A faint blue panel flickered in the dark void. Through its wavering light, three figures could be seen standing near a broken tower — Lyra, Kael, and Kairis. Snow was falling thick and silent around them, painting the dead land white.
A pale hand reached toward the panel, fingers almost brushing against it.
Then the hand stopped, hesitating for a heartbeat before snapping its fingers.
A strange light sparked in its palm — black and white flames intertwined, glowing quietly, steady yet wild, like two opposites forced to coexist.
***
The sound of the wind was sharp and cold. Lyra turned suddenly, her cloak brushing against the snow-dusted stones.
That feeling—again.
The back of her neck prickled, her breath misting in the freezing air.
Someone was watching her.
She scanned the quiet horizon, but there was nothing — only scattered ruins, half-buried in snow, and the pale light of the dying day.
Behind her, Kairis tilted her head, her golden eyes wide. "Lyra?"
Lyra didn't answer right away. Her gaze stayed on the distance, on the line of the hills, before she finally turned back.
Kael was standing a few steps away, silent as ever, expression unreadable. His voice broke the stillness.
"Come inside," he said quietly. "Before something else finds us again."
For a moment, none of them moved. The wind howled through the broken walls.
Then Lyra nodded faintly and brushed past him.
Kairis stood frozen, watching her go. "Maybe…" she whispered, half to herself, "maybe I just forgot who you really are."
Inside, the flicker of firelight danced across the cracked stone walls. Kael was kneeling by the flames, turning strips of meat on a bent piece of metal. The smell of smoke and ash filled the air — bitter but comforting.
When he finished, he handed the food to both girls.
Even Kairis didn't argue this time.
They ate quietly.
The only sound was the wind whistling through the broken windows and the soft pop of the burning wood.
When they were done, Lyra stood and handed the dagger back to Kael.
"I'll take the first watch," she said simply, her tone distant.
Kairis nodded, already lying down. "Wake me before dawn. I'll take the second."
Kael leaned against the wall, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "You two worry too much."
Lyra didn't answer. She brushed snow off her cloak, then stepped outside into the night.
The cold hit her immediately.
She pulled her cloak tighter and leaned against the outer wall, watching the snow fall over the ruined fields.
The world was so quiet she could hear her own heartbeat.
She closed her eyes, trying to ignore that strange feeling crawling beneath her skin.
It wasn't just paranoia. She knew that gaze. Someone—something—was looking at her from far beyond her sight.
Her chest ached faintly. "It hurts," she whispered, "seeing this place like this…"
A single tear slipped down her cheek before she quickly wiped it away.
She tilted her head up, eyes tracing the empty heavens. "Even the skies are quiet tonight," she murmured.
The fire inside flickered lower, its glow spilling weakly through the cracks in the wall.
Kairis's breathing grew even, Kael's slower — asleep, or pretending.
The night passed slow and cold.
When dawn came, it was pale and thin — the kind of light that didn't bring warmth.
Lyra was still awake, arms crossed, her back pressed to the tower wall.
Kael stepped out, stretching and yawning loudly.
"You didn't sleep, did you?" he asked, squinting at her.
Lyra didn't even blink.
He sighed walking a little ahead , rubbing his neck. "Didn't think so. You two are weird. Like really weird."
Lyra finally opened one eye and stared at him flatly.
He is calling us weird ?The one who had been talking to the air thinking no one is listening ?
Behind them, Kairis stumbled out, rubbing her eyes and mumbling something under her breath.
Kael turned halfway and smirked. "Ah, the sleeping beauty awakens."
Kairis blinked at him, then crouched, grabbed a pebble, and flicked it at him with perfect aim.
It smacked right into his forehead.
"HEY! What was that for?!"
Kairis crossed her arms proudly. "For being an idiot."
Lyra sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose.here we go again.
Then Kairis suddenly turned on her, pointing accusingly.
"Why didn't you wake me up?"
Lyra blinked, caught off guard.oh god not now...I didn't really wanted to sleep!
"I just… you were sleeping so peacefully. I thought you needed the rest."
Kairis gaped. "Like you didn't need rest, huh?"
Lyra gave an awkward smile, hand halfway raised. "Maybe next time?"
Kairis's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You always say that!"
Kael, rubbing his forehead again, muttered, "I travel with lunatics."
When the arguing finally cooled down, the three sat by the fire again. Kairis was still pouting, her arms crossed. Lyra smiled softly, reaching to pat her shoulder, but Kairis huffed and turned away.
Kael grilled the leftover meat, watching the two like they were an odd play unfolding in front of him.
He tossed two pieces of meat toward them.
Both caught it easily.
"Eat," he said. "We've got a long walk ahead."
Neither answered, but they ate anyway.
When they finished, Kairis packed the leftovers into her satchel and dismissed it she dusted the snow from her cloak. Kael stood first, scanning the distant trail.
He snapped his fingers — two thick fur coats appeared, falling neatly over the girls' shoulders.
Kairis blinked in surprise. "I could've summoned mine too, you know."
Kael grinned. "Too slow."
Lyra shook her head, half amused. "Children," she muttered softly.
They began walking.
The snow crunched under their boots, the cold wind brushing against their faces. The world around them stretched white and empty — mountains half-shattered, roads half-buried.
No birds. No sound. Just the soft whisper of their steps.
After a while, the ground began to slope downward. The path narrowed into a single trail bordered by frost-bitten trees and the faint remains of broken lanterns hanging from tilted poles.
Up ahead, a bridge appeared — thin ropes, rotting wood, stretching across a deep, frozen chasm. The planks swayed with the wind, creaking faintly.
Kael stopped first, staring at it.
Lyra stared at the bridge for a long moment. The wind howled through the gaps, making the old ropes groan. Each plank creaked like it could give way any second.
She crouched down, brushing away some snow with her fingers. The wood underneath was dark and half-rotten. When she pressed on it lightly, it gave a faint crunching sound.
"Yeah…" she said quietly, standing up and dusting off her hands. "It doesn't look safe."
Kairis stepped beside her, crossing her arms and eyeing the trembling ropes. "You think? We should take another—"
Before she could even finish her sentence, Kael casually walked past both of them.
"Wait—" Lyra started, but it was too late.
Kael stepped right onto the bridge. The first few planks groaned beneath his boots. He took one more step—and the sound of wood splintering echoed sharply.
Both girls froze.
The plank beneath him broke clean through, and Kael dropped halfway down with a startled curse. He barely managed to catch the side rope, his legs dangling above the misty drop below.
"KAEL!" Lyra and Kairis shouted together.
Their hearts pounded.
Kairis immediately knelt down, gripping one of the main ropes. "Idiot! Don't move!" she snapped, her voice trembling just slightly.
Kael looked up at her with an awkward, red-faced grin. "Kinda late for that, don't you think?"
"Hold still," she muttered, leaning forward and stretching her hand out.
Kael reached up carefully, fingers brushing hers before gripping tight. The bridge creaked dangerously under their weight, but she pulled, jaw clenched, until his boots found solid plank again.
When they finally got back on land, Kairis rounded on him instantly. She jabbed a finger right at his forehead. "You wanted to die already?"
Kael looked away, scratching the back of his neck. For the first time, there was no smug grin—just an awkward half-smile. "Maybe…" he muttered quietly.
Kairis blinked once. Then without warning, smack!
Her hand landed square on the back of his head.
"OW! What was that for?!" Kael yelled, rubbing the spot with a wounded expression.
Kairis glared at him, arms crossed. "So you won't do that again!"