The winds howled like banshees, the noise bouncing inside their cave. The cave itself was more of a giant burrow, with an alcove at the top that offered a small patch of flat ground. Deeper within, the space branched out into what might be a network of tunnels, though neither Zac nor Giuliano had the energy or desire to explore further at the moment.

Giuliano's hands shook vigorously as he struck the flint against the metal rod that came with the fire-starting kit they had bought. Each strike sent a shower of sparks onto the frozen sticks, tiny flashes of hot Ether that were quickly snuffed out by the overwhelming cold.

"Come on," Giuliano muttered through chattering teeth, his frustration mounting with every failed attempt. The frigid air seeped into his bones, making his fingers clumsy and slow.

Zac watched with concern, rubbing his hands together to keep warm. "Do you need help?" he asked, his voice barely audible over the roar of the wind outside.

"I've got it," Giuliano snapped, more out of frustration than anger. Lashing out won't help, Giuliano thought before taking a deep breath, steadying his hands, and striking the flint again with renewed determination. This time, a larger spark caught on the kindling, and a small flame flickered to life.

As the fire grew, the cold Ether surrounding them seemed to push back against the heat. The two opposing forces clashed violently, consuming each other in a swirling dance, and from the smoke, faint trails of different types of Ether could be seen, their colors blending and shifting as they mingled with the air.

The warmth slowly spread through the small space, offering a much-needed reprieve from the biting cold. Giuliano and Zac moved closer to the fire, their breath visible in the frosty air.

Giuliano watched the flames, intrigued by the way the hot and cold Ether battled for dominance. "This should help us not freeze," he said, his voice filled with relief and exhaustion.

Zac nodded, still shivering slightly, "Yeah, this cold is no joke."

As they settled in by the fire, its light casting flickering shadows on the cave walls, the wind outside continued to howl.

"Let's get those lilies and get out of here," Giuliano said, his voice firm despite his chattering teeth, "We need to keep moving."

Zac glanced at the two intact lilies they had managed to salvage, disappointed. "I can't believe we went through all that and only got these."

Giuliano shrugged, "It's better than nothing. And like I said before, this quest is like an internship. We're here to gather experience, and learn from our mistakes."

Zac managed a weak smile, "Yeah, I guess you're right. But still, it's frustrating."

Giuliano gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "We'll find more lakes, get the rest of the lilies we need. We just need a plan now, one that doesn't involve me taking another bath," Giuliano said, trying to inject humor into the incident.

They sat in silence for a while, absorbing the warmth of the fire. The ghostly shapes of Myst and Pounce appeared near them, their eyes glowing softly, while Whisker, ever elusive, remained unseen.

As they warmed themselves by the fire before Zac broke the silence.

"Hey, G."

"What?" Giuliano asked, bringing his hands closer to the fire.

"I'm sorry," Zac said, his voice low and meek while he stared at his chains.

"For what?" Giuliano asked, looking up from the fire at a crestfallen Zac, the tips of his nose red from the cold while his chains reflected the low light of the fire.

Dragging his eyes to meet Giuliano's, Zac heaved a long sigh, "For being useless. I should've gotten a better weapon."

Giuliano shook his head, a gentle smile forming on his lips. "Don't beat yourself up. We both have a lot to learn. I'm sure with all the crazy stuff happening, your chains have a lot of potential; you just need to, you know, learn to use them."

Zac's shoulders slumped, his fingers tracing the metal links, "I know, but seeing you in trouble and not being able to help... it sucked."

"We're a team," Giuliano said firmly. "Mistakes happen, but we learn from them and keep moving forward. And hey, at least I’m not frozen solid."

Zac let out a small chuckle, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly, "Yeah, I guess you're right. It's just frustrating, you know?"

"I know," Giuliano agreed. "We'll find those lilies and complete this mission. We just need to come up with a better strategy for the next lake."

