Oblivion - Kingdom Come

Chapter 6: The Frozen Hell and Awakening

During a relentless, icy blizzard, Ahmik battled against the merciless cold, his breath forming misty clouds in the frigid air. "Jessica wasn't kidding about this fucking weather. I feel like I'm in a frozen hell out here!" he exclaimed, his voice nearly lost in the howling wind.

Beside him, Genesis moved with a steady grace that seemed unaffected by the severe weather. The dense snow underfoot and the swirling snowflakes the wind hurled in every direction made visibility almost non-existent. The darkness of the tundra night enveloped them, adding an eerie sense of isolation. Despite their efforts, there was still no sign of the rest of their pack.

Seeking to make their excursion worthwhile, Ahmik turned to Genesis, his voice tinged with hope. "Maybe I should've stayed inside; let's do something useful while out. Can you detect scents anywhere, Genesis?"

Genesis, however, responded not with words but with a snarl, her frustration evident even in the blinding blizzard. Ahmik, recognizing the futility of his request, quickly apologized. "My apologies for asking. Let's keep walking and see what we find."

Their journey through the snow seemed endless. After what felt like an eternity but was only thirty minutes, the harsh conditions began to take their toll. Ahmik's strength waned; his steps grew slower, more laborious. He found brief respite under a tree, but Genesis, ever vigilant, nudged him onward, biting his sleeve to urge him to move. The cold was unrelenting, sapping his strength and clouding his mind.

Meanwhile, hidden from view, Francisca observed them through her binoculars. Her expression was one of disappointment as she lowered the lenses. "I guess you won't get the fight you wanted, Božidar. Ahmik's having trouble surviving the weather and unlocking his virtue. It's too bad," she remarked, a note of regret.

Božidar, silent and brooding, vanished into the snowy fog after Francisca, his figure soon obscured by the thickening white swirl.

Božidar's departure left a palpable silence, broken only by the howling of the wind. The wilderness seemed to close in on Ahmik and Genesis, its frozen jaws biting with merciless cold.

Just as the situation seemed dire, a mysterious figure emerged from the swirling snow. This person, whose features were obscured by the blizzard, approached Ahmik with purposeful strides. In the blink of an eye, they scooped Ahmik into their arms, swiftly disappearing into the snowy night. Genesis, too exhausted to protest, could only watch as her companion was taken away.

Hours passed, and Ahmik slowly regained consciousness in an unfamiliar cabin. The room's warmth was a stark contrast to the icy tundra outside. He noticed Genesis sleeping peacefully by his side. Nearby, the stranger who had saved him was calmly stirring hot chocolate. The aroma filled the cabin, offering a homely comfort.

Confused and wary, Ahmik demanded, "Eh! Who are you? Did you save me from the cold last night?"

With a hint of amusement in their voice, the stranger replied, "Do you always ask obvious questions? Or just right now? I am whoever you wish me to be. Nowadays, I don't go by anything. I get by."

Not satisfied with the cryptic response, Ahmik pressed further, "Alright, smart ass, you don't have a name or anything like a title? There must be some name for you. Regardless, I would like to thank you for saving me from the harsh weather yesterday."

The stranger, now identified only as X, revealed a past shrouded in mystery and a life of solitude. Before the government's intervention and the onset of the "Great World War," X had lived alone in these lands, untitled, unnamed, just surviving.

As they conversed, Ahmik learned more about X's role in watching over the tundra, controlling animal populations, and indulging in literature. X also mentioned a skill Ahmik had yet to comprehend – the ability to unlock his virtue, something X had mastered long ago.