Silvermist’s eyes drifted down, settling on the loose rocks scattered across the cavern floor. What was once soft, lush moss — vibrant and alive beneath her feet — had been crushed and torn apart, reduced to ragged patches clinging to broken stone.
The entire cavern now resembled a fractured labyrinth, divided into uneven compartnts by the fallen slabs of what had once been its mighty ceiling.
Towering boulders lay where there had once been open space, and jagged edges jutted out like broken teeth from the walls. The silence around her felt heavier now, pressing down with the weight of everything that had been lost in re monts.
She shifted her gaze to the magical pond, or at least what was left of it. The once luminous water still shimred faintly, but most of its body had been buried beneath rubble and debris.
What had once glowed like liquid stars now flickered weakly, as though struggling to stay alive. Still, her heart eased ever so slightly when she noticed small movents — delicate ripples in the water, little glimrs of light darting just beneath the surface.
The magical creatures that called this pond ho... at least most of them had survived. Sohow, they were still clinging to life despite the destruction.
Her lips pressed into a thin line. She let out a short, bitter laugh that echoed off the broken walls, sounding far more hollow than she’d intended.
"I’m really prone to destroying beautiful things, huh?" she muttered sarcastically, her voice trembling sowhere between humor and self-loathing.
Slowly, she tilted her head up toward the faint moonlight filtering through the gaping cracks in the cavern’s ceiling. The mists above were still swirling, curling downward now through the massive openings like ethereal fingers, creeping into the broken space below.
The cavern seed to breathe with them — rising, falling, sighing around her like an ancient being too tired to rebuild itself.
She lifted her hand, slowly stretching it out toward the moon, her fingers splayed wide. Through the gaps between them, she could just barely make out the silvery glow, soft and untouchable.
"I wish you had seen that, Frost," she whispered, her voice gentler now, carrying a note of pride beneath the sorrow. Her hand trembled slightly, but she didn’t lower it.
"I was able to wield that magic—the magic that I used to hurt you... b-but I didn’t hurt any of my companions this ti." Her breath hitched as emotion welled up. "Finally... I didn’t lose control. I’m actually c-capable of wielding it, ah?"
She closed her eyes for a mont, letting her arm fall back to her side. The cavern was quiet except for the soft drip of water and the faint hum of the creatures stirring beneath the broken pond.
"I know it wasn’t perfect," she murmured, her voice so soft it almost disappeared into the mist. "But I think... I think you would’ve been proud."
Her chest ached. She wanted to say it directly in Frost’s face but the motherfucker is nowhere to be found.
"I’m still scared. I don’t know what’s going to happen next. But... maybe I’m not as broken as everyone thinks."
She exhaled shakily, her breath catching sowhere between a sob and a laugh as she forced her eyes open once more, staring up at the jagged, broken sky.
"Wherever you are... I hope you’re watching," she whispered, her voice trembling but fierce, tears still clinging to her lashes. "Because I’m not done yet."
Her fists clenched at her sides. "You think you can hide from forever? Not a chance, mah man. And next ti I see you I’d latch on you, I swear to the Moon and back and to whoever brought us together and give us so tragic story, because what the fuck is this?"
She kicked a loose pebble which hit the cavern wall and dropped onto the water.
"I don’t care how deep you’ve buried yourself. I don’t care how far into the darkness you’ve sunk." Her voice rose, echoing through the hollow space. "I will find you... and... and I will kill you—" she paused and shook her head. "No, that’s not it."
And then she snapped a finger. "And when I do, I’ll personally drag your stubborn, cowardly ass out of whatever shadowy pit you’re hiding in — you son of a—"
Her voice cracked mid-curse, choked off by emotion, but she bit down on it, breathing hard. She swiped angrily at her tears, shaking her head as if clearing fog from her thoughts.
"I’m not giving up on you," she whispered hoarsely, her throat raw. "I’ll force you to keep your godforsaken promise to stay by my side no matter what!"
Silvermist turned to her right at the soft sound of footsteps crunching lightly on broken stone. She blinked when she saw Adeline approaching, the little girl’s face scrunched up as if trying — and failing — to hold back a giggle. Her hands were clasped behind her back, rocking slightly on her heels, eyes sparkling with mischief.
"I’m sorry," Adeline said, her voice lilting with amusent as she stopped a few paces away. "I didn’t an to interrupt your very dramatic monologue..." She cleared her throat in an exaggerated fashion and swatted the air like she was shooing away invisible tension.
"But I was curious. You and West were both brooding like characters from a tragic novel, so... did sothing happen between the two of you?"
Silvermist’s nose scrunched, and she shot the girl a withering look. "Don’t go asking questions like you’re a grown-up, Ade. It’s freakingout."
Adeline just shrugged, entirely unfazed. "That’s exactly what Sebastian said," she chirped, her grin widening.
Without another word, she wandered closer to the pond, her playful energy instantly softening as soon as her gaze landed on the dim, glowing water. Her breath caught audibly.
"They’re so cool," she breathed, eyes going wide with wonder. The magical creatures swimming beneath the broken surface shimred like tiny stars caught in liquid silver.
They twisted and darted between the boulders, their scales reflecting soft, iridescent colors that danced along the cavern walls.
Silvermist couldn’t help but smile, watching her sit cross-legged beside the edge of the water, completely srized. For a mont, the burdens weighing down her chest lifted just a little. It was rare to see Adeline act her age — to simply sit still, wide-eyed, and full of innocent wonder, instead of throwing sarcastic comnts or acting overly mature.
