Chapter 4

I felt my heart stirring in my chest.

I had longed to see the aurora borealis since my first visit to the ice springs, but every time we came, our visit never aligned with the days the aurora appeared. And since I hadn't fully recovered, I couldn't stay in the northern pole for long.

So, Ryan, Kael, and Earl made a pact with me. They said that they would accompany me to the northern pole and wait until the aurora finally revealed itself once I was completely healthy and recovered.

Earl and Kael leaned in, chiming, "This time, we'll build an igloo there and stay with you for as long as you want!"

I remained silent, my thoughts drifting to the very last dose of my specialized suppressant.

If I took it tomorrow night, I would have enough strength to make it to the northern pole and arrive just in time for the final day the ice springs were open to the public. Perhaps, if things turned out well, I wouldn't have to go to the sanatorium after all.

Maybe, then, I would be able to return to those good old days we once shared together.

Just then, Maya leaned closer and said, "What a pity I'm just not lucky enough to travel so far and see the world."

"Why don't you come along with us? It'll be more fun with more people around. The more the merrier!" Ryan said decisively, leaving me no room to refuse.

Noticing my silence, Kael reassured me gently, "Don't worry. This is a special trip just for the four of us. You'll be the center of our attention then."

Still, I gnawed on my lip, unsure whether I should believe him.

For the rest of the journey, the three of them went on and on, describing the splendor of the aurora to Maya, until Ryan let something slip amidst his excitement.

"We can even have a snowball fight with Maya when we're there! We won't have to spend the whole night stuck in an igloo watching over Evelyn and be bored to our deaths!"

As the words left his lips, a heavy silence fell over the campfire.

Ryan's expression stiffened the moment he realized what he just said, and he scrambled to explain himself.

"I-I was just joking…"

"No need to explain. I understand exactly what you meant," I said, quietly folding the map on which I'd been making notes.

Earl stepped in, trying to smooth things over. "We can all have a snowball fight together once Evelyn has recovered."

I simply retorted, "Have you all forgotten? If I exerted myself right after soaking in the ice springs, my heat toxin would just flare up again."

For the past nine years, whenever I emerged from the ice spring, they wouldn't even let me lift a finger for fear of triggering my symptoms again. If I wanted something done, I just had to tell them about it, and they'd have it done for me in no time.

But this time, Kael's expression darkened as he chided me.

"Must you always be such a killjoy?"

Maya stepped in to break up the argument, handing me a skewer of grilled meat with a bright smile on her face.

"Oh, come on! Isn't it enough that I'll be there to join in the snowball fight? Let's eat first!"

I took the skewer from her and saw that the meat was completely raw and still streaked with blood. Since consuming raw food would only accelerate the onset of the heat toxin, I handed the skewer back.

"You all go ahead and enjoy dinner."

Maya scratched her head with a sheepish look on her face. "Sorry, my bad. I've always just made do like this my whole life. I didn't realize you were so fragile and delicate, unlike me."

Kael chuckled disdainfully and said, "Just leave her be. She's just throwing a tantrum, trying to make things difficult for you on purpose."

The four of them walked off toward the other side of the campfire, leaving me behind by myself.

Before bed, I began packing my things for my departure the next day. Suddenly, Ryan, Kael, and Earl appeared before me rather awkwardly and hesitantly to apologize to me.

"Sorry for being so harsh with you tonight. We'll head to the ice springs first thing tomorrow morning."

"Is Maya coming too?" I asked.

They all fell silent, eyes cast downward.

As soon as they left, I took my last dose of suppressant. Then, I sent my coordinates to the Royal City Sanatorium, instructing them to come and pick me up immediately.

However, this time, the effects of the specialized medicine wore off unusually fast. By daybreak, the heat toxin had completely flared up, and a metallic, sweet taste surged in my throat. I began coughing up blood.

I cried out for help, but there was only the sound of the howling wind outside the tent.

I managed to pull myself into a sitting position and spotted a note lying on the table. It read, "The red fox that Maya wounded just showed up again. It won't get far since it's about to die, so we're going to go and catch it. We'll be back soon."

These were the same people who apologized to me last night and promised to bring me to the ice springs as soon as possible. And yet, they were also the ones who left me all alone at the campsite.

As I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, a commotion stirred outside the tent.

It was the vehicle from the Royal City Sanatorium, coming to pick me up. So, I hurriedly gathered a few items of clothing and departed the wilderness with them.

…

At noon, Ryan, Kael, Earl, and Maya finally returned to the campsite, full of excitement.

Ryan burst into my tent, carrying a live red fox with its limbs all bound up. He exclaimed, "Evelyn! We caught a little fox to keep you company on the way so you won't get bored—"

However, his joyful voice cut off abruptly.

The tent was empty, the bedding had long since grown cold, and all my belongings were gone. Only a stark, dried, and blackened pool of blood remained on the rug in the center of the tent.