looking unfazed by his attempts.
Aeron thought to himself "why won't this stupid sword budge." He punched the wall repeatedly out of frustration causing his right hand to start bleeding. The blood dripped from his knuckle to the ground in droplets.
The voice of the freed creature returned to Aeron "The item you wish to claim as your own can only be achieved by you and you alone," whispered the creature.
Aeron asked "how do I claim the sword for myself?"
The voice didn't respond after Aeron asked his question. He tried pulling on the sword again but with every pull his frustration grew. He tried using his fire magic to melt the wall around the sword. The wall was made out of a special fire-resistant stone, so his magic had no effect on it. He was determined to get the sword from the wall, so with his last attempt he grabbed the hilt of the sword and used his magic. The swords blade became engulfed with bright green flames that started spewing from the hole. The flames started melting the wall allowing Aeron to pull the sword out. The Light from the sword lit up the room in a green hue. The heat from the sword became too much for Aeron causing him to drop it. The swords light and flames dissipated when it left Aeron's hands. When he picked it up again the blade was gone leaving behind only a strange looking hilt. He put the hilt in his bag and then the ground started violently shaking. The voice of the creature said "You must leave now. The trap was set off, when you picked up the sword."
The Tremors quickly grew more violent shaking the entire room. Aeron ran into the hallway toward the entrance of the tomb. Rocks were falling from the ceiling, but luckily none of them managed to hit him. When he made it outside to safety the tomb collapsed behind him sealing all its left-over secrets and mysteries. There was a blizzard outside that started to grow in intensity, making it difficult for Aeron to see anything a few feet ahead of him. The winds from the storm made the frigid temperatures even more unbearable to with stand. Aeron tries to find his friends through the rough storm.
"Alana, where are you!" yelled Aeron hoping to get a response back. Aeron called each of their names while desperately trying to find them. The sound of the raging winds stopped every word Aeron spoke, making each of his attempts meaningless. As he was walking through the storm, he came across an empty wooden Cabin. He quietly checks to see if anyone was inside before entering it himself. He peaked through a small opening in the window. The cabin seemed to have not been in use for some time. The inside of the cabin was bare, but it had animal pelt decorations set up on the walls and the floor. The cold started to affect Aeron as his fingers and toes began to lose feeling, so he decided to go inside. The door was made of wood but covered by a warm looking animal pelt. There was a pit in the middle that was filled with ashes. Aeron found some wood lying beside the pit, so he placed it inside and used his fire magic to set it on fire. The blaze lightens up the room with a warming feeling that relaxed Aeron. The storm seemed to rage on outside. The howling of the wind could still be heard even while he was inside the cabin.
Aeron checked his bag for the newly found sword hilt so he could examine it further. The hilt's guard was made out of ebony, a rare material found deep within the mountains. Its color was as black as night, but it shined like the moons silver surface in the midnight sky. Its shape resembled the body of a snake with two green eyed dragon heads on each of the ends facing outwards. The snake's body was silver, and it coiled around the handle, leading to a sharp two-pronged fork pommel. There was an Emerald gem that was placed at the top of the pommel. Aeron still thought it was strange that the blade disappeared, but the fact the sword reacted to his magic was also strange. It was like the sword was made especially for him. He tried focusing his magic power into the sword hoping it would activate. He closed his eyes and he could feel the transfer of power from him to the sword. The eyes of the dragons started to glow a bright green light just like Aeron's peculiar flames. Then the weight of the sword greatly increased, and the front end fell and hit the floor. He opened his eyes and a blade made of an unknown metal appeared before him. The inner part of the blade was black with a silver inscription in a strange language on it, and the outer part of the blade was a silver color. This was the sharpest blade that Aeron had ever seen before. It put all the military swords he had seen before this one to shame with its craftsmanship. When he put the blade down this time it didn't disappear. Aeron had his back facing the door while he was figuring out his new weapon. Suddenly several loud bangs could be heard coming from the door. Aeron quickly stood up and he got into a simple sword stance. Then a huge man burst into the cabin with an axe yelling loudly.
"Boy, I know who you are. You'll die for your father's crimes against our people," yelled the furious man.
He swung his Axe with the power of a bull at Aeron, but Aeron's Sword block the blow making the man stumble. The blow had so much force that it knocked Aeron to the other side of the room, and he wasn't able to get back into position. The man charged again swing his axe savagely around the room. Aeron managed to dodge all the man's vicious attacks.
