The Frostians

Chapter 44

**Chapter 44: The War of Time**

In the heart of Vanaheim, tensions ran high as the remnants of the surviving realms prepared for the inevitable clash with Kristian Black. The shelter, once a place of safety, buzzed with the urgency of gathering allies and fortifying their defenses.

Kristian stood at the center of the room, his brow furrowed in thought. The weight of his return to the future pressed heavily on his shoulders. He glanced around at the faces of Ella, Koby, Bailey, Monique, Matthew, Raiden, and Blaire, all of whom had survived against all odds. Their eyes held a mix of hope and fear, each one bearing the scars of their battles.

“H-how are you so… alive?” Kristian’s voice was laced with confusion, disbelief contorting his features.

Koby, Kristian's long-time friend, gave a bitter smile. "It's because of Black," he replied quietly.

Kristian’s eyes narrowed. “How?”

Blaire turned her head towards Kristian, her face expressionless—a sign of deep trauma.

“It all begins with the battle against Ken Z. That battle... changed everything,” Blaire said quietly.

Koby stepped forward, his face serious. “It’s a long story. We were trying to escape Black’s wrath after we witnessed you defeat Ken Z in a brutal battle. That’s when everything changed. We saw your hair turn black, your eyes gleam with Bifrost energy… and then the realm twisted around us.”

Kristian clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. “That’s impossible! I would never—what I remember is making the ultimate sacrifice to bring peace. Nothing more.”

Before anyone could respond, the door creaked open. Kaisir stepped into the room, his sharp gaze sweeping the faces of those gathered. The weight of his presence was palpable, and when his eyes locked onto his father’s, a tense stillness fell over the room. The resemblance between the two was undeniable—both in appearance and in the gravitas that radiated from them.

“Father,” Kaisir said, his voice steady as he stepped closer. “We have much to discuss.”

Before Kristian could respond, the door opened again, and Alysandra entered the room. Her gaze was intense, her presence commanding. She was looking for answers, and the air around her crackled with unspoken tension. When her eyes met Kristian’s, something stirred between them—recognition, but also wariness.

“Is it really you?” Alysandra whispered, her voice barely audible. “I thought you were gone forever.”

Kristian’s heart tightened at the sight of her, memories of the past flooding back. “I came from the past. Kaisir brought me here because our son needs my help… and I’m here to help all of you.”

Raiden, now a young man, stepped forward, the weight of the moment heavy on his shoulders. His voice was calm, but his eyes betrayed the storm of emotions beneath. “You must be Alysandra,” he said, his tone soft but guarded. “I’ve heard about you. I didn’t know my father had… a future.”

Alysandra’s expression softened as she looked at Raiden, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. “And you must be Raiden, the son of Kristian and Ella. It’s strange meeting you like this.”

Kaisir, standing tall beside his father, glanced between the two women. The atmosphere was thick with both familiarity and uncertainty, their fates intertwined through time and blood. “We’re all connected,” he said, his voice steady but carrying a warning. “But Black’s darkness is still out there, looming over all of us. We need to focus on the present if we hope to stand a chance.”

Kristian nodded, his eyes hardening with resolve. “Kaisir is right. We have to prepare. We need allies, and we need to find a way to stop Black before he brings devastation to the realms.”