The Frigid Truth

Chapter 2

Yeti sat in front of the ornate mirror of his new quarters, his reflection blurred by the faint tremor of the glass. The lavish room was a stark contrast to the modest quarters he had grown accustomed to, yet the opulent surroundings did little to stir excitement within him. His silver scales gleamed under the flickering light of the chamber's sconce, but his eyes, though sharp and determined, betrayed a hint of indifference.

He adjusted the collar of his newly gifted white fur coat, its polar bear fur as pristine and untouched as his own sentiments about the promotion. As he fastened the last of the intricate silver clasps, Yeti's mind drifted, not to the honor of the general's position, but to the weight of responsibility it entailed. The bustling sounds of the castle, a symphony of clinking cutlery and hushed conversations, seemed distant and hollow.

Yeti's thoughts were interrupted by the soft knock on the door. His sister, Floe, would be arriving soon, no doubt with her own mix of pride and unspoken expectations. As he prepared to step into his new role, he couldn't help but wonder if the grandeur of his new title would ever truly match the gravity of what lay ahead.

"That coat looks good on you." Floe muttered coldly, her compliment's seemingly only purpose of existence due to her anticipation of his promotion. 

Yeti's eyes drifted over the intricate patterns of the regal coat, tracing the rich embroidery with a dispassionate gaze. The fabric felt alien on his scales, its weight a constant reminder of the high expectations and responsibilities now draped over his shoulders. As he caught his reflection in the mirror, he could barely recognize the dragon staring back at him. The coat was a stark contrast to the simple attire he had worn during his days in the lower ranks, a vivid reminder of the distance he had traveled from his past life.

Thoughts of Seal suddenly surfaced, bringing an unexpected pang to his chest. Seal had always been there, a bright spot in Yeti's memory. Their time together felt like a distant dream now, a fragment of a past life that seemed so out of reach. Yeti remembered Seal's infectious enthusiasm, his easy smile that had always made Yeti feel like there was something good in the world. He longed for those simpler days when he could share laughter and small moments with Seal, rather than standing alone in the grandeur of the castle, feeling the weight of expectations bearing down on him.

He wondered how Seal was faring, if he still had that cheerful spark in his eyes, or if the harsh realities of the Arctic outpost had dimmed it. The thought of Seal, so far away, struggling in his own way while Yeti ascended to this new height of prestige, made Yeti question his own happiness. The coat, the promotion, the grandeur of the castle—none of it seemed to matter much when he compared it to the simple joy of being with Seal.

A small, wistful smile touched Yeti's lips as he remembered their last farewell. The memory of Seal's tearful goodbye and their promise to remember each other brought a mix of warmth and sorrow. He recalled how he had given Seal one of those opal-pendant earrings, a precious memento of their bond. It was a symbol of their connection, a simple yet profound reminder of their shared past.

Yet, in the presence of the high-ranked dragons at the castle, Yeti had been forced to hide his matching earring away. The opal pendant, which once sparkled with the light of their friendship, was now concealed beneath his regal attire, tucked safely away where it wouldn't be seen. The high ranks had their expectations, and Yeti knew that showing such a personal token from his past might not align with the image he was expected to project. The earring, a cherished link to Seal and his life before, was now a hidden reminder of what he had left behind, the weight of his new responsibilities pressing heavily upon him.

It seemed Floe had noticed the daydreaming look on Yeti's face, her frustration growing as he continued to zone out in front of the mirror. With an exasperated sigh, she stepped closer, her voice cutting through the silence with a sharp edge.