"Mister, we don't have to do this. Let's talk okay?" said Aeron while he continued to dodge the axe.
"I know we don't have to, but I want to kill you, so stay still you royal scum!" Replied the man with a murderous tone. The man threw his axe to the floor and then tackled Aeron to the ground. He then wrapped his hands around Aeron's neck and started to strangle him. As his grip tightened, his face revealed a nefarious smirk and he started to laugh as Aeron struggled to fight him off. "You look pathetic squirming around down there like a worm. Now die like the parasite you are." Aeron was almost out of time; he could feel the air being cut off from his body. The man started laughing loudly when he noticed him getting weaker, then Aeron took his elbow and drove it straight into the man's neck. The man yelled and fell on his back while holding his throat. "You'll pay for that you dog," yelled the man. Aeron picked up his sword and smack the man with the flat side of the blade knocking the man unconscious. Before the guy could wake back up, Aeron grabbed his things and ran back out into the blizzard, hoping to find His sister and friends.
"Alana, come back inside. You'll freeze if you stand out there any longer," said Rose calling out to Alana from inside a cave.
Filled with worry Alana replies "What if Aeron's looking for us out there, He could be hurt or scared. I have to make sure I find him."
Rose sighed and thought to herself "Those two are really close, but she needs to calm down. Aeron will be fine. I've known him for almost as long as she has, I know if anyone can survive this, he can." She then walked over to Alana and grabbed her hand while looking out into the snowy white void. Her warm hand soothed Alana's anxious thoughts. Rose then said, "He'll find us, don't worry." Pierre and Elise were further in the cave next to a fire they set up to combat the cold.
"How long do these storms usually last," asked Pierre while rubbing his hands to warm them up.
"Honestly, I don't know, sometimes we get storms that last hours and some they last up to a week. This seems like it may be the biggest we've seen this year," said Elise. Since she was from the Area, the cold didn't bother her as much as it did the others.
Pierre quickly stood up and said, "I'm going to go find Aeron. Everyone, stay here until I return"
They all ran over to convince him not to go.
"We can't go out there now. The storm is too much for us. We could die out there", said Rose.
Pierre loudly said "But we can't just leave him out there. What kind of guard would I be, or What kind of friend would I be?" You could hear his anger in his voice since he hasn't done anything to find Aeron. He clenched his fist and said, "I'm going to find Aeron and bring him back. No one's going to stop me." He walks toward the entrance of the cave putting on his equipment.
"I'll go with him; I know my way around a blizzard. If anything happens, I'll come right back here," said Elise. She looked at Alana with a face a determination and said, "I promise you; we will bring Aeron back."
Pierre and Elise head into the relentless snowy storm with the hopes of finding Aeron. They spent hours searching for him but came up with nothing. The cold started to affect them making Pierre feel fatigued and drowsy, but he was determined to press on. Elise being a native of this region, made her more resistant to the cold, but she still was shivering.
Elise yelled to get her voice over the sound of the howling winds "Are you doing alright, Pierre?" She noticed him starting to slow down.
"I'm okay, I hope we find Aeron soon. I don't know how much longer I can stay out here for", responded Pierre.
"Do you think we should head back?" asked Elise out of concern for Pierre.
"No, we made a promise. I have a feeling we might find him." said Pierre.
As they walked further into the white void of snow, a giant tree with no leaves came into view. It's branches were covered in snow which contrasted its dark bark. As they got closer to it, they saw a figure of a man laying down in the snow.
Pierre wiped the snow from his face, then tried to make out who the guy laying on the ground was. He then called out to it.
"Aeron! Aeron! Is that you", he yelled hoping that he finally found him. There was no response, but an impulse of determination took control of Pierre's body causing him to rush towards the man. Shivering, Pierre and Elise hastily moved towards the body. The man was lying face down in the snow holding his arms around his body trying to keep himself heated. He was breathing but each breath he took was long and slow. Pierre slowly turned him over hoping to find Aeron. Pierre's eye started to water, as a single tear slowly maneuvered its way down his cheek, then came a flood of more after it like an overflowing river.
"It's Aeron, we found him!" yelled Pierre as he wiped the tears from his face. Aeron was covered from head to toe in snow.
