The Frozen Ruins

After spending a night in the cave from the chilling blizzard, they got to their destination, the Frozen Ruins. At least, that is how they called it.

The Frozen Ruins were more magnificent than Vastarael had anticipated, even though it was only a ruined city.

Vast structures of ice and stone loomed over them, casting long shadows across the glimmering snow. The ruins were nestled against a sheer mountain face, their ancient walls hinting at stories of a once-thriving city now eerily devoid of life.

The morning sun reflected off the frost-covered structures, giving the entire place a hauntingly ethereal glow. There was no sign of movement. No animals, no wind, nothing but an oppressive silence broken only by the crunch of their footsteps.

Standing at the edge of the vast frozen city, Vastarael turned to Taryenne and Rienne, who were bundled tightly in their cloaks. Despite the chill that hung in the air, Vastarael seemed entirely unfazed, his black sleeveless hoodie leaving his arms bare to the biting cold.

Along his exposed skin, faintly glowing orange Heat Runes pulsed with warmth, their designs etched into his body like living art. His clothes also radiated warmth, an effect of runes woven seamlessly into the fabric by his mastery of Rune Drawing.

"Alright," Vastarael said, his voice breaking the silence. He held out his hand. "Give me your right hands."

The sisters exchanged curious glances before obliging. Taryenne extended her hand first, her glove removed to expose pale skin already pink from the cold. Rienne followed suit, her slender fingers trembling slightly as the chill bit at them.

Vastarael raised his index finger. He traced a glowing blue rune onto Taryenne's palm. The symbol shimmered softly, radiating a gentle warmth that spread through her entire arm. A second later, he repeated the process for Rienne, the same blue glow settling into her skin.

"These are Tracking Runes," he explained. He held his hand over Taryenne's for a moment, the warmth of his touch almost distracting her from his words.

"If you find yourself in danger or lost, activate the rune. A blue trail will appear in the air, leading me directly to you."

Taryenne looked down at the rune in her hand, tracing its edges with a mix of curiosity and amazement.

"This… it feels warm. Like it's alive."

"It is, in a way. Runes are tied to the essence of the user. This one is linked to me so I'll feel it if you activate it. No matter where you are, I'll find you."

Rienne's gaze flicked between her glowing hand and Vastarael's calm expression.

"You've thought of everything, haven't you?"

Vastarael straightened, the glowing Heat Runes on his arms pulsing faintly as he flexed his fingers.

"I've read too many novels about adventurers getting lost in places like this. If we're splitting up, I'm not taking any chances."

The sisters nodded, but their thoughts wandered. It wasn't the rune's warmth that captivated them, it was Vastarael himself.

Rienne caught herself staring and quickly looked away, her cheeks flushed. Taryenne's fingers curled slightly over the rune on her palm, as if savoring the lingering warmth of his touch. Neither of them dared to voice their thoughts, but they both knew they were thinking the same thing.

Unaware of—or perhaps deliberately ignoring—their reactions, Vastarael took a step back, surveying the ruins with a contemplative expression.

"We'll meet at the center of the city before the blizzard hits in the late afternoon. If the Refuge of Winter doesn't want to be found, there's no point searching blindly. She'll appear when she's ready."

The sisters nodded.

"Stay sharp. And remember, activate the rune if anything happens. Don't hesitate."

Without another word, the three of them parted ways, each eager to explore the frozen city in their own way. Vastarael strode confidently into the labyrinth of icy streets, his golden eyes scanning the ancient architecture for clues. Taryenne and Rienne lingered for a moment, watching his retreating figure until he disappeared into the shimmering haze of the ruins.

"Do you think we'll actually find her?" Rienne asked softly, her voice carrying a hint of uncertainty.

Taryenne glanced down at her glowing hand, her lips curving into a faint smile.

"Of course. She does love handsome men so I'm sure she'll show up soon."

The sisters exchanged a glance before turning and heading in opposite directions, their curiosity driving them deeper into the frozen expanse. As they disappeared into the vast ruins, the ancient city seemed to stir faintly, as if awakening to the presence of the living for the first time in centuries.

°°°°°

[You do know that you can use your Sapphire Bond to locate Arletta, right?]

"Yes but it would consume a lot of my energy if i do so, right?"

[Actually no. The Sapphire Bond is related to your soul so you'll use the Soul Energy from being an Aeterium.]

"Maybe later. For now, I just want to look around at this place. Maybe we'll find clues in here."

Standing atop the skeletal remains of a once-mighty tower, Vastarael gazed out over the Frozen Ruins.

The abandoned city stretched endlessly before him. It was a desolate maze of crumbling stone and frost-coated streets. Despite its silence, there was an undeniable beauty to the way the sunlight danced off the icy surfaces, casting refracted beams of light in every direction.

