The aftermath of the battle was a silent one, broken only by the heavy breathing of the survivors. The three Frostborn lay in the snow, their bodies motionless, yet still exuding a faint, cold aura. Their skin had cracked under the force of Kael's unleashed power, the frozen wounds not healing but instead growing darker with each passing moment.
Lira stood over one of the fallen, her sword dripping with ice and blood. She didn't look at Kael, but her voice was steady as she spoke. "That power... you barely contained it. If you keep using it like that, it'll destroy you."
Kael stood a few paces away, his hand still trembling from the surge of Black Frost he had just unleashed. His breath came in ragged gasps, and the cursed frost burned through his veins like fire and ice, searing every inch of his skin. But even with the pain, the power was addicting. It was an unstoppable force, and for a moment, Kael had felt as though he could do anything.
"I didn't control it," he muttered, staring at his hand, the black frost creeping up his arm again, "It controlled me."
Lira's gaze was fixed on the battlefield, her eyes scanning the horizon as if she could feel the approach of more danger. "And that's the problem. You're playing with fire, Kael. And when it burns you alive, there will be nothing left."
Kael clenched his fist, trying to shake off the remnants of the curse that still gripped him. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep fighting it, but he wasn't about to give up either.
"You told me to embrace it," he shot back, his voice tight.
Lira's face darkened. "I told you to control it. I never said to give in. There's a difference."
Her words stung, but Kael didn't argue. The truth was, he knew she was right. He had used the Black Frost like a weapon, desperate to survive, but in doing so, he had come dangerously close to losing himself. He could still feel the power simmering just beneath his skin, waiting for the next chance to break free.
"We need to keep moving," Lira said, breaking the silence. She wiped her sword clean, her gaze never leaving the horizon. "The Frostborn weren't alone. More will come soon."
Kael nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. The battle had left him shaken, but more than that, it had awakened something in him—a hunger. The Black Frost had always been a curse, but in that moment, it had felt like a part of him, a power he could wield, if only he could control it. And if that meant sacrificing his humanity, then maybe it was a sacrifice he was willing to make.
He glanced at the fallen Frostborn. They were dead now, their icy bodies lying motionless in the snow, but Kael felt no triumph. They had been the first of many, and the path ahead was only going to get darker. The Frostborn weren't just hunters—they were a warning. They were the heralds of something far worse.
Lira set off, her steps sure and quick. "Keep up, Kael."
Kael didn't hesitate this time. He followed her, pushing the thoughts of the Black Frost to the back of his mind. For now, he had no choice but to keep moving. They couldn't afford to stay in one place for long.
The world around them was desolate, the snow stretching endlessly in all directions. The land was empty, silent, as though it was waiting for something to awaken.
Lira led them through the snow-covered terrain, her sharp eyes constantly on alert. She hadn't said much since the battle, but Kael could tell she was keeping something from him. He had fought beside her long enough to know when she was hiding her thoughts.
"What's on your mind?" he asked, his voice a little harsher than he intended.
Lira didn't look at him. "We're not out of danger yet."
"Something's wrong," Kael pressed.
She finally glanced at him, her face unreadable. "The Frostborn were just the beginning. The true danger is coming."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Lira's lips curled into a bitter smile, but there was no humor in it. "There's something worse than the Frostborn. A force, older than any of us, that controls the Black Frost. The Frostborn are its servants, but they're not the true threat. The true threat is the one who commands them."
Kael's stomach tightened. "Who?"
Lira's expression darkened as they continued to walk, her pace slowing slightly. "I don't know his name. But I know his power. The one who controls the Frostborn is an ancient being—someone who has been hunting for the Black Frost for centuries. He wants what you have, Kael. He wants the power inside you."
Kael felt a chill run down his spine at her words. He had always known that the Black Frost was dangerous, but he hadn't fully realized what it meant until now. It wasn't just a curse. It was a key. A key to something much darker. And whoever this ancient being was, Kael had no doubt that they would stop at nothing to claim it for themselves.
The silence between them stretched as they continued their journey, each lost in their own thoughts. But Kael couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The wind howled, the snow whipped around them, and yet, it wasn't the storm that unsettled him—it was the sensation that something was following them.
He wasn't sure how long they had been walking when they saw it—a dark shape on the horizon, moving against the wind. At first, Kael thought it was another Frostborn, but as they drew closer, he realized it wasn't human.
The creature was tall, covered in fur and ice, with piercing blue eyes that glowed like the coldest winter night. Its breath came in clouds of frost, and it moved with a predatory grace, as though it were born from the very storm itself.
Lira stopped abruptly, her sword in hand, her posture tense.
Kael's hand went to his own weapon, but the creature was faster. It moved in a blur of motion, closing the distance between them with frightening speed.
Lira stepped forward to intercept, but the creature was already upon her, its clawed hand slashing at her with incredible force. She barely managed to block the blow, her sword clanging against the creature's icy hide.
Kael's instincts kicked in. He rushed forward, thrusting his sword into the creature's side. The blade sank into its icy flesh, but it didn't stop. Instead, the creature's eyes locked onto him, and for a moment, Kael felt the full weight of its gaze—cold, ancient, and filled with a hunger that made his blood run cold.
The creature let out a roar, its voice echoing across the frozen land like a storm. And then, in that instant, Kael felt the Black Frost surge within him, more powerful than ever before.
It was no longer just a curse. It was a weapon. A weapon that could change the course of this battle. And Kael was going to use it.
With a roar of his own, Kael's hand shot out, and the Black Frost exploded from his fingertips, a wave of frozen energy that slammed into the creature. The blast sent it stumbling back, its claws scraping against the ground as it fought to maintain its balance.
But Kael wasn't done. He charged forward, his sword raised high, his cursed hand crackling with black frost. This was his fight now. The creature was just another obstacle.
He would destroy it, or die trying.