What Kazimir saw next was ice.
A colossal chamber, its walls and ceiling coated in thick frost, stretched out before him. The very air pouring from the room hit like a knife's edge, far colder than even the harshest winters he had ever endured. Instinctively, he scrambled behind Selis, seeking shelter from the biting chill.
His breath came in short gasps, his body trembling violently. His hair stiffened as frost crept along the strands.
Selis glanced at him, her sharp expression softening.
"I forgot, you have yet to fully adapt to the castle's power."
Without hesitation, she unclasped her cape and draped it over his shoulders.
"This should keep the cold at bay."
The warmth was immediate. The cape blocked out the frigid air entirely, as if wrapping him in an invisible barrier.
Kazimir blinked, stunned not only by its effectiveness but also by its sheer size. On Selis, the garment barely reached her knees, its width constrained by her broad frame. But on him, it swallowed him whole, trailing along the ground like the robes of a king.
Still, even with the cape shielding him, he remained cautious, following closely behind Selis as she stepped inside.
The room was vast, lined with trays stacked with an astonishing variety of provisions. From the ceiling hung massive slabs of frozen meat, so large, so strange in shape that Kazimir couldn't begin to guess what creatures they had once belonged to.
The shelves and trays held fruits and vegetables in every imaginable colour and size, many of which he had never seen before, their alien forms preserved perfectly in the icy air.
Selis strode toward one of the hanging slabs, effortlessly drawing a knife and slicing off a thick cut. She moved with repeated efficiency, gathering a selection of peculiar vegetables and bundles of dried herbs before turning back toward the door.
Kazimir followed, glancing warily over his shoulder at the frost-covered chamber.
"How cold is it in there?" he asked, unable to suppress his curiosity.
Selis barely glanced at him as she walked. "I don't know the exact temperature," she admitted. "But I know it is cold enough to preserve food indefinitely."
She placed the ingredients on the table, rolling up her sleeves before methodically washing them.
Kazimir hesitated, watching her hands move with precise, almost military efficiency before finally asking, "So… what are you making?"
Still focused on her task, Selis responded in her usual measured tone.
"Food."
Kazimir raised an eyebrow. "That's not an answer."
"I don't waste time naming things."
He fell silent, watching as she continued her work.
Once the vegetables were cleaned, she tossed them into an iron pan. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she conjured a small white flame in her palm, pressing it against the stove.
The carved runes along the stove's surface flickered to life, igniting with ghostly white fire.
Kazimir's eyes widened.
Selis, unfazed, moved to the meat, slicing it into thick portions before sprinkling a generous mix of spices from several unlabelled jars. She set a separate pan on another stove, poured in a shimmering oil, and laid the meat down, the sizzling sound filling the kitchen.
The scent was intoxicating.
As the food cooked, she retrieved two porcelain plates, crystal goblets, and polished silver utensils, setting them carefully on the table with a precision that spoke of ritual, not habit.
Then, she reached for a bottle of silver liquid from a high shelf, pouring the shimmering contents into the goblets.
She handed one to Kazimir.
"What is this?" he asked, eyeing the liquid with uncertainty.
"Wine," she replied simply. Then, as if reading his mind, she added, "Don't concern yourself with the alcohol. Your body is different now, it will take much more than this to affect you."
She turned off the stoves and plated the food with the same deliberate elegance as before. Then, lifting her glass, she said in a steady, even voice,
"To Umbrax."
Kazimir hesitated only briefly before mirroring the motion. Their glasses met with a soft clink.
Selis downed hers in a single gulp and began eating.
Kazimir lifted the goblet to his lips, taking a tentative sip.
The wine tasted better than anything he ever had.
He hesitated only a moment longer before finally taking a bite of the food.
The taste was beyond anything he had ever experienced. The meat, tender and rich, melted in his mouth, its flavours deepened by the unfamiliar yet tantalizing spices. The vegetables, vibrant and crisp, carried hints of sweetness and warmth.
Selis, noticing his expression, allowed a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
"You like it?"
Kazimir swallowed, nodding in disbelief. "Like it? This is the best food I've ever eaten."
At that, her smile widened slightly. "Then you must have never had real food before."
They ate in comfortable silence, finishing their meal before rising from the table.
Kazimir glanced around. "Don't we need to clean up?"
Selis barely spared him a glance as she adjusted her armor.
"No. The housekeepers are dreadful cooks but excellent cleaners."
As Kazimir stood, he realized he was still wearing the cape. Carefully, he removed it and handed it back to her.
"Thank you for letting me use it."
Selis turned, accepting the garment and fastening it over her shoulders once more.
"You'll need one of your own if you ever intend to leave the castle," she remarked. "Come, I will make one that fits you."
Without waiting for his response, she started toward the door.
Kazimir followed, their footsteps echoing through the silent halls.
His gaze drifted toward the windows, their heavy curtains still drawn, concealing whatever lay beyond. A memory stirred; the question he had asked the night before.
"Why can't I see through the windows without your permission?"
Selis stopped.
Kazimir nearly bumped into her, startled by her abrupt stillness.
Then, after a long pause, she spoke.
"Yes," she murmured. "I suppose I have yet to properly explain everything to you." She tilted her head slightly. "But rather than tell you, I believe it is better to show you."
She turned sharply, striding toward the nearest window.
Reaching the curtains, she placed a hand against them before glancing back at him.
"Close your eyes," she instructed, her voice carrying an odd weight. "I will make sure it is safe first."
Kazimir hesitated but obeyed, shutting his eyes as instructed.
He heard the soft rustling of fabric as she pulled back the curtain.
Then, a moment later, a quiet sigh of relief.
"Alright," she said at last. "It is safe. You may look."
Kazimir opened his eyes.
Slowly, he stepped forward, toward the window.
And then, he looked outside.