“What should we do?” Reva asked, not seeming to actually be too intimidated by the mass of snow rocketing towards them. Saffron thought for a second.

“Wake Shiso up?” she suggested. Her and Reva looked down at the two people sleeping in Eschaton. Shiso was snoring and Violette had somehow intertwined their legs in their sleep.

“But they look so cute like that.” Reva admired.

“Yeah.” Saffron said, starstruck.

“Wake up, old man!” Hazel yelled, kicking Shiso in the shoulder.

Shiso jolted up, waking up Violette and falling out of the shield. He rubbed his eyes and looked around, seeing Violette in the shield.

“Please don’t tell me I shared a bed with her.” Shiso shuddered, pointing at a half-asleep Violette who was stumbling around.

“Well, no.” Hazel said. “Technically it was a shield, not a bed.” Shiso shuddered again and began doing some stretching.

“What’d you wake me up for anyway.” he yawned.

“That.” Saffron bluntly said, pointing at the encroaching snowstorm.

Shiso’s eyes went wide as he took a jump back. Reva took the rope off of her shield as she held it up high.

“Everyone, single-file behind me!” Reva shouted.

Shiso ducked behind Reva as soon as she gave the word. Saffron took Violette by the wrist and yanked her behind Reva’s safety as Hazel followed behind, trying to finish the project she was working on.

When the wave hit, Reva groaned as she was slowly pushed back from her grounded position. Snow flew past the group in every direction, with Reva being their only way to pierce the fierce snowstorm. As the giant wave of snow started to subside, only a light snowy mist remained that obscured their vision in every direction.

“Come on out!” Shiso yelled, spinning the barrel of his revolver just for show. In the midst of the mist, a cold voice hissed.

“I’m not hiding. You just can’t see straight in front of you.”

As the mist parted, a single figure was left standing. She was wearing a jacket that all of them except Shiso recognised. It was a popular jacket before the Final War began. Lined in fur, the jacket looked like it kept her plenty warm. She had ridged, sharp icicles floating around her.

She had blue hair and blue ice-skate blades on the bottom of her shoes, which was unnatural, seeing as they were actually just tennis-shoes. The jacket flowed a bit in the wind, as if it was just a tad too big; her pants seemed to be just fine though. She had a sneer on her face. But the thing that everyone saw the most was her small stature.

“Sorry about that.” she apologised. “That happens when I skate too fast, nothing to be really concerned about.”

“Are you lost, child?” Reva asked gently.

“The hell did you just ask me?” the woman hissed.

“I’m sorry!” Reva exclaimed. “I simply thought because of your height that you were a child and you needed-”

“What about it?” she yelled, anger in her eyes. “Got a problem with my size?!”

“You here for a fight?” Shiso growled, interjecting the argument.

“You mentally stable?” the woman retorted. “I think a regular ‘hello there’ could’ve been just a bit friendlier.”

“I could say the same thing.” Shiso grumbled.

“Does that mean you’re not looking for a fight?” Hazel asked with a cocky smile. The woman stopped and thought for a second.

“Yeah, I’m not looking to fight right now.” she yawned. “I’m tired from dealing with some stuff earlier.” She started stretching and yawning, which prompted Shiso and Violette to unwillingly do the same.

“So, where’re you going, anyway.” Violette asked through an impressively loud yawn.

“I mean, there’s only like one place to go, you know.” the woman sighed. “My sight is on Eden, but it’s not like I’m getting there any time soon at this rate.”

“You wanna hang with us then?” Hazel asked. Saffron was standing behind them, skeptically rubbing her chin almost in sync with Shiso, who was beside her.

“What’re you thinking, kid?” Shiso whispered. “I don’t trust her.”

“You don’t trust anyone you haven’t tried to put a bullet in.” Saffron pointed out. “I don’t know what’s setting me off. Something about her is just… volatile. Like a live wire that only looks like it’s dead.”

