A beam of light. A deafening roar.
Kyeske looked up — and in that very second, the sky began to fall apart. Above him, a green rift opened, expanding with each passing moment. It felt as if the earth itself was about to vanish into the abyss.
A searing sensation pierced through Kyeske’s body. What he saw was unreal. The wolves that had been surrounding him sensed the danger and bolted back into the forest.
But Kyeske had no time for them. He dashed toward his father, but when he reached the spot — all he found was a bloody stain.
— Damn it...
He had been taken. By wolves — or something far worse.
Kyeske clenched his fists, but he knew: if he gave chase, he would die too. He turned around and ran home, abandoning everything.
The burning in his chest grew stronger. The air had turned heavy, each breath like an icy blade down his throat. Cracking sounds echoed around him, filling his mind with dread.
He ran.
His legs trembled. His chest burned. But he didn’t stop.
When he reached the house, a crash came from inside.
— Hataro! — Kyeske shouted as he burst through the door.
The house was dark. On the floor, bleeding out, lay Hataro. Standing over him were armed men.
— Kyeske… help… — his brother croaked.
The strangers turned.
— And who the hell are you?
— Wait… Is that him? Kinda looks like it.
One of them grinned.
— So you're the one killing our guys? Thought we wouldn't find out?
Kyeske’s hands trembled. But after those words, he heard nothing else. Just a ringing in his ears — and rage.
— We’ve been on your trail for days… and now we’ve got you.
Heat surged through his body, squeezing his chest like fire.
— Why you just standin’ there like a statue?
One of them approached him, spouting some mockery.
Kyeske didn’t think.
His body acted on its own.
He raised his hand — a white orb formed in his palm. With one swift motion, he launched an icy spike straight into the attacker’s eye.
— What the hell?! — the others screamed in panic.
Kyeske’s body burned from the inside. For the first time in this cold world — he felt hot. He tore off his top layer of clothing… and saw his face covered in frost.
— What’s wrong with him?!
Fear gleamed in Hataro’s eyes.
— Kye…
One of the bandits stomped on his stomach and held a knife to his throat.
Hataro’s scream of pain pierced through Kyeske like a blade.
He looked up.
His face was covered in ice.
His eyes began to glow.
— One more step and he dies! You hear me?!
But they didn’t know who they were dealing with.
And neither did he.
In a single instant, he was behind the attacker.
A touch.
Ice exploded into shards.
A scream.
Blood sprayed across the walls of a house that once echoed with laughter and joy.
Kyeske left one of them alive.
The man trembled, paralyzed with fear.
— Where are my mother and sister?
— They… they were taken… To the City of Sin…
Kyeske lowered his hand.
The man’s body collapsed to the floor.
Kyeske gently lifted Hataro into his arms.
— Don’t be afraid of me, little brother…
Hataro coughed, then gave a faint smile.
— It’s okay, Kye…
He coughed up blood. Crimson drops slid down his lips, falling onto his brother’s hands.
— Help Mom and Kaede…
His voice was quiet. Weak.
Kyeske couldn’t hold back his tears.
The once cheerful younger brother was dying in his arms.
— I’ll save you too! You hear me?!
Hataro looked into his eyes.
— Where… is Dad?..
Kyeske froze.
Silence was his answer.
Hataro understood.
He smiled.
— I see…
Softly. Without anger. Without fear.
— I’m sorry… for leaving you… I’m sorry, big brother…
— Don’t say that! You… you’ll…
— I love you…
Hataro’s hand dropped.
The world stopped.
— HATARO!!!
Kyeske screamed.
Blood froze in his veins.
His heart shattered into pieces.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
He shook him, called his name.
— This is a joke, right?! You’re just… just messing around! Like always!
Pleading.
Screaming.
But it was all in vain.
Hataro didn’t respond.
The wind exploded around Kyeske, lifting dust and leaves.
But nothing could be changed now.
It’s All My Fault
Kyeske lay on the ground.
His gaze was empty.
He didn’t eat. He didn’t drink.
He no longer felt the cold.
After the Rift, he lost all connection to that feeling.
But the worst part was the dreams.
In each of them, his loved ones blamed him.
— It’s your fault.
— You couldn’t protect us.
— You should’ve died instead.
A strange ringing never left his head.
— “It’s all my fault…”
He wanted to stand.
But he couldn’t.
He buried his brother…
…and shattered with him.
On the fifth day, something changed.
The guilt. The pain. The despair.
They burned away.
