The icy wind had barely begun to die down when Evane appeared at my side, her grin as wide and wild as ever. 

She looked at me like I'd just pulled off the most impossible stunt in the world—maybe I had. 

The monstrous worm lay dead beneath us, its blood staining the frozen lake, and yet, I could still feel the tremor of victory coursing through me.

“That was cool!” 

Evane exclaimed, excitement lacing her voice. 

She ran a hand through her hair, her eyes gleaming with admiration as she looked at the creature. 

Then back at me. 

“Seriously, Yvette, the way you shoved that sickle in... and how you handled yourself up there? Impressive.”

I wiped some of the worm's blood off my face, catching my breath. 

“Thanks... but you weren’t too bad yourself.” 

I replied, managing a small smile. 

My pulse was still racing, the fight echoing in my mind. 

I could feel the weight of her words, but I was still trying to come down from the adrenaline rush.

As I straightened, I noticed a looming figure stepping into view behind Evane. 

Nirva. 

His massive frame cast a shadow over us, his usual scowl etched on his face as he eyed the carcass of the worm. He folded his arms across his chest, his voice gruff and unimpressed.

"Got guts, for a newbie…" 

Nirva remarked, his tone flat but not without some begrudging respect. 

His eyes shifted to me, sizing me up in that way he always did—like I was still a rookie, even after everything.

I wiped the remaining blood from my hands and stood a little taller, not quite sure whether to take it as a compliment or a challenge. 

"Thanks, I guess."

 I muttered, meeting his gaze without flinching.

Evane rolled her eyes dramatically, nudging Nirva’s arm. 

“Oh, c’mon, Nirva, that’s basically his version of high praise. You should be honored.” 

she teased, her smirk returning as she shot me a playful wink. 

“You made an impression. That’s rare with him.”

Nirva just grunted, turning his attention back to the dead worm. 

“Don’t get cocky, though. One lucky strike doesn’t make you invincible. Stay sharp.”

I couldn’t help but smirk at his words. 

"I wasn’t planning on getting comfortable. But thanks for the concern…" 

I shot back, still feeling the rush of battle pumping through my veins.

But then something caught my eye—a jagged hole in the ice, a few paces away from where the massive worm had met its end.

I stepped closer, squinting down at the gaping maw in the frozen lake. 

It wasn’t just a crack from the battle; this was something else. 

A deep, dark pit that seemed to stretch into oblivion. 

The faintest shimmer of light glistened at the edges, but beyond that, it was just... black.

Evane noticed me staring and followed my gaze. 

She stepped up beside me, peering into the abyss. 

“Huh.” 

she murmured, cocking her head. 

“That’s... interesting.”

“What do you think it is?”

 I asked, still transfixed by the void.

 I could feel the cold draft rising from the hole, chilling the air even more than the surrounding ice. 

Something about it felt... off.

Evane crouched at the edge, her grin fading slightly as she studied the opening. 

“Not sure.” 

she replied, her tone unusually serious. 

“But it’s deep.”

 She stood up, her expression shifting back to its usual carefree charm. 

“Looks like we’ve got ourselves a new mystery.”

Nirva grunted, stepping up next to us, his massive sword resting against his shoulder. 

“We’re not jumping in there now, are we?”

Evane laughed, waving him off. 

“Of course not. I’m not that reckless.” 

She glanced over at me, smirking. 

“Well, not today, at least.”

She turned back to the group, clapping her hands. 

“Alright, everyone, we’ll rest here for the night and investigate tomorrow. No point diving into a dark hole when we’re exhausted.”

The night had settled in, the sky blanketed with stars, and the chill of the ice seeped into the air around us. 

We sat around the crackling fire, its warmth cutting through the cold. 

Evane had come back with a furrot—a small, shaggy creature she’d hunted down with ease—and it now sizzled over the flames, filling the air with the smell of roasting meat.

Evane took a seat near the fire, casually tossing a stick into the flames. 

“You know.” 

she began, glancing at me with that ever-present smirk. 

“I knew there was something interesting about you and your partner.”

I raised an eyebrow at her comment. 

“What makes you say that?”

She leaned back, stretching her arms above her head as the light from the fire flickered across her face. 

“I could sense it the moment we crossed paths. Your arcane flux—it’s different. More… off than most others.” 

She grinned, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. 

“And I like that.”

I felt Ryu shift slightly beside me, but he stayed silent as always. I glanced at him before looking back at Evane. 

“Off how?”

Evane poked at the fire with a stick, watching the flames dance. 

“It’s hard to explain. There’s something about the way your energy flows—it’s not as controlled as it should be, almost like it’s... unstable.” 

She chuckled softly. 

“But not in a bad way. It makes you unpredictable. That’s probably why you handled those Vultors so well.”

I frowned, trying to process her words. 

I had always known I was different, but the way she described it made it sound more ominous than I thought.

 “Unstable?”

“Not a bad thing.” 

Evane repeated, flashing me a smile.

“Just means you’ve got more power under the surface than most realize. But if you can learn to fully harness it, you’ll be something else.”

Her words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. 

I had never thought much about my arcane abilities beyond what was necessary to survive.

Now, hearing it from her, it felt like there was more to uncover—more to learn.

“Keep honing it…” 

Evane added, her gaze locking with mine. 

“The field doesn’t lie. You’re capable of more than you know.”

Evane’s gaze lingered on mine for a moment longer before she let out a sigh and stretched her arms behind her head.

“But enough talk for now. We’ve all had a long day, and that thing in the ice isn’t going anywhere.”

 She glanced around the group.

“Best if we all get some rest. Tomorrow’s going to be just as interesting.”

I nodded, feeling the weight of the day’s events starting to settle in my muscles.

 The adrenaline from the fight was wearing off, leaving behind a dull ache and exhaustion creeping in.

Ryu, as always, didn’t say anything, but he had already begun settling down, positioning himself near the fire with his arms folded over his chest. 

Nirva, silent as a shadow, gave a grunt of agreement before he too found a spot, leaning against a nearby rock, his massive sword laid beside him within arm’s reach.

Evane stood up, brushing her hands on her pants, before tossing me a wink. 

“Sleep well, Yvette. We’ve got a big day ahead.”

I watched her saunter off to her spot near the edge of the camp, her lightheartedness never fading despite the dangers we’d faced. 

I sat down, pulling my cloak tighter against the night’s chill as the fire’s warmth battled against the cold winds of the ice lake.