The northern wind slammed into the group like an endless tide of icy blades. Snow swirled violently, forming ghostly pillars that twisted over the frozen plains. Visibility was poor—barely more than a few meters ahead—but Icarus' silver eyes seemed to pierce the storm. Every footstep, every shift in the snow, every faint heat trace caught his attention.
Rowan, struggling to walk through knee-deep snow, flailed dramatically.
"My toes! My poor, innocent toes! They're turning into actual icicles!" he screamed, hopping on one foot while trying to kick the other one free of snow. "I feel my soul leaking through my toes! Can someone… anyone… perform emergency defrosting?!"
Selene's scowl deepened, and her sword rattled in its sheath as she strode past him. "Rowan. Grow up. You're whining over snow, not death. If you can survive our last mission, you can survive a little frostbite."
"I'm not whining! I'm… I'm experiencing extreme tactical discomfort!" Rowan shouted, almost toppling forward as he tried to maintain balance.
Alaric, strolling beside Icarus as if the wind had no effect on him, laughed softly. "Rowan, if your feet were swords, they'd be the most dramatic weapons in the kingdom."
Rowan's jaw dropped. "Did you just—"
"I did," Alaric interrupted with a teasing grin. "Consider it a compliment. You're… unusually expressive."
Icarus said nothing. His eyes scanned the snow around them. At first glance, everything seemed normal—white, blank, and featureless. But his analytical mind caught the subtleties: small depressions in the snow, faint discolorations, areas the wind had missed, and irregular pressure points that indicated something had passed recently.
"Notice the patterns?" Icarus murmured to Selene, crouching slightly to inspect. "They're not random. Someone—or something—deliberately avoided certain paths. The snow… it obeyed direction."
Selene's brow furrowed. "You're not imagining it. I see it too. Whoever moved through here… they were careful. Very careful."
Rowan, peering down at his own footprints and accidentally stepping on Icarus' path, chimed in: "Oh, great. Deliberate killers in the snow. Just what I needed. Do I at least get a snowball? You know… for defense purposes?"
Alaric shook his head, still smiling. "Keep walking, Rowan. Survival is optional if you distract them too much."
The wind gusted again, carrying with it faint traces of smoke and ash—almost imperceptible. Icarus' sharp gaze caught them instantly. "Ashura presence. It's weak, residual… but it's here. Someone—or something—has been stirring."
Rowan froze. "Ashura? As in… the big bad ancient monsters? Uh… why did you just casually say that?"
Selene gave him a sharp elbow. "You're not supposed to freak out yet."
Alaric, observing the faint magical traces in the snow, nodded slowly. "The north has always been quiet… but that quiet is deceiving. Rowan, try to keep your theatrics to a minimum. The snow doesn't like noise."
Rowan whimpered. "I cannot. Snow hates me, people hate me, my toes are dying… I'm not living another day!"
Despite the chaos of Rowan's antics, Icarus continued forward, moving with precise steps, avoiding weak snow crusts, and noting every anomaly. A small glimmer caught his eye—a patch of snow that seemed to slightly bend around an invisible object. As he stepped closer, faint magical traces shimmered in the air.
"See this?" he asked Selene. "This is residual magic. Low intensity, but deliberate. Whoever passed here was hiding their presence."
Selene crouched beside him, studying it. "Could it be remnants from the village? Or… something more sinister?"
Icarus' silver eyes narrowed. "The latter is more likely. This kind of precision is consistent with Ashura pawns or their agents. They've been active, even before we arrived."
Rowan, still hopping on one foot, muttered: "Great. So we're walking into snow hell… full of secret monster footsteps. I can't believe I signed up for this."
Alaric shook his head, grinning. "You'll thank us later, Rowan. Or you won't. Either way, it'll be memorable."
As the day wore on, the group trudged through icy plains and shallow crevices. Icarus pointed out subtle anomalies in the terrain to Selene, teaching her to read the patterns like a map. Rowan, ever the comic relief, continued to trip over small ice ridges, accidentally uncovering faint magical runes or old tracks.
By mid-afternoon, the blizzard intensified. Snow drifts towered like frozen walls. Visibility dropped to barely a few meters. Icarus paused, sensing a faint heat source beneath the snow—something moving slowly, deliberately, just out of sight.