Elise rushed over to see how Aeron looked, she noticed that his skin was as pale as the snow he was laid on, and he was as cold as ice. She knew that Aeron was in danger of freezing to death if he was out in the blizzard any longer.
"We need to bring him back to the cave quick, before it's too late," said Elise.
Pierre responded "your right let's get going before anything else happens."
Pierre lifted up Aeron and they started to flow their tracks in the snow back the way they came. Elise picked up Aeron's bag when she noticed the legendary sword. It was in the outline of snow where Aeron's body was laying. They then turn around to travel back to Alana and Rose hoping nothing else tries to stop them from getting to safety.
The storm stayed persistent and showed no signs of letting up. The footprints that Pierre and Elise left behind were completely filled, making it much harder for them to find a way back to the cave. Pierre remembered some of the landmarks around the general area that stood out. As they walked backed to the cave, a faint sound could be heard from the side. Pierre started looking around, but the blizzard still made it hard for him to see anything. The sound turned into a deep hungry growl emanating from the sides of them. Suddenly a brown fur covered creature could be seen growling. It stood on its back paws making it look nine feet tall. It opened its mouth and lets out a bone shivering growl, it tried to show it dominance and let out another loud growl.
Elise stopped in her tracks causing Pierre to do the same, "This is one of the most vicious animals native to this region. They have the strength of 20 horses." Shocked with fear she paused, and her legs started trembling. Pierre could see how scared she was, so he gave Aeron to Elise and grabbed his sword. The cold still made it hard for him concentrate and his legs felt numb from walking in the storm. The creature charged towards them leaving a cloud of snow behind him. Pierre dodged to the side causing the creature to run pass him. Elise started to move away from the fight while holding on to Aeron.
Rose yelled to Pierre "I know what this animal, it's called a brute bear. We just have to tire it out and then it will leave us alone."
The brute bear's attention was draw to Elise who was defenseless and already burdened by Aeron's body. The bear charged towards her growling as its hunger grew with each step. Pierre shoulder charged the side of the bear making it lose its course and roll on its side. When it stood back up, it turned its sights back on to Pierre. Drool started to seep from the bear's mouth landing on the snow below it. Pierre knew that he had to stay on the defensive if he wanted to stay alive. The bear let out yet another growl and charge full speed at Pierre. Pierre ready his sword and waited to determine the next move the bear would make as it got closer to him. the bear rose up to smack Pierre with its paws, then Pierre slid between the bears bottom legs, while dragging his sword along the stomach of the bear. The blade left a long thin cut along the belly of the bear. The bear land back on its four paws letting out a screech of pain. The bears movements became slowed because of the wound Pierre inflicted on it. Pierre got back up and slashed his sword vertically down the side of the bear. It quickly reacted and tried to swing at Pierre again, nearly hitting him.
Pierre thought to himself, "I need to hurt up before my body gives up on me." The cold was still affecting him, and his fatigue grew making it hard for him do much of anything. In his last attempt to ward of the savage beast, he charged at it screaming to scare it off. The bear stood still like it was frightened allowing Pierre to strike it. His blade pierced above the bears shoulder leaving it severely wounded. The bear gave a final roar in the tone of defeat and then ran off into the storm. Pierre fell to one knee, catching himself with the sword. "I can't believe I did it. Hopefully it won't come back", he said to himself. After catching his breath Pierre followed the tracks of Elise and Aeron back to the cave. Elise, Pierre, and Aeron finally made it back to cave.
"You guys are finally back," shouted Rose. Alana and Rose rush over to make sure their friends are okay, "You found him. Is he going to be okay?" asked Alana.
Elise respond, "He's really cold, put him near the fire so he'll warm up." Alana sat down next to Aeron looking into the fire. Then She started crying and said, "I thought we lost you when we didn't see you come out the tomb." Aeron looked over at her and grabbed her hands "Stop crying, I'm here. I'll tell you everything later, let's rest for a while." The rest of the group also come and sit around the fire trying to stay warm. Pierre was sitting next to Elise, but due to his earlier use of reinforcement magic and fighting the brute bear he was extremely tired. As soon as the warmth of the fire hit his face, Pierre fell asleep while unknowingly resting his head on Elise's shoulder. Elise was unbothered by this and shortly after Pierre she also fell asleep. Rose looked over at Aeron and Alana, and thought to herself, "I knew we would find him. Aeron's too strong to let a storm beat him."