The sight ward sothing in Silvermist’s heart, a relief she hadn’t realized she needed.
Adeline let out a soft gasp as one of the glowing fish-like creatures rose near the surface, its long tendrils curling in the air before slipping back into the water.
She clapped her hands softly, eyes alight. "Do you think they understand ?" she whispered, glancing up at Silvermist with an earnestness that nearly made her laugh.
"I think they understand kindness," Silvermist said gently, settling down beside her. "And curiosity. So... probably, yes."
Adeline smiled quietly, resting her chin on her knees as she continued to watch the pond in silence.
"I know what you’re thinking."
Silvermist gasped softly at Adeline’s sudden statent, her breath catching in surprise. The little girl’s voice, though calm, carried a mass far beyond her years — steady and knowing, like she had unraveled a puzzle that even the grown-ups hadn’t dared to piece together.
"Earlier," Adeline continued, her gaze never leaving the shimring pond, "when Sebastian and Ezekiel fought those elves... their mana changed entirely."
Her tone was gentle but firm, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly as she watched the glowing creatures swirl gracefully beneath the water’s surface, weaving through the remaining weeds and soft currents.
"I know you felt it too, and probably saw it even clearer through West."
Silvermist’s brows knitted together, her heart beginning to pound.
Adeline finally looked up at her, her expression softer but serious. "Those three... they’re nothing like the rest of us, Sil. They harbor imnse magic. The kind of power that doesn’t just exist — it chooses. And that’s why they were sent with you, to accompany you here, to complete your mission in retrieving the Elixir."
Silvermist blinked, swallowing the growing lump in her throat as her mind raced.
"In perspective," Adeline went on, her voice dropping lower, more reflective, "the Guardians probably sent Mila and with you to provoke your innate magic." She gave a small, almost apologetic shrug.
"Desperation wakes sleeping power, Sil. That’s exactly why Ezekiel, Sebastian, and even West didn’t act right away when we were being chased. They were waiting... waiting for you to do sothing. And putting all of us in danger?" She exhaled softly. "It was a nudge. A cruel one, but a nudge nonetheless."
Adeline’s lips thinned into a line. "It’s an awful strategy, but..." She looked up again, her eyes honest and unwavering. "I think it worked."
Silvermist’s breath trembled. "Y-You an... they used you and Mila as bait?" Her voice cracked, horrified at the very idea.
Adeline tilted her head and gave a small, bittersweet smile. "I’d rather not put it that way," she said softly. "Let’s just say... Mila and I are tools to help you. You might dismiss this as nonsense because you’ve been betrayed and neglected for so long. But Mila and I are the closest ones to you. I know you already see us as your family. The ones you’d never abandon. The ones who would push you to protect — even when you were too scared to use your magic."
Silvermist’s chest tightened painfully. "And you... you knew about this?"
Adeline shook her head slowly, her hair falling across her face before she tucked it behind her ear. "No. I just figured it out now."
She let out a soft laugh, though there was no humor in it. "West acted cold and strange because he probably felt awful doing this to you... to ... to Mila. But think about it, Sil." Her eyes shone with quiet understanding. "It worked, didn’t it? And if that’s what it took, I have no objections."
She stood slowly, dusting off her uniform. Her small fra sohow seed taller as she looked up at Silvermist with a calm, resolute smile. "You are one of the Four Seasons Apprentices. You are gravely needed when the ti cos."
Silvermist’s eyes wobbled with unshed tears. She wanted to protest, to argue and seek more answers, but her voice wouldn’t co.
Adeline stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Trust yourself more, Sil." Her voice was soft but filled with conviction. "You are the WinterApprentice after all."
She started to walk toward the cavern’s exit, her small figure sohow carrying the weight of wisdom beyond her years. Just before stepping beyond the broken threshold, she turned one last ti, her smile kind and warm.
"Now, if you’re done sulking..." she teased gently, eyes twinkling, "I think we better get moving. I have a feeling that we’ll be facing more than just elves before we get our hands to that Elixir."
And with that, she disappeared into the shadows — leaving Silvermist standing there, heart full, mind whirling, and soul slowly stitching itself back together.
Silvermist let out a soft chuckle. "That kid... honestly," she muttered, her voice carrying both affection and amusent.
She lifted her gaze one final ti. A small smile tugged at her lips.
"She’s right," she thought. "I’m one of the Four Seasons Apprentices. Stronger than I think which I should be and apparently the so-called ’human staff’ of a brooding, sulking Winter Guardian — whatever that ridiculous title is supposed to an."
She inhaled deeply, her lungs filling with the cool, damp air of the cavern.
"Wait for , Frost," she whispered, the words carrying a quiet promise.
"I’ll show you how to conquer hatred, dissolve anger, and strip away all those dark emotions you’ve been absorbing from , all so you could protect in silence... even if it ant locking yourself away."
With one determined breath, she turned on her heel and trailed after Adeline.
When she reached the others, the sight that greeted her brought an awkward feeling. West was already there, standing stiff and silent beside the two unconscious elves, his gaze lost in thought, distant and heavy. He didn’t turn to acknowledge her — but then again, he didn’t need to.
Standing beside him were Sebastian and Ezekiel, both grinning. Ezekiel scratched the back of his head, avoiding her gaze entirely, while Sebastian offered his usual lopsided smirk.
Silvermist exhaled, her smile lingering. The road ahead was still uncertain... but for the first ti, she felt ready to walk it.
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