Chapter 13: Heart of Ice – Trapped in Time
Sinking into a corner, the ultimate sour grimace slapped onto my face twisted further into misery. The thudding of music way beyond the safe decibel level drilled deeper and deeper into my head, along with the screaming and insane amount of conversations dotted all over the place, until it all meshed together into an indecipherable blur.
"Yooooo, Kai-kuuuun!" The obnoxious banshee screeches of an even more maddening tomboy snapped me out of that hellish flurry of sounds, but I'd have preferred to stay in that nightmare rather than deal with her.
Tilting my head up, I caught sight of her foolishly propped on top of a precious glass coffee table. She waved her arms maniacally, and if this was anyone other than my best friend, I'd assume they were on some hardcore happy pills. That aside, how the fuck did she see me sulking in the corner like the antisocial being I am from all the way over there? I sent her the meanest glare I could muster, essentially telling her to leave me alone.
I despised parties like this. I knew I should've opted to stay with Miku. We would be cuddling together under a blanket right now, stuffing our faces with delicious pizza, with some lame romcom on in the background… But no, I let Clown 1 and Clown 2 drag me to this shitshow! Curse my weak soul!
"Come over here, you damn stick in the mud!" Neru was trying her hardest to convince me to participate in this mess. Nope.
I didn't want to be held accountable when her parents eventually came home in the middle of this crap. Yeah, she was way dumb. Using her parents' house to host a 'totally kickass rave' – her words, not mine – was something that never ended well. I had no idea who all these people crowding the living room and kitchen were, anyway. Seemed like she set up an event on social media, posting it to our school's group and allowing anyone at all to attend. Skimming over how dangerous that was on its own, it was also incredibly weird. Some of these people looked like they were over 18, in fact way over 18. I wouldn't be surprised if happy pills really were involved…
God damn it, how much alcohol had Neru consumed so far tonight? It had only been about an hour since the party started, and I was content pacing between different corners of the house. Neru, on the other hand, had been running back and forth to accommodate her guests with drinks, snacks and all that other stuff. While she was being rather helpful to them, she also got pulled in far too easily by them; they asked her to take shots with them, have a 'celebratory birthday drink' with them… The list went on.
She was stumbling about on top of the presumably super expensive table, laughing loudly while busting some embarrassing moves, grabbing the attention of many.
"Woooo! Lookin' good!" They were all as out of it as she was, good lord.
"Heyyy, Kaito-kun… My main man!" Out of nowhere, I was greeted by my other best friend, dashing over to me with a paper cup in hand.
"Jesus fucking-…!" I could see all along that it was Dell coming over, but for the love of god, he just popped out of the shadows without any warning at all, almost sending me into an early grave. "Christ, man… Where the hell did you come from? Scared the shit out of me." Clutching at my chest as I scold him for being a creeper, I let out a heavy sigh at the end.
"Huh? Oh, sorry about that..." He simply flashed a grin at me, like it wasn't a huge deal. Sure, just ignore the large stain dripping down my leg.
"Ugh..." I groaned, slowly shaking my head. Let me guess, he came my way to pressure me into partying. "Don't try and force me to join in this madness."
As Dell threw an arm around me and slumped practically all his weight against me, I was met with the overpowering scent of alcohol, which immediately burned my nose and made my eyes all watery. "F-Fuck, dude!" I couldn't help but splutter those words out, turning my head away for a moment to take in some slightly fresher air. I wasn't used to this kind of thing at all. Sure, maybe I sneaked one or two beers once in a while. I liked the taste. But I always had a weak stomach when it came to the stench.
"It's Neru-chan's birthday, dude! You can't spend the entire party stuck in this sad little corner," he complained, a pout pulling at his lips. He eased up on smothering me, supporting his own weight a bit more, but he still kept an arm hung over my shoulder. "Come on. Just have one drink with me an' her. Come socialise for like… fifteen minutes. Have some snacks. Then I promise, you can spend the rest of the night reading a book upstairs or something boring."
I let out a huff, eyes rolling. "It sounds like you should cut down on the drinking, buddy. How much have you even had?" I was able to sort of guess how much Neru had taken in, but the most I saw of Dell earlier was him following Neru around with trays of snacks and drinks at different points in time.
"Eeehhh, maybe a little too much," he casually shrugged, before finally releasing his grip on me to take a generous gulp of his drink.
Stumbling a couple steps back from him with a bitter glint in my eye, I thought about giving him an excuse. I didn't mind drinking that much, if it was only one. But the people at this party were driving me up the wall. They were far too loud for my liking. "Can we at least do it somewhere quiet?"
"Yeah, yeah!" Dell nodded, eyes lighting up in joy as I gave in.
"And I'm telling you now. It's just one drink!"
Burying my head into my knees, the gory splashing and splattering coming from the toilet just a few inches away from me was really starting to make my stomach turn. Grunting under my breath, I tried my best to drown out the foul noises, but it was no good. My mind was all hazy and the effects of all those fucking drinks Dell pressured me into chugging were only just wearing off.
"Uuuughhhh..." Those dying whale groans were coming from none other than Neru. The poor tomboy was currently releasing the contents of her already emptied guts into the bowl for about the third or fourth time tonight.
