The air within the icy temple crackled with tension, the cold no longer biting, but thick and suffocating. Ice Phoenix, already on edge from the unexpected twists in the encounter, found herself reaching her breaking point. Her face burned with embarrassment, a stark contrast to her usual composed demeanor, as the situation spiraled out of her control. From confronting Zenian about his treacherous ambitions to defending her non-existent "relationship" with Arfrotian, the entire ordeal had her on the brink of losing her composure entirely.
Finally, unable to bear the escalating absurdity, Ice Phoenix shouted at the top of her voice, her tone sharp and commanding, "It's nothing like that! Can we just get back to what we were doing?"
Her words echoed in the vast hall, momentarily silencing the room. Zenian, who had been stewing in his anger over Arfrotian's earlier insult comparing him to a dog's tail, clenched his fists. His dark aura pulsed, his fallen angelic pride wounded. Meanwhile, Arfrotian, ever the picture of calm composure, stood with a faint smirk playing on his lips, as if he were merely a spectator to the chaos he had orchestrated.
However, Arfrotian's decision to stop provoking Zenian wasn't because of Ice Phoenix's frustrated outburst—he had already anticipated her reaction. No, he stopped because something else was brewing in his mind, an idea he had carefully been piecing together, like a chess player visualizing his opponent's next ten moves.
As the atmosphere settled, Ice Phoenix turned to Arfrotian with conflicted eyes, her gaze a mix of frustration, suspicion, and faint disbelief. She couldn't help but wonder about his true intentions. Was he really here as an ally, as someone who would help her protect the Eternal Frostheart and share her burdens? Or was he merely toying with her, teasing her for his amusement?
In response to her pointed stare, Arfrotian spread his arms in a casual gesture, his expression feigning innocence, as if to say, "What? I've done nothing." The gesture only served to frustrate her further, but before she could voice her thoughts, she turned back to Zenian, determined to refocus on the true threat.
"You should leave," Ice Phoenix said firmly, her voice echoing with icy resolve. "Do not dare to venture into this temple again, Zenian. The Eternal Frostheart is not something you can claim, and you know it."
Zenian, however, was done playing coy. His laugh rang out, tinged with anger and condescension. "Oh, really? As if I'd listen to your warnings, Ice Phoenix. You and your… consort—"
At the word consort, Ice Phoenix's face turned an even deeper shade of red. She couldn't take it anymore. Drawing herself up, she shouted, "He is NOT my consort! He's just… just a man I chanced upon!"
Zenian smirked, his wings flaring slightly, his golden eyes gleaming with smug amusement. "Chanced upon? Who are you fooling, Ice Phoenix? I can clearly see it—you're blushing just talking about him."
Ice Phoenix froze at his words, realizing that her face indeed felt hot. In her attempt to deny the accusation, she had unwittingly fueled Zenian's suspicions further. "That's not… I'm not blushing because of him!" she protested, though her voice lacked the conviction she intended.
Arfrotian, who had been observing the exchange in silence, finally decided to speak. His voice was calm and unhurried, yet it carried a weight that silenced both Ice Phoenix and Zenian.
"If Zenian wants to wield the Eternal Frostheart," Arfrotian said, his tone almost casual, "then let us give him a chance. Who knows—this time, he may actually succeed."
The statement was like a lightning strike, stunning everyone into silence. Ice Phoenix's eyes widened in shock and disbelief, her anger flaring once more. "What are you saying?!" she snapped, turning to face Arfrotian. "Have you completely lost your mind? Do you not remember what happened the last time this fool tried to wield the Eternal Frostheart?"
Her voice trembled with fury, but there was also a note of betrayal. Hadn't she trusted Arfrotian to help her protect the Eternal Frostheart, to ensure that the disaster Zenian had caused eons ago would never be repeated? And now he was suggesting giving Zenian another chance? It was unthinkable.
"The backlash from the Eternal Frostheart," Ice Phoenix continued, her voice rising, "was so catastrophic that it froze the entire megaverses of Dementia and Rodentia! Billions of lives lost, countless timelines shattered—and all because of his arrogance! And now you want to give him another chance to do it again?"
Zenian, for his part, was equally stunned. His golden eyes narrowed as he tried to decipher Arfrotian's intentions. Why would this man, who seemed to be an ally of the Ice Phoenix, suggest something so reckless? Was it a trap? A test? Or was there some other agenda at play?
Arfrotian met Ice Phoenix's furious gaze with his usual calm demeanor. "Relax," he said simply, his voice carrying a soothing undertone. "I haven't lost my mind. Nor have I forgotten the consequences of Zenian's actions. But sometimes…" He paused, his icy blue eyes flickering with an unreadable light. "…sometimes, the best way to expose a fool's folly is to let them walk right into it."
Ice Phoenix's anger didn't abate, but she faltered at his words, unsure of what he meant. Meanwhile, Zenian's shock was slowly giving way to a mixture of suspicion and intrigue.
"Why would you suggest that?" Zenian asked cautiously, his tone laced with distrust. "What game are you playing, stranger?"
Arfrotian's lips curved into a faint smile, one that sent a chill down Zenian's spine despite the fallen angel's attempts to remain composed. "No game," he said simply. "If you truly believe you're worthy of wielding the Eternal Frostheart, then by all means, prove it. Let's see if it accepts you this time."
Zenian's pride flared at the challenge, but he hesitated, sensing that there was more to Arfrotian's words than met the eye. Ice Phoenix, on the other hand, felt a wave of frustration and confusion. She couldn't understand what Arfrotian was planning, but she knew one thing for certain—she wasn't going to let Zenian anywhere near the Eternal Frostheart without a fight.
As the three of them stood in tense silence, the icy winds swirling around them, it was clear that this confrontation was far from over. What Arfrotian's true intentions were, only he knew. But one thing was certain—he had just set the stage for a conflict that would test the very limits of their resolve.