The Jewel of Orlegon

Chapter 19: Saosa and Rymian

Alteria's reaction to the sight of the flames was immediate and instinctive, memories of being trapped in the burning tree branches flooding over her in an anxious cascade. She barely felt the strange sensation that came with her control of Nolensat over the water contained in the gourd still attached to her side before she unleashed it violently, causing the skin pouch to burst under the pressure. The entire room, as well as the menacing silhouette, was immediately covered in a thick layer of frost, and the flames extinguished, plunging the room into total darkness. Without wasting a moment, Alteria tried to rush towards the exit of the dwelling to escape as quickly as possible, only to collide forcefully with the chest of another stranger who stood behind her. He caught her before she fell to the ground from the impact. Behind her, a curse, previously unknown to Alteria, echoed in the darkness, voiced by the same person who had threatened her just seconds ago.

"Aaah, my hands are freezing! But since when do you know how to do this? And it's really cold! Cold, cold, cold..."

Alteria could hear the person she had neutralized hopping around, likely attempting to rid her arms of the icy encasement, judging by the friction sounds she could hear. Restrained only by her arm, Alteria started to regain her balance while apologizing for the collision.

"'I am sorry," replied the deep and gentle voice of the man she had bumped into, "I believe there was a misunderstanding."

"Even Kvadsina wasn't this cold!" the feminine voice continued to complain. "Thalae, I swear as soon as this melts, you're going to regret it."

"Thalae?" Alteria asked, still in the dark.

The voice immediately fell silent with a surprised hiccup.

"Who is Thalae?" the young woman insisted, her concern gradually turning into curiosity.

"Thalae was the person someone here was convinced would cross the threshold of this door," the man answered. Alteria could hear the rustling of his clothes as he moved around her in the darkness.

In the obscurity, the dry sound of a flint striker was heard twice before a flame ignited a lamp, followed by a groove carved into the wall of the room. The groove was probably filled with burning oil, casting an orange light that revealed the appearance of the two strangers. Alteria remained momentarily stunned as she observed them, hardly believing the sight of the man who had knelt down, lamp flame in hand, to help the woman rid herself of the ice that still immobilized her.

Both young individuals, like her, were novices, and they were a perfect mirror image of each other. Alteria stayed still for several minutes, studying every feature of their faces, hoping to distinguish any differences. Apart from their sizes and the obvious gender-related distinctions, she found none. Both displayed an extremely pale complexion, even under the golden light of the flames, contrasting with the jet-black darkness of their long, unadorned braided hair, save for a single metal bead hanging at the end of one of the lengthy strands. When they looked up at her, still immobile in her observation, she noticed that their eyes were of such a light blue that they resembled the crystal-clear waters that bathed Nimeo's beaches. The only difference Alteria managed to discern after her lengthy examination was the brief appearance of a scar marking the left cheek of the woman. It had emerged as she grimaced, sighing in relief as the flames gradually released her hands from the ice's grip. Despite this scar, the two strangers, undoubtedly siblings, possessed an odd beauty.

The sight brought Alteria back to reality, reminding her that she was the one responsible for the situation the other young woman was in, even though her actions had been driven by instinctual self-defense. Regaining her composure, she knelt beside the two human doppelgängers and extended her hands toward the icy shell still imprisoning the dark-haired woman's arm.