1 A Cold Calling

The sounds of a breath gasping for air, muffled by the sound of footsteps being burrowed by the deep snow under the man whose left arm dismembered. His iron armor that was bathed in blood, this man was on the verge of death as the cold wind thrashed his face.

Some of his parts were in a state of frostbite as his mouth shivered down the cold.

He stopped by a pine tree to lie down as he looked up the blurry distance. He was unable to accept his unfair demise. The wounds from the battle left him unable to live much further and he could feel his heartbeat slower.

"Those damn Orcs ambushed us. If we had known better, we would have beaten them."

He muttered slowly as his denial to confront death gave him the urge to live. Yet he could do nothing but mutter what he could've done. What the Kingdom of Yushrald could've done.

"Damn it."

The tears from his eyes started to come out as he just couldn't accept death in this kind of place. An ambush, what an utter embarrassment.

"I don't want to die."

The snot from his nose turned cold and his tears turned to ice. His dismembered torso went numb because of the cold and all his pain disappeared.

He was about to die.

"Please, let me live!"

He shouted in his dying breath. He shouted with all his might as nerves came popping out from his head.

"Someone, help me!"

His desperation turned his mind blank as the only thing he can think of is to survive. He doesn't want to die, he still wants to serve the kingdom he learned to love since he was a little kid.

"Hey, please someone. I'll do anything, please save me."

His desperation grew worse as he resorted to bargaining. His shouts turned to little murmurs as the strength to move his jaw lessened.

"I don't want to die."

[Do you want thy life to be saved?]

Yowan's eyes widened as he heard a voice somewhere. He didn't hesitate as he came shouting for help.

"Please, help me. I'll do anything, help me!"

[Thou will dost my biddings?]

"Yes, yes! Help me!"

[Then thy shall meet my presence where I left my corpse]

"W-what?"

[Meet me, young human, as I have chosen thee!]

"No, wait, help me!"

The young Yowan did not know what the voice meant but as soon as he shouted out loud, he started to feel light as his wounds started to heal itself and his dismembered left arm closed.

He started to feel rejuvenated as his strength came back.

Not only that, something entered his mind. A location of a cave just close to this place. A hidden place that once served a king that ruled over darkness.

"Was he the one that saved me?"

He stood up as his curiosity filled his mind. Although it was still cold, he should still have the time to survive and reach the hidden room that was marked on his mind.

So he started on his journey as he should reach the cave in about 30 minutes. Thanks to his armor that covered his torso, his arm, his legs, and his foot, he should be able to keep warm for an hour.

Three Hours ago...

"Men, ready your weapons and your winter coats! As we stand in this warm land, we will march to the land of Llundar and ambush the Orc's settlement!

"Rise my men! We will behead those dirty pig with the blade of Yushrald!"

The commander rose his sword as his horse galloped. He looked like a hero that was ready for battle.

His armor was as gallant as the ordinary. His brown beard and messy hair matched his blue and fierce eyes. He empowered the foot soldier's morale as they roared in determination from his announcement.

One of those foot soldiers was Yowan Pierce. A man that lived in the slums, who was lucky to have the honor to fight for the kingdom that treated the peasants fairly.

They were stationed in a city close to the winter wasteland. A place where only but a few live because of its freezing temperature that never disappears.

"Let us go, my men! Glory for Yushrald!"

"Glory for Yushrald!"

The men shouted as they started to march for battle. The empowered Yowan smiled as he held his sword on his health with his left arm.

It was a long march that took them an hour until they saw snow falling from the sky. All of the people began to look worried as the rumor of the lifeless wasteland started to take over their mind

"Do not fear as I am with you! March for Yushrald!"

Thanks to the shout of the commander, all the foot soldiers snapped from their fear.

The commander smirked as they marched much further.

"Hey, I'm Gerald, you?"

"Oh, hey. I'm Yowan."

Someone suddenly introduced himself to Yowan. A boy that was the same age as he was, who was marching right beside him. He looked like he has blonde hair and brown eyes, holding a sword the same as he is.

"I finally have the chance to serve Yushrald, isn't that manly!"

"Yeah, I always tried to serve this kingdom. They never turned a blind eye to help me since I grew up from the slums."

"Oh my God, you too?"

"You too?"

It wasn't even an hour and they suddenly became close friends as they talked until it grew night time, where they stopped and made a camp.

Not only was it really cold but thanks to the nobles that donated tents and warm beddings, they were saved from dying. They slept so comfortably that they didn't even feel a tint of coldness.

It was a comfortable sleep. An experience Yowan rarely experience as he always sleeps on some bedding made from hay or just a simple ground to lay onto.

He was happy. Even something like this was something he always wanted.

"Men, wake up! We are under attack! Pick up your weapons, kill those filthy pig— Arghh!"