Hours passed as the sled glided over the snow hills, and eventually, Sapphire’s thoughts drifted to the next month—when she and Kaiser would finally meet again. The excitement bubbled up in her chest just thinking about it. But as the anticipation grew, so did the embarrassing thoughts. Would he want to… take things further? The idea sent a wave of heat rushing through her cheeks.
She knew they were supposed to wait until marriage, but what if Kaiser didn’t want to? And honestly, what if she didn’t want to wait either? Her mind spun with scenarios she had never let herself consider before, and her face turned crimson as the images played out in her head.
Having finished his call, Argentum glanced over at her.
“How are you still cold?” he asked, glancing up from his phone. “Your face is bright red, but you still look like a little girl shivering out here.”
The words hit Sapphire like ice. She blinked, the warmth in her chest vanishing as fast as it had come. Little girl. The words echoed in her mind. The thought of Kaiser seeing her as anything more than that suddenly felt ridiculous. The lingering warmth disappeared utterly. She tugged her coat tighter, forcing a smile at Argentum as if nothing had changed.
The sled came to a smooth halt before the Prime Minister’s residence. Sapphire and Argentum stepped out, taking in the sight before them. The building was grand yet understated, with crystalline walls shimmering. Intricate designs etched the surface, reflecting light like stars frozen in time.
The entry hall was vast. Sapphire’s eyes were drawn to the statues lining the walls. In the center stood a life-size depiction of their Goddess, Khione. The statue was crafted from ice so clear and pristine it seemed otherworldly—like the goddess had been forever locked in her sorrow.
Khione was depicted as an Enfa, her hands clasped in prayer, her head bowed slightly, with tears frozen on her cheeks. Even though her face was still, there was a quiet agony that made the sorrow feel alive.
Sapphire stepped closer, feeling a pull toward the statue. The details were incredible—every strand of her hair, every fold of her robe, and the tears that shimmered like droplets of liquid Cryonfi.
Argentum was silent beside her, his usual composure wavering as he stared at the statue. They stood there for what felt like a long time, unable to speak. Then, without warning, Sapphire felt tears welling up in her eyes. A strange, inexplicable sadness surged through her, catching her completely off guard. She wiped her face quickly, only to realize that Argentum was crying too.
“It’s normal,” Kael said softly, stepping beside them. “Anyone who looks at Khione’s idols for the first time sheds tears. The materials used to create her idols are not ordinary—along her divinity, that’s what causes such effects.”
Sapphire blinked through her tears, unable to remove her gaze from the statue. There was something so profoundly moving about the goddess’s expression, something that seemed to resonate with her own hidden fears and grief. She didn’t understand why, but for a moment, it felt like Khione was crying not just for herself, but for everyone who looked upon her. Could this be… Chromata? she thought. A long-lost art form of Trionfi.
Kael cleared his throat. His voice was calm but with a tinge of urgency. “Shall we begin the meeting at once?” He gestured towards a side hall that likely led to a more private area within the residence.
Sapphire studied him carefully—his shoulders were too straight, his fingers twitching slightly. He wanted them to hurry, to get this over with, and be gone.
“I’d prefer to rest first,” Sapphire said, offering a polite but firm smile. “It’s been a long journey, and I’d like to clear my mind before we discuss anything important.”
Kael hesitated, his eyes flicking between her and Argentum, but then gave a tight nod. “Of course. You must be tired after such a journey.” His tone was respectful, but she could feel his frustration simmering beneath the surface.
“Thank you,” Argentum added, stepping forward. “We’ll join you later.”
Kael nodded once more before signaling a nearby servant. “Please show our guests to their rooms.”
As they were led down the elegant, crystal-lined halls, Sapphire couldn’t shake the feeling that Kael wanted them gone. Something wasn’t right after all.
Inside their room, Argentum sighed and sat by the small fireplace. “What’s going on in that head of yours?” he asked, watching Sapphire move toward the window.
Sapphire turned toward her brother with resolution. “I’m going to need some time.”
Argentum raised an eyebrow, confused. “Time? For what?”
She took a deep breath, glancing out at the snow-covered land below. “I’m going to send the Raven of Death out to investigate. Something is off here, and I need to know what.”
He stood, crossing the room toward her. “Sister, you can’t just—”
“Just trust me,” she interrupted quietly. “I have a bad feeling. I need you to buy me some time, in case they call for us while I’m occupied. Sending the Raven far is straining, so I won’t be able to snap back quickly.”
Argentum frowned, worry creasing his brow. “You just got out of isolation. You want them to lock you up again for another mistake?” he said lightly.
She turned to him, her eyes meeting his directly. “I don’t have time to explain all the details, but this is also for the Brotherhood, not just for me.”
Argentum’s expression softened, still uncertain but trusting. “Fine. I’ll give you as much time as I can. Just… be careful.”
Sapphire nodded. “I will. Just make sure no one disturbs me.”
She sat by the window, feeling the cool glass against her skin as she began to focus.
