Chapter 3: Departure

Chapter 3: Departure

"Round three, fight!"

Kaleb gained enough time to summon huge water and threw it into him. It's too wide to dodge. Frost strengthened his feet and crossed his arms to resist while steadying balance. Frost had soaked by the cold water. It was as if his skin inside was coated with the ice. He endured the chill and ran into Kaleb to return kicks and punches.

Kaleb was unable to dodge the humiliation. So he created a water explosion from below and blew both of them out. They were both now soaked and chilled. But their distance created is the perfect timing to cast a storm of ice.

The world was as if slowed down while giving his best to dodge the sharp fragments. But some still managed to near-missed cut his cheeks, arm, and thigh. The blood flowed out as he groaned in pain.

"Frost!" Winter wanted to run to the arena, but Barien blocked her way by his arms. She looked at Barien, who was creasing brows while watching his son suffer. Winter knew he was worried as well. But Barien gave trust to Frost, so she must too.

After the ice storm, Frost jumped up in front of Kaleb and kicked his head. Kaleb fell on the floor while gazing at the opponent's feet, waiting for it to land on the ground. And then he clenched his fist as the ice snared Frost's feet. Then he raised his other hand to create water from the grounded ice and plunged into Frost. The lad splashed on the ground and tried to stand up while trembling from the pain and cold.

Kaleb groaned to endure the dizziness and numbness of his body. He can't afford to lose to his powerless cousin. It would be a shame, especially that Winter was watching. He tried hard to carry the heaviness he felt until he could stand up. He then walked weakly to Frost and aimed his palm, threatening the opponent with his power.

"The winner--Kaleb Sansvania!" Barien announced enthusiastically, and the crowd cheered up.Kaleb smiled at Winter whose on the way in their direction. But Winter ignored his presence and, she kneeled in front of Frost. She then carried the lad into her arms. Kaleb suppressed his disappointment by staring blank at them and left to celebrate his victory with his friends.

"Frost! Frost!" Winter shouted while tapping the lad's cheeks.

"W-Winter. . ." Frost weakly responded without opening his eyes.

"Let him be. He must suffer more to be stronger." Barien had just come.

Winter ignored Barien and guided Frost to sit. She removed her friend's wet clothes and then gave her coat to cover Frost's slim white body. No one would come to help her friend, so she forced herself to carry the lad.

"What is the meaning of this?" An old woman's scream gathered the silence and attention of the crowd.

"Everyone, go home! We will talk about this tomorrow!" Gren shouted with anger. His voice almost cracks.

The youth groaned in disappointment. While Kaleb tried to blend in with the crowd, his Father, Gren, still noticed him.

"Kaleb?"

Kaleb slowly turned to his father.

Gren's eyes widened. "W-Why are you here? Since when did you disobey me!?"

"A-Ama--" Kaleb tried to explain but didn't know what to say. Until his knee weakened out of nervousness and guilt and fell from the fatigue. Gren's anger turned to worry, so he quickly carried his son. After that moment, he saw Barien and anticipated what had happened.

"What have you done with my son!? What kind of betrayal is this to our tribe, Barien!? You're always hard-headed!" He shouted, clenching his fist to melt the water on the floor. It rose in the air and was about to attack his brother when his mother stopped him.

"Gren!" Mira shouted and went in the middle. He calmly turned to Barien. "Barien, you should go home."

"Ma, aren't you going to scold him? Can't you see what is he teaching to children?" he shouted a protest.

"Anger weakens our spiritual connection," Mira replied shortly. She felt a torn piercing her heart every time she saw how her sons hated each other.

"You always say that when it's Barien! How about me? Didn't you just shout at me?" Gren's last words before he walked out with the son he was carrying.

"Frost, get up! Letting a girl see you weak? How shame!" Barien shouted to his son and left by only himself.

The only remaining were the three of them. Mira chuckled when she saw Winter without a coat carrying Frost. So she went near to them and made a winter chariot of ice. They all mounted in.

"Winter, can you finally do synchronize with an animal spirit just like I taught to you?"

Winter looked down and shook her head. "Is it really possible even not a chosen guardian?" She turned to Mira. "Or maybe you're just mistaken about me. Why don't you try to teach Kaleb, Lola? Or some adult among our tribe?"

Mira summoned two aqua dears from the fogs. It has ropes connected to the chariot and started to walk. The chariot began to move as well.

"I'm sure I'm not mistaken about you," Mira answered.

"By the way, Lola, how did you decide to choose who'll inherit your power?"

