The wind had settled.
But not for long.
Kael walked without looking back.
The frozen valley behind him faded into distance, but not from his thoughts.
"She hasn't changed," he said quietly.
A voice answered—
"Wow. That's cold."
Kael stopped.
A figure sat casually on a rock ahead, swinging one leg as if he had been there forever.
"You walk into Cryomix territory, almost get yourself frozen to death, and that's all you say?"
Kael didn't look surprised.
"You were following me."
The boy grinned.
"Following? No. Observing. Big difference."
He jumped down lightly.
Riven.
Younger.
Sharpened features.
Eyes full of life—too much life for someone who belonged to something that shouldn't exist.
"You took longer than expected," Kael said.
Riven shrugged.
"I got distracted."
A pause.
"There was a guy trying to kill me. I let him try for a bit."
Kael gave him a look.
Riven raised his hands.
"What? I was bored."
Silence.
Then—
"You met her," Riven said suddenly.
Kael didn't answer.
Riven's grin widened.
"Oh, you definitely met her."
Still no response.
"That bad, huh?"
Kael walked past him.
Riven turned and followed instantly.
"So… how many seconds did you last?"
No reply.
"Did she try to kill you immediately or after talking?"
Silence.
Riven leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"…Did you like it?"
Kael stopped.
Riven almost walked into him.
"Careful," Kael said calmly.
Riven stepped back, smiling.
"There it is."
Kael turned slightly.
"She's marked."
Riven's expression changed.
Just a little.
Serious.
"For real?"
Kael nodded.
"And she remembers something."
Riven exhaled slowly.
"Well… that's not good."
A pause.
"Or maybe it is."
Kael looked ahead.
"The seal is breaking."
Riven scratched his head.
"Yeah, I noticed. Kind of hard to miss a giant ancient thing crawling out of the earth."
Silence again.
Then—
Riven smirked.
"So… are we saving the world or destroying it?"
Kael didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"Neither."
Riven blinked.
"…That sounds complicated."
Kael continued walking.
"It is."
Riven followed, hands behind his head.
"Nice. I hate simple things anyway."
They walked side by side now.
One silent.
One smiling.
Opposites.
But perfectly aligned.
And far behind them—
In the frozen valley—
She stood still.
Watching the place where Kael had been.
Her blade slowly faded.
Her mind—
Not at peace.
"…He wasn't alone," she whispered.
Because even without seeing him—
She had felt it.
A second presence.
Lighter.
But just as dangerous.
And somewhere in the distance—
Riven suddenly looked back.
His smile faded for a split second.
"…She noticed me," he said quietly.
Kael didn't stop.
"I know."
And just like that—
The game became more interesting.
Not just war.
Not just memory.
But people.
Clashing.
Changing.
And slowly—
Getting closer to a truth none of them were ready for.