Coldsnap: Harbinger of Ice

Chapter 37: Rekindled Resolve

Coldsnap and Firebird sat on a bench in front of a tall oak tree in the park, overlooking the rest of the Grand Terminus. 

"Sure is beautiful up here....." the fire mage commented. "I can't think of a better place for us to have a chat. Feel free to tell me anything, you know. We've been the best of friends even before you were banished to Earth." 

"That's.....actually what I wanted to talk to you about," Coldsnap confessed. ".....Well....kind of." 

"What do you mean?" 

"Back when we were in the Whitecap Tundra, recruiting the Ice Sect to our cause.....that one mage in the crowd said that I was the reason for Alpin becoming corrupt." She paused for a moment. ".....Do you think that he was right? I know I acted indifferent in the moment, but.....his words really did get to me. If literally any other mage was conceived that day besides me.....17 years ago.....would anything be different?" 

"Hey, come on.....don't go doubting yourself now! We've come so far!" Firebird encouraged. "You definitely showed him who was boss by feeding him to your ice dragon, so that tells me that at least some part of you didn't want to accept him as being right. Besides, from what we learned at the Stonemount Gorge, when Sledge and Geode showed us those cave drawings....the Ascendant conceived you for the express purpose of overcoming Alpin and Flamestar's corruption, correct?" 

"Yeah....but, like....he became corrupt because of me, though. It's kind of like an endless cycle. If I hadn't been born, Alpin wouldn't have feared for his position, he would've likely still been a good ruler, and.....he might've even sided against Flamestar....." Coldsnap argued. 

"Listen.....do you want my opinion on this?" 

The heroine nodded. 

"I think that, on the inside, Alpin's always been like this. You just goaded him into revealing it to the others." 

"And.....that's a good thing.....?" 

"Yes! You exposed him for the sick, depraved monster that he is! Now, because of your brave actions, soon everyone will know that he's unfit to be a Sect Leader. And then, once you defeat him and take over, you'll be the one bossing everyone around," Firebird joked as she jabbed her friend lightly in the arm, attempting to distract Coldsnap with some humor. 

"It just sucks because.....when I was younger and still training with him....before I was banished....he genuinely seemed like a good teacher. Someone whom I could learn a lot from, you know? He was firm, but loving.....listened to my troubles....helped me to hone my abilities...." 

Coldsnap sounded like she was on the verge of tears. 

"Before I met my family on Earth, he was the closest thing to a parental figure I had.....for 15 years....and he completely pulled the rug out from under me with his betrayal. He went from being a wise instructor to wanting to murder me. What did I do wrong? Be born and cause him to fall to darkness? 'Cause....that's the way it's looking right now." 

Firebird patted the ice mage on the back empathetically. "You've got to start separating yourself from him," she advised. "You didn't control any of Alpin's actions; he chose his path, and you've chosen yours." 

Coldsnap became restless, so she got off the bench and started walking around the area. "I'm still listening," she said. 

"Alright." 

"You said he 'chose his path'.....but didn't I set him on that path, though?" the ice mage asked. 

"Coldsnap, you have nothing to blame yourself for. Alpin was the one who went insane with paranoia and sought to kill you to preserve his authority. He elected to do that; you had no part in it," Firebird answered. "And anyway.....you yourself said that you had no intention of taking the throne from him at first, right?"