IBTRFL Chapter 14

In the Blizzard

Flint struck flint. A small spark leapt free. Faint smoke rose up from the dry grass where it landed.

A careful breath of air fed it, and the small flame lifted its head, strengthened. Before long it was eating the surrounding kindling, growing.

The air around the crackling fire warmed into something almost comfortable.

Kardo brushed his hands off lightly and sat down on a log, watching the flame flicker and rise. The heat-touched red light stroked his even features.

The sky above was so full it looked like the stars might spill out of it. Small embers leapt upward as if longing for that clear, bright light, but they never reached it—they cooled black in the air and scattered.

Kardo thought it looked like him. Nothing accomplished. Just ash, cooling, scattering.

On his knee, his bandaged hand tightened.

Everything was wrecked. Rotting meat and pooled blood clogged the barren ground; screams that never finished echoed through the parched sky.

Soldiers driven to the brink were slaughtered like cattle—by things that used to be human. And when one person disappeared, another was dragged in to lose their life in turn.

A place where countless fiercely-lived lives vanished for nothing. And in that place, he was the one they called a hero.

Not even funny. No grand resolve. No noble will. What people worshipped as a hero—just a husk, worn down to nothing.

How much longer could he hold out. How much further would he have to fall before he broke. The duty on his shoulders was unbearably heavy, and it choked the breath out of him.

The great ancestor from his father's stories—at some point, he'd become someone Kardo bitterly resented.

"There you go again."

A voice, thoroughly displeased, shook the grim thoughts loose. Kardo turned, his face lighting up.

Aer was drying her wet hair, watching him. The dull cloud that had covered his face lifted, and a warm smile spread in its place.

"What'd you do to earn that grin."

"Nothing. Just happy."

Kardo grinned, sheepish.

At a loss for words, Aer scratched her head, then sat down beside him. She hooked her arm through his and laced her fingers tight into his.

"Bear with the damp."

Aer leaned her head against his shoulder. A clean, herbal scent tickled his nose.

Kardo didn't even try to hide the corner of his mouth lifting. He just kept sneaking sideways glances at her, shy as a boy caught up in a first love he hadn't even admitted to himself yet.

That was when he noticed what she was wearing. The ivory shirt hanging loose off her frame was, unmistakably, his.

His face went red from cheeks to neck, ripe as an apple.

Kardo dragged both hands down his face.

"That's— El. That's my shirt."

"Yeah. Swiped your shirt. Problem?"

"No! Not at all—I mean, no, no, that's—it's not that I hate it."

Kardo fumbled for words, then looked away. Aer snickered, mischievous, and tightened her arm around his.

Mumbling to himself, Kardo let his gaze drop.

Her hand. Calloused, scarred all over. It had hauled him up out of despair more times than he could count.

Aer always asked what was so great about her ugly, ruined hand—but nothing was more precious to him, nothing he was prouder of.

At the same time, guilt gnawed at him. A lover forced to walk this brutal road beside him. A woman who deserved nothing but good things, in a good place.

Being with Aer was the greatest luck of his life—and still, Kardo often regretted the choice that brought her here.

He felt a gaze fixed steadily on him.

Kardo tilted his head and looked at Aer. She was giving him a flat, sulky look.

"I told you not to make that face."

"...Right."

Aer sighed, unlaced her arm from his, and stood up. Kardo's face fell for a moment at the warmth pulling away—hurt.

But what she did next froze him solid. Aer had planted herself on his lap.

Face to face with him, Aer ordered him, shameless.

"Hurry. Arms around my waist. Now."

"...Y-yeah."

Red to the ears, Kardo fumbled, then wrapped his arms around her waist. He couldn't turn away. Couldn't look away.

Something about that seemed to satisfy her deeply—Aer's face spread into a full, contented smile.

"...Aer. I think I'm gonna die."

Kardo mumbled it, voice barely making it out. Aer grabbed his face in both hands and needled him, crooked.

