The icy temple loomed in silence, its grandeur both a testament to the ages past and a foreboding reminder of the power it contained. Zenian strode forward, his movements confident yet tinged with unease, his angelic entourage trailing closely behind him. The frost-coated walls of the temple glimmered faintly, reflecting the dim light of the Eternal Frostheart's aura, which seemed to pulse faintly even from afar. Each step Zenian took echoed through the vast hallways, the sound reverberating with an almost ominous cadence.
Trailing behind them were Ice Phoenix and Arfrotian. The guardian of the Eternal Frostheart appeared visibly frustrated, her brows furrowed as her icy blue eyes darted between the betrayer she had grudgingly allowed into her sanctum and the man who had convinced her to make this unprecedented concession.
For eons, Ice Phoenix had been the solitary protector of the divine spear, guarding it from those who sought to misuse its immense power. Yet now, she was standing by while Zenian, the very traitor who had caused untold suffering across Dementia and Rodentia, was about to touch it again. The sheer thought gnawed at her mind, and yet...
Her gaze flickered to Arfrotian. This man, enigmatic and terrifyingly perceptive, had somehow persuaded her to let this happen. Why? Why had she, a guardian who never wavered in her duty, allowed herself to be swayed? She couldn't comprehend it. His words replayed in her mind:
"Trust me, and I will not let anything happen to the Eternal Frostheart or to this omniverse."
His conviction had been undeniable, his voice calm yet powerful. But it wasn't just his words—it was his eyes. Those piercing blue eyes that seemed to hold an unfathomable depth, hiding countless secrets, and yet, in rare moments, revealing a glimmer of genuine empathy and understanding.
She felt her face grow warm as her thoughts strayed to the fleeting days she had known him. Though brief, those moments had been intense. Arfrotian had listened to her tragic tale, offering support without judgment. He had revealed his own story to her—a tragedy that mirrored hers in more ways than she wanted to admit. She could still recall the raw emotion in his voice when he spoke of his burdens, his losses. He was cold and calculated one moment, kind and understanding the next, and utterly terrifying when his monstrous side surfaced. Yet, there was a warmth beneath all those layers—a warmth that she found herself drawn to, even if she didn't understand why.
As they walked through the icy halls, her thoughts were interrupted by Arfrotian's voice.
"Hey, Ice Phoenix." His tone was casual, but there was an underlying sincerity in his words. "Thanks for trusting me on this. It means a lot, going out of your way as the guardian and actually fulfilling such a weird request."
Ice Phoenix huffed, crossing her arms. "Well, I don't know why I did it either. Honestly, I don't even fully trust you yet, but..." She hesitated, her voice softening slightly. "I suppose I saw something in you that made me feel... obligated. But don't think for a second I'll let you off the hook if something goes wrong."
Arfrotian chuckled lightly. "Fair enough. If this fails, you can have my head. Happy now?"
Her frustration mounted as she pressed him further. "Why are you doing this? You already said you know there's going to be another backlash. How do you plan to stop it? And why take such a risk?"
He fell silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke. "I'm doing this based on what I've guessed. But there's something I've been suspecting—something about Zenian and the Eternal Frostheart."
Ice Phoenix tilted her head, her frustration giving way to curiosity. "What do you mean?"
"I don't think the incident from eons ago—the freezing of 80% of the omniverse—was a backlash."
Her eyes widened in disbelief. "What are you saying? Of course, it was a backlash! Zenian failed to wield the Eternal Frostheart, and the spear retaliated!"
Arfrotian shook his head. "No. I think it was a test—a test Zenian didn't understand and avoided. If he had embraced it, the freezing ice would have turned him into an ice sculpture, yes, but I believe it was meant to transform him, not destroy him."
Ice Phoenix stopped in her tracks, staring at him in shock. "That's... impossible. I've guarded the Eternal Frostheart for eons, and I've always believed—" She faltered, her voice trailing off.
"Believed what everyone else did?" Arfrotian interrupted gently. "You've been carrying the weight of this tragedy for so long, but what if the truth was different? What if Zenian was actually worthy of the spear, but failed the test because he didn't understand it?"
Her mind reeled. Could it be true? Had she been wrong all this time? She couldn't dismiss Arfrotian's theory outright—not when she had already seen how terrifyingly sharp and perceptive he was.
"But if that's true," she said, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and confusion, "then I can't let him wield it again! I don't want to become his servant!"
Arfrotian placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. I don't think he'll succeed. But I need you to trust me, one last time."
She frowned, her frustration mounting again. "You keep asking for my trust, but you're not giving me any answers. What do you want me to do now?"
He hesitated for a moment, then spoke with a gravity that sent chills down her spine. "If I try to stop the backlash and fail... If I lose control of myself... I need you to kill me."
Her breath caught in her throat. "What?! Are you insane?"
"I'm serious," he said, his tone unwavering. "If I go berserk, I'll become a danger to everyone. You're the only one who can stop me. Promise me, Ice Phoenix."
She stared at him, her heart pounding in her chest. This man—this maddening, unpredictable, yet undeniably captivating man—was asking her to take his life if it came to that.
"I..." She struggled to find the words, her emotions a whirlwind of anger, fear, and something she couldn't quite name. "Fine. I'll do it. But you'd better not make me keep that promise, Arfrotian."
He smiled faintly. "I'll try my best."
As they reached the final chamber, Zenian stood before the great doors, his angels flanking him. The Eternal Frostheart's aura grew stronger, its icy energy seeping through the massive gates. Zenian glanced back at Arfrotian, his expression a mixture of suspicion and defiance.
"What is your game, Arfrotian?" Zenian demanded. "Why let me try this again? Is this some kind of trap?"
Arfrotian shrugged nonchalantly. "No trap. Just giving you a second chance. Unless you're too scared to take it?"
Zenian's pride flared, and without another word, he pushed the doors open and stepped inside.
Ice Phoenix watched him go, her heart heavy with dread. "Arfrotian... I hope you know what you're doing."
He didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the glowing light of the Eternal Frostheart ahead. "So do I," he murmured.