The young boy woke up to a crackling fire, his eyes squinting as he tried to adjust to the sudden brightness. Blinking rapidly, he noticed that he was surrounded by snow and ice, a frozen wasteland stretching as far as his eyes could see. He shivered uncontrollably, feeling the chill of the air deep in his bones.
As he looked around, he saw a middle-aged woman with pure silver hair tending to the fire. She wore furs and leathers; her face was lined with deep wrinkles and scars. Her eyes, however, shone with a bright blue light that seemed to defy the darkness and cold that surrounded them.
The woman turned to him, and he saw that her expression was stern but not unkind. "You're awake," she said in a voice that was both soft and firm. "You must be freezing."
The boy nodded, his teeth chattering. He tried to speak, but his lips were numb, and he could barely form the words. The woman chuckled softly and gestured for him to come closer to the fire.
As he inched towards the warmth, he noticed that he was in a small, cramped cabin made of wood and stone. The walls were lined with furs and pelts, and he could smell the faint scent of herbs and spices that wafted from a cooking pot that hung over the fire.
The woman ladled out a steaming bowl of stew, and the boy eagerly accepted it, savoring the warmth that spread through his body. As he ate, he noticed that the woman watched him intently, her eyes scanning him from head to toe.
"Your body is not strong enough to withstand the cold of the Agrehim Mountains," she said finally, her voice low and serious. "You were lucky to survive the blizzard that brought you here."
The boy swallowed, feeling a sudden surge of fear. He had no memory of how he ended up in this frozen land or why he was here. All he knew was that he was lost, alone, and completely helpless.
The woman saw the fear in his eyes and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, young man," she said softly. "You're safe here with me. But you must rest and regain your strength before we can figure out what to do with you."
The boy nodded, feeling grateful for the woman's kindness. He settled down beside the fire, feeling the warmth seeping into his bones. As he closed his eyes, he heard the woman humming softly, a lullaby that seemed to soothe his troubled mind.
For the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of hope, a spark of light in the darkness of the frozen land. He knew that he had a long way to go and that he was far from home, but he also knew that he was not alone. And that was enough to give him the courage to face whatever lay ahead.
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The woman then spoke.
"My name is Alia; what is your name, young man?"
The boy thought for a second before answering.
"I think my name is Adrian,"
Alia nodded and smiled.
"You have a good name, young man."
The flames of the campfire flickered in the darkness, casting long, twisting shadows across the snow. The woman with silver hair, Alia, sat on a log beside the fire, gazing at the young boy named Adrian with an expression of quiet curiosity.
"Tell me, Adrian," she said, her voice low and soft. "What are the things that you remember?"
Adrian frowned, struggling to recall his past. His memories were hazy and fragmented, like a jumbled puzzle with missing pieces.
"I remember...bits and pieces," he said slowly. "I remember a house, a family. I remember playing in the woods and swimming in a river. But it's all so fuzzy, like a dream that I can't quite grasp."
Alia nodded, her eyes filled with sympathy. "I see," she said softly. "It must be difficult, not knowing who you are or where you come from."
Adrian shrugged, feeling a sense of frustration and helplessness. "I guess. But I can't dwell on the past. I need to focus on the future, on what I want to do with my life."
Alia smiled, sensing a spark of determination in the boy's words. "And what is it that you want to do, Adrian?"
Adrian hesitated, his mind racing with thoughts and possibilities. He had no idea what he was capable of, what his strengths and weaknesses were. But he knew that he wanted to make a difference, to have an impact on the world around him.
"I want to be different" he said finally, his voice firm and resolute. "I want to make a difference. Maybe I can become a healer, or a warrior, or a mage. I don't know yet. But I know that I want to be someone who can make a difference in the world."
Alia nodded, impressed by the boy's spirit and determination. "That's a noble goal, Adrian," she said. "And I have no doubt that you will achieve it, no matter what path you choose."
The fire crackled and popped, casting a warm glow across the snowy landscape. Adrian felt a sense of comfort and safety in Alia's presence, like a guiding light in the darkness of his uncertain future.
Alia reached over to the pot beside the fire and lifted a metal cup, pouring a steaming liquid inside of it. The aroma of the tea was earthy and sweet, a scent that made Adrian's mouth water. She handed the cup to Adrian, and he took it without thinking much and brought it to his lips, taking a sip.
The warmth of the liquid spread through his body, chasing away the chill that had settled in his bones. The taste was herbal and soothing, a balm to his soul.
"It's good," he said, looking up at Alia in surprise.
She smiled, her silver hair shimmering in the light of the fire. "I'm glad you like it," she said. "It's a tea I make from the wild flowers up in the mountains. It's good for the body and the spirit."
Adrian nodded, taking another sip of the tea. As he drank, he looked at Alia more closely. She was beautiful, with a quiet strength that radiated from her every movement. But there was something else about her, something mysterious and powerful.
"Who are you?" he asked, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.
Alia's smile widened, and she looked at Adrian with a twinkle in her eye. "I am a Frost Witch," she said. "A woman with the ability and talent of magical energy combined with frost, cold element."