We were led by Volak toward the stronghold of the Ice Knights. Upon arrival, he didn't glance left or right; he moved as if the layout of the place was etched into his soul, as if the very walls were whispering ancient memories to him. When he met our old squad, he gave them a look whose meaning escaped me, and even their expressions remained hollow, like masks of stone revealing nothing.
Julian broke the heavy silence with a sharp, commanding voice. "Wait here. I will take Volak to the Commander. Am I clear?"
Volak turned to Julian, his voice eerily calm. "You have grown skilled at leading, Julian... I am proud of you."
Julian replied, his eyes scanning his old comrade's battered body. "I thank you... but I wonder, how did you come by these wounds? Has your prowess in battle failed you?"
Volak answered in a low, haunted whisper. "Look closer, Julian... Can't you feel it? Those hungry eyes, that unquenchable thirst for blood?"
Julian furrowed his brow. "I don't understand what you mean."
"I mean that the one who left me these scars is a true monster. We do not know the limits of his power... and perhaps there are none at all."
Julian realized he was talking about me, and he said strictly, "You came all this way without permission, and then you draw your weapon against Andrei..."
Volak interrupted him. "And why would I draw my weapon against him? You, more than anyone else, should know the reason..."
Julian ended the argument firmly. "It doesn't matter. You only came for that necklace, and then you will leave. Volak... you were once a Deputy, the closest soul to the Commander himself. Do you not miss those days?"
"I do not miss days that cost me my sister's life, nor a man who stripped us of our rights."
"So, that is still your conviction?"
"It was never just a belief; it was, and remains, the absolute truth. And as her brother, it is my burden."
Julian sighed sorrowfully. "Then there is no other way."
"Save your breath for the Commander... we have arrived."
In the Presence of the Ice Lord
Julian knocked, and upon being granted entry, we stepped into the room. The Ice Lord stood by the window, his gaze lost in the infinite white of the falling snow. Before Julian could announce their guest, Volak spoke up.
"It has been a long time, Commander. I hope you have prepared my sister's necklace, for I shall take it from you today."
The Ice Lord did not turn. His voice was as cold as the frost outside. "You never change, Volak."
He turned slowly. "You know well... to claim that necklace, you must defeat me. Nay... you must kill me. Only then shall it be yours."
Volak shouted. "She had the right to give it to whom she pleased. Why haven't you returned it? This behavior is beneath you."
"You are right. It is not my way. I will return it... but not now."
Volak snapped, his patience fraying. "When then?! Tell me! Years have passed and you repeat the exact same words... are you waiting until you die?"
"Precisely."
Volak seized the Commander's hand, his blood boiling against the man's icy indifference. "Enough! If death is what you seek, then so be it. I challenge you, Ice Lord, for that necklace!"
"And if I refuse?"
"I will force you."
"Force me? Volak... do you realize who you are addressing?"
"I realize perfectly... and that is why, Hyuga, fight me!"
The Commander sighed and said, "If this is your wish, let us go to a place where no one else will be harmed."
"Where?"
"The mountains leading to the ocean. That is where the story began, and that is where it shall end."
A Clash of Light and Ice
We followed them to witness this epic collision. All eyes were fixed on a majestic sight: a mountain split in two, leading to a range of three towering peaks. They stopped at the central, most massive one.
"Now that we are here, fight me!" Volak shouted.
"Impatient as always."
"Whenever you are ready."
"Then... Power of Light!" Volak roared.
The air filled with blades of brilliant radiance. Suddenly, Volak unleashed a barrage of countless arrows all at once. The Ice Lord stood motionless. Suddenly, a fierce blizzard erupted, swallowing the arrows and scattering them into nothingness.
Hyuga said coldly, "That is what I expected from you. Now, let us begin in earnest."
Volak forged two swords of pure energy, gripping them tight as he lunged. The Ice Lord met him with the same ferocity. The blades collided, and the mountains trembled from the shockwaves, carving deep fissures into the solid rock.
"Yes... more! Light Blade: Chains of Eternal Justice!"
Chains of light burst from the earth, coiling around the Ice Lord and binding him fast.
"What is wrong, Ice Lord? Is your movement stifled?" Volak mocked.
The Ice Lord stopped, the chains indeed paralyzing his movement. Volak declared confidently, "Now, I have won."
Hyuga said with a terrifying calmness, "Do not be so certain... this is my domain. Ice Sword: Frost Strike!"
The Ice Lord took a combat stance, gathering immense energy before releasing it in a single explosion. The overwhelming power shattered Volak's light chains, quelled the storm, and left the mountains around us looking like broken glass. Volak fell to the ground, blood seeping from every inch of his body.
"I did not want it to come to this. But since you have lost, never speak of this request again."
Despite his wounds, Volak dragged himself up. With a broken voice full of anguish, he screamed, "Ice Lord... is this truly justice? A father, a brother, and an entire tribe burning with longing for the memory of a child who died bravely! She did what the adults failed to do in that Great Calamity. She died with pride, leaving nothing behind but that necklace. All we want is to hang it so her soul may rest in peace. Why this torment, in life and in death? Why?"
The Commander's voice softened slightly. "You are right. She deserves to be honored among the great leaders, and that necklace should be her witness. That time will come... but not now."
"When?! Tell me! How much longer must my father suffer? How long will these wounds bleed? Speak, Hyuga!"
"Believe me, I do not know either."
"If I had known this would happen, I would never have told her those hollow tales of heroes."
The Commander turned to a guard. "Did you bring the healing elixir?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"Give it to him and let him depart."
Volak waved his trembling hand, refusing. "I have no need for it. My wounds will not be healed by such cheap medicine."
Volak staggered away, blood dripping behind him. The Ice Lord did not stop him. As I watched, a thousand questions raced through my mind: Who was Rose? What was the calamity that struck? And who was that monster Volak spoke of?
The Diabolical Deal
Volak walked alone through the snow back toward the village, but he stopped abruptly. He stared at the frozen ground, which reflected his broken image. He let out a scream that held all the rage and sorrow of the world, striking the earth with his fist. "Ice Lord! I will take it back, no matter the cost!"
A calm, provocative voice came from behind. "What annoying screams... You there, stop that. You are distracting me."
Volak raised his head to see a man sitting on a rock, reading a book with absolute nonchalance.
"Listen, I am in no mood for talk. Get away from me."
The man closed the book slowly. "I see you are a book lover like myself. I will take that as a compliment. But do not vent your anger on me... vent it on the one you failed to defeat. The one who left you in this pathetic state. Even I pity you."
"What did you say?!"
In a flash, Volak's light chains wrapped around the stranger, crushing his body.
"Now, stranger, repeat what you said."
The man smiled, blood trickling coldly from his mouth. "I said... you are weak. At this level, you won't touch a single hair on the Ice Lord. But I... I have the solution."
"I don't want it. Say goodbye to your life."
"If you kill me, you will never get the necklace."
Volak froze. The chains loosened slightly. "You have a way? You have ten seconds to answer."
"Yes, I do. Drink this blood. Then, you will have enough power to rip that necklace away."
"Whose blood is this?"
"It is not important for you to know."
"Are you mocking me? Then die!"
The man grabbed the vial and drank just a single drop of it himself. In an instant, the light chains shattered into dust. Volak stepped back, horrified by the sheer magnitude of the power.
The man wiped his mouth and said with a cunning smile, "So... do we have a deal?"
"Who the hell are you?" Volak asked in astonishment.
"Just a man who wants to help you."
"Your name?"
The unknown man smiled widely. "My name... you can call me Louis."