THE WALL OF ICE
The group had decided to camp near a clearing in the frozen forest. After the intense battle with the ice spirits, they needed a rest. The shadows of the trees stretched long as the sun began to sink behind the icy horizon. The campfire crackled softly, providing a faint warmth in the biting cold.
Zyrion, wrapped in his cloak, rose from the circle and cast a glance at Caelithra, who was seated apart, sharpening her halberd with methodical movements.
“I’m going for a walk,” Zyrion told the rest of the group.
Kyrahna looked up, her bow resting beside her. “Alone? Are you sure? We don’t know what else could be lurking in this forest.”
“I’ll be fine,” Zyrion replied, adjusting his sword at his waist. “I need to clear my thoughts. I’ll be back soon.”
Karion grinned, nudging Kyrahna playfully. “Let him go. He probably needs to reflect on how close he came to dying today. Maybe he’ll even talk to a tree for wisdom.”
Zyrion rolled his eyes and started walking toward Caelithra. She didn’t look up as he approached, keeping her focus on the edge of her weapon.
“I’m heading east,” Zyrion said, stopping a few steps away. “Want to come? We could patrol and make sure the area is clear.”
Caelithra didn’t respond. Her gaze remained fixed on her halberd as she slid the sharpening stone over the blade with slow but deliberate movements.
Zyrion frowned. “Are you going to ignore me all night, or is this personal?”
The silence continued, broken only by the metallic sound of stone against steel.
Zyrion crossed his arms, leaning slightly toward her. “You know, I’ve worked with people before who think being cold and distant is a virtue. But at least they had the decency to insult me now and then.”
For a moment, it seemed Caelithra would continue ignoring him. Then she stopped sharpening and looked up, her gray eyes meeting Zyrion’s.
“What exactly do you want?” she asked, her voice low but edged with sharpness.
Zyrion stepped back, feigning surprise. “Speak! The wall of ice is finally melting. What miracle caused this?”
“If you have something to say, say it,” Caelithra replied, expression unchanged.
“All right,” said Zyrion, dropping his arms to his sides. “I’ll be direct. You’re incredibly skilled—probably one of the best warriors I’ve ever seen. But your ice-cold attitude is starting to wear even my patience thin.”
Caelithra raised an eyebrow. “And what do you expect me to do about it? Smile and pretend everything’s perfect? I’m not like Karion or Kyrahna. I’m not here to make friends.”
“I’ve noticed,” Zyrion said with an ironic smile. “But this isn’t about being friends. It’s about trust. We’re on the same team, Caelithra. And if we can’t work together, how the hell are we going to survive what’s coming?”
She stayed silent for a moment, her eyes studying him as if gauging his sincerity. Finally, she sighed and set her halberd aside.
“It’s not a matter of trust,” Caelithra said, her tone softer but still distant. “It’s… complicated. Not everyone handles things the same way, Zyrion.”
“Complicated?” Zyrion asked, sitting down in front of her. “Maybe if you shared it, we could understand you better.”
Caelithra stared at him, as if deciding whether to open up. Finally, she looked away and spoke in a lower voice.
“Emotions are distractions. In my experience, trusting someone too much leads to betrayal. I’m not saying I don’t trust your abilities. But depending on others, letting someone get too close…”
“Makes you vulnerable,” Zyrion finished.
She nodded slowly.
Zyrion rested his elbows on his knees and gazed toward the distant fire. “I understand that. I’ve been through the same. I’ve lost people who were important to me, people I trusted with everything. And yes, it hurt. But not trusting anyone is just as dangerous.”
“Easy for you to say,” muttered Caelithra, picking up her halberd again.
“I say it because it’s true,” Zyrion insisted. “If we keep building walls around ourselves, eventually we’ll be trapped inside them. And believe me, being alone doesn’t make you stronger. It just makes you… lonely.”
For the first time, Caelithra seemed to hesitate. Her hands tightened around her weapon’s handle, but she didn’t respond immediately.
“At least think about it,” Zyrion added, standing. “I’m not asking you to become someone you’re not. Just don’t slam the door shut completely.”
Caelithra watched him walk back toward the campfire, his words lingering in her mind. She wasn’t ready to lower her guard, but something in what Zyrion had said had struck a chord.
When Zyrion returned to the camp, Karion greeted him with a teasing smile.
“Let me guess,” he said. “Another philosophical chat about life and death, huh? Or did you just stare at each other until you got bored?”
Zyrion shook his head, smiling faintly. “Let’s just say I made a little more progress than you expected.”
Kyrahna, tuning her bow, raised an eyebrow. “So that means she won’t try to kill us in the middle of the night?”
“For now, I’d say we’re safe,” Zyrion replied, sitting by the fire.
As the flames danced in the darkness, Zyrion felt that something had shifted. Caelithra was still a mystery, but at least now, the ice around her was beginning to crack.
TO BE CONTINUED…