The tension in the chamber was suffocating. Ice Phoenix stood at a distance, watching the scene unfold before her, unable to move, unable to even breathe properly. Her icy blue eyes widened in disbelief as she processed what she had just heard. Arfrotian wanted the Eternal Frostheart.
Her heart clenched. Why?
At first, she thought she had misheard him. After all, Arfrotian had been the one to reassure her, to stand beside her, to share her burdens. He had even promised to protect the Eternal Frostheart, standing as a guardian just as she did. And yet, now, in this moment—after everything they had been through—he was openly declaring his desire to claim it for himself.
A feeling of unease spread through her. Was this really happening? Was this all just... a cruel trick?
Zenian, still frozen in place, was also staring at Arfrotian in disbelief. Unlike Ice Phoenix, his shock was mixed with something else—fear. He had underestimated this so-called mortal from the beginning, brushing him off as insignificant, a mere nuisance standing in his way. But now, as he stood immobilized by the very weapon he had longed to wield, he realized the terrifying reality—this had all been orchestrated by Arfrotian.
This man... he's been playing me this entire time...
Ice Phoenix, however, was drowning in an entirely different turmoil. She could no longer comprehend what she felt toward Arfrotian. Was this truly betrayal? Her mind kept repeating the same thoughts over and over again, struggling to make sense of it all.
"No… No, Arfrotian wouldn't betray me… he wouldn't... would he?"
For so long, she had kept her heart frozen, never allowing herself to trust anyone again after Zenian's ultimate betrayal eons ago. That had been the catalyst that led to the devastation of more than half of the icy omniverse's life—the greatest tragedy in this omniverse's history. And now... it felt like she was reliving that pain all over again.
"Could Arfrotian have been lying to me all along? Was everything he said just a ploy to make me trust him, just so he could use me?"
Her hands trembled. A sharp, unbearable ache spread through her chest, something she had never felt before—not even when she lost the countless lives under her protection. But why? Why did this hurt more?
"Why... does this betrayal hurt more than Zenian's betrayal eons ago?"
She stumbled back, clutching her chest as though trying to stop the pain from tearing her apart.
Meanwhile, Arfrotian stood unfazed, his smile unwavering. He had seen this coming—Ice Phoenix's turmoil, her doubt, her pain. But even so, there was no hesitation in his expression.
Zenian, on the other hand, was still reeling from the revelation. His lips trembled as he spoke.
"You... you want the Eternal Frostheart!?" he rasped, his voice filled with disbelief and panic.
Arfrotian simply turned his head slightly and smirked. "Oh? Did I not make myself clear enough?"
Zenian's mind was racing. He's insane! He's completely insane!Why now? Why would Arfrotian, of all people, want to wield the Eternal Frostheart when it was on the verge of unleashing an uncontrollable devastation?
"This fool… does he not realize what's about to happen? Does he not understand that even if he takes the Eternal Frostheart now, it will consume him? Is he trying to kill himself!?"
Even Ice Phoenix had similar thoughts. If Arfrotian truly desired the Eternal Frostheart, why did he wait for Zenian to wield it first? Why hadn't he simply taken it himself from the start?
"What is your true goal, Arfrotian?"
Her mind was a storm of emotions. Doubt, frustration, confusion, betrayal.
"Could it really be that he was using me all along?"
And yet, there was something even more painful—a question she couldn't bring herself to answer.
"Was everything between us fake? Were his words, his reassurances... his sympathy... all just a means to an end?"
She gritted her teeth as a wave of emotions threatened to consume her. She was the Ice Phoenix, the guardian of the Eternal Frostheart. She had never allowed herself to feel like this before—so why did Arfrotian have this effect on her!?
"Damn you, Arfrotian... what did you do to me?"
Zenian, still frozen, was beginning to panic even more.
"You're insane…! That thing is about to release a cataclysmic backlash! If you try to take it now, you'll be destroyed along with everything else!"
Arfrotian merely chuckled.
Zenian's blood ran cold. How was he laughing right now!?
Ice Phoenix, still in turmoil, slowly looked up at Arfrotian.
And then, in the midst of the tension, he spoke once more.
"Ice Phoenix... I know my words must've shaken you. I know that right now, you feel as though I've betrayed you."
She stiffened.
Arfrotian turned his head slightly, his blue and red eyes gleaming in the icy glow of the chamber. His voice was calm yet piercing, like he could see directly into her soul.
"But... the thing is, it's not what it seems."
Ice Phoenix's breath hitched.
"Not what it seems…?"
Her mind was already in chaos, but hearing him say that only deepened her confusion.
"Then what IS it, Arfrotian!? What is your true goal!?"
And yet… despite her confusion, despite her turmoil… despite the pain in her heart…
She couldn't deny it.
She was drawn to him.
It was an unknown force, a pull she couldn't resist, a feeling she couldn't even comprehend. Even as she questioned everything, even as she felt the sharp sting of betrayal, she still found herself unable to turn away from him.
Arfrotian stood there, facing Zenian, standing in front of the impending calamity that was about to be unleashed upon Dementia, and he smiled.
Ice Phoenix, clutching her chest, could only stare.
"Just... who are you, Arfrotian?"
Her emotions were a storm, her thoughts in complete disarray. But one thing remained clear—
Arfrotian was a man unlike any she had ever known.
Even amidst the chaos, even when the world was on the brink of destruction…
He smiled.
And Ice Phoenix… couldn't take her eyes off him.