"After our fight against the Frostfangs, both I and the kid made our way back to the city. That's how I got the chance to talk to him, at least I thought I would," Borin began, his voice low and reflective.
The snowstorm raged with a fury that almost seemed alive, its icy tendrils clawing at the boy and Borin as they trudged through the endless white snow.
Borin leaned heavily on the boy's shoulder, his injuries draining his strength with every step. Each breath Borin took was visible in the frigid air, laboured and ragged. His face was pale, and the weight of his wounds bore down on him like an anchor.
The boy, though small in stature, braced himself against Borin's weight. His legs wobbled as they sank into the snow, but he pressed on. The howling wind drowned out most sounds, but the boy's worried voice cut through the storm.
"Hey, mister, can you keep going?" He asked, glancing sideways at Borin.
Borin's lips parted, but his voice was weak. "Yeah... I just... need to... catch my breath," He rasped, his words trailing off as his eyes began to flutter shut.
The boy's heart sank. "No, no, don't fall asleep! Hey, HEY, STAY WITH ME!" He shouted, shaking Borin lightly.
When Borin did not respond, panic gripped the boy's chest. His gaze darted around, desperately searching for any sign of shelter. As the world around them was a blur of white, the storm's fury making it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead.
"I've got to find somewhere... anywhere," the boy muttered to himself, gritting his teeth as he adjusted Borin's weight on his back. The wind bit at his face, and the cold seeped into his bones, but he refused to stop.
Each step felt heavier than the last, and his breaths came in shallow gasps. The snow clung to him, freezing his movements, but he kept on pushing forward, his determination burning brighter than the storm around him.
"Hey, mister! Are you still with me? Come on please answer me!" He called out again, but Borin remained silent, his body limp. As clouded the boy's mind as he trudged on, but the storm seemed endless, and unyielding.
Finally, his body gave out. His legs buckled, the snow cushioned his fall, but it was also the thing that would bury them both.
"I... I'm so sorry," He whispered, his voice breaking. "I couldn't save you." His eyelids grew heavy, and he felt himself slipping away, the storm's relentless howl fading into the distance.
Then, a voice pierced the darkness of his mind. A deep, resonant voice that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere.
"Boy... You are stronger than this. Stand, and protect what matters to you. So live!"
His eyes snapped open, the words echoing in his soul. The boy's breathing steadied as he gritted his teeth, his hands curling into the snow.
"I can't give up... No. I REFUSE TO GIVE UP!" He shouted his voice cutting through the storm. He forced himself onto his knees, lifting his face to the heavens. "Until I reach my goals, until I fulfil my dreams, I will never lose again!"
As the words left his lips, something deep within him ignited. Flames erupted from his body, not red or orange but a vivid, otherworldly purple. The fire consumed the frost that clung to him, melting the snow beneath his feet. However, the flames did not burn him; instead, they filled him with warmth, revitalizing his weary body
The boy scared, "No, No, It's happening again," He muttered, to himself, inspecting himself, unsure of what he had just unleashed. However, he did not let that stop him. He turned to Borin lay motionless in the snow, checked his heartbeat, and said; "Thank goodness, he's still alive."
He looked around, the flames from his body dimming but leaving a strange warmth in their wake. As his eyes scanned the horizon, the following words appeared within his mind.
"Behind you."
The boy froze. "What? What do you mean, behind me?" He whispered, his voice trembling. Slowly, he turned his head. There, just a few paces away, was the entrance to a cave, its dark maw sheltered from the storm's wrath.
His heart leaped. "A cave!" Without hesitation, he hoisted Borin onto his back once more, his legs steadier now as he carried him towards the sanctuary. The cave's entrance loomed before them, offering protection from the unforgiving storm.
Inside the cave, the boy gently laid Borin on the ground, propping him against the wall. The faint glow of embers from his earlier flames provided enough light to see. He quickly gathered some dry sticks and kindling scattered near the entrance and worked to start a fire.
As the flames crackled to life, warmth filled the small space. The boy leaned back, exhaustion finally catching up to him. His gaze shifted to Borin, who stirred slightly, his face relaxing in the firelight.
The boy let out a shaky breath. "We're safe now," He whispered, a small, triumphant smile breaking through his exhaustion. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he allowed himself to hope again.
End of Chapter 15.