Born of an icy wasteland

Kailen's father returned to the village. The storm had subsided, and he barely made it home. Entering, he saw his wife standing near the entrance, her gaze full of hope directed at him. Ignoring her, he walked inside and sat at the table. Taking out a bottle of strong liquor, he poured it into a cup and drank it in one gulp, pressing his hand to his lips.

"My husband, where is our son?" his wife asked in a trembling voice. She suspected the truth but was afraid to believe it, hoping he would walk through the door and come back to her.

"He didn't make it," the head of the family replied coldly, pouring another drink and downing it in one gulp. Despite seeming indifferent, having left his own son to die, he regretted it deep down but didn't show it.

"No, you're lying?" his wife pleaded, tears welling up in her eyes.

"It's Volibear's will," he said, avoiding his wife's gaze and pouring another drink, emptying it again.

"Why did you do this to him? It's not his fault he was born this way," she screamed, collapsing to the floor. It was as if the hope of her son's return extinguished, and she had no strength left to stand.

"Yes, it's not his fault, it's yours. You gave birth to a weak heir," the husband said. The alcohol ran out, and now he stared through a small window at the endless expanse of Freljord.

"You're worse than trolls," she gasped. How dare he blame her when he had taken their son to die. She was about to curse him when she noticed people outside running around in alarm. Everyone was rushing somewhere. Hoping against hope that her son might have returned, she quickly put on her coat and headed outside.

Kailen's father set down the empty cup and, deep in thought, followed her. More and more people were coming out and gathering in an impromptu circle, discussing something intensely with pensive expressions.

The mother pushed through the crowd and saw her son lying in the snow. His skin was white, his eyes closed, and his lips blue. She fell to her knees, sobbing, and began to touch his cheek. It was icy, devoid of any warmth. She thought he was dead and, crying, held his body close.

The people stopped talking and gradually began to disperse. Only the healer and Kailen's father remained. The follower of the Frostguard cult knelt next to the child. She firmly moved the mother aside and examined the boy.

"Hm, he's alive," she said in surprise, touching his hands and face. A soft blue glow emanated from her hands. "But he urgently needs help. You, pillar, take your son and carry him," she shouted at Kailen's father.

"He's alive? Please, help him," the mother pleaded, clutching at the hem of the healer's robe.

"What do you think I'm doing, you dumb fool?" the healer snapped, hitting the woman on the head with her staff. "If your husband keeps standing there, your son will die." The pain snapped the woman back to reality, and she realized how foolish she was acting. She quickly glanced at her husband.

He snapped out of his stupor and swiftly picked up Kailen, following the healer who was already trudging towards her house, tired of waiting for them. The father now carried his heir very carefully, his heart swelling with pride—Kailen had survived the storm and returned. He now believed his wife that their son would become a mighty warrior. Not everyone could withstand such a blizzard. Even for him, a seasoned clan fighter, it had been a struggle to face the storm.

The healer's home was on the outskirts of the village. She was not very sociable and only came to the village at the residents' request to treat someone or provide warriors with strengthening potions, and the villagers were not very keen on visiting her, knowing her bad temper. Most healers came from the Frostguard clan, studying the science of life from birth and drawing strength from magic. All the inhabitants of Freljord respected them, and no one dared harm them, for violators faced the wrath of all the villagers.

Entering the house, the old healer began clearing herbs off the table. She grabbed several cups and pushed them aside.

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"Lay him on the table and tell your wife to fetch some water," she instructed.

The man laid the child on the table. The woman didn't wait for her husband's order and, grabbing a bucket, ran to get water. Despite the cold climate, villages were located near water sources, be it a river or a spring hidden under the snow. Often, underground waters rose to the surface, flowing down from the highest mountains. People would find them, dig them out, and build fortifications and enclosed spaces to safely collect water.

The healer had already ground the necessary herbs and, approaching the boy, placed her hands on his chest. The glow from her palms reappeared as she seemed to be inspecting him. Despite not being very sociable, she knew all the villagers, and the child before her certainly couldn't have survived. Yet she felt that his soul was intact, his heart alive, and his mind conscious. His body seemed to have frozen under the influence of some unknown magic, which had kept him alive. "Could it be that the goddess Anivia herself intervened?" the healer wondered.

"Help me get his clothes off," the healer shouted to the man.

Together, they quickly started removing Kailen's clothes. The child was extremely pale, his skin cold, and it was hard to understand how he was still alive. Placing her palms on his bare skin again, the glow from the healer's hands intensified. She began whispering incantations, and the light flowed from her hands into his body. One could see the glowing energy spreading through his veins from the center of his chest.

Kailen's breathing began to return, but it was cold, and the temperature in the room started to drop. The magic within him began to seep out, affecting the surrounding space.

