Chapitre 4: Chzapter 04: The Frozen Temple
The wind howled across the ice-covered plains, a constant, biting force that clawed at Kaden's skin through his heavy cloak. He could barely feel his fingers, despite the gloves he wore, and each breath felt like it was freezing in his lungs. But still, he pressed on. There was no turning back now.
Beside him, Geralt moved with the quiet precision of a predator, his eyes fixed on the distant structure rising out of the snow. The ancient temple loomed ahead, its massive stone walls half-buried under layers of ice and snow. It was like something out of a forgotten legend, untouched by time, preserved in the eternal frost of the Farlands.
Kaden's gaze drifted to theCompass in his hand. The needle remained steady, pointing directly at the temple's towering entrance, the pulsing energy from the compass growing stronger with each step. Whatever they were meant to find, it was inside.
Kaden turned to Geralt, his breath visible in the freezing air. "The compass is guiding us. It's pulling me toward something... powerful. This is where we're meant to go."
Geralt nodded, his face hard as ever. "Let's hope it's worth the risk."
But Kaden couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The weight of the cold pressed down on him, and though there was no movement in the blizzard, he felt as if the Farlands itself was waiting for them to make a mistake.
"It's just ahead," Kaden muttered, his voice barely audible over the wind.
Geralt didn't respond immediately. His sharp eyes scanned the horizon, taking in the landscape with the calculated gaze of a hunter. Finally, he nodded, his breath visible in the freezing air.
"Let's be careful," Geralt said, his voice low. "Something about this place feels... wrong."
Kaden couldn't argue with that. The closer they got to the temple, the colder it became—not just the physical cold, but something deeper, something that seemed to seep into his bones. TheCompass pulsed again in his hand, and Kaden could feel the familiar chill of his powers stirring inside him, responding to the overwhelming cold around them.
'This place... it's amplifying my power,' Kaden thought, his brow furrowing in concentration. It was subtle, but he could feel the energy inside him becoming more unstable, more difficult to control. His hand tingled with cold energy, and he had to focus to stop the black frost from spreading.
Geralt moved forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, ever watchful. "I hope this artifact is worth the trouble," he muttered, his voice barely above a growl.
Kaden glanced at him, sensing the tension. "It will be. We need it if we're going to get out of here."
Geralt grunted but didn't say anything more. The cold silence between them grew heavier as they approached the temple, the towering structure becoming clearer through the blizzard.
The temple entrance was massive, flanked by towering stone pillars covered in frost. Strange, ancient symbols were carved into the stone, but they were barely visible under the thick layers of ice. A heavy stone door stood between them and the interior, seemingly frozen shut.
Kaden stopped in front of the door, staring up at the ancient carvings. His breath came in short puffs of visible air, and his heart pounded in his chest. The Wyrd Compass continued to pulse in his hand, urging him forward.
"How do we get inside?" Geralt asked, his voice steady.
Kaden ran his hand along the door's surface, feeling the thick layer of ice beneath his fingers. "I can try to break the ice," he said, though uncertainty gnawed at him. His powers had been growing more difficult to control the deeper they ventured into the Farlands, and the cold here seemed to magnify the instability.
Geralt gave him a sharp look. "Don't push yourself too hard."
Kaden nodded, though the truth was, he wasn't sure how much longer he could hold back. The cold energy inside him was stirring, swirling like a storm, and the more he tried to contain it, the more it seemed to fight against him.
With a deep breath, Kaden raised his hand and focused on the cold. The black frost began to spread from his fingertips, coiling through the air like smoke. His hand tingled with icy energy, and he pressed it against the frozen stone door.
The ice responded immediately. It crackled and hissed as the black frost spread across its surface, breaking apart the layers of ice that had kept the door sealed for centuries. The cold surged through Kaden, but he gritted his teeth, focusing on controlling the energy.
The door shuddered as the ice melted away, and with a loud, echoing creak, it slowly swung open.
Geralt stepped forward, his sword drawn as he peered into the dark interior. "Stay alert."
