The caravan's campfire flickered against the biting night. Around it, weary soldiers huddled, wiping blood and catching breath. Kai sat a little apart, sharpening the Eternal Flame, the blade's crimson glow casting eerie shadows on his face.
Lira approached quietly, the weight of her crown and responsibility visible even in this moment of rest.
"We're not far now," she said, voice low. "The Blood Archive waits in the heart of Frostvale. A place said to hold forbidden knowledge… and terrible power."
Kai didn't look up. "I've seen its halls before. Twisted memories haunt me — whispers of betrayal, and a darkness deeper than the night."
She sat beside him, eyes sharp. "If you've been here before… why did you never stop the cult? Why did you let everything fall apart?"
His hands faltered for a moment, then tightened around the blade.
"Because in every loop, I failed. I lost those I swore to protect. But this time, I carry the memories forward. I won't make the same mistakes."
A silence stretched between them. The flickering fire was the only sound — until a sudden rustle came from the woods beyond.
Kai's hand shot to his sword.
From the shadows, a figure stepped forward — cloaked, hooded, silent.
"Who goes there?" Lira demanded.
The figure lowered the hood. A young woman with piercing emerald eyes and a faint scar across her cheek.
"I am Seris," she said softly. "Keeper of the Blood Archive. And I'm here to help."
Kai's eyes narrowed. "Why should we trust a keeper of the place where our enemies hide?"
Seris smiled faintly. "Because the cult has grown beyond control. Even I fear what comes next."
Lira exchanged a glance with Kai. The fire crackled louder, as if responding to the tension in the air.
Kai stood, placing the Eternal Flame beside him. "Then show us the way. But know this — any betrayal will be met with fire."
Seris nodded. "Follow me. The Archive's secrets are closer than you think."
As the night deepened, the unlikely trio moved toward Frostvale's frozen heart — toward the truth that could save or doom them all.