***

Their steps were unheard in the storm. The winds were merciless, pelting them with clumps of snow and fighting against every step they took. Snow clung to their eyebrows and lashes, forming miniature icicles obscuring their vision and making their eyelids heavy. Every breath was a struggle, the air so cold it burned their lungs.

"Fuck you, Michelle!" Mark screamed, his voice barely caught by the rest of the group.

"Go sit on a cactus, shit-head! We all chose to be here," Troy shot back, his feet getting stuck in an unseen hole below the snow.

Extending a hand, Michelle grabbed Troy, helping him free himself. "Shut up, both of you," she said authoritatively, her voice cutting through the wind. "Do you want to be the reason we're seen by whatever monster lives out here?"

Both men exchanged heated looks. The only hot part on them, Michelle thought with an eye roll. The fabric of their corporate uniform did little to protect them from the biting cold, their fingers and toes already numb and threatening frostbite.

As they trudged through the relentless blizzard, a faint light flickered in the distance. It was a small, almost imperceptible glow, but it stood out against the swirling white surrounding it.

"What's that?" Mark squinted, trying to make out the source of the light through the blinding snow.

"Looks like a cave," Michelle said, her eyes narrowing as she tried to focus on the light. "Let's head that way. We need to get out of this storm."

Reluctantly, Mark and Troy nodded, their hostility momentarily set aside in favor of survival. They moved toward the light, their steps quickening despite the biting cold.

As they drew closer, the light grew brighter, revealing a small cave entrance partially obscured by snow. Inside, they could see the flicker of a fire and the silhouettes of two people huddled around it. The warm glow of the fire stood in sharp contrast to the icy hellscape outside.

Mark tightened his grip on his large sledgehammer, "If they give us any trouble, we can deal with them."

Troy adjusted his glaive. "I don't mind a little scuffle, but let's see what they're about first."

Michelle rolled her eyes, ready to play the mediator, "Let's just see what they're about first."

They stepped into the cave, the sudden warmth hitting them like a physical force. Mark and Troy's weapons were at the ready, while Michelle stayed slightly behind, her eyes scanning the cave.

Inside, two figures looked up in surprise. The taller of the two, wiry with dark eyes and messy hair, had his hands outstretched toward the fire, trying to absorb as much warmth as possible. The more muscular one, with sandy blonde hair and warm brown eyes, held chains glinting in the firelight.

"Who are you?" Mark demanded, his voice gruff and wary.

The taller one didn't move from his spot, his eyes narrowing at them, "We should be asking you that. We were here first."

Mark stepped forward, his sledgehammer swinging casually but with a clear threat, "Looks like you got here first, but that doesn't mean we can't share the fire."

The tall one's eyes flicked to the hammer, his expression hardening. "We earned it. Not our fault you came unprepared."

Troy, sensing the rising tension, tried to diffuse the situation, "Hey, let's not start something we don't need to. We're all just trying to survive here."

Michelle stepped forward, trying to bridge the gap. "We're not here to cause trouble. We're just looking for Frozen Lillies. Let's just share the fire and stay warm."

The blonde looked at the tall one, waiting for his response. The tall one sighed, knowing they didn't have much choice but to share the space.

"Fine," he begrudgingly said, "But stay on your side."

Mark muttered something under his breath but complied, settling down near the fire but keeping his sledgehammer within reach. Troy followed suit, though his posture was more relaxed, a slight grin playing on his lips.

Michelle sat down and extended her hands toward the fire.

***

The woman is trouble, Giuliano thought. He didn't know why, but there was something about her that irked him. Her Ether flowed slowly, leisurely, as if it had all the time in the world. The one with the hammer had wild Ether, running amok as if its life depended on it, while the one with the glaive had the calmest Ether, like a beast ready to spring to action.

Their eyes held unashamed greed and envy as they eyed his and Zac's equipment.

"If we're gonna be together, why don't we introduce ourselves?" Zac started, giving a strained smile.

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A friendly smile grew on the woman's face, "Sorry for the rudeness. I'm Michelle," she started, "The meathead with the hammer is Mark and the handsome one is Troy."