Kaden followed him inside, his heart pounding. The air inside the temple was cold—colder than the outside, if that were even possible. The walls were lined with ancient stone carvings, but everything was covered in a thick layer of frost. The ceiling stretched high above them, and the narrow corridor ahead seemed to go on forever.
The Compass pulsed again, the needle pointing deeper into the temple.
"This way," Kaden said, his voice quiet.
They moved cautiously down the corridor, their footsteps echoing in the frozen silence. The cold seemed to press in on them from all sides, growing more intense with each step. Kaden could feel the icy energy inside him becoming harder to control, and he had to focus to keep the black frost from spreading beyond his control.
"What do you think this artifact is?" Kaden asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.
Geralt glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "No idea. But if it's buried this deep, it's probably something dangerous."
Kaden nodded, though his stomach churned with unease. The deeper they went, the more he could feel the weight of the Farlands pressing down on him, as if the land itself didn't want them there.
Suddenly, the corridor opened up into a massive chamber. At the center of the room stood a stone altar, and resting atop it was a small, intricately carved orb, shimmering with a faint blue light. Frost clung to the walls and floor, and the temperature dropped sharply as they entered the chamber.
Kaden's breath caught in his throat. This was it—the artifact they had come for.
Geralt stepped forward cautiously, his eyes scanning the chamber for any sign of danger. "Doesn't look like much," he muttered, though his tone was laced with caution.
Kaden approached the altar slowly, the Compass in his hand pulsing with increasing intensity. The energy inside the orb seemed to resonate with the compass, as if the two were connected somehow.
As he reached out to touch the orb, Geralt grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Wait."
Kaden looked at him, confused. "What is it?"
Geralt's eyes were sharp, his grip firm. "We don't know what that thing is. Be careful."
Kaden hesitated, his hand hovering over the orb. He could feel the cold radiating from it, even stronger than the icy energy inside him. The power was almost overwhelming, but it called to him, pulling him in.
"We have to take it," Kaden said, his voice barely above a whisper. "This is why we're here."
Geralt's gaze hardened, but he released Kaden's arm, taking a step back. "Do what you have to."
Taking a deep breath, Kaden reached out and wrapped his fingers around the orb. The moment his skin touched the surface, a shockwave of freezing energy surged through him, and the black frost inside him exploded out of control.
Kaden cried out, falling to his knees as the icy power overwhelmed him. The frost surged from his hands, spreading across the chamber, covering everything in a thick layer of black ice. His vision blurred as the cold consumed him, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Kaden!" Geralt shouted, but his voice was distant, muffled by the roaring storm inside Kaden's mind.
The black ice twisted and coiled, consuming everything in its path. Kaden tried to focus, tried to regain control, but the cold was too strong, too overwhelming. His body trembled as the frost spread further, threatening to consume him entirely.
Then, just as suddenly as it had started, the storm of frost receded. The black ice faded, leaving the chamber eerily silent.
Kaden gasped for breath, his body trembling. His hands were covered in frost, but the orb still pulsed faintly in his grip, the energy within it calming.
Geralt approached cautiously, his eyes scanning Kaden for any sign of injury. "You alright?"
Kaden nodded weakly, though he wasn't sure if he believed it. "Yeah... I'm fine."
But something was different. The icy energy inside him felt... stronger, more focused. The artifact had done something to him—changed him in some way. The black frost no longer seemed like a mere extension of his Devil Fruit powers; it felt alive, like a force pushing back against his control.
"We need to move," Geralt said, his voice urgent. "This place feels unstable."
Kaden pulled himself to his feet, his legs shaky. The temple walls seemed to groan under the weight of centuries of ice, and small cracks began to form in the stone above them. The air was thick with an unspoken tension, as if the temple itself was reacting to the removal of the artifact.
"We need to go—now," Geralt urged, already turning toward the exit.
Kaden followed him, clutching the orb tightly in his hand. They retraced their steps quickly, the oppressive cold pressing down on them with every step. TheCompass still pulsed faintly, its needle no longer pointing anywhere specific, but Kaden could feel the connection between it and the artifact in his grip.
