The fire crackled softly, the faint warmth from it no more than a push against the relentless cold. Kael sat across from Lira, finishing the last of the meal she'd handed him. The stew tasted bland, but it filled the gnawing space in his stomach, and for now, that was enough.
Lira poked at the fire with a stick, her blue eyes flicking up occasionally to study him. There was an intensity to her gaze, like she was peeling back his layers and searching for something underneath. It made Kael uneasy.
"You're not from around here," she said, breaking the silence.
Kael leaned back against a broken stone column, keeping his expression neutral. "Neither are you."
Her lips quivered into a faint smirk. "Fair enough."
The wind howled outside their meager shelter, rattling the ruins of the walls around them. Kael's hand stayed near the hilt of his sword, and the tension in his body did not dissipate. This womanshe was a stranger-was far too calm for anyone who traveled the wasteland on their own.
"Why are you here?" Kael asked finally, his voice sharper than he intended.
Lira leaned back, resting her hands on her knees. "Surviving. Same as you. Though I imagine your reasons are a bit more. complicated."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Lira gestured toward his left hand, still faintly tinged with the remnants of black frost. "You're carrying a curse, aren't you? Something powerful. Something dangerous."
Kael stiffened, his jaw tightening. "You don't know anything about me.
"Don't I?" she returned, her tone even but barbed. "The Frostbound Order doesn't hunt just anyone. They're after you for a reason."
Kael said nothing. The Frostbound Order had been chasing him for years, relentless and unyielding. He had tried to leave the curse behind, to outrun it, but it clung to him like a shadow, always pulling him back into the cold.
"Look," Lira said, her voice softening, "I'm not your enemy. If I wanted to kill you, I would've done it already."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Confident, aren't you?"
She shrugged. "I've survived worse than you."
The corner of Kael's mouth twitched, but he bit it back. He wasn't quite sure if he was annoyed or impressed with her confidence.
"Why are you really here?" he pressed.
Lira hesitated for the first time, her gaze flickering toward the fire. "I'm looking for something. Something the Frostbound Order stole from me a long time ago."
Kael leaned forward slightly, curiosity getting the better of him. "What is it?"
She looked up, her eyes hardening. "That's my business."
The silence stretched between them, heavy and uncomfortable. Kael didn't push further. He had his own secrets, and he wasn't about to pry into hers.
"Where are you headed?" Lira asked after a moment.
Kael hesitated. He didn't have an answer. He'd been wandering aimlessly for weeks, avoiding settlements, avoiding people. The medallion in his pack had given him a vague sense of direction, but he still didn't know where it was leading him-or why.
"Nowhere," he said finally.
Lira tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "Nowhere is a dangerous place to be."
Kael smirked bitterly. "Danger follows me either way.
Lira regarded him for a moment, then rose to her feet and started to brush the snow from her cloak. "Well, Kael, nowhere isn't going to keep you alive. If you want to survive out here, you'll need help."
"I've done fine on my own," he said, defensively.
"Oh, sure," she said, her voice full of sarcasm. "You look like you're thriving.
Kael opened his mouth to return, but before he could, a low growl echoed through the ruins.
Both of them froze.
The sound came again, closer this time. Deep and guttural, it sent a shiver down Kael's spine that had nothing to do with the cold.
Lira snatched up her sword, her movements quick and sure. Kael did likewise, his blade sliding from its sheath as his cursed hand tingled with the too-familiar, unnerving sensation of black frost.
A huge shape materialized out of the snowstorm, its eyes two hot coals in the dark. The frostbeast was enormous, its fur jagged with tangles of ice, its fangs glinting in the firelight.
"Another one," Kael muttered under his breath.
The beast growled again and began to coil its muscles as it prepared to lunge.
"Stay back," Lira warned, quickly inserting herself between Kael and the beast.
Kael frowned. "I can handle this."
"Yeah, sure you can," she said, not turning around, "but let's don't get ourselves killed over it.
The frostbeast roared, charging toward them with terrifying speed. Lira moved first, her blade flashing as she darted to the side, slashing at the creature's flank. The beast howled in pain, but it wasn't slowed.
Kael stepped forward, his hand rising. The black frost came to life around his fingers, curling around them like living smoke. He thrust his hand out toward the beast, and shards of corrupted ice shot forward, piercing its hide.
The frostbeast staggered, its limbs slowing as the black frost spread through its body. But it wasn't enough. The creature roared again, shaking off the ice and turning its glowing eyes on Kael.
It lunged.
Kael barely had time to raise his sword. The force of the impact knocked him off his feet and sent him crashing into the snow. His cursed hand flared with pain when the frostbeast snapped its jaws inches from his face.
A blur caught his eye. Lira leaped onto the beast's back and buried her sword deep into his neck. The beast roared, thrashing so crazily, but Lira clung on, the cut deepening.
With a final, guttural growl, the frostbeast collapsed, its massive body hitting the ground with a thunderous crash.
Kael pushed himself to his feet, wincing as he brushed the snow from his cloak.
Lira climbed off the beast, pulling her sword free with a grunt. She looked at Kael, her breath visible in the cold air.
"You're welcome," she said, smirking.
Kael scowled but said nothing.
As the storm finally started to die down, the two of them stood in silence, the fire crackling softly behind them.
"You're not bad," Lira said finally, sheathing her sword.
Kael raised an eyebrow. "You too."
She chuckled, brushing the snow from her cloak. "You've got a lot to learn, though. Lucky for you, I'm feeling generous."
Kael frowned. "What are you talking about?
She took a step closer, and her blue eyes gleamed in the dim light. "You need help, Kael. Whether you like to admit it or not. And I could use someone with your. unique talents. So here's the deal: we stick together. At least until we figure out what's going on with that medallion of yours.".
Kael hesitated. He didn't trust her-not completely. But he couldn't deny that she was right. Alone, his chances of surviving the wasteland were slim.
"Fine," he said grudgingly. "But don't expect me to trust you."
Lira smirked. "I wouldn't dream of it."
As they gathered their things and prepared to leave the ruins, Kael couldn't shake the feeling that his life had just become infinitely more complicated.
The medallion in his pack pulsed faintly, its warmth seeping through the layers of fabric. Somewhere in the back of his mind, the voice whispered again.
"She's hiding something. Be careful, Kael. You'll need her, but she'll need you more.