Suth forced herself to reach an absolute zero state. She remained in that state inside Volknair's war room. Entire day and night cycles have passed since she freed herself from that case.
It was her safe space. No one, not even a thought, could reach her there. She was trapped in an endless loop of time, waiting for someone to thaw her out of that permanent dream.
Hedix and Pearl walked into the room. The overhead glass chandelier shined upon her like a spotlight. Making her the only interesting thing in the room aside the countless banners and armor sets hung around.
After guiding her, Hedix retreated out the door. Closing it behind him as he swiftly walked away to attend his several other duties.
Pearl slowly stepped closer to Suth. Her every step was full of care and sorrow. Despite Quill not being her brother, she still felt horrible for his sister. That was a fellow Thawed, just like her.
After so much time with Ether, his influence rubbed onto her. She began learning more and more what it means to have a 'Yonie' side - that side that cares for everyone, despite where they stand.
She got on one knee, hand on Suth's shoulder. Before continuing, Pearl took a moment to take in how Suth looked like. Since the two were completely different, she was curious about how a mountainborne Thawed faired against her.
And what she saw surprised her. While Pearl had straight and soft grey hair, Suth had rough and curly tipped silver hair.
Suth wore a long snow-white robe, one like her brother used to dawn. But unlike him, she didn't fit inside them. The size appeared to be outfitted for a much bigger figure.
After examining her, Pearl began to take control of Suth's body cold. Then she began to absorb all of it. In seconds, she began feeling slow herself. Her body movements, heart rate, and breathing all slowed down.
While a Suth took a deep breath and looked up angrily at the one who woke her. Her cyan eyes, almost appearing to have a meltdown, pierced deep into Pearl.
Instead of trying to argue against that stare, Pearl bowed her head. All her hair fell over her head as she made it clear she was at the mercy of a Prophet.
Suth acknowledged this. She understood she was in control of the situation, but not in control of her emotions. Losing her driving motivation made her feel unwanted in life.
"Am I really a powerful Thawed that continued the legacy of my glacier? Was Asoltorin's wish to have twins continue the glacier only a taunt?" Suth's shaken voice asked.
Pearl could feel the sorrow in her voice. Despite being around allies most of the time, Suth felt lonely. No one to guide her in life anymore, she was standing against a wall.
Being a lone child was a double-edged sword. On one hand, Variants could learn and adapt around each other. They would never feel lonely and what they'll ever get from hanging out with their siblings is courage.
On the other hand, loneliness and the inability to comprehend what it feels like to lose someone that has been closer to them than their own parents is a setback.
Yet she tried her best to understand. The same concept sparked up once she began her final maturation stages, but on a lesser scale.
Pearl's parents began getting rowdy. Her mother pushed her to be more like the other Thawed, she wanted her to spend time out in the colds and focusing on ancient teachings from now-lost Variants.
And her father wanted her to surround herself with more Variants, maybe even a future mate or a mate buddy.
Causing her to grow distant from them. She wanted to do her own thing, but no one would allow her. Making her feel alone and unsupported. Just like Suth.
That's when tears rolled down Suth's cheeks. She has faced it all, commanded her people against everything, and even fought alongside them.
"W - who will stand by my side now that... he is gone?" Her voice quivered.
"A lot of Variants, myself included. You are our ally, Suth, we wouldn't be if we left you behind. Can I give you some advice, one lonely Thawed to another?" Pearl's soothing voice replied.
Suth forced one of her eyes opened. "Y - you're in a relationship with that Yonie. What do you understand of my pain?"
"What it feels like to be lonely. I was raised alone and forced to grow without my parents. They pressured me too much, leading me here," Pearl truthfully answered.
"I s - suppose that's on the same level... P - please, tell me," Suth's defeated voice asked.
Pearl slowly raised her head. A discomforting cold stare filled her eyes as she looked into the eyes of the Prophet.
"Make your mold. Do not live beside, under, or above the mold of those around you. We are unique for that reason. Build your legacy as your brother's successor. Trust me, you can do this," Pearl encouraged her.
More tears started to roll down Suth's eyes. She never thought she would be hearing anything from a Thawed below her level. Yet she heard it and promptly cried.
But those cries weren't because of sadness or shame, they were cries of the old. She was shedding the Suth she used to be before working on rebuilding herself.
"There's one more problem... h - how do I do that?" She quickly responded.
"Return to your glacier and rally whenever the next encounter happens. You're a cold girl. I doubt you will be put down easily," Pearl instructed.
Suth stared up. Her gaze caught nothing other than the giant stone and wood walls in front of her.
Pearl realized Suth was trying to process her next steps. Her face twisted and turned with every approach she was going to take when returning to her people.
Some of those faces seemed surprised, others shocked, and a few frightened. It was clear she wasn't sure of what was going to happen.
In hopes of calming her down, Pearl did what Ether would have done. She wrapped her arms around Suth, bringing her close to a soothing hug. She tried her best to replicate the same feeling Ether induced with his hugs.
But she could tell it wasn't going right. Despite this, Suth still found it reassuring and comforting. She hugged Pearl back. The two held each other closely and patiently.
With no more tears to cloud her thoughts, Suth pushed forward. She began thinking of more possible or positive outcomes. Many of which interested her.
Then she remembered Valentine, one of her former Thawed. She wondered if he would bow his head to her once again.
"My last hug was a while ago," Suth suddenly said.
Pearl heard her, but continued to comfort her. "Ether has been very happy to hand out hugs to me and our little Orako. Makes us feel truly loved."
"I can tell. I feel truly supported," Suth happily replied.
"And your glacier will hold you higher than I could ever. Even I would bow to you, but I am not part of your glacier or mountain," Pearl's voice dwindled out.
A moment of silence fell between the two. Hearing that little known fact about her made Suth feel bad. They were both Thawed, except they were raised differently. She wanted to change that.
"I want to reclaim Digon. With the forces the Legion has, we can help establish a stable chain between us and the Rules above. That way, you can be reborn into Digon," Suth suggested.
Pearl thought about it for a moment. The idea interested her. Being recognized as a proper Thawed was her goal at some point. But the Light Legion never gained control of Digon or the distant mountains until after the initial attack.
"I will see if we can arrange this. But for now, rest up," Pearl's comforting voice concluded.
The two continued to comfort each other. Forming an actual bond between an outcast and a foreign. A bond that felt true.
Pearl didn't go there for a favor or to make sure she was fit to return to the rough lands once more. She was there to comfort Suth and show her she was capable of continuing without her brother.
Something she realized. In the memory of Quill, the fourth descendent of the Frosticus Glacier, twin to her, and prince of Victory Breach, she needs to continue strong.
It was the only way the other Variants would see their legacy.