Troy blushed slightly at the compliment while Mark seemed wholly unfazed by his introduction.

"I'm G," Giuliano started, stopping Zac before a full word could come out of his mouth, "And he is Z."

Michelle's smile grew a little strained for a moment before going back to feeling carefree. "Strange... When we took the quest, it said that some people called Chainmaster and Spirit-seeker were already here."

Giuliano's expression tightened, not liking the probing. "Maybe they left," he said curtly.

Michelle gave him a long look before sighing and extending her hands towards the fire. "Fine, keep your secrets. We're just trying to get by like everyone else."

Mark leaned back, crossing his arms. "Well, as long as you stay out of our way, there won't be any problems."

Troy glanced at Michelle, then back at the two of them. "Look, we don't want any trouble. But if it comes to it, we can handle ourselves." His grip on his glaive tightened slightly, emphasizing his point.

Giuliano met his gaze, unflinching. "We were here first. We'll finish our mission and be on our way."

Zac, sensing the rising tension, stepped forward slightly, trying to ease the situation. "Hey, we're all here for the same reason. Let's just stay warm and figure things out."

Michelle glanced at Mark and Troy, then back at Zac and Giuliano. "Can we... share some of your clothes? Just for a bit? We weren't exactly prepared for this weather." She held out her hands, showing blue-tinged fingers.

Zac's eyes widened in concern, moved by her request. "Yeah, of course. We have some extra—"

"No," Giuliano cut in sharply, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We need our gear. It's already bad enough out here."

Zac shot Giuliano a surprised and questioning look, his mouth opening as if to protest. Giuliano shook his head, signaling for Zac to follow him to a quieter corner, deeper in the cave.

"Giuliano, we can't just leave them to freeze," Zac whispered, his voice urgent.

"We need to think about ourselves first. We're barely managing as it is."

Zac sighed, glancing over at Michelle, Mark, and Troy huddled near the fire, "I get that, but... it's just a spare pair of clothes. We can manage without them for a bit."

Desperate people are unpredictable and dangerous, Giuliano's inner voice reminded him.

Giuliano took a deep breath, weighing the risks before finally giving a curt nod. "Fine. But we give them the smaller set, the one meant to go under our fur jackets."

Zac nodded, relief washing over him, "Thanks, G."

They returned to the fire, Giuliano holding the smaller set of clothes. "Here," he said, handing them to Michelle. "It's not much, but it should help."

Mark took the clothes begrudgingly, grumbling under his breath, "Better than nothing, I suppose."

Troy smiled gratefully. "Thank you. This will help a lot."

Michelle looked genuinely appreciative, but as she took the clothes, Giuliano caught a glimpse of something in her eyes—a fleeting look of calculation as she glanced at their fur coats. His unease deepened, but he kept his expression neutral.

"Just stay warm," Giuliano said, his voice steady. "We need to get through this storm."

Michelle nodded, her expression returning to one of gratitude. "Thank you. We'll make sure to stay out of your way."

Giuliano and Zac returned to their side of the fire, the tension between the two groups easing slightly. But Giuliano couldn't shake the feeling that they needed to stay on guard. Desperation would make people do dangerous things.

—

The fire crackled softly, providing a semblance of warmth against the freezing cold. One by one, the others drifted off to sleep, their bodies huddled for warmth. Only Giuliano and Michelle remained awake, their eyes locked on each other, both unwilling to let their guard down.

Giuliano's eyes were sharp while Michelle's gaze was equally intense, but her face was inscrutable. The tension between them was palpable, the flickering flames casting long shadows on the cave walls.

Eventually, she stood up, her movements deliberate and slow. Giuliano's body tensed, every muscle coiled like a spring ready to snap. She approached him, her eyes locked onto his, a predatory gleam in her gaze. His fists clenched, preparing for a fight.