He exhaled, his breath visible in the cold air, his golden eyes narrowing as his vision sharpened and blurred like the lens of a camera.

His focus zoomed in on the sisters, Taryenne and Rienne, wandering through the remains of what appeared to be an old marketplace.

They were rummaging through dilapidated houses and carts, their figures dwarfed by the surrounding architecture. Taryenne lifted a rusted trinket from the snow, turning it over with mild interest, while Rienne crouched by a frozen chest, her face illuminated by faint curiosity.

"Treasure hunters now, are we?" Vastarael muttered under his breath, smirking slightly. "Not that it matters."

He turned his attention away, the thought of scavenging for remnants of the past failing to stir his interest. Instead, he drew in a deep breath and let his golden eyes shift into something far more profound.

Soul Vision.

As his ability activated, the world around him transformed. Colors faded, replaced by varying shades of black and white blueprints. The material forms of the buildings and streets were, barely there. Their shapes were like white traces, acting like blueprints on a black canvas.

However, he could see glowing orbs of light—souls—pulsated with an otherworldly brilliance.

Some were dim and flickering, like candles on the verge of burning out, while others blazed with intensity. Each soul left faint trails of light, which was an imprint of its past movements.

The silence of the city was now filled with faint whispers and echoes, fragments of thoughts and emotions clinging to the remnants of these spirits. Vastarael's enhanced vision traced the energy patterns scattered throughout the ruins, his focus moving instinctively toward stronger clusters.

Then he saw it.

A massive concentration of souls gathered in the heart of the city.

From his vantage point, it appeared as a swirling storm of light emanating from a cathedral, its ancient spires clawing toward the sky like skeletal hands. Vastarael's eyes widened in disbelief, his breath catching in his throat.

"There's no way…"

Hundreds—no, thousands—of souls were clustered there, their collective glow illuminating the cathedral like a beacon in the grey void. The energy radiating from the site was overwhelming, almost suffocating, and far too strong to be ignored.

Without hesitation, Vastarael leaped from the building.

His body moved with supernatural speed, his divine physique allowing him to cover incredible distances in seconds. The snow-covered rooftops blurred beneath him as he jumped from building to building, each landing silent despite his speed.

Frost kicked up as he navigated the maze-like city with ease, his glowing Heat Runes providing just enough warmth to stave off the lingering chill.

Each leap brought him closer to the cathedral. The swirling mass of souls grew brighter in his Soul Vision, their collective whispers becoming deafening. By the time he reached the wide plaza at the cathedral's entrance, he was practically sprinting. Vastarael stopped abruptly in the center of the plaza, his winter boots skidding slightly on the icy ground.

The cathedral loomed before him like a frozen giant, its stained-glass windows fractured and its heavy doors hanging slightly ajar. The air around it was unnaturally cold, colder than the rest of the city, and the weight of the souls within was almost oppressive.

"Found you."

Before he could step inside, a familiar voice cut through the air.

[Veneri, stop.]

He froze, his head snapping toward the sound.

Phaenora's holographic form materialized a few paces away, her luminescent blue figure flickering slightly against the dim backdrop of the plaza. Her arms were crossed and her expression was uncharacteristically stern.

He couldn't see her form but he could hear her voice.

"I don't need your theatrics right now, Phaenora," he said flatly, turning back toward the cathedral.

[You need them more than you realize. Do you have any idea what you're about to walk into?]

He didn't answer, his focus still locked on the glowing cathedral. His Soul Vision hadn't dissipated and the overwhelming presence of the souls inside made it hard to think of anything else.

[That place isn't what you think it is. It's not just a cathedral. It's a deathtrap. Those souls? They're not gathered there by choice. They're trapped.]

"Trapped by what?"

Phaenora hesitated, her gaze shifting toward the cathedral's looming silhouette.

[A being you don't want to cross paths with. Not yet. You're strong, but you're not invincible. If you go in there without a plan, you'll end up like the rest of them. Just another soul to add to the collection. And you have a very powerful soul.]

Her words sent a chill down his spine, but Vastarael didn't let it show.

"I don't have time to hesitate. If there's something inside, I need to deal with it. And... I feel like something is there."

[Reckless as always,] Phaenora muttered, shaking her head. [At least take a moment to think. If you rush in there blind, you'll be walking straight into its domain.]

He hesitated, his fists clenching at his sides. Every instinct told him to move forward, but Phaenora's warning lingered in his mind. For now, he remained rooted to the spot.

"These souls are trapped here for a reason and I know that if I ignore it, it will bite our asses before nightfall. So let's go."

[No! I'm scared of dark places!]

"Well suck it up. We're going in."

[Noooooo!]