A hellish storm ravaged the frozen lands. The sky was nothing but a gray veil torn by relentless winds.
Hailstones the size of fists fell like projectiles, and the dense snow rose in whirlwinds so thick that even light itself could not find its way. In the midst of that desolate landscape, two female figures advanced, defying the world itself.
Their steps were slow, heavy, as if each inch they moved forward cost an entire lifetime. They were covered in thick layers, their faces hidden, their bodies wrapped to the last inch.
Every strand of hair, every part of their being, was shielded from the frozen hell. Equipped with survival backpacks, ropes, hooks, and enchanted cloaks, their presence was a testament to silent determination.
Only a small sphere of light floated ahead of them, generated by a faint mana spell from the first girl. It barely illuminated a few meters ahead, like a firefly in the midst of a storm.
Suddenly, before them, rose a white colossus... a gate of glacial steel, so massive it seemed to cover the very horizon. Its surface was so polished by the blizzard that it was indistinguishable from the snowy world around it.
—We're here, sister… this is it. We just have to cross this giant gate —said the first one with a voice firm, tempered by wind and time.
—Excellent, sister… but how will we do it? We can't climb something this slippery… —the second replied, concern in her voice.
—Thanks to the mana cloak that shields us from the cursed spell of the Hail King, we'll be able to climb it —affirmed the elder, eyeing the wall with determination—. This cloak doesn't just protect us from the cold… it increases our traction.
—I see… but we must hurry. We're already inside the Hail King's realm… if we run into him, it'll be our end…
The first girl nodded with a resolute look. Then, with an almost ghostly grace, her body was enveloped in a transparent mana aura.
She leapt toward the gate with unnatural agility, climbing silently. She extended her hand to her sister, who grabbed it firmly.
—Don't be afraid, sister… when we steal the Dimensional Scroll from this Loom Temple, we'll leave this world of suffering… and start a new life. Together. So please… don't think about the fall. Only the ascent.
The second girl, activating her own mana cloak, climbed as well. Together, as if they were a single will, they crossed the gate. On the other side, the wind ceased for a moment… only to reveal an even crueler world.
—We did it… —whispered the younger—. We've entered the Winter of Eden… a realm of endless glaciers…
—No time for admiration. The Loom Temple must be at the Winter Tree.
—Is that it...? —she asked, pointing to the horizon.
There, in the distance, a colossal tree of ice rose. Its crystalline trunk tore through the skies, beyond the clouds, even beyond the atmosphere, as if trying to touch the stars. It was a majestic and terrifying sight.
—I don't think we can climb that high… —murmured the younger.
—No… it's not at the top. It's below… right there. —She pointed downward, to the base of the tree. And there, buried among frozen roots, was the petrified head of a colossal dragon, its skull the size of an entire kingdom.
Without hesitation, the second girl drew a magic circle in the air. From it emerged a giant white bird, with feathers shining like silver and touches of frost on its wings. Its majestic tail waved like a banner of hope. The bird bowed its head respectfully.
The sisters mounted its back, and the bird spread its wings, rising into the frozen sky, shaking the gusts with power. The wind struck fiercely, but the bird flew with unwavering grace.
—Down there! Beneath the roots! The temple is right there! —shouted the second.
The bird descended. Upon landing, the elder gently stroked its head.
—Thank you… wait for us here. When this is over, we'll leave far away.
Both walked toward the roots of the tree. And there, among the frozen and crystalline branches, lay the Loom Temple, embedded at the top of the ancient dragon's skull.
—It looked… smaller from far away… —whispered the younger, intimidated.
As they moved forward, they saw the horror… dozens of frozen bodies, warriors with broken swords, dead animals, skeletons frozen in silent screams of terror. Chunks of flesh and ice littered the ground.
—What horror… so many lives taken by the Hail King… —said the elder, her voice heavy with sorrow.
—We're not the only ones who came for the scroll… —whispered the younger, eyeing the corpses of frozen adventurers.
—But we'll be the only ones to succeed. We have faith. And everything is planned —replied the older sister.
Inside the temple, the hallways were cold, slippery, deadly. But their feet were wrapped in mana, allowing them to walk with ease.
And there, on the crystal altar, floated the Dimensional Scroll, surrounded by mystical energy. At the sight of it, their hearts burst with emotion.
—We did it! It's here! It's real!
The elder took it gently, her eyes gleaming with tears. The younger readied their escape, running toward the light.
—Let's get out of here! The bird is waiting!
—Finally… finally we are free… —thought the elder, as they ran toward the exit. The light grew, a promise of a new future. Everything was hope, everything was life…
Until everything stopped.
There, at the exit, a dark figure awaited them.
Covered in frost armor, with eyes as blue and deep as the abyss. A sharp helm hid his face, but his presence froze the soul. He was tall, unmoving, eternal.
—W-what is that…? —stammered the younger.
And before she could finish her question… her sister stopped moving. She was completely frozen, her body covered in a layer of ice that cracked in the wind… and in the next second, she shattered like broken glass, falling into a thousand pieces.
The younger screamed. Her heart exploded in pain.
The Hail King raised his sword, its runes glowing blue. And without saying a single word… he struck.
A slash so cold, so deep, so absolute… ...that even hope itself broke.
Jiro scratched his head in frustration, further messing up his hair, still damp from the melted snow. His face showed a mix of helplessness and irritation.
—Tch... Trouble always gets in my way whenever I'm trying to move forward... —he grumbled with a heavy sigh, not hiding his annoyance.
