"We have a curious group on our hands, wouldn’t you say, little ice cube?"

  "Yes, Lord Quietus! They’re lovely! Although… Shiver has a frosty exterior. She hasn’t warmed up to me."

  A wishbone riding on an ice cube shot down the cobbled streets of a lost Archcity. It almost sounded like the setup to a joke. The wishbone let out a deep chuckle.

  "Oh, my dear ice cube, that is only to be expected! Especially given a Fear of her nature. In my boundless wisdom, I did discern a tension between you and your charge."

  Icey bucked in response to the statement, almost throwing the wishbone off.

  "Graves below! Steady there!"

  "S-sorry Lord Quietus. I fear that you’re right. I’ve tried my best to befriend her, but she keeps me at a distance. I think she believes I’m useless."

  "I have never heard such nonsense! Drivel! Was it not you who proposed this ingenious plan? Your insight and perceptiveness is unparalleled."

  "H-huh?"

  The wishbone inclined itself, as if to stare dramatically at the harsh gothic peaks of the Archcity as they rushed by.

  "Trust is built gravestone by gravestone, little ice cube. One stone at a time, until a grand, unshakeable crypt results."

  The irony of a minuscule wishbone calling an ice cube ‘little’ was entirely lost on him, but his words, even if their veracity was questionable, were comforting.

  "I see… I think I understand."

  "It is only natural for our charges to approach us with wariness. We embody the very things they Fear. And the Fear of ice runs deep in Shiver. Why, when I was training my old subordinates, I… I…"

  "Lord Quietus?"

  The wishbone sighed.

  "Forgive me, I sensed something at the edge of my memory but I struggled to reach it. Such is the plight of a newly awakened guide."

  "Don’t worry Quietus! Vale seems to share a passion rivaling Shiver’s own, even though she hides it well! She is sure to further descend into her Fear. You’ll have your memories in no time!"

  "It is “Lord” Quietus to you, little ice cube. But your words bring me warmth! Indeed, surprising given your nature, I suppose you do bear a similarity to your charge."

  "F-forgive me!"

  "Alas there is nothing to forgive! Continue onwards! For we hold the fate of our charges in our non-existent palms!"

  "There was something else… did you notice… his presence? The third of us?"

  The wishbone considered Icey’s question carefully.

  "Aye, flickering in and out of existence. To resist the instinctual call of his Fearshaper… I sense a great soul, almost as distinguished as us. Only time will reveal his true nature. For now, we have an innocent to rescue. Onwards!"

  Continuing in silence, Icey raced towards the mansion through which they had entered the Archcity.

  ---

  Pevir rubbed at a sore spot on his neck.

  His third day in the mysterious Archcity – perhaps it wasn’t a surprise that his body was protesting after his relentless study of the lost texts within.

  His joints ached, and as he caught a glimpse of himself in a window, he was surprised at the sight of the bags that hung under his eyes.

  The excitement of the discovery must have worn him down quickly.

  His curiosity did tend to get away from him, as his niece often complained.

  "No point twiddling my thumbs with worry! Roaaaad to mysteries-"

  He halted as he caught a glance of motion on the street outside.

  "What the…"

  Had his eyes deceived him? He thought he caught a flash of movement outside. Surely nothing still lived in this forgotten Archcity?

  "It can’t be… Does other life persist here still? I must investigate it!"

  Cupping his bucket hat to prevent it from flying off in his rush, the stout archaeologist hurried down the manor stairs. He opened the double doors leading out towards the street. His mouth fell.

  Before him was a mysterious and incomprehensible sight. A wishbone resting atop a moving ice cube approached at speed.

  Straight towards him.

  "Ah my good man! We’ve found you at last. Time is of the essence!"

  "Y-you can speak! My word, what manner of being are you sir?"

  "It is difficult to fully appreciate my grand-"

  "Lord Quietus! We must hurry!"

  "Of course, of course. Forgive me Pevir, I believe? You are allied with our companions but I suspect you no longer recall them. No matter, hup!"

  The wishbone appeared to exert some effort and leapt onto Pevir’s shoulder. He recoiled with a shout.

  "Ah! Get off me! Help!"

  "Just like you said little ice cube… You were right! I can sense it! Be free of this accursed snake!"

  A soft green glow emanated from the bone, and quickly disappeared through the welt in Pevir’s neck.

  The nightviper slipped out of the sore on Pevir’s neck. Its bones scattering as it hit the ground.

  "AHH! What have you done to me? What is that beast?"

  Pevir recoiled as a sharp pain reached his temples, bringing him to his knees.

  "I have saved you, good man! Your body and mind were under the influence of a dastardly pest. Now remember!"