"Stay alert," he whispered. "It's not natural."
Rowan froze. "It's… watching us?!"
Selene drew her blade instinctively. "Quiet. Don't give it reason to act."
Alaric's grin remained calm, almost amused. "Good. Let's see what's lurking. Remember, the north doesn't forgive mistakes."
As night approached, the first signs of the northern village came into view, hidden partially by the blizzard. Smoke—or what looked like smoke—rose from chimneys, twisting strangely in the icy wind. The village seemed serene at first glance, but Icarus' eyes detected irregular energy fluctuations—another subtle warning that danger awaited.
Rowan groaned, shivering violently. "I… I don't know if I can survive one more step. This is literally the end of me. I am frozen toast."
Selene muttered under her breath, "You'll survive if I have to carry you."
Icarus ignored the banter, his focus on the subtle signs: tracks, energy residue, and a faint red glow that shimmered beneath the snow near the village edge. A whisper of wind carried almost inaudible murmurs, ancient and cold.
"Moonborn…" the wind seemed to sigh.
Rowan stiffened. "Did anyone hear that? Or am I losing it?"
Selene glanced at Icarus. His calm, silver gaze reflected not only the storm but the faint red shimmer in the snow. He said nothing, only nodded subtly toward the village. The investigation had begun.
By mid-afternoon, the northern village finally emerged through the swirling snow, appearing peaceful from afar. Smoke curled lazily from a few chimneys, rooftops glistened under a thick layer of frost, and the distant sound of cracking ice gave the illusion of life.
Rowan's eyes widened. "Oh, it's… it's… so… pretty? Are we saved?" He practically leapt forward, only to slip in a patch of thin ice and tumble face-first into the snow. "Nope. Never mind. This place hates me."
Selene's sword glimmered in the weak light as she scowled. "Rowan, careful. This village… something's off."
Alaric, strolling beside Icarus, chuckled quietly. "Careful? Yes. But I'd also advise keeping your theatrics to a minimum, Rowan. You might alert whatever's hiding here."
Icarus' silver eyes scanned the village carefully. At first glance, it seemed like any northern settlement: simple houses, narrow streets, frost-covered trees. But subtle signs of disaster were everywhere:
Roofs partially caved in, some buildings missing walls entirely.Doors hanging loosely from broken hinges.Windows shattered, glass sharp like frozen teeth.Ash mixed with snow in strange patterns, almost as if scorched in deliberate designs.Claw marks etched into doors, wooden beams, and frozen ground.
Icarus crouched to examine the snow near the central square. Faint residual heat lingered in the grooves of claw marks. Energy readings—subtle and deliberate—matched known Ashura signatures.
"These marks…" Icarus murmured, tracing the shallow grooves with a gloved hand. "Not random. Deliberate. Whoever attacked here… they weren't just killing. They were marking. Claiming. Warning."
Rowan, attempting to help, tripped again, falling into a half-collapsed barrel. It rolled forward and knocked against a frozen crate, revealing faint inscriptions beneath frost.
"I… I found something!" Rowan exclaimed. "Tactical evidence! Yes, my clumsiness is useful!"
Selene pinched the bridge of her nose. "Accidentally useful. That's still something, I suppose."
Alaric laughed softly. "Sometimes, chaos is a tool. Rowan, take note—chaos sometimes solves puzzles better than precision."
Icarus inspected the revealed inscriptions. They were faint runes, barely visible under the frost, glowing softly with residual magic. They matched old chronicles describing Ashura corruption during the first Moonborn era. The presence of these runes confirmed his suspicion: this village was targeted deliberately, and the attackers were not ordinary beasts.
Rowan's voice broke the tension. "Oh! Can we… can we check the bakery? You know… maybe find some frozen bread for energy?"
Selene groaned, pulling him by the collar. "Rowan, focus!"
Alaric shook his head, smiling. "Let him. Comedy keeps morale high. Besides, he may stumble upon something important again."
The group moved cautiously, investigating homes, shops, and streets. Icarus led, noting the unusual patterns in the destruction. Some homes were untouched by fire or claw marks, suggesting the attackers were selective. He crouched to examine faint magical traces embedded in the snow near a partially destroyed well.