To his shock, Michelle didn't attack. Instead, she leaned in close, her breath warm against his cold skin, and before he could react her lips pressed against his, phishing him to the ground. Giuliano's body stiffened, his mind screaming at him to push her away. But his limbs felt heavy, almost lethargic, and a strange warmth spread through him.

Michelle's lips moved against his, soft and insistent. His brain screamed for action, but his body felt sluggish, unresponsive. Her hand moved to his cheek, her touch gentle but firm.

Stop playing along.

Michelle pulled back slightly, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered, "Sharing warmth." The words sent a shiver down his spine, not from cold but from something far more unsettling.

Stop.

But his body betrayed him, following her as she gently guided him deeper into the cave. Each step felt like walking through molasses. The firelight faded, replaced by the oppressive darkness of the cave's depths. The air grew colder, more suffocating, yet her presence seemed to pull him along.

You know this isn't real. Stop now.

She took his hand, intertwining their fingers, her touch both a comfort and a chain. Her body pressed against his, the contact intensifying the strange warmth spreading through him. The tension was electric, every nerve in his body on edge.

Michelle stopped abruptly, turning to face him. Her eyes gleamed in the dim light, a mix of hunger and satisfaction. She pulled him closer, her breath hot against his skin. "I love you," she whispered, her voice dripping with false sincerity. Her right arm twitched, the wrist shifting unnaturally.

The words triggered a flood of memories—a woman with hair like fire, her voice echoing the same deceitful promise.

Remember that?

Reality hit him like a hammer. Michelle's right hand opened, revealing a hidden blade. Giuliano's eyes widened as he realized her arm was a weaponized prosthesis. Instinct took over. He grabbed her wrist just as the blade shot out, narrowly missing his face.

***

Michelle's face contorted with rage and surprise as Giuliano's grip tightened. Her disgust simmered beneath her steely exterior.

The idea of seducing someone repulsed her, but survival demanded sacrifices. She felt Giuliano's grip tighten, unyielding against her attempts to free her arm.

Damn it. I'm losing, Desperation took hold as she prepared to scream for help, hoping Mark and Troy would come to her aid.

Just as her mouth opened, Giuliano silenced her with a fierce kiss, sealing her lips. Her eyes widened in shock, a muffled cry escaping her lips. The taste of blood filled her mouth, metallic and warm as she tried to pull away, but his grip was unyielding. Her mind raced, her heart pounding with both fear and anger.

This isn't happening, she thought, a wave of panic rising.

She could feel the power in his grip, the cold determination in his eyes matching the icy environment around them. Then she felt it—a cold wave invading her body. It was as if his very essence was pouring into her, freezing her from the inside out.

The Ether wrapped around her spirit, straining and constricting like icy chains. It clawed at her core, each tendril squeezing tighter and tighter. Michelle's strength ebbed away, her muscles slackening against her will. The chill seeped into her bones, numbing her to the core. She could feel her consciousness dimming, the cold engulfing her in a merciless embrace.

No, not like this, The darkness crept in at the edges of her vision, swallowing her whole, the sensation of his Ether the last thing she felt before everything went black.

***

Giuliano watched as Michelle's body went limp before releasing her, letting her fall to the ground. His expression remained cold and detached.

No one ever says ‘I love you’ and means it.

He looked around, ensuring no one had witnessed the struggle. His heart pounded in his chest, but his face betrayed no emotion. The crackling was the only witness to the brief but intense confrontation.

You know what to do, Giuliano moved with deliberate slowness, his footsteps silent on the cave floor as he approached the sleeping forms of Mark and Troy, their breaths steady and oblivious.

Myst and Pounce watched from the shadows, their eyes glowing with anticipation, their tails flicking excitedly.

He reached Mark’s side, the massive sledgehammer lying within arm's reach. Giuliano's hand hovered over it for a moment before he firmly grasped the handle. The weight felt reassuring in his hands as he lifted it, the metal head gleaming faintly.