  Memories flooded into his mind, finally freed from the nightviper’s influence. His head throbbed, and a flood of sensations flooded into him. Pain, hunger, fatigue, all at once. He barely kept himself from falling over.

  "I-I… how long have I been trapped here?"

  "Go Lord Quietus! You must hurry!"

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  "Your only hope for survival lies with us, Pevir. You need only persist for a little longer, this way!"

  Pevir clutched as his head as he broke out into a ungainly jog in the direction instructed by the little wishbone. Being used by lord Triol for days, no weeks, he began to remember

  It was the reason neglect wracked his body and he threatened to bowl over.

  ---

  Howls cut through the still air. They were onto her.

  Icey watched as Pevir, carrying Quietus, ran in the direction of the temple. She hoped that they made it through without encountering any Terrors.

  As for her, she needed to create a diversion.

  Mustering all of the scant power within her, she called forth a frost which shut the doors and sealed them shut.

  It conjured the appearance that Icey had sealed the doors, securing the group’s escape through the mansion entrance.

  The pattering of bones on cobblestone grew nearer, until two undead wolves turned the corner and leapt towards her with a snarl.

  "Heel."

  They stopped abruptly, skidding to a halt and towering over the little ice cube. Triol Revenant emerged, followed by a sneering Lord Semille Flora and his Knights of the Dreadwood.

  "It appears as if the little ice cube believes she can keep her charges safe within, Lord Triol. I haven’t the slightest idea how they got past us. Please allow me."

  "No, do not harm her. If you inflict too much damage, she will return to her charge. I have a better idea. One that will bring them right to us."

  Icey trembled, as the Fearshaper of death approached.

  "I’ll never let you reach them! Stay away from the door!"

  "Come, Silvanis."

  With a flourish of his hand, a sickly green wave burst forth, and a huge, sleek undead eel manifested in the air.

  Icey mustered all of her might, and sent a mental message forth.

  Now Shiver!

  With the passage clear, it was a straight shot to the Academy for the rest.

  Her diversion was successful.

  ---

  Shiver’s eyes burst open when Icey’s message reached her.

  It was faint, and she barely caught it, but it was time to execute their plan, and time was of the essence.

  "Now! Let’s go!"

  Shiver, Vale and Caledon rose upwards from their hiding place within the fountain. A thin layer of frozen black goo was all that had fooled Semille’s Knights into thinking that the fountain was undisturbed. Unbeknownst to them, they had taken refuge beneath the surface.

  They raced through the secret passageway headed towards the academy as the strange black liquid dripped from their clothes.

  "We need to move quickly. As Icey said, the Academy’s guardians will come to recover her once we’re 'admitted'."

  "How does your guide know all of this, Shiver? Lord Quietus knew nothing of it."

  "Not the time Vale."

  The trio emerged from the passage to the sight of the Academy of Anhedonia before them.

  "My word."

  Vale’s breath caught as she took in the sweeping circular courtyards, and the enormous pale dome which housed the academy proper. Her reverie ended as Shiver grabbed onto her arm.

  "Vale focus. Are they close?"

  Vale concentrated, trying to pinpoint her guide.

  "Y-yes, they’re right around the corner. Let’s go to meet them."

  True to her statement, a huffing Pevir turned the corner and paused to marvel at the sight of the academy before him.

  "Pevir, this way!"

  Caledon called out to the stout archaeologist, who started before heading towards them in a brisk jog. His plump cheeks were red and he was out of breath.

  "Youngsters! I remember you. I-"

  "No time, come with us, now."

  Shiver pulled the archaeologist along in a vice-like grip and ran towards the academy. Quickly ascertaining her intention, the rest followed and Vale and Caledon exchanged a glance.

  Ascending the white, marble steps they came to a central courtyard. A soft gust of wind made goosebumps erupt on Shiver’s arms, for as gentle as it was, it was colder than the harsh winter winds that they had braved outside the Archcity. Shiver rushed forward to the shallow pool of water before them and knelt.

  "Remember what Icey told us, everyone except Pevir, kneel in the water and bow your heads."

  Caledon and Vale followed suit. Exchanging nods with the pair they muttered the words in concert.

  "We request admittance. We vow to delve within our Fears to reach Serenity."

  Silence followed and Shiver’s heartbeat heightened.

  Icey was still in danger, they couldn’t afford to waste even a second. They knelt in silence, waiting for the guide that Icey had vowed would appear.

  Shiver froze as she watched as soft ripples appeared in the water beneath her.

  A soft, feminine voice welcomed them.

  "You have been admitted. Welcome to the Academy."