Only anger remained.
At the City of Sin.
At himself.
At the world.
Kyeske stood.
His eyes were no longer empty.
That day, he made a vow.
He would devote himself to vengeance.
He cleaned the house, packed the essentials, and decided to head toward the trader’s city. After the Rift loomed above the earth, he had stopped feeling the cold.
The crack in the sky had frozen in place, but after that, some people began developing markings on their bodies — on their faces, necks, arms, or legs. Kyeske had one too. One of his eyes turned a deep blue, and parts of his hair had gone white.
The power he used… he didn’t even know how it happened. It had burst out in a wave of emotion, but one thing was clear — this wasn’t a dream.
On the way to the city, Kyeske felt something strange. He hadn’t encountered a single soul—perhaps everyone was hiding, afraid of the Rift. That’s what he thought.
But soon, he heard screams coming from a nearby village. There were no guards at the gates.
Kyeske rushed forward.
What he saw shook him to the core.
Towering before him stood a creature darker than night itself. A two-meter-tall monster with a horrifying grin had just impaled a guard through the stomach with blade-like claws.
Kyeske’s knees buckled. Every instinct screamed: run.
The creature turned to him, its already twisted face contorting even more into a wicked smile. The next moment, it vanished—only to appear right in front of him.
Kyeske barely managed to dodge, throwing off his gear.
— Fast… — he gasped.
The monster lunged again, slashing with its claws. Kyeske could only dodge. One wrong move — and he was dead.
Suddenly, the mark on his face flared to life. His hair turned a deep shade of blue, and one of his eyes glowed with mystic energy.
A voice echoed in his head:
— Trust me…
Kyeske froze. For a moment, he was stunned—and that was all it took. The creature struck him, launching him several meters away.
But… he didn’t feel pain. Just a minor cut.
— I reinforced your skin with ice at the moment of impact, — the voice said again. — You must trust me. Or you'll die.
— Who… are you? — Kyeske whispered.
— That doesn’t matter. What matters is that I can help.
Kyeske saw no other choice.
— Do whatever it takes…
— Are you giving me control?
There was a hint of joy in the voice.
Kyeske raised his hand — and four ice swords materialized beside him.
The creature lunged again, but Kyeske was no longer the same.
He launched the blades directly into the monster’s head and back. As it staggered, he leapt, slamming another sword deeper into its body.
A deafening screech tore through the air.
Seconds later, it was over.
Kyeske exhaled heavily.
— What is this voice in my head…?
People began pouring out of buildings. They froze in fear at first, then began whispering among themselves.
— Is that Yaso…? someone muttered.
A man in armor stepped forward, removing his helmet.
— Grand? — Kyeske blinked.
— It’s really you?
— I think so…
Grand crossed his arms, frowning.
— What was that? It felt like I was watching a nightmare.
— I can hardly believe it myself, — Kyeske replied, still catching his breath.
— Something’s happened to you, — Grand said, studying him closely. — Why do you look like that?
— After the Rift… strange things started happening to me.
— I see. Alright, come inside. Let’s talk somewhere calm.
The villagers began clearing the streets.
— Did you see what he did? someone whispered.
— That’s Yaso. He’s a good guy, said a girl from the “Lily” shop.
Later, when Kyeske told Grand about Hataro’s death and the kidnapping of his family, the man was stunned.
— You’re planning to take revenge? — he asked. — That’s foolish. You won’t achieve anything alone. You’re walking straight into death.
— I can’t just sit and wait while my mother and sister are suffering! Even now…
Kyeske clenched his fists, his voice trembling.
Grand let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of Kyeske’s desperation.
— Alright. Stay the night. Tomorrow I’ll help you get equipped.
Kyeske spent the night in Grand’s home.
In the morning, he bought everything he needed for the journey. Since he no longer felt the cold, he only required the basics: food, a sleeping bag, a map. As for weapons, he chose a sword—he was well-trained with it. Before the Cataclysm, Kyeske had been one of the top fighters, showing impressive results.
— It’s incredible what happened to you, — Grand said, crossing his arms. — You really feel nothing?
Kyeske silently nodded.
— Well… at least yesterday you were still talking like a normal person. Yaso, take care of yourself. You’ve got a long and difficult road ahead. I have something for you.
Grand pulled a folded sheet of paper from his pocket.
— It’s a map we’ve been working on for a long time. The City of Sins is far away, and it’s not marked precisely yet… but I hope this will help.
— Th... thank you.
