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21 • LARICE
LARICE KEPT ON LOSING every single round. Why? She was too distracted by those eyes … those stupid, golden eyes staring at her. Seriously, what’s his problem? It made her extremely conscious of her face, wondering if something was wrong with it.
Every time she caught Raeherys watching her, he would avoid her eyes immediately and pretend to look at the skies, while speaking with his older friend or father or whoever that old man was. She swore she would stab those eyes with Gray Viper if he wouldn’t stop staring.
Sweat trickled on her face, down to her neck as her breath shortened, her throat drying out. Larice had been sparring with Sevyh for several rounds now, as she wanted to master her ability in creating ice weapons. So far, she could already cast much quicker than before. She also found out that it must come with two conditions. One, her blood flow had to be fast enough, as the quicker the blood flowed, the easier and faster it would be f
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A Symphony of Frost and Flame 22 • RAEHERYS
TWILIGHT FELL INTO DUSK, and they began their climb on the Shajara Ranges, with Sevyh leading the group. Raeherys found the carved stairs almost similar to the ones in Volcron, except that the steep path here zigzagged over the course towards the top. Too dark it was, however, for these humans to see, so they had to go slowly. The chilling breeze of nightfall blew colder and stronger as they ascended. Pine trees and spruces and cedars filled the slope of the mountains. Raeherys could not avoid looking up ahead at Estevan, who was helping Larice. It made him frustrated all of a sudden. He could not point out why, but somehow he hated seeing them together. And he hated she was still avoiding him while staying close to that chronicler. Earlier that time, a broken step of the stairs made her foot to slip, causing her to fall backward. Good thing Raeherys behind caught her by his arms. “Are you okay?” She immediately backed aw
A Symphony of Frost and Flame 23 • LARICE
LARICE HASTED THROUGH THE LONG TUNNEL to go after the scout. She must not let him reach the left tower. “Those stupid beasts!” Larice whispered, panting. What was he thinking? Or was it his father who had told him to attack? After all, as what she had noticed so far; he was like a puppet, following whatever his father would tell him to do. Dependence was only for the weak. Those who could not stand on their own should’ve stayed as babies, sucking their mother’s teats. Larice chased the hunter, entering the left archway at the end, then through a dark, narrow tunnel, then a few turns of left and right, until she reached the spiral staircases leading up to the top of the tower. But the scout wasn’t there anymore when she searched around. He could’ve not been that fast enough to reach the top. Larice listened carefully. The piercing clangs of steels echoed from the gatehouse. Other than that, she could hear nothing else except her strong p
A Symphony of Frost and Flame 24 • RAEHERYS
THE BATTLE LASTED LITTLE LONG since Raeherys and Sevyh had made it in time to finish the hunters, claiming the bastion as their own for tonight. The ones who were alive they captured and locked up at the dungeons of the bastion—and the rest, who were dead, they piled up inside an empty chamber. After stealing all the captives’ money, Sevyh ventured out ahead to scout if the path was clear towards the second bastion. Meanwhile, Raeherys, Fetyr, and Estevan stayed inside to wait, all seated in front of the fireplace. The woods crackled. Raeherys stared blankly at the dancing flames, paying little attention to their ongoing discussion. But after a time, Estevan’s sudden call awoke him. “You seem troubled, man,” said Estevan. “You okay?” Raeherys shifted his blank gaze at Estevan. A look of distaste was all he could give to the chronicler before facing the fireplace again. “Carry on. I’m listening.” “Okay, so since we’re talking about gods,” said
A Symphony of Frost and Flame 25 • LARICE
