[Chr24] Frozen Waters

The biting wind cut through the silence as Simon tightened the straps on his mask. It was custom-made—slick and black, covering his entire face except for a sliver of his eyes, which burned with focus. He leaned against the railing of the boat, his gloved fingers tracing the frost building on its surface.

Ji-Yong emerged from below deck, his dark coat flapping in the wind like a flag of authority. His presence was steady, a grounding force for their crew. Despite the chill, his expression remained calm, though a slight furrow in his brow betrayed his concern.

"Something's not right," Ji-Yong said, his voice low but steady.

The boat had been making steady progress through the icy waters toward the island of Clria, where the fabled Rohaara stones supposedly grew like fiery blossoms atop the ice caps. But now, they were at a standstill. A thick sheet of ice had suddenly formed around the boat, locking it in place like a predator seizing its prey.

Jericho stomped up from the back of the boat, his paws crunching on the frost-coated deck. He was broad-shouldered and carried himself with an almost intimidating confidence, but his movements were twitchy, like a man trying to ignore the creeping sensation of dread clawing at his chest.

"This isn't natural," Jericho muttered, rubbing his hands together for warmth. His breath escaped in visible clouds. "Water doesn’t just freeze this fast. Someone—or something—is messing with us."

Lucid stood silently near the bow, his head tilted slightly upward, as if listening to something no one else could hear. The bandages over his eyes were as pristine as ever, giving him a ghostly, otherworldly appearance. He raised a hand, his fingers splayed like he was feeling the vibrations of the world around him.

“The ice,” Lucid murmured, his voice soft but eerie, “is alive.”

Simon turned sharply toward him, the faintest glint of alarm in his eyes. “Alive?” he echoed.

Lucid nodded slowly. “It moves with intent. It wasn’t here moments ago. Something beneath us caused it to rise.”

Ji-Yong clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he turned to the group. “We need a plan. Standing here won’t melt this ice.”

“Great observation, captain obvious,” Jericho shot back, his voice tinged with sarcasm. “Got any brilliant ideas? ‘Cause if we don’t move, we’re gonna freeze solid out here.”

Simon stepped forward, his voice calm but commanding. “Jericho, enough.” He pointed toward the edge of the boat. “First, we figure out how thick this ice is. If it’s thin, we can break through and keep moving. If it’s thick… well, we’ll have to find another way.”

Jericho huffed but didn’t argue. He grabbed an axe from the supply crate and jumped onto the frozen surface, the ice groaning under his weight. He swung the axe hard, and the blade shattered a chunk of the ice, revealing a glimmer of water beneath.

“Not too thick,” Jericho said, sounding almost relieved. “But it’s definitely not natural. Look at the way it’s layered. It’s like it’s... grown.”

Lucid tilted his head, his lips curling into a faint frown. “It is growing,” he said. “And it’s not going to stop unless we stop it.”

Simon and Ji-Yong exchanged a look. Neither liked the sound of that.

“What do you mean?” Ji-Yong asked.

Lucid gestured toward the ice beneath their feet. “The ice isn’t just freezing—it’s spreading. If we don’t act soon, this entire section of the ocean will become a frozen wasteland.”

Simon’s mind raced. The Rohaara stones were supposed to burn with an eternal heat. If they could find even one on this frozen wasteland, perhaps it could help them melt through the ice.

“New plan,” Simon said. “We abandon the boat for now and head toward the island on foot. If this ice is alive, we’re better off not being trapped in one spot.”

Jericho hesitated, looking back at the boat. “And what if it gets worse? We’ll have nowhere to go.”

“Do you have a better idea?” Ji-Yong snapped, his voice uncharacteristically sharp.

Jericho fell silent.

Within minutes, they had gathered their supplies and stepped onto the ice, their boots crunching against the unnaturally smooth surface. The air was colder now, the wind harsher, as if the very environment were conspiring against them.

Lucid led the way, his movements deliberate, almost graceful, despite his lack of sight. Simon followed close behind, his mask reflecting the pale light of the frozen landscape. Ji-Yong took up the rear, his sharp eyes scanning for any sign of movement, while Jericho grudgingly carried their heavier gear.

As they trudged forward, the ice beneath them began to groan louder, a deep, resonant sound that sent shivers down their spines.

“It’s not just the ice,” Lucid said suddenly, stopping in his tracks. “There’s something beneath it.”

Simon crouched, pressing his gloved hand against the ice. The surface was cold, almost painfully so, but there was a faint vibration—a pulse, like a heartbeat.

“What the hell is that?” Jericho asked, his voice breaking slightly.

Before anyone could answer, the ice beneath them cracked violently, splitting into jagged fissures. A low, guttural roar echoed through the air as sharp, jagged ice formations erupted from the frozen ground around them.

The spikes jutted upward, gleaming like unnatural teeth, surrounding the group in a chaotic array of icy growths. The ground itself seemed to ripple, as though alive, forcing them to dodge and weave as new shards burst forth.

“Run!” Ji-Yong shouted, drawing a blade from his belt.

The group scattered, each of them navigating the treacherous terrain. Jericho swung his axe at a nearby ice spike, shattering it, but more formations erupted in its place.

“It’s not just growing!” Jericho yelled. “It’s targeting us!”

Simon pulled a small device from his belt—a compact thermal charge. “We don’t fight it,” he said, his voice steady. “We distract it.”

He activated the charge and threw it toward the nearest cluster of spikes. The device exploded in a burst of heat and light, melting the ice in a wide radius and momentarily halting its advance.

“Go, now!” Simon barked.

The group ran, their breaths coming in ragged gasps as they sprinted toward the distant outline of the island. The ice continued to crack and shift beneath their feet, the unnatural force pursuing them like a shadow.

Finally, they reached the jagged cliffs of Clria, collapsing against the icy rocks. Behind them, the frozen ocean had stilled, though the faint glow of the unnatural ice remained ominous in the distance.

“We’re not out of this yet,” Ji-Yong said, his voice grim.

Simon nodded, his eyes narrowing as he looked toward the center of the island. Somewhere up there, the Rohaara stones awaited. And with them, perhaps, the key to survival.