It was quiet going back to the Nexus. Aiden was tired; his body was drained from the energy spent restoring the Sunken Citadel and narrowly escaping the wrath of the Rift Leviathan. The woman, steadfast and unyielding, walked beside him, her eyes fixed ahead.
In the Nexus, the Core's glow had grown steadier, its hum resonating with a sense of balance being restored. Yet, the map of realms still shimmered with instability. Several orbs blinked ominously, their colors fading into darkness.
"We're making progress," Aiden said, though his voice lacked conviction.
Progress is only part of the battle," she replied, her tone firm. "The rift is relentless. It won't stop until every realm falls into chaos."
"Great pep talk," he muttered, shaking his head. "What's next?
She pointed to a new orb on the map. It glowed faintly, its surface etched with jagged lines of icy blue. A swirling storm seemed to surround it, small shards of ice appearing and disappearing at its edges.
"This is the Frozen Vale," she said. "A realm of eternal winter, where the people rely on the Hearthstone to keep the ice storms at bay. Without it, the realm is caught in a ceaseless blizzard. The rift has corrupted the Hearthstone, plunging the entire Vale into an endless, frigid storm."
"Let me guess," Aiden said, suppressing a groan. "We're going to freeze to death before we can fix it."
"The Vale is harsh," she admitted. "But we have to try. If this realm collapses, the rift's reach will expand exponentially."
Aiden sighed, his breath forming small clouds in the Nexus's increasingly chilled air. "All right, let's get this over with."
The woman activated the portal, and a gust of icy wind burst through, cutting through Aiden's clothing like knives.
"Stay close," she said, stepping into the storm.
The Frozen Vale was a desolate, snow-covered stretch. Aiden immediately regretted the earlier bravado as bitter cold seeped into his bones. Snow swirled around them, and the howling wind sounded like it was alive. Visibility nearly did not exist, and every step felt like a fight against nature itself.
"Is this always like this?" he shouted over the wind.
"Not always," she replied, her voice steady despite the conditions. "The Hearthstone used to keep the storms contained. Without it, the Vale is uninhabitable."
Aiden pulled his cloak tighter around himself, though it offered little relief. "Where's the Hearthstone?"
"Far to the north," she said, pointing into the blizzard. "At the summit of Frostspire Peak."
"Of course it is," Aiden muttered.
They walked through the snow, ice cutting at their faces. The deeper they ventured into the Vale, the more odd forms started to materialize from the storm. Towering ice formations jutted forth from the ground like jagged teeth, their surfaces glinting with an otherworldly light.
Aiden froze, his eyes narrowing. "Do you see that?
She paused, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "Yes. Be careful. The corruption of the rift is different in every realm. Here, it twists the ice itself.
It was almost as if she was listening to herself, as one of the ice formations started moving. It stretched and formed limbs with jagged edges for heads. It was like some golem, all-body ice with eyes that glowed blue, burning with unnatural intensity.
"It's never just a stroll, is it?" Aiden muttered, his hands shooting up in the air as patterns on his skin came alive.
The ice golem roared, the sound reverberating through the storm. It charged at them, its massive arms swinging wildly.
The woman moved first, her sword cutting through the air in a blur of light. She struck the golem's leg, shattering a chunk of ice, but the creature barely seemed to notice. It turned its glowing gaze on her, raising a massive fist.
"Watch out!" Aiden shouted, unleashing a burst of energy. The blast hit the golem in the chest, and it stumbled backward.
"Nice shot," she said, steadying herself.
"Thanks," Aiden said, though his hands were shaking from the effort.
The golem roared again, its broken leg reforming as shards of ice flew through the air to reform it.
"They can heal?" Aiden asked, panic creeping into his voice.
The rift's influence," she said grimly. "We can't squander time fighting them. Run!"
They ran through the storm, the ice golem's heavy footsteps shaking the ground behind them. More figures emerged from the snow-small but equally menacing, their jagged forms glinting in the faint light.
"This just keeps getting better," Aiden muttered, dodging a swipe from one of the smaller golems.
The woman led the way, her movements swift and deliberate despite the treacherous terrain. Aiden struggled to keep up, his legs burning from the effort.
Finally, they reached the base of Frostspire Peak, a towering mountain of ice and rock that seemed to stretch into the heavens. A narrow path wound upward, barely visible in the storm.
"The Hearthstone is at the summit," she said, glancing back at Aiden.
"Great," he panted, his breath visible in the frigid air. "Let's climb a giant frozen mountain while being chased by killer ice monsters. Sounds like fun."
She smirked, though there was little humor in her eyes. "Stay focused."
They started up the mountain, the path steepening and becoming more treacherous with every step. The wind howled louder, and the cold became almost unbearable.
As they climbed, Aiden saw the odd markings that were carved into the ice. Ancient symbols glowing faintly with blue light, they are.
"What are these?" he asked, tracing one of the symbols with his fingers.
"Runes of protection," she said. "The people of the Vale used them to ward off the storms. They're almost powerless now, but they might help us find the Hearthstone.
Aiden nodded, his fingers tingling from the contact. The runes seemed to resonate with the patterns on his skin, their light growing brighter.
"Keep moving," the woman urged. "The golems won't stop until we reach the top."
The path narrowed, forcing them to climb single file. The storm grew fiercer, and the air grew thinner, making every breath a struggle.
Finally, they reached a plateau near the summit. At its center was a massive altar, and atop it rested the Hearthstone—a glowing orb of ice and fire, its energy flickering erratically.
"We made it," Aiden said, relief flooding through him.
But before they could approach, the ground shook, and a massive golem burst from the ice. This one was larger than any they had seen, its body covered in jagged spikes and glowing runes.
"The Rift Guardian," the woman said, drawing her sword. "We'll have to defeat it to restore the Hearthstone."
Aiden groaned. "Why does it always come to this?"