"This isn't just destruction. It's a message," Icarus said quietly. "Something—or someone—is watching. The Ashura pawns are active, but controlled. Their actions are purposeful."
Rowan, now balancing on a frozen fountain edge, whispered loudly: "Purposeful destruction? Oh yes, very encouraging… just what I needed."
Selene gritted her teeth. "Rowan, stop whispering sarcastically. Your voice carries too far."
As evening approached, the group reached the center of the village. Here, destruction was most severe. Buildings collapsed completely; blackened ash streaked the snow in strange, intricate patterns. Rowan accidentally uncovered more runes while attempting to jump from one snow mound to another, eliciting a faint smile from Seraphine, who had silently arrived to observe from a distance.
Icarus crouched beside the largest rune. "These symbols… they're remnants of Ashura influence. Not just residual energy—active, though weakened. They were here recently, and they may return."
Alaric's voice echoed softly. "The north may be quiet, but the silence is deceiving. Remember that."
Rowan, muttering to himself, shivered dramatically. "Quiet? I hear growls and whispers. Very quiet… deadly quiet. I like it."
Selene tugged his sleeve. "You really need to stop talking to yourself."
Icarus stood, surveying the village. Faint red glows shimmered beneath the ice near the center square. The air seemed heavier, charged with residual energy. He noticed movement beneath a collapsed roof—a faint shimmer, like heat, but unnatural.
"Something's still here," he whispered to Selene and Alaric. "And it's waiting."
Rowan froze mid-step. "Oh great… waiting things. I love this already. Can we just go home?"
Alaric smirked. "Patience, Rowan. The north has a way of revealing truths… sometimes painfully."
As the group set up camp on the outskirts, the wind howled against the broken buildings. Rowan huddled in his cloak, muttering dramatically about frozen toes and future frostbite, while Selene kept watch, her sword ready. Icarus' eyes scanned every shadow, every flicker of red glow beneath the snow, aware that the investigation had only just begun—and that the northern village was a trap waiting for the unwary.
Night fell over the northern village, and the icy wind intensified. Snowflakes swirled in chaotic patterns, carried by gusts that felt almost alive. The group had set up a small perimeter, campfires barely piercing the darkness.
Rowan huddled near the fire, shivering dramatically. "I… I don't know if I can survive another minute. My toes… my precious toes… they are literally gone."
Selene rolled her eyes, keeping watch. "Rowan, quiet. You might alert something dangerous."
Icarus' silver eyes scanned the village ruins, picking up subtle movements: faint heat traces under the snow, irregular shadows shifting unnaturally. He crouched beside Rowan, ignoring the whining. "They're here," he murmured. "Not random—watching. Waiting."
Before Rowan could ask for clarification, a low rumble shook the ground. The half-collapsed barns shivered. Dust fell from roofs. A skeletal, jagged creature emerged from the darkness. Its limbs radiated black heat, claws dragging across the snow, leaving scorched marks.
Rowan froze mid-whine. "Uh… I… I call dibs on not dying first!"
Selene drew her blade instinctively. "Stay calm. Don't give it a reason to attack you first."
Icarus remained motionless, eyes analyzing the creature. Its movements were precise, measured—not instinctive, not animalistic. He noticed the rhythm of its steps, the alignment of its limbs, and faint residual energy in its aura.
"It's not a normal beast," he whispered. "Controlled… deliberate."
The creature hissed, claws scraping the frozen ground. Snow and ash scattered around it, creating a swirling cloud. Rowan flailed, trying to hide behind a snow mound, inadvertently uncovering a faint rune etched into a broken barrel. "Tactical! I'm… uncovering tactical clues!"
Selene gave him a sharp elbow. "You're useless sometimes."
Alaric, standing calmly beside Icarus, chuckled softly. "Chaos can be a tool, Rowan. Perhaps you're providing us more insight than you realize."
Suddenly, snow swirled violently around the creature, forming a miniature blizzard in the ruins. A figure appeared, stepping out of the storm with unmatched grace: Seraphine Veyra, North Captain of the Holy Knights.