"Quick, get some wood and stoke the fire as much as possible," she ordered.

He swiftly ran out of the house and returned with a large bundle of firewood. He piled the wood into the stove, trying to add as much as possible. The temperature in the room began to rise again. By this time, the wife had arrived, carrying a full bucket of water.

The healer approached her, scooped some water into a metal cup, and placed it on the stove to heat.

"Madam, will my son recover?" the woman cautiously asked.

"Not if you keep talking and hovering around," the old woman replied grumpily. She hated being disturbed and pestered with questions.

Gradually, she added herbs to the boiling water. The metal cup was very hot, but she picked it up with her hands, seemingly unaffected by the temperature, and her hands glowed again. She brought the mixture to the boy's lips and began carefully pouring it into his mouth, placing her hand on his throat to help him swallow.

Kailen's body started to regain its natural color, the paleness fading away, and he began to warm up. His breathing became even, and the coldness emanating from him ceased.

"Your son will live. I don't know how he survived, and it's not my concern. I've healed him, and that's all," the old woman muttered. She then walked over to a wall where herbs were hanging and began sorting through them.

The woman wanted to approach the healer, but her husband gently pushed her aside. He walked over to his son, wrapped him in clothes, and picked him up in his arms.

"Thank you for your help," the father said as he made his way to the door, with his wife following closely behind.

As the family exited the house, the healer watched them leave.

"We'll see what you become, Iceborn," she murmured before returning to her work.

Meanwhile, Kailen was having a strange dream. He was in the midst of countless battles, bloody and fierce. He fought with ferocity, winning many times, though occasionally he tasted defeat. A burning desire for revenge fueled his heart, driving him toward his goal. When he finally reached the one he longed to kill, he faced a dilemma. He realized his enemy was merely a pawn in a larger game. Torn between vengeance and understanding, he chose to forgive, recognizing the potential for peace. This newfound perspective allowed him to see his enemy as a respected ally.

Abandoning the path of vengeance, Kailen shifted his focus to a greater purpose—protecting the world, starting with his own clan. His memories then became hazy and indistinct.

He found himself standing on a mountainside, overlooking serene landscapes dotted with temples. The atmosphere was calm and peaceful. Near a gazebo stood a table where a man sat, sipping from a cup. The man noticed Kailen and gestured for him to sit across from him.

Kailen cautiously approached and sat down.

"Tea?" the stranger offered. His face and body were covered in scars, and his blue-tinted clothing exposed his muscular, weathered arms. His hair was white, and though he looked weary, an aura of strength and danger emanated from him.

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Kailen nodded, deciding to be polite and accept the offer. The stranger lifted a small teapot and poured its contents into a cup, aromatic steam rising and enveloping it. Kailen carefully brought the cup to his lips, took a small sip, and immediately spat it out, coughing.

"Not very pleasant, is it?" the stranger smiled, taking a sip himself without flinching. "This tea tastes awful for a reason. It serves to remind us, despite our power, that we are all mortal and subject to simple feelings, like disgust," the stranger explained.

Kailen thought the man was simply crazy. How could someone drink something that tasted so unpleasant?

"It's impolite to think like that about your elders, and sometimes you have to do things that are unpleasant, even if you really don't want to," the stranger said. The child widened his eyes, thinking, "Does he know what I'm thinking?"

"Yes, I know what you're thinking. That's just how things are now, and now I am you," the man continued.

"How?" Kailen asked, bewildered.

"Due to the circumstances of my world, but now we are connected, and there's nothing we can do about it. Let's start by getting to know each other. My name is Master Sub-Zero," the stranger said, standing up from the table, placing his fist in his palm, and bowing slightly.

The boy stood up in response and mimicked Sub-Zero's actions. "Kailen, from the Bear Fang clan," the boy introduced himself.

"Now, about our situation. Your body froze in the snow, but I took control and absorbed the ice magic to save your life. We were lucky that the very spirit of nature helped return your body to the village. You are safe now," Sub-Zero explained.

"Do you want to take over my body?" Kailen asked in fear, realizing that Sub-Zero could control his body.

"No, I have lived long enough, and I won't take someone else's life to extend mine. But I can't just leave you either. I now consider you a member of the Lin Kuei, and you possess my power," Sub-Zero declared.

"What power?" the boy asked.

In response, the old master brought his palms together, forming a swirling sphere of ice shards. Throwing it to the ground, he created a path of icy spikes.

"And what now?" Kailen asked.

"While you remain unconscious, I will train you, and then you must bring these lessons into reality. The first lesson I will teach you is to forsake vengeance against your father. I can feel the hatred in your heart; it will bring you nothing but sorrow and suffering," Sub-Zero said.