Elliott, leaning against a wooden beam, his soaked cloak still hanging from his shoulders, lowered his gaze. His voice came out dull, tinged with pain.
—I truly am sorry... There's nothing I can do. I've always been alone in this since that day... Everyone I ever knew... froze to death 150 years ago...
An uncomfortable silence filled the room for a moment until Kogorō, frowning, interrupted with a firm voice:
—That sounds unfortunate... but I don't care about that right now. What I want to know is if there's a Loom Temple nearby. Somehow, I can't track it... Maybe it's too far... or because of the freezing storm...
Elliott slowly lifted his gaze, eyes marked by experience and trauma.
—It's because of the cold, actually... Because of the curse of the freezing storm. It doesn't just freeze all forms of life it detects... it also cancels any type of tracking ability...
—No wonder Kogorō couldn't trace it —murmured Jiro, clenching his fist in frustration.
Elliott nodded, his words sounding like those of a man who had failed more than he had succeeded.
—It does that so no one escapes its curse in this world... I've also tried tracking a Loom Temple, but it's extremely difficult... and I don't have a Universal Compass...
Then, the tension snapped.
—What the hell are we supposed to do now?! —Jiro shouted, standing up abruptly.
—We have to reach the next world, and we can't waste time here!
The air froze, and not because of the storm.
From the dark corner of the cabin, Ardan slowly stood up. His face was covered in shadows, his grim gaze fixed on Jiro. In his right hand, a spiritual energy saber materialized, pulsing like a flame of darkness.
—Don't worry about that —he muttered in an icy tone—. Because I'll make sure to send you straight... to the next world.
The glow of the saber sliced the air like a living threat. Jiro reacted instantly, rolling across the floor and dodging Ardan's lethal slash. The wooden boards creaked. Elliott's eyes widened in confusion and astonishment.
—Hey! What's wrong with you, kid!?
Ardan slowly turned his face toward him. His expression, merciless, seemed soulless.
—Mind your own business, old man... Unless you want me to kill you.
A cold sweat ran down Elliott's back as he saw that look. Something inside Ardan had changed.
Kogorō growled in frustration, his spirit trembling with rage.
—You're still trying to kill Jiro...! You never learn...!
—Ardan, I don't have time for this right now! Cut it out already! —shouted Jiro as he dodged another slash.
Ardan charged with fury, swinging a blow that split a table in two. Medicine jars shattered into pieces, spreading aromatic liquids across the floor.
—MY MEDICINAL HERBS! —screamed Elliott, horrified.
Chaos erupted. Jiro leapt onto the ceiling, narrowly avoiding several strikes. Ardan followed relentlessly. The fireplace pulsed with the rhythm of the battle, its flames disturbed by spiritual winds.
Suddenly, Jiro's feet began to ignite with a deep red fire, unnatural. Crimson flames bursting with fury from his soul.
—That's crimson power...! —exclaimed Kogorō, surprised.
BAM!
A powerful kick struck Ardan straight in the face, slamming him into the ground and sinking him several inches deep. The wood groaned under the impact.
—STOP, YOU'RE DESTROYING MY CABIN! —yelled Elliott.
Ardan didn't give up. He stood up immediately and launched another slash, which Jiro dodged by twisting in the air. But then Ardan unleashed an intense aura, his spiritual energy erupting uncontrollably.
—I'LL END YOU!
A barrier of energy burst forth violently. Jiro didn't back down.
—Bring it on...! I'm not afraid of you!
Elliott watched everything, pale.
"Damn... If they destroy the whole cabin and the roof... we'll freeze instantly..."
Then, he made a decision. He formed a magical circle in the air with trembling hands.
—Guilo... come to me!
A soft blue glow emerged and with it appeared Guilo, a small owl with shimmering feathers and wise eyes.
—Freeze, Master Ashfield? —it asked in a gentle voice.
—Yes... Now...
—At your command, Master.
Suddenly, a gray field covered the cabin. Movements slowed... until time stopped completely.
Elliott took a deep breath, relieved.
—Just in time...
Guilo perched on his shoulder.
—Thank you, Guilo.
—You're welcome, Master Ashfield...
Elliott raised a finger toward Ardan's massive barrier.
—Extinguish...
The energy dissolved instantly as if it had never existed. Then he turned to the owl.
—Can you reverse everything that happened? But without erasing their memories. Or Kogorō's.
—At your command.
With a soft hoot, the owl spread its wings. Time rewound: broken furniture restored itself, jars returned to their shelves, herbs reappeared intact, the fire stabilized.
Ardan was back on his cot, now with his eyes open. Saria was still asleep. Jiro appeared seated again, unaware of the change... for now.
—It's done, Master.
—Thank you, Guilo... you may go. You've helped again...
Elliott offered a gold nugget. The little owl took it delicately with its beak.
—Farewell, Master. It was a pleasure to serve you.
And it vanished in a trail of light.
Time resumed.
Jiro, Ardan, and Kogorō touched their heads, feeling a strong déjà vu in their chests. Fleeting visions of their fight crossed their minds.
—How did I get here...? What happened...? —muttered Ardan, confused.
—Did someone move me...? —said Jiro, looking around.
—I feel like... I moved back on my own... —murmured Kogorō, frowning.
Jiro looked at the cabin. It was intact. Not a single sign of damage.
—Everything's... fixed. What just happened...?
Elliott was panting, drenched in sweat, barely staying on his feet.
—W-wait a moment, guys... I'm... exhausted...