Avatar of the Frozen Behemoth: Volume 1

Chapter 19: The Call of Arms

Few hours later, after their investigation of the secret passageway, Yukio, Rome, and Mizuki returned to Spadia, their minds racing with the day's revelations. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the town. The air was still warm, a reminder of the strange occurrences they had witnessed.

Rome glanced up at the sky. "It's getting late. We should probably head back and regroup. I really wished we had time to ice sculpt but i'm afraid that there's not much more we can do until tomorrow."

Mizuki nodded. "Yeah, let's get some rest. We'll need all our energy for whatever comes next."

Yukio, though still troubled, agreed. "Alright. But we need to stay vigilant. Something's definitely wrong."

As they made their way back to their homes, the town's ambiance shifted. The warm colors of the sunset gradually gave way to a cooler, more subdued twilight.

Street lamps flickered to life, casting a gentle glow over the icy streets. The transition from the afternoon's warmth to the evening's chill was marked by the increasing quiet of the town.

I need to think clearly. Tonight, I'll go over everything again. I need to make sense of those symbols and what they mean for Spadia.

At home, Yukio retreated to his room. The quiet of the evening provided a stark contrast to the earlier chaos. He sat at his desk, the faint glow of a candle illuminating his worried expression. As night fell, the room grew darker, and the shadows seemed to deepen, mirroring Yukio's growing anxiety.

Outside his window, the snow-covered mountains glistened beneath the first stars. The temperature dropped further, the cold winds of Spadia whispering through the cracks in the ancient structure. The night was calm, but it was the kind of calm that felt wrong-a deceptive peace before something terrible.

I need to stay focused. Tomorrow, I'll investigate more and see if I can find anything else. But for now, I have to get some rest, even if it's difficult.

The hours ticked by as Yukio struggled to find sleep. His thoughts remained consumed by the mysterious occurrences and the fear that the danger was far from over. As he lay in bed, the night deepened, and the cold outside grew sharper, but within the walls of his room, the darkness was a more personal, oppressive force.

Yukio shuddered, glancing around his room as if the darkness itself had eyes. I need to stay focused. Tomorrow, I'll investigate more. See if I can find anything. But... for now... I have to get some rest.

He lay back on his stiff bed, the rough blankets offering little warmth against the freezing air. Sleep, however, didn't come easily. His thoughts churned, consumed by fear and unanswered questions. The night deepened, and the cold wrapped tighter around him, but what weighed on him most was the oppressive, unseen force-the visions he dreaded.

Suddenly, the room felt unnaturally cold, the temperature dropping sharply like ice clawing at his skin. Yukio bolted upright, his heart pounding. The air around him became thick and frigid, an invisible force tightening its grip.

Not again, he thought frantically, his breath quickening. No, no, no!

He knew what was happening. The visions were trying to force their way back. He squeezed his eyes shut, pulling the covers tighter around him, hoping to fight it off. He needed to push them away, just for tonight. Not now. Just let me rest...

But then, piercing through the blackness of his eyelids, came the image-those glowing, menacing blue pupils. Cold, haunting, and unnerving, they stared at him, full of malice. Yukio's chest tightened, panic rising as he tried to breathe through it. He clenched his fists, trying to focus on anything but those eyes, but they were too vivid, too real.