Chapter 10 The Ice Beneath The Skin

• The storm raged on, howling like a beast at their heels, its icy breath biting at their skin. The mountain path, once faintly visible beneath the snow, was now a blur of white, swallowed by the storm’s fury. Ariella and Kael moved swiftly, keeping close to each other as the wind howled around them, its icy fingers clawing at their faces.
• Kael’s brow was furrowed in concentration, his every step purposeful as he navigated the path ahead. His grip on his sword remained firm, his eyes constantly scanning the landscape for any signs of movement. Ariella kept her pace beside him, despite the overwhelming cold. Her cloak billowed behind her, but it barely shielded her from the biting wind. She could feel the weight of the journey growing heavier, each step feeling as if it were carrying her further into a darkness she didn’t fully understand.
• The corruption from the corrupted shade still lingered in her mind. She had never encountered anything like it before, and Kael’s warnings echoed in her ears. If the queen’s magic was reaching this far, what else lay ahead? How much worse could it get?