  Suddenly, the trio felt a harsh biting cold impose itself upon their necks, and glancing at the others, Shiver realised that a pale white sigil had imprinted itself on their skin.

  Evidence of their admittance.

  Standing abruptly, Shiver faced the figure before them, taking it in for the first time.

  Her hand shot out to intercept the scream that escaped from Vale mouth.

  A Terror stood before them.

  For there was no other description for the figure standing before them.

  It took the appearance of an elf, cast from frost. It carried itself with an otherworldly grace and beauty, wings comprised of thousands of ice crystals sprouting from her back. Shiver stared into eyes like the abyss, shining a hue of dark blue that you would expect to find in the heart of a glacier.

  Yet, for all of her beauty, Shiver did not sense even a modicum of life behind its eyes.

  "Please, we need your help, my guide is in trouble. Will you help us rescue her?"

  The figure just stared at them, unblinkingly. The silence dragged on.

  "I don’t think she’s listening… This isn’t supposed to happen."

  Caledon warily observed the winged elf, who unblinkingly looked at the academy’s newest recruits.

  "Forget it, I’m going to get Icey-"

  The winged elf moved in an instant. Shiver suddenly found herself in the elf’s cold, vice-like grip.

  The trio froze, astounded at the guardian’s speed.

  "Vale… try leaving."

  Vale gulped, and as she took a step away from the academy, the elf’s head snapped unerringly in her direction, meeting her eyes.

  A chill swept over them.

  "I don’t think she wants us to leave Shiver…"

  Caledon shook his head.

  "I can’t believe it, I think- I think Icey lied to us. She told us the academy’s guardians would help us rescue her."

  Shiver laughed.

  "That cheeky little ice cube… I didn’t think she had it in her."

  Which was right when the screams reached her.

  ---

  A short while ago, in the temple.

  "Alright everyone, I have a plan. We need to make it to the academy. Once you reach it, and are admitted as Fearshapers, the academy’s guardian will have an obligation to protect you. The only problem, is that Triol is sure to guard the exit passage to the academy."

  Icey shifted about anxiously as she relayed her plan to the group.

  "But… I have an idea. We can’t abandon poor Pevir, but if Lord Quietus is capable of severing Triol’s connection to him, we would free him from his control and divert Triol’s attention. He’ll believe that we’re attempting to escape the Archcity through the manor entrance – the way we entered."

  Icey halted before them, her voice shaky.

  "I’ll divert them, and give all of you an opportunity to make your way to the academy. Once you’re admitted as new students, you can enlist the guardian’s help to rescue me. Neither of our pursuers would stand a chance against it."

  Caledon, Vale and Shiver remained silent throughout, only exchanging silent glances with one another.

  "I say, that is an excellent plan Icey! From the symptoms you describe, the poor archaeologist must be afflicted with a nightviper. Likely undead, under Triol’s control. I’ll easily make quick work of it, and sever the connection!"

  Shiver remained silent, while Vale anxiously wrung her hands.

  "Icey, I-I don’t think it’s a good idea to abandon you like that. It would be putting you in danger!"

  "Don’t worry Vale! If anything happens to a guide, we simply reappear manifest within you, and we pop out again in no time!"

  Caledon paled at the description, but refrained from commenting, sensing Shiver’s ire.

  "Will you trust me Shiver? Please?"

  Shiver just watched her, tapping her fingers against her crossed arms as she thought. She knelt, and faced her guide.

  "Alright. But be careful, and we’ll be right behind you."

  "Thank you! You won’t regret this."

  Icey’s cheery voice rung out. They quickly assumed their hiding place under the fountain.

  As soon as Semille’s goons scanned the temple, Icey and Quietus left to retrieve Pevir.

  "She’s a bad liar isn’t she. Reminds me of you, princess."

  "W-what? Icey was lying?"

  Caledon interjected to Vale’s surprise.

  "I agree. She was jittery throughout, something’s amiss."

  Shiver raised an eyebrow at Caledon’s assessment.

  "If even this naive lordling could see through her, she’s bound to be lying. It’s just a question about what."

  "Why didn’t you stop her, Shiver?"

  Vale watched as Shiver tightened her fists.

  "Because we don’t have much of a choice, do we?"

  Caledon replied quietly, his eyes lingering on Shiver’s clouded expression.

  "You don’t trust her."

  "No. No, I don’t."

  WE DID IT!

  30 ratings and 10 reviews, I'll increase the frequency of the chapters to 4x per week (M - W - F - Sun) until the first book is released. It can be a quick and honest opinion on the story and areas for improvement.

  Patrons will be able to skip the break - subject to my progress. (Let's see if my joke about the hiatus comes back to bite me in the butt).