"I told you before, right? Once this is all over, forget being a hero—we go down to your hometown. And what did I say came after that?"

"We, we have two kids and live well. A—a son and a daughter."

"Right. Don't tell me you actually don't wanna live with me. Gonna dump me for some other woman?"

Kardo shook his head, fast.

"No! Never. Not that."

"Exactly. Who'd wanna marry some ignorant meathead mercenary with nothing but muscle. What, wanna run back to that princess who was all over you last time?"

Aer's eyes went sly, digging in. Kardo bristled instantly, half-rising, voice cracking loud.

"No! There's no one for me but you!"

His blue eyes trembled, pleading to be believed. Aer smiled and pulled him into an embrace.

Kardo hesitated a beat, then wrapped his arms tight around her in return.

"See? That's all that matters. Don't worry about anything else. Long as it's the two of us, we'll be happy."

"...Yeah."

"I love you."

The quiet words melted the hurt sitting in him. They said it to each other every day, but it still felt new every time, still made his chest go tight, like the very first confession.

Knowing how true it was on both sides made it hit even harder.

I love you. Those few words, and his chest ran hot and full every single time.

Unable to hold back, Kardo buried his face in her shoulder. Nuzzling in, the clean herb scent filled him whole.

Kardo laughed, soft, and gave his own answer.

"I love you too."

"..."

"...Aer?"

The arms around him went still. The warmth between their bodies cooled—and the body in his arms slumped, lifeless.

Kardo's mouth stayed shut, his gaze locking onto something rigid. Bandages, soaked red with something lukewarm and sticky. The vivid, ghastly color crushed down on his lurching heart.

"...Aer?"

Kardo's face had gone pale as ice. His labored breath came fast, ragged, like it might cut off completely.

"Aer? El? Answer me. Please—"

No answer came, not even to that tear-choked, pleading call.

This can't be happening. You said you'd always be by my side.

Kardo shook, hauling the body back into his arms again and again. No matter how desperately he tried, the cold body just kept slipping, lifeless.

"Ah—"

A hollow groan tore loose with the tears. The happy memory that let him forget, for a moment—gave way to the cruel truth. It closed around his throat.

Aer is dead. Died protecting me. Because I couldn't protect her.

Kardo let out a low, broken groan and pulled the corpse closer. He knew this was foolish. He knew none of this was real.

But if he let go now, it felt like he'd never see her again.

"Aer—"

That was when it happened.

<Wake up.>

One firm word dragged his eroding mind back up.

Kardo drew a rough breath and lifted his head. His blurred sight sharpened, and the world around him came back into focus.

A winter forest, deceptively peaceful. White snow fell fierce enough to bury the whole world.

The sword against his chest throbbed once, as if asking whether he'd finally woken up. His unsteady heart slowly found its rhythm again.

Kardo caught his breath and wiped the tears from his face, numb to it by now.

This happens a lot. He came back from the end of the world—but the memory branded into his skull never left.

Kardo caught his breath and straightened where he sat. The fire he'd built before dozing off had burned down to embers, one small flame left.

He broke apart the dry logs set beside him and fed them in. Before long the fire came back to life, along with a thread of grey smoke.

Outside the cave, wind-whipped snow scattered every which way.

A pale, hazy blizzard. Through the white, shapes moved—dim, half-formed, unclear. Kardo's brow tightened faintly. He gathered up his sword and stood.

The Cult of Extinction's pursuit was relentless. Even when he managed to put distance between them, they'd turn up again before long, knives at his throat.

Same as before he came back—but now he could feel the resolve in it. A determination to kill him, no matter what.

Couldn't feel it himself, but he got it. To them, he was the last blood of a depraved, unforgivable criminal.

But he was also just a clueless twelve-year-old brat.

He could've cut down every assassin who came at him. Hadn't, though—not since the first time.

Show off strength beyond what he needed—might draw out an enemy he still couldn't handle.

Better to hold out at the cave mouth. Kardo watched the dark shapes and rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.