“So you agree that she can’t be trusted?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I dunno. Do me a favor and don’t let your eyes off of her. Can’t be too careful when my gut’s screaming at me.”

“As long as you keep your eyes peeled as well.”

“It’s a team effort then.” Saffron said. They both smiled then gave a fist-bump before approaching the rest of the group.

“So, what’s your name?” Reva asked.

“Selicy.” the woman said without hesitation.

“Weird name.” Shiso commented.

“Oh yeah?” Selicy said with a heavy attitude. “You got a better one?”

They spent a while trading introductions and names to Selicy, who still seemed a bit too moody for both Saffron’s and Shiso’s tastes. Something about her radiated some kind of bad-influence energy that worried Saffron, as if she could turn on them at a moment’s notice. Even Saffron thought it was weird that she’d think that about someone.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

“So, we getting this show on the road or what?” Selicy said, bumping Shiso’s shoulder as she walked by. Shiso was now visibly upset about Selicy existing in the same plane of existence as him.

“I don’t want you walking with-”

“Shhh.” Violette whispered in his ear, which made him jump like a jackrabbit. “You complain less when you sleep.”

“Don’t tell me how I sleep!” he fumed. “I’m not even totally over you being here! Why should I be-” Shiso never finished his sentence due to Reva hitting him in the back of the head, knocking him out.

“You need to finish you cat-nap.” Reva said sternly.

“You’re gonna give the man brain damage.” Hazel joked as she tightened something in the violin prototype.

“It could only improve his social skills.” Selicy lightly laughed. She rubbed her eyes and yawned, stretching her arms out again.

“I think you need some sleep as well.” Reva commented.

“You try and knock me out, I freeze your goddamn hand off.” Selicy threatened.

“May I suggest an alternative idea then?” Reva chirped.

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The group trekked on, giving care to accompany as many comforts to people as possible; well, at least Reva was. She was dragging a sleeping Shiso in her shield again while Violette sat in it hugging her knees. The rope was now tied around Reva’s waist as she used her hands to give Selicy a piggy-back ride as she slept, using Reva’s head as a pillow.

“Doesn’t it get exhausting, doing all of that?” Saffron asked, waving to all the people that Reva was supporting.

“Of course it does.” Reva said. “But if it means that other people are happier or more comfortable, I’m happy to give them some of my strength.”

“You’re just a bit too generous.” Saffron chuckled.

“Maybe.” Reva admitted. “But I’m happy when I know that other people are happy. And if I know that other people aren’t happy, why should I just overlook them?”

“That’s quite the mantra.” Saffron admired, impressed at Reva’s morals. “Where did you get that set of morals?”

“Well, back when-”

“It’s finished!” Hazel declared, holding up the violin in triumph. Reva and Saffron stopped to see the instrument, which was made of a dark red wood and looked sleek and polished. Violette clapped vivaciously as Hazel handed it to her. She hugged the violin for several seconds before showering it in kisses that made Saffron feel quite uncomfortable.

“Are you done making out with your instrument yet?” Shiso asked, being rudely awakened from his sleep. He didn’t really bother getting up though, as standing up would offer no more than a better view of Violette smooching her mass of strings and wood.

“Have you never kissed your gun goodnight?” Violette asked defensively.

“Leave Lynchpin out of this.” he countered. “She’s a special gun.”

“Yeah, sure.” Hazel said skeptically.

“You wanna see?” Shiso asked. To everyone’s surprise, he didn’t try to immediately shoot Hazel. Instead, he opened the barrel and let the green bullets inside fall out. Hazel bent down and picked up one of them, looking at it closely.

“Is this… Sera?” she asked in disbelief.

“Yeah.” he answered. “Bullets got too expensive.”

“But you’re literally firing money at this point!” Hazel exclaimed, exasperated.

“Well what’s the big deal then?” he asked. “If it works, it works.”

“What happens when you run out of money?” Violette asked.

“Even after I run out of money, I’ll always have plenty of ammo.” Shiso claimed. “After all, a knife is always fully loaded.”