The moment they reached the temple entrance, the ground shook violently beneath them. Kaden stumbled, catching himself against the stone wall as the sound of cracking ice echoed through the corridors behind them. The walls of the temple groaned as if they were about to collapse.
"Move!" Geralt shouted, grabbing Kaden's arm and pulling him toward the open door.
They burst out of the temple just as a section of the ceiling collapsed behind them, sending a cloud of snow and ice into the air. The temple entrance was sealed shut, buried under tons of debris.
Kaden fell to his knees in the snow, gasping for breath. His entire body felt numb, the cold seeping into his bones, but the artifact in his hand still pulsed with energy, a quiet reminder of the power it held.
Geralt stood over him, his expression grim. "That was too close."
Kaden nodded, too exhausted to speak. The black frost still clung to his skin, and he could feel the cold energy swirling inside him, more intense than ever. He had touched something ancient, something powerful, and now it was part of him.
But at what cost?
---
By the time they returned to Boros's workshop, the sun was beginning to set, casting a pale orange light over the snow-covered plains. The warmth of the fire inside the workshop was a welcome relief after the hours spent in the freezing wilderness.
Boros was sitting by the hearth, carving a small piece of wood. He didn't look up as they entered, but his gruff voice greeted them.
"You're back. That means you found it."
Kaden stepped forward, pulling the orb from his cloak. The faint blue light flickered in the dim firelight, casting eerie shadows across the room.
Boros finally looked up, his eyes narrowing as he studied the artifact. "Hmph. You actually survived."
Geralt crossed his arms, his expression dark. "We barely made it out."
Boros stood slowly, his eyes fixed on the orb. "Aye, the Farlands aren't kind to those who go looking for its secrets. But you got what you needed. That's all that matters."
Kaden held the orb out to him, his hand trembling slightly from the cold that still clung to him. "What is this thing?"
Boros took the orb, cradling it in his rough hands. He turned it over, examining the carvings and the faint light that pulsed within. "This... this is old. Ancient, even. From a time long before the Farlands became what they are now."
Kaden frowned. "What does it do?"
Boros's eyes gleamed in the firelight. "It amplifies power. Whatever strength you already have, this will make it stronger. But it's not without its risks. Power like this always comes with a price."
Kaden's heart pounded. He had felt the artifact's influence the moment he touched it, the overwhelming surge of power that had nearly consumed him. He wasn't sure if he could control it, but there was no denying that it had made him stronger.
"We've done our part," Geralt said, his tone firm. "Now you need to hold up yours. The boat."
Boros grunted, placing the orb carefully on the table beside him. "Aye, I'll finish your boat. But it'll take time."
Kaden glanced at Geralt, then back to Boros. "How long?"
Boros shrugged, already turning back to his work. "Depends on how the weather holds. A week, maybe more. But I'll get it done."
Geralt's frown deepened, but Kaden placed a hand on his arm. "We'll wait."
They had no choice. They needed that boat to leave the Farlands, and without it, they were trapped here. The Black Pearl—the ship Kaden envisioned—would come later, but for now, this small boat was their lifeline. Boros was their only hope of escape.
Boros eyed them for a moment, then turned back to the fire. "Make yourselves comfortable. You'll need your strength for the journey ahead. The Farlands won't let you go without a fight."
---
Later that night, as Geralt slept by the fire, Kaden stood outside the workshop, staring out into the vast, snow-covered expanse. The cold wind bit at his skin, but it wasn't the cold of the Farlands that unsettled him—it was the cold inside him.
He raised his hand, watching as the black frost coiled around his fingers, twisting and writhing like a living thing. The artifact had done something to him. It had changed him. His powers were stronger now, but they were also more dangerous. He could feel the cold gnawing at the edges of his control, threatening to consume him if he let his guard down.
Kaden clenched his fist, forcing the frost to recede. He had to stay in control. He couldn't let the cold take over. Not yet.
But even as he stood there, staring out at the frozen wasteland, he couldn't shake the feeling that the Farlands weren't finished with him. The land had tested him, pushed him to his limits, and he had survived.
But something told him that his journey wasn't over—not by a long shot.
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NotYggdra
NotYggdra 1 of 2 promised Chapters.
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