Kailen felt a deep-seated anger well up inside him. "He left me to die. He never tried to teach me anything, just looked at me with contempt," Kailen vented.

"Your father is not a good man, but he is a product of his environment. War and survival harden people. Vengeance is born from hatred, rage, and envy. Do you want your mother to feel such emotions towards you if you kill your father?" Sub-Zero taught, his tone both firm and compassionate.

"Fine, Master, I'll try, but I'll never forgive him," Kailen responded. Despite his desire for revenge, he understood that destroying his relationship with his mother wasn't worth it. Sub-Zero's words made him think. He realized that even if his comrades despised him, his father had it just as bad, constantly ridiculed for having a weak son. He had heard the mocking words of other warriors, directed not just at him but at his father as well.

While unconscious in the healer's home, with his mother caring for him, Kailen learned martial arts and about his newfound gift in his mind. He gained not only physical strength but also wisdom and teachings.

One of these training sessions was a fierce battle where Kailen's wild attacks met Sub-Zero's perfect technique. Despite giving it his all, Kailen couldn't land a hit on his master, only receiving painful blows in return. Although the fight occurred within his mind, the space and laws felt incredibly real.

"You disregard everything I teach you. Be patient, don't let your emotions control you. A cold mind is the foundation for a ninja," Sub-Zero instructed, skillfully tripping Kailen, sending him to the ground once more.

"Master, it's impossible. I can't even touch you," Kailen said, feeling a mix of frustration and admiration. Over the time spent here, he had grown genuinely attached to his master, the only person besides his mother who treated him with kindness.

"If you learned more, you could," the master countered.

"I'm trying," Kailen said, defeated.

"Don't try, do it. But as much as I'd like to continue teaching you, it's time to wake up. Your body has been without your mind for too long. You can't stay here any longer," Sub-Zero said.

"What will happen to you?" the student asked.

"What about me? I am merely remnants of a past self, nothing more. I will embed the knowledge into your mind so you can continue learning, but we will not meet again," the master admitted.

"But I don't want to lose you," Kailen said sadly.

"You won't lose me. I am just your imagination, nothing more," Sab-Ziro smiled. Despite the deep scars on his face and his menacing appearance, his expression seemed kind.

"So, it's time to say goodbye," he looked into the teacher's eyes.

"Yes, be strong," the master said, standing at the student's level and placing a hand on his shoulder.

Gradually, Sab-Ziro's silhouette began to turn into mist, like everything around him, until it completely evaporated. Kailen came to his senses at home. He lay next to the stove, feeling very warm, and wanted to strip off all his clothes, which he did. His body felt weak and limp. He struggled to get up and sat down.

In his thoughts, Kailen wondered if it wasn't a dream, and if he had truly made it home and trained in his mind. Trying to stand up, he fell to the floor due to weakness in his legs. Unable to rise, he had to stay where he landed. The front door of the house opened, letting in the winter cold. The cold air reached his body, and Kailen found it surprisingly pleasant.

At the doorstep, his mother froze, looking at her son who had regained consciousness. She dropped everything she was holding and hurried to him.

"Why did you get up? I was so worried about you. I'm glad you woke up," she said, hugging him tightly and laying him back on the bed, holding his hand firmly as if afraid to imagine it was an illusion and he was still asleep.

"How long have I been asleep?" Kailen asked.

"A whole week. I asked the healer several times to check on you again, but she insisted you were healthy and just sleeping. Then she shooed me away with her staff, almost hitting me on the head," his mother sadly recounted.

This brought a smile to Kailen's face; he had missed his mother. It felt to him like he had been in that state much longer than a week. Kailen regretted that he would never see his master again.

"Kailen, are you hungry?" his mother asked, bringing him back from his thoughts.

"Yes," he replied, feeling that eating would do him good.

All he could do now was lie down and recover. He was a different person now, filled with a desire to learn ice magic and martial arts. Every move and combination was vividly imprinted in his memory.

A couple of minutes later, lunch was ready, and with his mother's help, he made his way to the table, refusing to eat in bed. Just as he was about to start eating, his father entered the house. As if it were that day again, everything was the same; he walked in, took him and threw him into the wastelands of Freljord.

"Son," his father nodded and sat opposite him. There was a strong tension between them. - "You survived and came back, now you are worthy. Once you feel better, you will train with the others," he said no more, taking the food brought by his wife.

Kailen hid his anger directed towards him. He wanted to take his cudgel and attack him, despite the fact that it would not bring the result.

"Forgive him, Kailen. Trust me, he regrets making that mistake," his mother whispered in his ear.

For his mother's sake, he was willing to temporarily forget about it, but he would definitely make his father pay for it.