The Frostians

Chapter 20

The training grounds echoed with the sound of steel clashing against steel as Kristian and Tyr sparred in the distance, their movements sharp and fluid, but Alysandra’s mind was elsewhere. She sat under a grand oak tree beside Mimir, the ancient and wise figure who had accompanied their group for some time. His deep, knowing eyes glanced at the scene before them, but he seemed lost in his own thoughts, much like Alysandra.

The air was crisp, filled with the earthy scent of autumn leaves, but a certain heaviness hung between them. The secrets Kristian had revealed haunted Alysandra, and she could not help but feel the weight of his past more deeply than before.

“Mimir,” she began, her voice quiet, careful not to disturb the concentration of the warriors sparring. “You’ve lived longer than anyone here. You know more than you let on, don’t you?”

Mimir chuckled softly, his old bones creaking as he adjusted his position. “Child, I have seen more than you can imagine. Time holds many secrets, and not all are mine to tell.”

Alysandra hesitated before asking, “Do you know what happened to Kristian… a hundred years ago? Before he sealed Ken Z and himself away?”

Mimir’s gaze drifted toward Kristian as he dodged one of Tyr’s heavy blows, countering with a strike so swift, it seemed to blur. For a moment, Mimir said nothing, letting the clang of weapons fill the air before answering.

“Ah, Kristian’s tale is as tragic as it is noble,” Mimir sighed. “His battle with Ken Z was not just a clash of might—it was a conflict rooted in deep emotion, in betrayal, in love lost and twisted by jealousy. You know this already, don’t you?”

Alysandra nodded. “He told me about Ken Z, about how their friendship was torn apart because of Ella… how it led to the war that ravaged Usgard and Overland.”

“Yes,” Mimir said, his voice lowering as he continued. “But what you may not fully grasp is the toll it took on Kristian—not just physically, but spiritually. His decision to sacrifice everything, to imprison both Ken Z and himself, was not made lightly. It was a burden he carried alone, a burden that has weighed on him every day since his return.”

Alysandra’s brow furrowed. “But why did it have to be him? Why did he have to sacrifice everything?”

Mimir smiled faintly, his ancient eyes twinkling with a touch of sorrow. “It is the way of the heart, my dear. Kristian’s love for Ella—and for his people—was so deep that he would give up anything to protect them. But more than that, he believed it was his responsibility. He was the only one who could stop Ken Z, for they were bound together by fate, by a connection forged long before they ever met Ella.”

Alysandra’s breath caught in her throat. “What kind of connection?”

Mimir looked at her with a gravity that chilled her. “There are forces at work in this world that go beyond our understanding—forces of light and darkness, creation and destruction. Kristian and Ken Z, in their own way, represent these opposing forces. They were always destined to face each other, long before their rivalry over Ella. Their clash was inevitable.”

Alysandra shivered. “But Kristian… he’s not like Ken Z. He’s kind, selfless—how could they be tied together like that?”

“Fate is rarely kind,” Mimir said. “The same force that gave Kristian his power also gave Ken Z his. But while Kristian sought to use his strength for good, Ken Z’s jealousy twisted his heart, and in turn, his power.”

Alysandra sat back, trying to absorb all that Mimir had said. She thought of the battles yet to come, the dark force they still faced—the remnants of the Z Force. She looked again at Kristian, watching as he trained with Tyr, pushing himself harder with every strike, as if he were trying to outpace the shadows of his past.