Sword Hero's Regret (Part 2)
Kiara woke up with a start, her body jerking upright as she gasped for air.
The icy cold still gripped her insides, but it wasn't as overwhelming anymore.
She coughed, spitting out the remnants of ice, feeling its sharp edges sting her throat as she did.
Her skin, still buzzing from the chill, slowly warmed as the feeling began to recede.
Kai was there beside her, a glass of steaming water in his hand. He offered it to her without a word, and she took it, her fingers trembling as they wrapped around the warm glass. She could feel the heat seep into her palm as she drank deeply, almost without thinking, until the cup was empty. She let out a small sigh of relief.
"How'd you manage to get warm water in this cold?" Kiara asked, her voice hoarse.
Kai gave a small shrug, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Just melted some ice," he said, though there was a glint of something warmer in his eyes as he looked at her.