Snow hardened beneath her boots. Her cloak of frost seemed alive, twisting and shimmering as if the storm obeyed her command. She stopped a few meters from the creature and spoke, her voice calm but commanding:
"Step aside."
The creature lunged, claws raised, but Seraphine didn't move. She raised a single hand. Snow surged violently, encasing the creature mid-lunge. The air turned bitterly cold. Rowan gawked. "Did she… freeze it mid-air? Stylishly?"
Selene muttered, "Glacial Dominion. Common move."
Icarus' eyes narrowed, analyzing every subtle movement. "Precision. Control. Not just raw power… execution of technique."
The creature struggled, trying to break free. Seraphine flicked her wrist. The frost thickened instantly, encasing it in a crystalline tomb.
"Strong move," she whispered, and the ice hardened further, fusing into spikes that pinned the creature to the ground. Rowan shivered. "Cool but terrifying."
The creature let out a scream, the sound warping unnaturally, but Seraphine remained composed. She drew a circle of frost around it, chanting faint words. The air froze solid.
"Super Strong move: Absolute Zero Wall," she declared. Ice shot up from the ground, forming a cage around the creature, crushing it and shattering its form. Snow settled quietly.
Icarus nodded subtly. "Three tiers of power… executed flawlessly."
Rowan's jaw dropped. "She just destroyed that thing! With style!"
Selene's eyes softened slightly. "I understand why she's Captain of the North now."
Alaric stepped forward, still amused. "The strongest human in the northern region—short of me, of course. Watch closely. There's a reason the North is peaceful… until it isn't."
The snow settled. Silence returned, except for the crackling of the campfires. The group slowly relaxed, though tension lingered.
Seraphine turned to Icarus and the others. "You… have potential," she said softly. "But potential alone will not keep you alive here. Be aware: the Ashura pawns are already moving, and stronger forces follow."
Rowan whispered nervously: "Stronger forces? Did she just casually say that like it's nothing?"
Selene gave him a sharp nudge. "Focus."
Icarus simply observed, analyzing the aftermath. The creature's shattered remains revealed faint residual energy in the air, marking it as an Ashura-controlled entity. The attack was precise and deliberate—testing defenses, gauging reaction, and leaving a message.
"Notice the energy pattern," Icarus instructed Selene. "It's a footprint. Not of the creature itself, but of whoever commands it. They're studying us, probing for weaknesses."
Rowan muttered: "Oh, joy. Studied by monsters… sounds safe and comforting."
Alaric chuckled softly. "Confidence grows through exposure. Or fear. Sometimes both."
Seraphine's gaze swept over the group. "This is only the beginning. There's more below the ruins—residual corruption, hidden runes, and energy signatures left by Ashura pawns. Investigate carefully."
Icarus knelt beside one faint glowing mark on the snow. "These runes… they're not just residue. They're active traces, waiting for the right catalyst. Whoever left them intended for someone to find them eventually."
Rowan peeked behind a ruined wall. "Catalyst… I hope it's not me. I'm the wrong kind of catalyst."
Selene sighed, keeping a protective eye on him. "The wrong kind, indeed."
Alaric, finally serious, addressed the group. "Prepare yourselves. The northern investigation is only beginning. Ashura activity here is subtle, but deliberate. We've just been introduced to the warning signs. The storm is not just wind and snow—it's observation."
Icarus' silver eyes reflected the flickering firelight and faint red shimmer beneath the ice. The northern night was quiet, almost peaceful—but he knew it was a deceptive calm. Somewhere in the shadows, the Ashura pawns watched.
And tomorrow, the real test would begin.
The northern night had settled fully, yet the ruins beneath the heavy snow seemed alive. Faint glimmers of red light shimmered from beneath collapsed rooftops, their glow almost imperceptible. Icarus' silver eyes scanned the ruins carefully, noting the faint magical residue left behind by the Ashura pawns.
Rowan, curled in his cloak near the fire, muttered dramatically, "My toes… they are frozen beyond recovery. I can feel my life force seeping away…"
Selene shot him a sharp glance. "You'll survive if you stop whining for five minutes."
