The Frostians

Chapter 37

**Chapter 37: A Son’s Longing**

The path to Vanaheim was a quiet one, though the air was filled with an unspoken tension. After Caurl, or rather Kaisir as he truly was, had warned them about Kristian Black's approach to Vanaheim, the group had wasted no time in preparing for the coming threat. But as they traveled through the dense forests and rugged terrain, Kaisir found himself lost in thought, the weight of his memories bearing down on him.

It had been so long since he had seen them—his parents, alive and well. His father, fierce and protective, with the same unwavering determination he had always admired. His mother, full of warmth and grace, with a sharp mind that always saw through to the truth. In his time, they were legends, heroes of a world long past. But here, they were simply Kristian and Alysandra, living their lives, unaware of the storm that was to come.

As he walked a few paces behind them, watching as Kristian and Alysandra spoke in hushed tones, exchanging smiles and glances, Kaisir’s chest tightened. His heart ached for the time he had lost, the years that had been taken from him—years where they should have been a family. He remembered the stories his mother had told him when he was young, of the battles they had fought, the love they shared. But those moments were nothing compared to what he saw now.

He missed it. He missed them. The simple, everyday moments they had as a family—the laughter, the small talks, the way his mother would look at his father with a mix of admiration and love that was rare and precious. And now, here he was, walking alongside them, but unable to tell them the truth. He was their son, but he couldn’t let them know. Not yet. Not while the threat of Kristian Black loomed so heavily over them all.

As the group walked, Alysandra glanced back, her sharp eyes always catching the smallest details. That’s when she noticed it—Caurl, or Kaisir, was falling behind slightly, his head lowered, shoulders tense. And… were those tears? Her heart softened as she saw the emotion on his face, his attempt to hold back the sobs that threatened to escape.

She slowed her pace, falling in step beside him. “Caurl?” she asked softly, her voice gentle and filled with concern. “Are you alright?”

Kaisir quickly wiped at his eyes, trying to hide the evidence of his tears, but it was too late. Alysandra had already seen. He forced a weak smile, shaking his head. “I’m fine… just… something in my eye.”

Alysandra wasn’t buying it. She knew sorrow when she saw it. She had lived through enough of her own to recognize the look of someone trying to bury their pain. “You don’t have to pretend with me,” she said softly, her voice full of compassion. “If something’s weighing on you, you can talk to me. We’re on the same side.”

Kaisir glanced at her, feeling the warmth in her voice, the maternal instinct that made his heart ache even more. For a brief moment, he almost let the truth spill out—almost told her everything. That he was her son, that he had come from the future, that he had traveled back through time to stop a greater evil from tearing their lives apart. But he swallowed the words, knowing it wasn’t time.

Instead, he shook his head again. “It’s just… hard, seeing you both like this.” His voice was shaky, filled with emotion he couldn’t quite control. “You remind me of someone.”

Alysandra raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Someone close to you?”

Kaisir nodded, his throat tight with the emotions he was holding back. “Yeah… very close.”

Alysandra’s heart broke a little as she watched him, the pain in his eyes so palpable, so raw. Whoever he had lost, it had clearly affected him deeply. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, offering what comfort she could. “I’m sorry, Caurl,” she said softly. “It’s never easy, losing someone you love.”