Mark stirred slightly, his eyes fluttering open just in time to see Giuliano standing over him. Recognition and confusion flickered across his face, but before he could react, Giuliano swung the hammer down with brutal force. The sickening crunch of bone echoed in the cave as Mark’s head caved in, blood splattering across the ground.

Myst and Pounce moved closer, their ghostly forms practically vibrating with excitement. They darted towards the spilled blood, their tongues lapping eagerly at the crimson puddles in a scene reminiscent of a horror movie.

Turning his attention to Troy, who was still peacefully asleep, Giuliani approached with measured steps and positioned himself, lifting the hammer once more. The act was swift and merciless, the hammer crashing down and ending Troy’s life in an instant. His body twitched briefly before falling still.

The cave was silent once more, save for the crackling of the fire and the satisfied purrs of the cats. Giuliano looked down at the bloodied hammer in his hands, then over at Zac, who remained oblivious, deeply asleep.

The thought of eliminating Zac crossed his mind. No. You can justify the three to yourself, but not Zac.

With a sigh, Giuliano let the hammer fall from his trembling hands. He turned his attention to the faint spirits of Mark, Troy, and Michelle, their ethereal forms barely visible. Coldly, he collected them, walking from body to body, the spirits trembling as they were forcibly taken from their remains.

"Take them," Giuliano said, his voice devoid of emotion. Myst and Pounce approached eagerly, their eyes gleaming with hunger.

As Myst and Pounce tried to consume the spirits, the ethereal forms resisted fiercely, writhing and pushing back against the ghostly cats. Myst's form flickered as she struggled, her usually solid shape becoming unstable. Pounce growled in frustration, her claws bouncing from the spirits.

Seeing his cats struggling, Giuliano's frustration grew. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath, careful not to wake Zac. He knew he had to do something more. Stepping forward, he took a spirit into his still-bleeding mouth.

The spirit fought back, its energy pushing against Giuliano's attempts to control it. Blood seeped from the corners of his mouth as he bit down harder, forcing more of his own Ether into the spirit. The taste of iron mixed with the cold, bitter essence of the spirit, sent a shiver down his spine.

Gritting his teeth, Giuliano focused his Ether, channeling it with brutal intensity. The spirit thrashed violently, but Giuliano held firm, feeling a connection form as his Ether entwined with the spirit's energy. It was a familiar sensation, like the bond he shared with his cats, but more chaotic and resistant.

Slowly, the spirit began to yield, its resistance waning as Giuliano's Ether overpowered it. He felt a moment of clarity, a sense of control, and the spirit's energy shifted, aligning with his own. With a final surge of Ether, he pushed the spirit towards Myst, who devoured it eagerly, her form solidifying as she absorbed the energy.

Pounce followed suit, her eyes glowing with satisfaction as she consumed the subdued spirit. Giuliano repeated the process with the next spirit, the struggle intense but familiar now, each bite deepening the bond until the spirit's resistance was broken. Pounce devoured this spirit with equal fervor, her form becoming more solid and vibrant.

As Giuliano prepared to offer the last spirit, Whisker suddenly materialized from the shadows, his eyes locked on the spirit. His jaws closed around it before disappearing back into the darkness.

The fire crackled and the winds howled outside, both as uncaring as Giuliano for the lives extinguished.

"I thought it would be more..." Giuliano mumbled, unsure what to say.

Grand? Guilt-inducing? Or maybe, satisfying?

Giuliano shook his head, trying to dispel the voice's influence. "It just feels... hollow," he whispered, the emptiness of his actions echoing in his chest.

Giuliano sat near the fire, taking his gloves off before letting his hands touch the fire, "No one says 'I love you' and means it," he muttered to himself, the bitter truth of his past surfacing. His eyes drifted to Zac's sleeping form, innocent and unaware of the violence that had unfolded.

"Some people say it," he repeated, his voice cracking as two faces appeared in his mind. A head full of wild hair and a smile that could light up the night, and eyes full of pity looking at him in a hole.

You know what happened after, His mind said as he pulled his hand away just to see the barest hints of a burn.