“I think you did give him brain damage.” Hazel said, looking over at Reva. Seconds later though, she just shrugged her shoulders. “But I guess that’s not my problem, now is it? I fix machines; people are much harder.” Hazel then laid down next to Shiso in the shield, feet crossed and tapping to a beat.

“Make yourself at home, why don’t you?” Shiso mumbled.

“Thanks, I will.” Hazel said with a grin. “Yo, Vio, you ready to finally test to see if that violin can really play?”

“I thought you’d never ask!” she exclaimed, putting her bow to the strings and began to play an entire symphony on one instrument.

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Reva was finally starting to show signs of fatigue from her long, long walk. She looked about ready to be the one taking a nap. She had still been dragging her shield and carrying Selicy on her back.

“Do you need to stop?” Saffron asked, concerned.

“Nah,” Reva assured. “I’m a powerhouse. I can keep going.” Saffron was about to protest, but she heard a sound coming from Selicy on Reva’s back.

“No… you…. I… he…. Stan….” she muttered. Reva tried gently shaking Selicy on her back in an attempt to try and wake her up.

“You’re dreaming, honey.” Reva said softly. Selicy had her eyes closed tight and looked like she was in a nightmare. Saffron could see her breath now and light frost began forming on Reva’s armor. Reva looked like she just had ice poured down her back.

“No… fire… die… stop…” Selicy began to mutter faster. Reva was now almost fully covered in frost. Everyone could hear her armor clinking as she shivered.

“Reva, drop her.” Saffron demanded. “I’ve got her.”

Saffron tried to take Selicy from Reva’s back, but Selicy’s body seemed to be completely stuck to Reva, even if she let go.

“Little help?” Reva pleaded.

Saffron was tired of trying to get Selicy off normally. She grabbed Selicy by both shoulders and ripped her off of Reva’s armor, throwing her onto the ground. Selicy woke up and darted her head around.

“What the hell’s going on?” she frantically asked.

“You were having a nightmare.” Violette said.

“A nightmare.” Selicy wistfully whispered. “But why’d you guys wake me up?”

“Because we had to crowbar you off of our resident sentient suit of armor.” Shiso chimed in from the back. Selicy looked at Reva’s frost-covered armor, which had a light outline of Selicy in thin ice.

“Sorry.” Selicy mumbled. She stood up and turned away.

“Wait, where’re you going?!” Reva exclaimed.

“Away from here.” Selicy said coldly. “I still only cause trouble where I go.”

“Why do you wanna keep her here?” Saffron whispered to Reva. “You just carried her for a literal eternity. What’s compelling about that?”

“I’ve never seen such a cry for help in my life.” Reva declared. “That woman needs some people to enjoy life with.”

“I’ll see you all in Eden, if any of us even make it in.” Selicy said grimly.

“I won’t let you leave!” Reva said, flipping both Shiso and Hazel out of the shield and into the snow and using it to block Selicy’s way.

“Outta my way.” Selicy growled. “Don’t get me pissed.”

“Why’s that?” Shiso asked, slowly drawing Lynchpin.

“Because you wouldn't like me when I’m angry.” she responded simply.

“No!” Reva exclaimed again. “You need some help! There’s so much you haven’t told us about you, even though you trusted us enough to sleep with us!”

“Maybe it’s some stuff I don’t want you to know.” Selicy hissed, smoothly maneuvering around Selicy.

“Well, tell me who Stan is then!” Reva shouted. Selicy stopped dead in her tracks and slowly turned her head to look Reva in the eyes.

“Who told you that name?” she asked angrily.

“I- You-” Reva stumbled to get words out as she was disturbed by the hatred in Selicy’s eyes. Selicy manifested spears of ice and threw one at Reva’s shield, which caused the ice to shatter on impact.

“I asked you who told you that name!” Selicy shouted, skating towards Reva at a breakneck speed. The entire group unquestioningly got ready for battle as the sound of ice scraping metal rang throughout Eden’s icy tundra.