The wind had quieted by the time Kairis stirred.
She blinked the sleep from her eyes, her hand already reaching for the hilt of her blade before realizing it was Lyra sitting at the edge of the ruined archway, gaze fixed on the horizon.
"…Morning already?" Kairis muttered, her voice rough from the cold.
Lyra nodded faintly. "Almost,the snow's eased."
Kairis stretched her shoulders, the armor plates creaking softly. "You didn't wake me up ."
"You needed rest," Lyra said simply.
Kairis huffed. "You say that like you don't need rest ."
"I've had enough of rest," Lyra murmured, standing. Her breath left pale trails in the dawn light.
Kael came back when it was starting to get light, even though the sun wasn't up yet. He carried what he had hunted quietly. The smell of cooked meat hung on his gloves.
"Eat," he said shortly, putting the food near the fire.
Kairis raised a brow. "No monsters on your way?"
"None worth mentioning." His eyes flicked toward Lyra briefly, then away. "We move north once you both are ready"
Lyra nodded once, tying her cloak tighter around her shoulders. "Illythra's valley lies beyond the ridge. If it still stands."
Kairis's voice dropped, softer but edged. "We don't know what awaits us there, Lyra. Not anymore."
Lyra's answer came steady, quiet, and certain. "Then we will find out."
Kael glanced between them, a small quick smile appeared on his lips. "You two make fear sound poetic."
Kairis shot him a glare. "Keep talking, and I'll test how poetic your blood looks in the snow."
He chuckled under his breath but didn't reply.
They ate quickly. No one spoke much — the only sounds were the whisper of wind through the ruins but yet, kairis gazes were fixed on kael
I can't bear him ,I'm only bearing him because of lyra
When the last flame guttered out, Lyra rose.
"Let's move."
They moved down slowly.
Each step made a soft crunch on the snow and frozen rocks.
As they left the ridge, the wind grew weaker.
When they finally reached the valley below, the air was still cold — but it didn't feel harsh anymore
Dim lanterns glowed between the small houses built into the rocks, their orange light shining through the mist. Smoke rose from chimneys, and the smell of burning wood and herbs made the cold feel a little warmer.
Kairis stopped first, her breath fogging. "This… this was Illythra's village."
Lyra looked where she was looking. The village was quiet but not lifeless — children ran between houses, women carried water from the frozen stream, and men fixed nets under torchlight. Life still went on here, stubborn and strong.
Lyra spoke softly"it still stands here"
Kairis's voice dropped, almost reverent. "Then maybe she does too."
Kael's expression barely shifted. "Or maybe her people learned to live without her."
Neither of them answered. The path ahead was lined with faint light, and eyes began to turn toward them — cautious, curious, but not afraid.
A woman stepped forward, her cloak patched but her posture steady. "Travelers," she called gently. "You've come far in this cold."
Lyra inclined her head. "We didn't mean to intrude."
"There's no intrusion in surviving," the woman said, offering a small smile. "Come. There's warmth and food inside the hall."
They walked after her through the narrow streets, their boots crunching in the snow. The villagers looked at them quietly — not angry, just cautious. No one knew Lyra, Kairis, or the man following slightly behind them, his eyes watchful and hard to read.
In the middle of the valley stood a stone hall glowing with a firelight.
A big fire burned in the center, and the smell of stew filled the room.
They were taken to a long table where hot soup and thick bread were waiting.
Kairis sank into the bench, still glancing toward the door as if expecting something to change. "They're kind, like always" she murmured. "Too kind."
Lyra traced her fingers along the rim of her bowl. "Kindness is a choice," she said softly. "One Illythra always believed in."
Kael's smirk flickered. "Belief doesn't keep you alive."
"Sometimes it's the only thing that does," Lyra replied without looking up.
He didn't argue only leaned back, watching the fire with that same distant interest.
They ate in silence. The warmth soaked into their bones, and the sound of the storm outside faded to a hum. For the first time in days, the world didn't feel like it was collapsing in on itself.
Outside, a man hurried across the snow toward the northern sheds. His cloak flapped in the wind, voice low and urgent as he found the one he sought.
"Azel," he called. "Travelers came from the s
East ridge — three of them."
Azel paused, tightening the strap on a cart loaded with supplies. The frost in his dark hair caught the lantern light as he turned. "Three?"
The man nodded. "Strangers. They said little. The villagers took them to the hall."
Azel's brow furrowed. For a long moment, he said nothing — then quietly: "I'll see them."
And he began walking towards the hall
Then the door creaked open.
Snow swept in around the man who stepped through — tall, wrapped in a hunter's cloak, eyes sharp even in the firelight. The moment Lyra saw him, her breath caught.
"…Azel?"
The hall fell silent.
Kairis straightened, disbelief flashing across her face. "No. It can't be—"
But it was. Older, wearier — the frost in his hair a mark of years — yet unmistakable.
He froze mid-step, gaze locking onto them. "…Lyra? Kairis?"
No one spoke for a long moment. The fire's crackle filled the stillness.
Then Kairis crossed the space in two strides and struck his shoulder with the flat of her hand. "You bastard," she said, voice cracking. "We thought you vanished."
Azel's lips twitched into something like a smile — pained, uncertain. "Maybe I did."
Lyra stood slowly, her eyes steady. "We came north for answers, Azel. And now we find you here."
He exhaled, the sound heavy. "Then perhaps you came to the right place."
Kairis folded her arms. "Or the wrong one."
Azel looked toward the window, where pale light bled through the snow. "When the fires burn low," he said quietly, "I'll tell you what became of Illythra — and the kingdom that forgot her name."
Lyra's expression didn't change, but her voice softened. "Then we'll listen."
At the far end of the table, Kael leaned back, silent, watching — the faintest glint of amusement in his eyes. He said nothing. But the air between them all felt charged, as if the storm outside had found its way in.
Three wanderers.
One ghost returned.
And the truth of a vanished queen waiting somewhere beyond the snow.