The warm crackle of the hearth still lingered as Diople sat chatting with Achlys, their conversation dancing between laughter and lingering wounds. Diople's gaze briefly caught the mark on Achlys's cheek, but he dismissed it. "Not my story to pry,"he thought.
"Thanks for the sword. But I'm heading out again. It was good talking." Achlys, ever blunt, grinned and shoved him toward the door. "Bye-bye!"
Stunned, Diople stumbled outside, then chuckled to himself. "You're going to be strong, Achlys. One day... everyone will admire you."
Achlys paced inside, thoughts circling like hawks. "Should I return to the mountains... or maybe circle around them this time?"
Cryo landed gracefully on his shoulder, nuzzling his face into Achlys's cheek, releasing a sharp chill.
"Cryo, hey—stop that! That's freezing!" he laughed, voice laced with affection. He reached up and gently rubbed the phoenix's head. "You're coming with me. Our first real adventure."
Cryo flapped his wings and let out a chirping screech of excitement, spiraling above Achlys.
Together, they began the ascent.
As they climbed, the mountains greeted them like old adversaries—beautiful and unforgiving. The deeper they ventured, the heavier the snow fell, until it swallowed the trail behind them.
"Let's find shelter soon," Achlys muttered. The sky dimmed quickly; the wind howled louder.
Cryo took to the skies, scouting ahead, then returned with a sharp cry, circling above a steep hollow.
"A cave?" Achlys slid down after him.
They entered cautiously. The cavern glistened with frost; its walls were polished smooth by centuries of ice. As they delved deeper, the ground grew treacherous. One misstep and Achlys slipped, crashing into a lower chamber.
"Cryo! Stay there! I'll find a way back!" he called, his voice echoing into darkness.
He landed in a vast room lit by eerie blue torches. In the center stood a pedestal, atop which rested a heavy book.
As he reached for it, instinct screamed. He ducked—just in time.
A blade hissed through the air where his head had been.
Floating above the ground, cloaked in mist and frost, was an ice skeleton wielding a wicked scythe wreathed in blue flame.
Achlys raised his blade and parried, shattering ice beneath them. The skeleton lunged. Achlys rolled, striking back—his sword releasing a trail of mist.
"Mist? Wait—I can use this."
He danced through the mist, a phantom in a cloud. Blow after blow, he struck the skeleton. But then—
"Slash of Death."
A pulse of dark magic dispersed the mist instantly. Achlys barely saw the attack coming.
He struck back, aiming for the skull—but the blow bounced off harmlessly. The skeleton grinned—if such things could grin.
More attacks. More near-deaths.
He dodged left, sensing danger, but one blow slammed him into a wall. Another cleaved through the cave, splitting it open. The peak above them cracked and fell onto another mountain, triggering a quake.
"This thing's too strong!"
Bloodied and gasping, Achlys stood—only to hear Cryo's shriek.
The phoenix dove from above, launching ice spikes into the skeleton, distracting it just long enough.
"CRYOOO!"
Achlys caught Cryo as he fell.
A shadow loomed overhead. Achlys lifted his sword, blocking a downward strike.
"You will die today!"
Their weapons clashed—Achlys was losing—until he roared:
"Mist Slash!"
A razor of pure mist carved through the skeleton's defenses, knocking it back.
He charged. But three swords spun to life around the monster.
A hidden trump card.
One hit. Then another.
Cryo retaliated, ice spears erupting from the ground. The skeleton shrieked, attacking Cryo.
"No! You won't hurt him!"
Achlys leapt between them, absorbed the strike, then plunged his blade through the creature's head.
A shockwave burst from the impact, flinging ice and stone.
The skeleton crumbled to pieces.
Silence returned.
Achlys stood still—then collapsed.
"I guess... I won..."
Cryo screeched.
Loipetras.
In a quiet room, Tiabishi, Mariola, Saria, Nox, and Toiaka sat in worried silence.
"Feeling any better?" Mariola asked gently.
Tiabishi tried to stand, only to fall back down, cursing. "I want to find that idiot! I'm going to scream if I don't!"
Mariola pulled her close, holding her tightly.
Saria sighed. "Why'd that idiot even leave...?"
Nox crossed his arms. "That's obvious…To grow stronger. He's scared to lose again. Especially to lose you, Tiabishi."
She froze. "He... did it for me?"
Mariola nodded. "He kept glancing back before he left. As if leaving you broke his heart."
Blushing, Tiabishi clenched her fists. "Then I'll go find him myself!"
But before they could plan—
A mountain top outside crumbled.
They all stared as distant ice spikes and a flash of energy cut across the sky.
"That's him," Saria whispered.
"That's him, for sure." All said in unison.
Far in the south, the demon lord stirred.
"The mountains have awakened," a servant said.
The demon lord's eyes glowed through shadow. "Defeated. After twenty years..."
He slammed his fist, shaking the castle. "Get my daughter. Send her. Now."
The servant fled.
The demon lord whispered, "You again... That damn hero."
Bloodlust filled the room, casting a red aura through the halls.
Back in the cave, Achlys stirred.
Cryo lay over him, wings stretched protectively.
Achlys opened his eyes and smiled. "Cryo... you're okay."
Cryo chirped with joy and accidentally froze the room into a dome of ice.
"Guess we're stuck for a while," Achlys chuckled. He reached up to pet Cryo.
He was too tired to notice anything—a new mark—a frozen teardrop—etched into his hand.
Outside, night fell. Stars glittered. Two of the three moons bathed the world in soft light.
Achlys gazed upward.
"I wish I could just grab those moons and leave this world behind. But... I can't keep running. I broke a promise. One I have to make right."
He turned to Cryo. "I don't know what this feeling is... but it hurts to think about losing her."
Cryo nuzzled him, and they lay side by side. Achlys drifted into sleep. Cryo soon followed.
Far away, a figure stood at the mountain's edge, eyes scanning the frozen peaks.
"Loipetras... I'm back!" she shouted, voice alight with purpose.
And the wind carried her words into the sky, toward the hearts waiting to hear them.