In moments, her consciousness expanded beyond the room, beyond her physical body. She could feel the cold winds of Chuun as the Raven soared high above the city, unseen by anyone below. The Raven flew past the swirling clouds until the panoramic expanse of Chuun stretched below her—snow-dusted islands connected by frozen bridges, and beyond, the endless Horizon Ocean.
She guided the Raven upwards, intending to keep it hidden from prying eyes, but something massive caught her attention as it ascended above the clouds. Her breath hitched.
Mt. Cryospherix.
The tallest mountain in the world.
Cryospherix loomed above the clouds, a colossal, frozen behemoth that dominated the skyline. Towering crystal spires jutted from its surface, translucent and glowing faintly with Cryonfi energy.
Around the peak, frozen lightning bolts were suspended mid-strike, jagged and crackling with residual power, frozen in time but still radiating energy. The summit was shrouded in Cryonfi clouds, a thick, swirling mist that clung to the peak. These clouds weren’t typical—they flickered between solid and gas, heavy with Cryonfi energy, obscuring the mountain’s actual height.
Embedded in the ice of the mountain’s face were frozen creatures, ancient beasts caught in time. Massive, primal beings with twisted forms—some looking almost humanoid, others resembling long-forgotten eldritch monsters—trapped forever in icy tombs. Here and there, Cryonfi geysers erupted from fissures in the mountain, sending bursts of freezing energy into the air. Circling the peak like a halo, a frozen aurora hovered endlessly, its light reflecting off the Cryonfi-infused crystals and ice below.
Floating shards of ice, glowing with an inner light, drifted around the mountain like flying sentinels, scattered across the mountain. Each shard reflected the aurora’s light, creating a mesmerizing effect that made it difficult to tell where the mountain ended and the sky began.
Sapphire’s chest tightened at the sight of it. The air around it was thick with Cryonfi, more than she had ever felt in one place before. She stared down at the mountain with unease. The sheer magnitude was overwhelming, as if something deep within the mountain was barely contained. She didn’t understand why the Cryolites didn’t have an Ascendant here to control it—this amount of raw energy felt unstable and lethal.
Shaking off the unsettling feeling, she guided the Raven lower, letting it descend beneath the cover of the clouds in surrounding villages. She searched for signs of the outbreak zone she had overheard Kael mention earlier. As she flew, the snow-covered forests gave way to something different—an unnaturally still area. No movement, no life.
There.
A cluster of abandoned buildings, half-buried in snow.
A sharp, piercing pain shot through Sapphire’s skull. She gasped, clutching her head as her connection with the Raven wavered. The bird faltered mid-flight, its wings losing momentum as it plummeted from the sky. Sapphire struggled to regain control, but the pain was unbearable, like icicles twisting in her brain.
Suddenly, she heard a voice—distorted and crackling, like frozen windchimes shattering in the distance. It wasn’t a voice she had ever heard before, but somehow, the ancient words sliced through her consciousness.
“Xenovia... xiel vastra alavur? Enyeh ka vahr Zin’vriya? Enyeh molvra vastra ny’seil?!”
The language was foreign—harsh, fragmented, and old—older than anything Sapphire had ever known. And yet… she understood it. The meaning seeped into her soul.
“Xenovia… what are you doing here? Come to ruin me once more? What name do you wear this time?!”
Sapphire’s heart lurched in her chest, the name ‘Xenovia’ ringing in her ears. Her goddess’s name.
Why is it calling me that?
Her vision blurred, and she forced the Raven to fight against the fall, trying desperately to find the source of the voice. She pushed herself, gritting her teeth against the pain as she backtracked the connection, searching for where the words had come from.
Suddenly, her sight snapped to the top of Mt. Cryospherix. At the peak, surrounded by the flickering frozen clouds, was a radiant flower encased in crystal—its petals shimmering with Cryonfi energy. Sapphire’s body reacted instinctively from the overwhelming power radiating off of it.
But before she could process it, the vision shifted violently, pulling her far away from Chuun.
An entirely different world now filled her sight—Cryotis, a distant planet encased in eternal ice. Sapphire had only read about it and seen distant pictures, but here it was, vivid and real. She could feel the cold bite of the frozen winds as if she were standing on its surface herself.
Her heart pounded in her chest, panic rising. Why am I seeing this? What is happening?
The pain intensified, and her connection with the Raven shattered before she could focus. Her body switched places with it, suddenly thrust into the open sky.
As she fell, tears burst from her eyes, uncontrollable sobs wracking her chest as the cold air whipped past her. She was crying—crying harder than she had in years, but she didn’t know why. Her mind was spinning, her emotions a storm she couldn’t control.
Khione… Is this you? She thought frantically, her mind searching for answers.
The wind roared around her, but the name Xenovia echoed in her thoughts over and over again.
Her vision blurred with tears as the abandoned buildings rushed up to meet her, the same place she had seen before.
It must be Khione… She must be calling me Xenovia because I’m the Ascendant.
But deep down, she wasn’t entirely convinced by that reasoning.
The ground loomed closer, and Sapphire braced herself for impact.