Icarus crouched beside a partially frozen well. The faint red glow beneath the ice pulsed slowly, like a heartbeat. Traces of residual energy—deliberate, controlled—radiated outward, weaving a faint pattern across the snow.
"These aren't just traces of a creature," he said quietly. "These runes… they're active. Someone left them intentionally. Ashura influence… but controlled. This is a deliberate warning, or a test."
Alaric approached, observing the faint glimmers. "Subtle, yet precise. Whoever did this is intelligent… and patient. They're studying us, testing reactions, learning our habits."
Rowan leaned forward, curiosity piqued despite his whining. "Studying us? Are we like… Ashura lab rats now? Because I don't sign consent forms!"
Selene sighed, resting her blade against the frozen well. "If you didn't talk, maybe no one would notice."
Icarus carefully traced one of the runes with his gloved hand. Energy shivered beneath his fingertips, alive and responsive. "These symbols… they're remnants from the first Moonborn era. Ishgar himself may have fought against forces like this. The Ashura hatred runs deep… 90,000 years deep. It's not just malice; it's legacy."
Rowan shivered dramatically. "Legacy… of death, doom, and frozen toes. Got it."
Alaric glanced at the faint glow under the ice. "History rarely speaks directly. Sometimes it whispers. And these whispers are dangerous."
The group spread out, carefully inspecting the village. Selene uncovered partially collapsed scrolls in a ruined shop, detailing fragments of old chronicles. One historian, long dead, wrote of Ishgar, the first Moonborn, sealing the Ashura with unimaginable power. Rumors of hidden tiers—levels of strength beyond ordinary comprehension—were hinted at in footnotes, almost as if warning future generations.
Rowan stumbled over a broken beam, revealing yet another rune, this one faintly glowing red. "I think I'm a genius," he whispered. "I just uncovered magical evidence by tripping over debris. You're welcome, everyone."
Selene pinched the bridge of her nose. "Don't push it, Rowan. You're lucky you didn't trigger a curse."
Alaric chuckled softly. "Sometimes the chaotic mind sees what the methodical cannot. Rowan may be accidental genius occasionally."
Icarus examined the new rune. Its energy was subtle but active, reacting faintly to his presence. "These runes are more than remnants—they're a warning. Whoever left them intended for someone like us to find them. The Ashura pawns are probing, studying patterns, and observing reactions."
Rowan whispered nervously. "Probing… observing… just like high school science experiments. Only… deadlier."
Selene rolled her eyes. "You're uselessly relatable."
By the edge of the central square, faint red glows pulsed beneath thick ice. Icarus crouched, eyes narrowing. He could almost feel the faint heartbeat of residual Ashura energy beneath the frozen surface.
"Moonborn," a whisper drifted through the wind, carried by the northern gusts. "Awaken…"
Rowan froze, trembling. "Did anyone else hear that? Or… am I hallucinating?"
Selene glanced at Icarus. His expression was unreadable, calm, yet his silver eyes reflected the subtle red glow beneath the ice. He did not speak, only nodded subtly toward the ruins.
"This is only the beginning," Icarus said softly. "The northern ruins are a test, a warning. The Ashura pawns are here… and stronger forces follow."
Alaric stepped beside him, serious now. "Patience and observation. The northern arc will teach us what strength we truly need. And what the world hides."
The group huddled near the campfire, tension thick in the frozen air. Rowan muttered about frozen toes and imagined curses. Selene remained vigilant, scanning the ruins. Icarus' gaze swept the red glows, the faint magical residues, and the whispers of history hidden beneath centuries of snow.
The northern village, serene at first glance, had revealed its secret: the Ashura were already moving, their influence subtle but present. The Moonborn's legacy—the first Ishgar's ancient war—echoed faintly in every rune, every trace of residual energy.
Rowan shivered dramatically again. "So… we're officially in deep trouble, right? Because I think I left my life insurance at home."
Selene smirked faintly. "You've got us. You're safe enough… for now."
Icarus' silver eyes reflected the flickering firelight and the faint red shimmer beneath the ice. He knew this was just the beginning of the northern investigation—and that the Ashura pawns, subtle and deadly, were watching, waiting, and planning their next move.
Tomorrow, the real challenge would begin