"I'm not the one who's deciding. It's the aqua spirit itself." Mira looked at Winter. "And it must be kept secret until I die."

"I understand." Winter placed his fist in his chest. "And I'm promised to protect him whatever will cause!" She stood up, feeling the breezes dancing her hair. "So I will try my best to synchronize with an animal spirit to be a big help and teach him too."

~

Frost woke up in a different room but, he didn't feel unfamiliar. When he stood up, he saw ice statues such as a drinking dear, hanging siamese fighting fish, and an owl resting on an ice branch connected to the ceiling. They were all nostalgic to him. Right. He also used to sleep in his grandmother's house when he was a child. These are his favorite animals.

"Are you regretting that moment?" Mira, sitting in the back, asked him.Frost clenched his fist, thinking about the past.

"Come here," Mira called him, so he followed and sat beside her. "Lie on my lap just what you always did when you were a child."

Frost smiled and leaned his head to her thighs. The old lady patted his head.

"Lola, I don't regret what I did." He looked at his grandmother. "Am I a bad person because of that?"

Mira smiled at him. "Do you think so?"

Frost back his stare on the ice owl.

"If being bad can save lives then. . . I'll accept the consequences," he answered hopelessly.

"You're such a kind person, Frost. I'm proud to have a grandchild like you."

Frost smiled thriftily. He doubt that his grandmother really understood what he was talking about because she always forgot things due elderly. But at least, he appreciated the comfort Mira was giving to him.

~

The sun had settled down when the moon rose up. Frost stayed at his home all day to pack up all his things. Until Winter went from the door. She was soaked in sweat while catching her breath.

"Frost! Your Mother!"

Frost stood up and calmly went outside. Winter watched him pass her until he stopped to turn back.

"Aren't you coming?" Frost asked as if nothing had happened.

Winter looked down. "I see. It's obvious, though."

They looked at each other and laughed.

They finally arrived at the space they used to combat. But instead of witnessing a fighting scene, the crowd welcomed them. Behind them were roasted venison, grilled fish, and vegetable salad on a long wood table.

"Happy Birthday, Frost!" The crowd said. In front of them were his parents, giving him warm smiles.

"So this will be my last day, huh?" Frost whispered, and tears ran down his cheeks. His chest felt heavy, so he ran to his mother and hugged her tightly.

"If it's me, I bet you won't even come to rush me a hug," his father jested.

Frost turned to his father madly. "It's not that!" Then he embraced Barien and cried on its shoulder.

"Even you're a bad parent, I still love you, Ama!"

Barien was frozen. He tried hard to hold his tears, but they escaped.

"I'm sorry. I wished I made your remaining time to be memorable."

Frost smiled. "You just did the right thing, Ama. I'm going outside the world, so you trained me well."

"Why don't we eat first?" The old Mira interrupted them.

Guitars, drums, and maracas started to play their tribal celebration song. The dancers started their performance around the campfire. After it was done, silence wiped their place and gave attention to Frost.

Barien started to tell the story about Frost since he was born, including how he wet his bed at thirteen years old. Laughs echoed every corner while Frost's cheeks were red. He stole a look at Winter, and he was caught. He quickly removed his eyes from her and sighed. He's sure Winter was now turned off.

The storytelling continued until everyone became solemn, realizing that Frost's history would end on this celebration of his 18th birthday. This will be the last moment they can see Frost.

Barien stood up, finishing the storytelling. It's almost time. He whistled to call the horse, and it arrived as expected.

Frost rode the horse and looked at them, waving his hands for a second before whipping the horse to start. They all waved back.

"He's just 10 years old back then. He doesn't deserve this," Ferra cried.

Barien hugged her. "I know," he replied and let her cry in his arms.

A tear escaped from Winter's tears, and Kaleb held his hands.

"Where is he going this night? He might catch a cold," Mira asked with her malfunctioning memory.

"Don't worry, he will be okay. "He's a strong kid," Gren next to her told her, and he looked to his brother. "My brother is a bright man. Just a stubborn man." He smiled.

When Frost has gone far away, his face has turned blank. He tilted up his head and looked at the skies. A tear ran in his cheek while watching the shoal of stars circling spirally.

"They say everything happens for a reason. But the reality is, these things are just the consequences we need to pay for our wrong decisions," Frost said to himself.

Suddenly, the smell of ash ruined his moment. He sniffed deeply to confirm it. He looked around, trying to find where it came from. And then he saw a huge fire devouring a part of the forest in his back--Wait--

It's no other than but his village.