Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and Kaelan found himself still wandering the snowy peaks of Dragon's Keep. Everywhere he looked, there was only snow stretching out endlessly.
His bones were starting to freeze, even though he had felt warm before thanks to his fire amulet. Now, he had turned it off to save it for emergencies.
The sky above was gray and heavy, and Kaelan trudged through deep snow. He could see nothing but white all around him. He felt so cold, and each step was harder than the last against the biting wind.
Stopping to catch his breath, Kaelan leaned against a rock. It was so quiet, except for the occasional sound of snow falling from branches and distant avalanches. He knew he had to keep moving and find shelter before night fell again.
With determination, Kaelan pushed forward, looking for any sign of life or a place to stay. But all he saw were more snow-covered mountains and rocks. It felt like the land didn't care about him.
Hours passed slowly as he walked on, feeling numb despite trying to keep warm by moving. He started to lose hope, battling against the cold and feeling so alone.
Just as he was about to give up, Kaelan saw a faint light ahead. It grew brighter as he got closer—a small cave entrance partially covered by snow.
Relieved, Kaelan stumbled into the cave and collapsed on the cold ground. His fingers were numb, but he managed to light the fire amulet again. The warmth spread through him, easing the ache in his frozen limbs.
Sitting close to the fire, Kaelan finally relaxed a little. The cave gave him a break from the cold outside, a moment to rest on his tough journey through Dragon's Keep. But he knew he couldn't stay forever.
Staring into the fire, Kaelan thought about everything he had been through and what still lay ahead. Determination burned in his eyes as he reflected on his journey through these unforgiving mountains.
"Why didn't Father warn me about this?" he murmured aloud, his voice echoing softly in the cave. "He gave me everything I needed to survive here. He must have known what I would face."
Kaelan shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of his father's absence keenly in this perilous place. He remembered stories of Dragon's Keep, tales of its beauty and wonder, but none had spoken of the harsh trials that awaited those who entered here.
"Everyone speaks of the beauty," he continued, his breath misting in the cold air. "But not a single soul mentioned the challenges." He rubbed his hands together, trying to warm them by the fire's comforting glow. The crackling of the flames was the only sound in the cave, a stark contrast to the howling wind outside.
As the warmth from the fire amulet spread through his body, Kaelan felt the stiffness in his limbs gradually ease. He knew he couldn't stay in the cave forever.
the journey through Dragon's Keep demanded constant progress. he decided to explore the cave further, hoping it might offer a path forward or at least a clue to the mysteries of this place.
After a brief rest, Kaelan extinguished the fire amulet to conserve its energy. He picked up a torch from his pack, igniting it with a small spark from his fire amulet, and began to move cautiously into the cave's depths.
The air grew colder and damper as he walked, the light from his torch revealing ancient, rough-hewn walls and strange markings that hinted at the cave's long-forgotten history. Kaelan felt a shiver of unease but pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand. He had to keep moving, had to find a way out of this endless winter.
As he ventured deeper, the cave began to narrow, the path becoming more treacherous with each step. The ground beneath his feet was uneven and slick with moisture, making every step a risk. He continued forward, his torch casting eerie shadows that danced and flickered with each movement.
Suddenly, the ground shifted beneath him. Kaelan felt the earth give way, and before he could react, he was falling. "No!" he screamed, his voice echoing through the cavern.
The torch slipped from his grasp and extinguished in the fall, plunging him into darkness. He tumbled down a steep incline, the rough stone scraping against his skin. "Damned luck!" he cursed as he continued to fall, until he finally landed with a thud in a cold, damp chamber below.
Disoriented and winded, Kaelan lay still for a moment, letting the pain subside. Slowly, he pushed himself up, wincing at the bruises and scrapes that covered his body. "Just my luck," he muttered, grimacing as he checked his injuries.
The chamber was pitch black, and he fumbled for his fire amulet, grateful that it was intact. Just as he was about to light it, he felt a presence behind him. A chill ran down his spine, more intense than any cold he had felt before, as if he had suddenly been transported to the coldest place in the world.
He turned slowly, dread mounting with each heartbeat. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he saw them: sharp blue eyes, glistening in the dark with a strange, eerie light. The eyes belonged to a massive figure lurking in the shadows, its breath visible in the frigid air.
Kaelan's heart pounded as he took a cautious step back, his mind racing. He could feel the predator's gaze piercing through him, assessing, waiting. Summoning his courage, he spoke, his voice steady despite the fear coursing through him. "Who's there?"
A low growl echoed through the chamber, reverberating off the stone walls. The creature stepped forward, revealing itself in the dim light of the amulet.
It was a massive dragon, but unlike any Kaelan had ever seen. Its scales were a deep, iridescent blue, shimmering like ice in the faint glow. The air around it seemed to freeze, and its breath billowed in frosty clouds.
"Who dares disturb my domain?" the dragon's voice was a rumble, ancient and powerful.