Prologue

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Snow gently falls from the sky, dancing in the air as it slowly falls to the ground. With an icy breath, I stab into the nameless assassin sent by gods to kill me. The body falls to the ground as blood clings to my skin, freezing into icy crystals. The carnage is evident as body after body lay in piles. Bloody gore taints the once white snow that lay beneath. My fingers tightly grip the polearm, turning blue as they freeze to the iron in a frosty grip. For a brief moment, I admire the snow that slowly falls from above. With heavy feet, I slowly move forward, heading towards an unknown destination.

The gale of snow grows harsher on the seemingly endless icy planes. The wind grows more frantic and a harsh flurry of ice whips against my face as a harsh blizzard starts to form desperately trying to prevent further progress as if to say: Stay away, unwelcomed one. But I slowly win inches as I brave the harsh weather of the storm. In the distance of the angry storm, a shadow appears amid the storm; slowly approaching. The snow slows as the figure approaches. It parts as if welcoming the stranger.

The snow ceases, only to reveal the esteemed cryo archon standing in all her glory, looking down her nose at me, her cold gaze judging as if weighing my worth. My gaze is unflinchingly focused on the archon's eyes. I know I don't look very intimidating, My clothes are torn to ribbons and my body is covered in deep gashes while my eyes appear sunken and tired from endless battles. But, standing tall, my spear is held confidently and the bloody blade points up at the archon.

"If you've come to finish me off, I'm sorry to say I fully intend on making it out of here alive," I say, glaring up at her cold, dead eyes. "If you think I won't kill you because you're an Archon you're sorely mistaken. I no longer care about that deal after what the so-called god, Justice, did to me!"

Blade at the ready, I prepare an attack, yet it never comes as all the Cryo Archon does is stare me down. "I'm sure you are already well aware that Celestia are fools. They are not fit to rule over the mortal realm."

I dig my polearm into the ground, leaning upon it when she makes no moves to attack. "Is that so? I wonder what you're really planning? Do you want a scapegoat or perhaps bait?"

"No, not at all. I believe that our goals align with each other. My success inevitably means your success. I want Celestia to fall just as much as you do."

I let out a puff of air that is cold against my lips. "Sure that sounds nice and all but how can you be trusted? You could stab me in the back or pull something like the hydro archon did."

Slowly she brings her hand out. The polearm in my hand is quickly pulled from the ground and I get into a defensive stance as her hand starts to glow. Something materializes within that light. It looks like a chess piece. It is the cryo Archon's gnosis, being willingly handed over to me. "I don't-why are you-" Hesitation has been long since been trained out of me, but...like glass, the years of self-confidence and my unwavering commitment shatters as for the first time in a long while, I feel uncertain. Is this a trick? It cant be. Not when she was offering me something so important. Should I accept it? It would help immensely and give me leverage over the Cryo Archon. So why am I so hesitant?

Fear grips me, but why? I've been through so much worse before, yet taking such a small item inspires terror. The Tsaritsas's eyes don't seem so cold anymore. The sincerity in her eyes shines. For the first time, trusting someone is a necessity. Of course, I've trusted people in the past, but it was never anyone who couldn't be stricken down in a single strike. To put so much faith in a person who could betray me without batting an eye was scary, but for this deal to work, trusting her was not optional.

Her hand slowly reaches out to me and I flinch back. Her hand pauses to hover in the air for a brief moment before coming to rest on my head. I tremble, telling myself it's from the cold as her hand slides down to my face. She gently holds my cheek lifting it to meet her gentle gaze. "Relax, child. I will not hurt you. No one will hurt you anymore." Her arms slowly wrap around me holding no warmth, but for some reason, I feel warm. Tears fall from my eyes as I wrap my own arms around her. For some odd reason, the heavy burdens I had been forced to carry for so long feel like they're being lifted off my shoulders. The Tsaritsa's hold grows tighter as she gently pets my head and like a dam that's been broken, I bury my face into her as I start to cry for the first time in years; letting out the years of pain left in my heart.

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