The world was dark and cold around Kaden, the familiar weight of exhaustion pressing down on him like a leaden blanket. He floated in the blackness, suspended in a void of cold that threatened to consume him. The frost was inside him—burning, freezing, tearing at his very core.
But then, through the darkness, came a flicker of warmth. A small, gentle light, calling to him through the void.
"Kaden..."
The voice was soft, familiar, like a whisper carried on the wind. It reached him, pulling him out of the darkness, guiding him toward the light.
Slowly, the cold receded, replaced by a sense of warmth and peace. Kaden opened his eyes and found himself standing in a grand hall, bathed in golden light. The walls stretched high above him, towering columns carved with intricate designs, their surfaces gleaming with a soft glow.
Kaden's heart raced as he looked around, the familiarity of the place washing over him like a memory just out of reach. He knew this place—he had been here before, though it felt like a lifetime ago.
"Where am I?" he murmured, his voice echoing through the hall.
Then, he saw her.
Standing at the far end of the hall, her figure illuminated by the soft glow of the light, was a woman dressed in flowing robes of gold and white. Her long hair shimmered in the light, and her presence filled the space with an aura of both power and warmth.
Kaden's breath caught in his throat. He knew her.
"Mother..."
She turned to face him, a soft smile playing on her lips, though her eyes were filled with a mix of sadness and pride. She stepped forward, her movements graceful, and as she approached, Kaden felt a rush of emotions—joy, sorrow, confusion—all colliding within him.
"You've grown so much, my son," she said softly, her voice like a melody, both soothing and heartbreaking.
Kaden's heart pounded. "Is this... a dream?"
His mother's smile widened slightly, though it didn't reach her eyes. "In a way, yes. But it's more than that."
Kaden took a step closer, his voice trembling with the weight of everything he had been through. "Why... why are you here? What is this place?"
"This place is a memory," his mother replied, her voice gentle. "A memory of who you are. Of where you come from."
Kaden felt a knot tighten in his chest. "I don't understand. Every time I try to remember, it's like everything slips away. Like it's locked away somewhere inside me."
His mother's gaze softened, and she reached out, brushing a hand against his cheek. Her touch was warm, comforting, but there was a sadness in her eyes that Kaden couldn't quite place.
"You've been running from your power," she said softly. "But you can't hide from it forever."
Kaden swallowed hard, his thoughts racing. "I don't want this power. Every time I use it, it feels like it's destroying me from the inside."
His mother shook her head gently. "It's not your power that's destroying you, Kaden. It's the fear of it. You are not cursed, my son. The frost inside you is not a burden—it's a gift."
Kaden felt the weight of her words, but the confusion still gnawed at him. "A gift? How can something that feels so dangerous be a gift?"
"Because you are not ready," his mother replied, her voice calm. "You are not yet worthy of the power you hold."
"Worthy?" Kaden asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Worthy of what?"
His mother's eyes glistened with unshed tears, and for a moment, her regal composure faltered. She stepped closer, placing both hands on his shoulders, her gaze locking with his.
"You have a great destiny ahead of you, Kaden," she said softly. "But you must become worthy—worthy of the power inside you, and worthy of your true name."
Kaden's heart pounded in his chest. "My true name?"
His mother nodded, but before she could speak again, the warmth of the hall began to fade. The golden light dimmed, and the frost began to creep in from the edges of his vision, black and cold, swallowing the warmth.
Kaden reached out, panic rising in his chest. "Wait! What do you mean? What name? Please, tell me!"
But his mother's form began to flicker, her voice growing distant as the frost overtook the hall.
"One day, you will understand, my son. But until then, remember this: you must become worthy. Worthy to be a... "
Her voice faded as the frost consumed everything, leaving Kaden alone in the cold
Kaden woke with a start, gasping for breath. His chest heaved, and for a moment, he didn't know where he was. The memory of his mother's words echoed in his mind, her voice fading like a distant dream.
He blinked, trying to steady his breath as he looked around. He was lying on a small cot, the air around him still cold, but the intense pain in his body had faded to a dull ache. His head felt heavy, and his mind was clouded with the remnants of the dream.
"You're awake."
Kaden turned his head slightly and saw Tsunade standing beside him, her arms crossed as she watched him with a mix of relief and curiosity. Geralt stood near the door, his face as stoic as ever, though Kaden could see the concern in his eyes.
"You've been out for a while," Geralt said, stepping closer. "We weren't sure if you were going to wake up."
Kaden struggled to sit up, his muscles protesting with every movement. "What... what happened?"
"You collapsed after the fight," Geralt explained. "Your powers... they almost killed you."
Tsunade nodded, her sharp eyes focused on Kaden. "You're lucky I was here to stabilize you. You were burning yourself out."
Kaden's mind raced as he tried to piece together the fragments of the fight, the escape, and the dream. He had used his powers—he had lost control. And then the dream... his mother's words lingered in his mind, their meaning elusive but heavy with importance.
"I..." Kaden struggled to find the words, his throat dry. "I saw her."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Saw who?"
"My mother," Kaden whispered, his voice barely audible. "She... she told me I needed to become worthy."
Geralt and Tsunade exchanged a glance, but neither of them spoke. Kaden's mind was still foggy, and the weight of his mother's words pressed down on him like a stone.
"Worthy of what?" Geralt asked after a long pause.
Kaden shook his head slowly, his eyes distant. "I don't know. She didn't finish. But it felt... it felt important. Like I was missing something."
Tsunade stepped closer, her expression serious. "Your power is linked to something deeper. If you don't gain control over it soon, it's going to destroy you."
Kaden exhaled slowly, his thoughts tangled between the dream and the reality of his situation. He understood the danger his frost posed—but now, there was something more. A purpose his mother hinted at but never revealed.
"I need to understand it," Kaden said, more determined this time. "I'll find out what it means—and what I'm meant to become."