Jack walked through the forest, his blue eyes slightly obscured by the shadow of his hood. His staff was tied to his back, and in his right hand lay his silver dagger. He turned sharply, scanning the trees. A small shadow leapt from one branch to another, drawing Jack's sharp gaze to it.
Wait...
Wait...
Now!
He flung his dagger like a small spear. It struck the shadow cleanly—revealing a white rabbit with red eyes. It squealed as it fell to the snow, staining it crimson.
Jack sighed.
"Finally... something other than fish."
He prepared a fire, placing the now skinned rabbit on a stick above the flames. The fire crackled in the middle of the snowy forest, its warmth modest but steady. Jack sat down beside it, cleaning his dagger.
I'm already quite deep in the forest...
He wiped the bloodstained blade with a towel before sheathing it. Leaning back on his hands, he looked up at the sky.
I'll abstain from using my powers for now...
It seemed like he noticed something last time.
I'm sure we'll run into each other soon.
Jack took the meat off the fire, letting it cool slightly before taking a bite. The crisp rabbit meat eased his thoughts, if only briefly.
After finishing the meal, he slowly packed his things into his backpack, preparing to move again.
Now, where should I head...
Maybe I should look near a cave...
He pulled out his compass, inspecting it with focused intent.
I asked the villagers all about the forest... they should be around—
Here!
He took his first step forward, eyes steady.
The Yeti... I need to find it.
Determination filled Jack's gaze. He wandered for hours, eventually reaching an area dense with caves. Jack closed his eyes, trying to sense heat—or more accurately, the absence of cold—within any of the dark caverns. Allowing himself a brief use of his power, he scanned the area.
The path led him to a massive snowy mountain. Most caves felt the same, but one of them... one of them was just slightly less cold. His eyes narrowed.
That one...
Could there be people inside?
No, it's more like... someone was there.
Cautiously, Jack approached the cave. He unfastened his staff from his back, holding it in hand. His eyes fixed on the entrance, suspicion etched into his face.
Someone...
Something... was here.
He pulled out his backpack and lit a torch with the alcohol he had brought from the village. With his staff in one hand and the torch in the other, he stepped inside, careful not to use any more power than necessary.
The floor was solid ice. The walls, rough gray stone.
Jack moved deeper, the cave echoing his every step. At first, it seemed empty. But as he reached the far end, his torch illuminated something strange: a door.
A door made of ice.
Its handle glowed with a soft white hue, almost as if it were calling to him.
What the...
Then a voice entered his mind—ethereal and cold.
"Approach, child of frost... Open the door..."
Jack hesitated, heart thudding in his chest. Curiosity burned in his eyes.
I can't let this go... not anymore.
He grasped the icy handle and slowly opened the door. A cold breeze blasted outward, throwing his hood back and extinguishing his torch. His pale face was now exposed to the frigid air.
Inside was a dark chamber made of glistening ice. In the center stood an altar glowing with a faint blue light. Several chairs circled the room like an eerie council.
Jack's eyes widened.
What the—
There, lying atop the altar, was the Yeti. Bloodied. Nearly cleaved in half.
Its eyes opened, locking onto Jack's.
The beast roared, its voice shaking the ice-laden chamber.
"CHILD OF FROST... LEAVE! YOU CAN'T—"
An ice sword plunged into the Yeti's face, silencing him in an instant.
Jack stepped back, sweating, his staff raised in a defensive stance.
"WHO IS THERE!?"
Then, the voice returned. Only this time it echoed not to his mind but through the ice. This time, more casual... yet sinister.
"Monsters, am I right?"
Footsteps echoed—sharp, ringing out like shattering crystal. From the shadows, something approached the altar. A hand made of ice grasped the frozen sword embedded in the Yeti's skull and pulled it free with ease.
Jack's legs tensed. He trembled slightly, taking a step back.
What is tha—
Before the thought could finish, the figure revealed itself.
It was tall and slender, with long hair that reached its waist. A man... no, a being made entirely of ice. His face as sharp as his eyes, which gave off a feeling of endless cold. He wore armor that matched his skin, with patterns that surrounded it.
But it wasn't like Jack's ice.
This ice was white—pure, radiant, and deathly cold. Its very presence sucked the warmth from the air.
Jack stared, frozen in place. A chill ran through his spine, making him tremble in fear—not from the cold, but from something deeper.
His voice cracked as he took a step back, gripping his staff tightly.
"Who are you?!" he demanded. "Reveal your name!"
The figure didn't flinch. His steps echoed across the ice as he moved closer to the altar, each one precise and effortless.
"My name?" the voice echoed in the air—smooth, powerful, and ancient.
"I am the Monarch of Winter."
"I am the willer of frost, the future sole commander of all that is cold."
He tilted his head slightly; ice crystals fell from his form like falling snow.
"But i…" "I already know who you are… Frost born"