Cold. Unimaginable cold. The seemingly boundless tracts of ice and snow did not help.
I fucking hate the cold
"It's only for a moment." That liar of a father told me.
How ironical for the son of the most esteemed head of the ice clan to hate cold.
"You need to become one with the cold to use ice powers." He had once told me right after my fifteenth attempt.
Now on my twenty first I had already lost hope. The only thing I could think of now was how to escape this brutish frozen hell. I sat on the snow which was halfway up my ankles. Folded my legs and concentrated.
Not on ice powers. Of course not. Why would I want to control something as atrocious as Ice.
Instead I focused on myself.
Just how can I leave?
My body was at its limits. I could tell from my conspicuously trembling hands. But I knew full well that if I fainted here my torture would simply increase tomorrow.
I closed my eyes.
How to escape? How can I even possibly escape?
Run? No there is nowhere to run to. I'm not even in the real world right now.
My conscious was quickly fading.
Think! Think goddammit! Think!
"Shit."
I was shivering uncontrollably for the twenty first time in my life. Even with my increased resistance to cold due to my lineage, I could feel my life slowly seeping away.
I lied down on my back. Staring at the fake ceiling of the enclosure I was in. I could feel the disappointment exuding from Father. It was oddly satisfying. I pulled of an awry smile.
The 'teacher' next to him was there staring at my dying self emotionlessly. She moved closer to the microphone on the desk where she was sat.
"You know what's going to happen know, right."
I did, but my brain could not think about it.
I raised my hand unable to speak and outstretched my fingers, pointing my trembling palm toward her. And one of the five things I had learnt through my multiple experiences ; I channeled all my energy.
I passed out.
A familiar scent woke me up. 'Snow'. The scent I hated all so much.
Wait, snow! Why do I smell snow? Didn't I pass out? Shouldn't I be getting treatment.
"WAKE UP ALREADY!!!" A melodious voice sullied by absolute disgust rang into my ears.
I received a powerful blow to the ribs. I opened my eyes even though I already knew who it was.
A beautiful fairly tall middle aged woman with flowing pale blue hair and with crystal blue eyes to match was staring down at me. The disgust in her eyes was almost tangible.
Mother.
Wasn't she on a trip? Why was she here?
She raised her leg clearly intent on kicking me again. Already used to such a scene, I braced. I knew the repercussions that came with blocking so I did not dare.
"Odessa! Stop your foolish behaviors! Right now!" A deep voice rang seemingly filling the entire area we were in.
A heavy pressure bore down on my already sore body.
Did he just call Mother by name?
"Tsk! Why are you here!" I heard mother respond.
I couldn't even move let alone look at the monstrosity that showed up. But apparently the creature that showed up could control my mother.
Just who is he?
"How rude of you Aionios! To forget your own Grandpa!"
The pressure on my body increased I could feel my bones breaking. But that wasn't the main issue.
Did he just read my mind? Also what did he mean Grandpa? Didn't my grandpa die some few years back?
"Relax, I can't read your mind. Your face just makes it so obvious." He said blatantly lying.
He couldn't even see my face.
The pressure eased. I felt like I could finally breath again. I looked up. My heart stopped for a few seconds.
In front of me was an emaciated man who looked like he could barely stand. He was clad in baggy white pants with turquoise strips. His short white hair swayed in the wind. But most shockingly, he was shirtless! He was clearly no ordinary old man.
His deep blue eyes stared right into mine. I felt an uncomfortable feeling enter my body. I involuntarily trembled.
Death. I could feel imminent death in those eyes of his, but oddly enough I did not turn away. Actually I could not turn away. There was something about those eyes that seemed familiar and kept me trapped inside.
A thin smile escaped from the man's lips as he turned to face my mother.
"What a... unique child you have here." I felt slight traces of amazement and jealousy.
"Haaaaa..." I sighed as I tried to stand.
Before I could, my knees gave out and I was on the floor again.
The cold... wait cold?
I confirmed that I was indeed sat on snow but why didn't I feel cold? Maybe I was just numb. But how can that be? I've been doing this repeatedly for years and never once have I gotten numb from the cold.
Just what is this?
"You're both here I presume." Father's telltale voice resounded from behind me.
Was he there the whole time? Or did he just arrive?
I could not tell which was true.
"So, he could not manage, could he?" Mother said indifferently.
"I assume you all know the what must be done, right?" The old man responded while pointing at me.
Were they referring to me? And what exactly must be done?
They all turned to face me. I could feel their murderous intent.
"Oh no!" I said audibly.
My heart beat hastened. I got a sudden burst of energy and stood up. They were only slightly shocked but that was enough to create a delay in their inevitable attack. I channeled my energy once again in a desperate attempt to escape with at least my life.
Instead of an escape my vision distorted, my breathing became arduous. I felt as if the whole world was spinning. A burst of heat invaded my entire body. Almost as if I was being burnt alive.
"Ahhhhhhh!" I shouted "Make it stop."
I fell to my knees. The pain only increased with time.
"Ahahahahaha! I knew it!!" the old man shouted "Kid, tell them to go to hell!"
Those were the last word I heard before I passed out again. Today really was not my day.
Also what did he mean by that?
I opened my eyes to find myself in a dark seemingly endless space.
Where am I? Wasn't I just with...
The thought of my parents and that old man angered me to no end. Were they actually going to kill me.
Wait? Am I dead? No, I can't be! I refuse to believe that I survived those hellish days in the cold just to die like that. And what even was burning me?
"You who defies the laws of existence set by The Supreme." A sudden voice rang straight into my head.
"Who? Where?"
I looked around only to find the darkness staring back. Literally. The formerly dark and empty space was replaced with multiple eyeballs in all directions which all turned to stare at me. Rather than making me feel uncomfortable I felt rather pleased. Something about those eyes, just like the old man's, was familiar.
"Will you be the one to finally bring this world to an end?" A different voice rang straight into my head.
What! End the world!