Chapitre 54: The Frost Cliff
Leaving the Titan outpost behind, Grayson, Morven, and Katheren headed west toward the Ice Phoenix's nest—the Frost Cliff.
Before departing, Grayson entrusted the frozen Elyra to Seraphine, who had the genie kindle a blazing bonfire to provide some warmth to the owl, hoping to offer her a sliver of life amidst the unyielding ice.
Grayson had intended to make the journey alone, but Morven and Katheren insisted on accompanying him, especially Katheren, who felt indebted to Elyra and was eager to contribute to the little bird's rescue.
As they reached the foot of Phoenix Mountain, where Frost Cliff was located, night had already cloaked the sky. Grayson looked up at the towering peak, lit a cigar with quiet resolve, and took the first step upward.
The biting cold intensified as they ascended, with swirling snowflakes enveloping the mountain. Each step brought larger flakes and a sharper drop in temperature, frosting their hair and eyebrows.
"Wrap this around you, or you'll freeze," Morven urged, draping his blue and white fur-lined cloak over Katheren, who relented only after persistent coaxing and the relentless cold bite.
As Morven and Katheren supported each other up the mountain, they saw Grayson's figure ahead. His tattered black robe and shredded pants offered little protection against the cold, yet he didn't slow or show any signs of discomfort, pressing onward with urgency.
"The guy is like a monster," Morven muttered under his breath, which prompted Katheren, squinting against the blizzard, to ask, "What did you say?"
"Nothing, let's keep moving!" Urging Katheren on, Morven quickened their pace to catch up with Grayson, who was already standing before a massive cave entrance by the time they reached the top.
"This is it?" Morven asked, supporting Katheren behind Grayson, who nodded slightly, then looked back at Morven's thin clothing, now reddened and shivering in the wind.
"Are you okay? Don't push yourself, brother," Grayson asked with concern.
"We've come this far; I won't back down now! Let's go in!" Morven declared, his voice firm despite a runny nose.
"Thank you," Grayson said gratefully, seeing Morven and Katheren's determination. He led the way, stepping into the cave with Morven and Katheren close behind, leaving the howling wind and snow behind them.
Inside, darkness engulfed them, save for the silver sword in Grayson's hand, which now cast a light, sensing a potent creature nearby.
The blade's glow revealed walls glistening with crystal-clear ice, as if in a palace of glass. The deeper they ventured, the brighter the sword's light grew, paralleling their mounting tension.
Suddenly, Grayson stopped to pick something up from the ground—a strand of black hair.
"How is there human hair here?" Morven and Katheren exchanged glances, looking to Grayson for an explanation.
"The Titans mentioned someone using a boulder to smash the Ice Phoenix's egg, angering it against them. This must be from that person," Grayson theorized, examining the short length of the hair. "It's short; likely belonging to a man. And as we know, a powerful mage could achieve such a feat, which points to one suspect..."
"'Bloodhand' Wystan!" Katheren interjected.
"It seems he's the only suspect, trying to incite conflict between the Phoenix and the Titans for his gain," Grayson concluded, discarding the hair. "We must be cautious; he might still be nearby, his goal unachieved."
Grayson led the way with his sword, Katheren followed with her pistols at the ready, and Morven with his curved blade guarded the rear as they carefully made their way through the cave. Soon, they arrived at a snow-filled opening.
Peering out, Grayson saw the legendary Phoenix egg resting on an icy altar protruding from the cliff face, crowned with translucent tail feathers shimmering under the moonlight.
"It seems to be asleep. You two wait here; I'll go first."
Grayson snuffed out his cigar and stealthily approached the egg. Morven and Katheren hid in the entrance, Katheren's pistols ready.
Grayson reached out, gently touched one of the ice tail feathers, and quickly retracted his hand without any reaction from the egg. With a determined grasp, he plucked a feather, but as he turned to retreat, a boulder suddenly flew from the sky, aimed directly at him.
He rolled aside, dodging the boulder that crashed onto the Phoenix egg. Accompanied by a wrathful screech, the Ice Phoenix emerged in a burst of blue light, unfurling its wings and ascending into the sky.
"Damn it!" Grayson bolted for the cave entrance, the enraged Ice Phoenix behind him shooting two beams of white light that left trails of solid ice.
Racing towards the entrance, the icy beams close behind, Katheren emerged, firing her pistols skyward. The bullets struck the Phoenix, giving Grayson the chance to whisk her out of harm's way as the ice beams struck where she had stood.
"We've got what we came for, let's move!"
Grayson and his companions made a break through the cave. As they sprinted toward the entrance, the Ice Phoenix descended with a blast of cold air, knocking them to the ground.
"You vile thieves! I will freeze you here forever; you shall not escape!" The Ice Phoenix towered before them, slamming its talons down, its eyes preparing to unleash another deadly frost beam.
Grayson somersaulted up, pulling Katheren out of the path and shoving her toward Morven. Snatching a pistol from her belt, he opened fire, his silver bullets sparking against the Phoenix's icy plumage.
The infuriated Ice Phoenix targeted Grayson, who dodged with lightning speed, heading for the cave where Morven was sheltering Katheren.
"There's no escape!" boomed the Ice Phoenix.
Ahead, a thicket of sharp ice spears emerged from the ground, blocking their path like the bars of a prison.
Grayson and the others arrived at the ice barrier, hacking at the spears to no avail as their weapons became coated with frost.
"Accept your demise; this is the punishment you sought!"
The Ice Phoenix's angry voice resounded behind them as they turned to see its head extend into the cave, its eyes full of malice, glowing with a fierce, frosty brilliance.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone