The days passed like melting snow on sunlit stone—quiet, deliberate, yet full of subtle change. Within the modest mountain cabin, trust was being stitched together thread by delicate thread.
Cryo, the azure-feathered cryophoenix, had begun to emerge from his veil of caution. His wary glances turned to curious stares, and his frightened flutters became deliberate steps. Achlys, patient and gentle, cared for the magical beast with a quiet devotion that softened even the coldest corners of the house.
"Cryo... calm down," Achlys murmured, holding out a hand. "it's alright, I'm not going to hurt you."
The phoenix hesitated. His glacial eyes locked on Achlys's, searching, gauging. Then, slowly, he crept forward, talons tapping lightly on the wooden floor. When Achlys patted the couch beside him, Cryo gave a small leap and landed on the cushion. Still distant, but closer. Safe.
Achlys reached out again; his hand open, slow, careful. Cryo flinched at first, then held still as the hand gently brushed over his snowy plumage. The connection was subtle, but at that moment, something clicked. Fear melted into assurance. Distance into trust.
A soft smile curved Achlys's lip. "I hope I can take care of you... forever."
Cryo, in his own quiet way, purred beneath the touch. When night came, the phoenix leapt from the couch, freezing a corner of the room to create a nest of frost.
Achlys stood and grabbed his gear.
"Sleep tight, Cryo. I'll be back soon."
And with that, he disappeared into the mountains.
The wind howled, wild and unrelenting. Snow fell in heavy sheets, each flake biting at Achlys's cheeks like tiny shards of ice. The deeper he climbed into the highlands, the more the world faded into a blur of white.
He stumbled. Once. Twice. The cold clawed at his skin, his breath short and ragged.
"I have to keep going... I need to be stronger."
Through the blizzard's veil, a shadow appeared—a cave. He didn't hesitate. He staggered toward it and, upon stepping into its mouth, collapsed from exhaustion.
Hours passed.
When Achlys awoke, warmth embraced him. A campfire crackled softly. Opposite the flame, a tall woman sat, her silhouette painted in red and gold. Dark brown hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her eyes—amber and fierce—held a quiet fire. Her presence radiated heat, a visible aura of flame and molten power.
She smiled gently. "You're awake. How do you feel?"
Her voice was calm but laced with concern. Achlys hesitated.
"Fine... I think. Who are you?"
Her smile faded a little, though it remained kind. "Persephone. And you are...?"
He blinked. The way she said her name—it carried a strange pride, tempered with sorrow.
"Achlys…" he replied. Carried by a silent moment, "Why are you here? How did you find me?" he asked, breaking the ice.
"I was caught in the storm," she said, her voice steady. "Found the cave by chance—and found you unconscious inside. You're lucky."
Achlys sat up, eyeing her with a mix of caution and curiosity. Something about her felt... unusual. He couldn't place it.
She tilted her head. "Why were you in the storm? What were you doing up here alone?"
He looked away. The question stabbed deeper than expected. His throat tightened, all dry. After a long pause, he answered.
"I ran away... Not because I was injured. Because I was afraid. My friend—Tiabishi—she got hurt. Because I wasn't strong enough. I wasn't giving my all. And now I can't even look her in the eye. I can't forgive myself."
There was silence. Then Persephone's hand lit with flame—briefly. She burned away a tear before it could fall.
"It's okay to run sometimes. But don't forget—running away doesn't erase what needs fixing. Sometimes, the easiest way to fix a problem... is to stop fueling it."
Achlys smiled weakly. Persephone saw through it but didn't press. Instead, she rose.
"What you do with that advice is up to you."
And just like that, she vanished into the snow.
Achlys remained still, thoughtful. Then, something caught his eye—glimmers in the dark.
Stones, embedded in the cave walls. Red. Green. Yellow.
Curious to find what they were, he approached the yellow one and touched it.
Light flared.
Suddenly, he was somewhere else—a memory. The battlefield. Tiabishi's cry. His heart pounding. The pain, suffering…he was going through it again.
Then it vanished.
"Just what was that!?" he gasped.
He felt a sudden pain in his heart, something that was not physical but emotional. Something deep engrained in his conscience, connecting it to the deepest parts of his fear.
With a moment of realization, "A time stone?" he whispered.
He stumbled back, grabbing an empty box from his pack. With careful effort, he dislodged the stone, sealing it inside.
"I have to go home."
He packed the stone, eyes sweeping over the other glimmers. He'd remember this place.
When he emerged, the storm had calmed. Snow still fell, but gently now.
At first, he was roaming around as if he was lost. Not remembering any of the details, he ventured into the vast snow.
After walking around for quite some time, he followed a trail—familiar. A path from memory.
Then, in the distance, he saw his house.
He dashed. Faster. Boosting.
His heart stopped.
Giant ice spikes surrounded the cabin.
"Cryo... please be okay..." He was worried.
He burst through the door. Heat slammed into him. Odd, for a house filled with ice.
"Cryo-!"
He found Cryo in the living room—chirping with joy, wings fluttering. Achlys dropped to his knees as Cryo leaped into his arms.
He smiled.
"I'm back, Cryo. I'm here."
Tears—frozen ones—sparkled on the phoenix's face.
As Achlys petted him, he asked, "Those spikes... was that you?"
Cryo tilted his head, then bounced toward the back door.
Fallen goblins lying everywhere, their bodies frozen solid. Achlys got the gist of the situation.
He laughed, all relieved. "You did good, Cryo."
Then—
A knock.
Cryo growled.
Achlys stood, hand on his sword. "Who are you?!"
A voice: "Someone you know... Achlys."
Far away, Tiabishi awoke in a healer's bed. She felt something, a note lay on her chest.
She read it.
"Tiabishi... You gained new skills when you lost control. But that's not the reason I'm writing. Achlys ran away. He blamed himself. We're searching. I promise we'll find him. –Saria."
Tears welled in her eyes.
"That... idiot!"
A healer came in. "You're awake!? I am gonna go notify the captain!"
She went out.
Tiabishi's emotions got the better of her, she tried to stand— but failed. "Shit, I haven't recovered fully yet."
She was about to fall but Saria burst in and caught her.
"Tiabishi-!"
"Saria…?" Tiabishi looked, sad and depressed. Her emotions build up, anger and regret.
"It's okay," she whispered, holding her. She could understand what Tiabishi was going through.
"Let it out." Saria, tapping her back and caressing her hair, whispered.
Tiabishi sobbed into her shoulder. "Why did he have to leave!??"
Saria embraced her tighter. "It's alright, he is going to come back. We are going find him soon."
Mariola entered, eyes soft with tears. Tiabishi flung herself into her arms.
They held each other, grief shared. Healing begun.
Saria sighed. "Just where could he have gone?"
Back at the door, Achlys opened it.
A boy with white hair stood there.
"Diople...? What are you doing here?"
"You forgot my name? How dare you!" Diople mock-sobbed.
Achlys smacked his forehead. "Idiot."
"Old guy said you were here," Diople explained. "So, I brought this."
He handed Achlys a sword—metallic, etched with wind patterns.
"Saria sent it."
Achlys stared. A pulse ran through it. A mark—three air waves—etched itself into the blade.
"Thank you."
Cryo watched cautiously, still tense. Achlys calmed him.
"It's alright, Cryo. He's a friend."
Diople grinned. "Now that I'm here, let's eat. I'm starving."
The fire crackled again, laughter returning to the house as warmth—true warmth—settled in.
Outside, snow continued to fall. But inside, something brighter began to thaw the frost.