Grand smiled and held out his hand.
— To get your mother and little sister back! Ha-ha-ha!
Kyeske nodded and tucked the map into his bag.
When he stepped beyond the gates, nearly all the townspeople had gathered to wish him luck.
On his way to the nearest village for information, Kyeske tried to get a better grasp on his power. After hours of effort, he began to understand how his ice worked—how to move it, shift it from side to side.
— Interesting...
As the sun began to set, he decided to make camp. He lit a fire, warmed some food, and melted snow through a filter to get fresh water.
Suddenly, a loud scream tore through the forest.
— ?
Kyeske turned sharply, gripping the hilt of his sword. Memories of his father flashed through his mind.
— Not my business…
"Always help others," his father used to say ever since Kyeske was a child.
— Power, blah blah blah, huh? Damn it…
Letting out a deep sigh, he got up and headed toward the sound.
The screams grew louder.
— Why am I doing this…?
Kyeske dashed forward.
In a forest clearing, he saw an old man lying on his back, surrounded by three possessed beings. They looked grotesque—soulless eyes, twisted bodies. The moment they noticed Kyeske, their heads snapped toward him.
The old man weakly reached out a hand.
Kyeske stepped forward and drew his sword. Focusing, he coated the blade in ice.
— Hope this is the right call… Why are they moving so slowly?
He didn’t wait any longer. Charging forward, Kyeske leapt and plunged his sword into one creature’s stomach, then sliced off its head in one swift motion.
The other two froze.
— What’s with them? They’re like the ones from the Merchant City…
One of the possessed stepped forward and tried to touch Kyeske.
Suddenly, his body froze in place.
— W-what’s happening to me?..
He opened his mouth, but instead of normal words, he began speaking in a language he didn’t understand.
The monsters near him suddenly dropped to their knees.
— What… the hell is this..? — Kyeske muttered, frowning.
He felt something shift within him.
Regaining control over his body, he created two icy needles without hesitation and pierced the creatures’ skulls. At that moment, a deafening scream echoed in his mind:
"WHY!?"
The voice thundered inside his head, making him flinch.
— B-boy… — a weak voice called out.
Kyeske turned. The old man, still on the ground, stared in horror at the three lifeless bodies. Slowly, he lifted a trembling finger, pointing at them.
— Please… help me… bury them…
Kyeske clenched his jaw, nodded silently, and got to work. After burying the bodies, they sat by the fire. The flames danced once more, pushing back the darkness.
— What’s your name, boy?
— K… Yaso.
— Thank you, Yaso, for saving me. How can I repay you?
Kyeske glanced at the burial site.
— Were they your family?
The old man gave a weak nod.
— Yes… My two grandsons… and their mother…
Kyeske bit his lip.
— I’m sorry I didn’t arrive sooner…
— It’s not your fault, the old man sighed. Strange things have been happening since the Rift… Where are you headed, Yaso?
— I’m looking for someone… Do you know anything about the City of Sins?
The old man flinched at those words.
— The City of Sins… They occupied our village. Turned it into their camp. We were out gathering firewood because they ordered us to…
— Can you show me?
Kyeske pulled out the map and unfolded it.
With a trembling finger, the old man pointed at a small mark.
— Here… I don’t know much else about them… I’m sorry…
— That’s enough.
For a moment, silence fell. Then the old man looked down at his hands and whispered:
— Yaso… I’m sorry, but I can’t go on with the gift you gave me…
A single tear slid down his cheek.
— Not without my family… I ask of you…
Kyeske silently stood up and drew his sword.
— Maybe I’d do the same… His fingers trembled.
The old man closed his eyes.
— I’m sorry you had to become both my savior… and my executioner.
The blade cut through the air. The old man’s head dropped into the snow, instantly dyeing it crimson.
Kyeske quietly gathered his belongings and walked on. His face was frozen in a bitter expression.
"I’m no executioner… I never wanted to be one… Only this once…"
— And yet, you are the executioner.
Kyeske froze.
— That voice again… Looks like I’m going insane…
— No. You’re not insane. Tell me, why did you kill them?
— They were monsters.
— They were just like you. Possessed… Innocent people.
A chill ran through Kyeske’s body.
— No… You’re lying. They weren’t human…
— Possessed. Their bodies couldn't handle the power they were given.
Kyeske gritted his teeth.
— Then why didn’t I turn?
There was a pause. Then the voice replied:
— I don’t know… But after the Rift, our race — the Silhs — was drawn into your world…