A SUSPICIOUS GAZE WAS ALL she could give to Raeherys, wondering what he wanted to achieve by holding her hand. But if he ever planned to blow even a tiny spark of ember at her, she swore she would push him off the edge—if not, jump off herself—no second thoughts. When Raeherys asked her again, she pursed her lips, glanced at his hand upfront, and then returned her gaze towards his face. “I’m not stupid, beast,” she said. “I know what you’re trying to do.” Raeherys gave her a puzzled look, blinking his eyes—but when he realized what she’d meant, he sighed. “I’m not going to burn your hand, I promise.” “I don’t trust you.” “You don’t trust anyone.” “Then why are you still asking?” His golden eyes became serious, looking straight at her. “I’m not asking you to trust me. I’m only asking you to hold my hand for a second.” Her eyes fell to his hand once again. Nervous. She had never held a guy’s hand for so long. The last tim
A Symphony of Frost and Flame 26 • RAEHERYS
THUNDER FLASHED AND RUMBLED deep through the clouds of dusk. Rain was coming. But Raeherys could feel it … something else was different in the storm approaching. War … blood … fire. It would all happen soon—at the coming of the Phoenix Comet. Raeherys glanced at Fetyr, whose troubled face had revealed the Lawdra had the same feeling. They had to make it through these next two bastions as soon as possible for them to reach Sunvar and obtain the orb. It was all he needed to claim the war, end the conflict, and protect his realm. A few hours after they had left the first bastion, Sevyh took Raeherys and Fetyr back into reminding them about their foolish behaviors. The sellsword scolded them with a tone of exasperation, showing the bruises and cuts on his skin, traces of blood and dirt all over his garment. He must have gone through worse than what Raeherys had thought. “I will never do it next time. I swear I’ll be more mindful of my actions,” said Raeherys.
A Symphony of Frost and Flame 27 • LARICE
LARICE HAD NO IDEA why she was smiling, as it had been a very long time. A smile was like her mask she had long lost ever since she had been a child. It brightened up her dark world in just a slight, as to how a tiny candle burned amidst the darkest winter night. Countless blinking stars fell closer as if she could already reach out to catch one. It was more than she could’ve ever dreamed of. It reminded her of the time when she’s still in Sunvar City. Once every fortnight, the five of them; Faran, her three children, and Larice … had always played and joked and gossiped, lying on a blanket upon the roof of the inn while gazing at the stars. The sweet memory made her smile, but then she frowned after recalling the incident she had caused. “What’s wrong?” Raeherys asked when he seemed to notice the change in her expression. “Nothing,” she said. “I just remembered something …” she trailed off, then she shook her head, “Forget it. Not that it matters now, anyway
A Symphony of Frost and Flame 28 • RAEHERYS
A LONG, REGRETFUL SILENCE lingered on the dead chamber, like a forest night without chirping crickets, or an ocean without waves, or a chest without heartbeats. Everything was as quiet as a windless night. Perhaps his ears had gotten deaf. Perhaps his breathing had stopped. Perhaps his heart had become stone. Raeherys Alagor had never known fear more than he had ever had before. Eventually, Larice rose to her feet, a mixed look of shock and confusion painted in her darkened face. “The … third bastion,” she said when she found her voice, “That’s where they must be heading now … If they make it to Shavath, it’ll all be over. We have to go after them.” “I can’t, Larice,” replied Raeherys, his voice trembling, “I can’t go.” “For god’s sake, can you just … not act stupid this time?” she said. “Our friends are in danger!” Raeherys’ vision blurred as tears suddenly flooded his eyes. “I can’t go,” he repeated distractedly, eyes dazed unto the floor. “Fetyr is
A Symphony of Frost and Flame 29 • LARICE
The wind smelled of terror and threat. As Larice and Raeherys sped up, she could feel her heart striking faster and faster against her chest. The third bastion was only a few minutes away, and she suspected that there would be more hunters, including Grand Hunter Lorath, waiting for them. But then she thought; they couldn’t just storm the bastion head-on with no plans. So she tried to think of the best way to pull this off.“You’re joking,” Raeherys said after hearing out her plan.“Do I look like I’m joking?” she replied. “I’m well aware of Grand Lorath’s sword style. I’ve seen him fight in a tournament before in Shavath.”He looked at her with worry. “But your arm …”“I can still move it a bit,” Larice said, though the pain would severe, she had to endure. “I can hold him off while you go and save them. The problem now is t
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