I wasn't sure how I managed to endure the first two or three times. I was slumped over just by the bath, regretting all of my life choices up until now, while Dell held back Neru's long golden hair. A flush followed a moment or so later, so I deemed it alright to finally lift my head back up. When I did, I stared over at Neru, deadpan.
Her face was pale, the corners of her mouth glistening in the most tactless manner ever with saliva; her mascara had blended in with her tears and smudged all down her cheeks. "Man… I feel like shit..."
"Any better, though?" Dell grumbled. He looked like he was desperately attempting to stop himself from throwing up at any moment, too. To distract himself, he played with Neru's hair as she rested her cheek against the disgusting toilet. He gently tugged at her hair, tying it into a loose braid down her back.
"I… I think…?" Even she wasn't sure. The lack of confidence in that wasn't surprising in the least.
"You're an… an idiot," I piped up, lightly grasping at my forehead with my palm. Sweaty. Gross all over. My stomach lurched all over again as my brain went into auto-pilot for a split second, reliving the horrible sounds Neru came out with. Girl really didn't hold back. "Nngh..." I took a deep breath, before swallowing hard.
"Shut up," Neru murmured, her eyelids growing heavy.
"Don't fall asleep on the toilet. That's disgusting," I lectured her, though there was no power left in my voice, so it came out more monotone than anything. "You know, you're lucky your parents didn't come home tonight..." Shifting a hand down, I tapped at the outside of my pockets until I found my phone. I slid it out and made a check for the time.
"No big deal," Neru casually said, sort of lifting her arm to wave a hand in dismissal, but it only flopped back down a second later.
"Come on, let's get you up..." Even Dell sounded exasperated. It was clear he held just as much regret as me and Neru. The two struggled for a moment, but Dell was able to lift Neru back to her feet. He walked her over to the sink, letting the water run before helping her wash up.
"Ugh." It was just past 1am. Everyone else had cleared off about half an hour ago. The party died down once Neru projectile vomited into a bowl of candies and chocolates. We rushed her up to the bathroom just in time for her to reach the bowl after. I knew then and there that I'd never forget such a scarring sight. "I hope… I hope you remember we have to head back to school, like right now… And somehow sneak in way past curfew." This was exactly why I should've stayed with Miku, damn it.
"Geez, don't fucking remind me, killjoy," Neru scowled, before patting her face with a small towel. She then tossed it toward – and comically missed – the laundry basket.
"He's right," Dell softly sighed. "Anyone got some cash for a taxi?"
Neru sent her catty side-eye right my way. As if this was somehow my responsibility, after she ruined my chance at a normal night.
"No fuckin' way!" I immediately snorted, slapping my palms off my knees in protest. "Nuh-uh. You're the oldest, aren't you?"
"I'm the one who puked the most, though," she remarked.
"You two are the biggest tight-wads I've ever met," Dell butted in, with a tut. He fished around in his pockets for a few moments before pulling out what should be enough for a ride. "Come on… Let's get our shit for the train ride back."
"Dell-kun, could you pretty please carry my travel bag for me?" Neru batted her lashes at the silver-haired boy, playing the sympathy card. As if she wasn't the one who willingly gulped down stupid amounts of alcohol.
Like the sucker he was, he gladly accepted, telling Neru not to worry about it. Even though he probably felt like death itself.
Well, one thing was for sure. This would most certainly be a highlight in our teen years while looking back at this some day, when we're all old and grey together. It made me shudder to think about, really. I couldn't believe this was how we were going to waste our golden years.
…
"Mmh..." A sleepy mumble passes my lips, transitioning from a dream that felt like it lasted forever, back into the real world. Shuffling lightly, I keep my eyes shut, not wanting to wake up just yet. "Hmm?" Another mumble escapes me, but it's more of a curious one. Why is it so damn cold in my bedroom? I guess Dell didn't bother to come back after the music event… Makes sense why the heater isn't on… Still, the mornings have been breezy but warm lately, so the layer of cold air surrounding me sure is unpleasant.
A small frown pulls at my lips as I recall the dream I had. That crazy birthday party at the start of the week, before all this rivalry shit went down. How did things turn so ugly in just a few days? Grunting softly, I stretch myself out and roll onto my back without thinking. "Eh? Ow..." Maybe it's just my injuries from yesterday… But my bed feels oddly hard on my back. Nothing like a cushiony mattress at all, but rather… "Ah!" The realisation hits me straight away. Going from half-asleep to wide awake in a split second, I push myself up from where I'm resting and I'm met by the sight of nothing but ice, spread out for miles and miles in front of me.
"Wh-What… what the… f-fuck…?!" I gasp, frantically spinning around to take in my surroundings, barely able to hiss out those words. It's mostly due to the utter shock, but that slight cold tingle has turned into a full-on blast of vicious icy air, seeping into my skin and paralysing me for the longest time. I hug myself in a futile attempt to warm up, but there is literally nothing except ice, ice and more ice all around me…!
Not just thin layers. Thick, solid, probably penetrates deep into the ground, with no dirt paths or grass in sight. Each shaky breath I take forces me to inhale more and more of that cold air, and a rush of dizziness passes over me.
"Sh-Shit…!" I lose my footing straight away, and I buckle, throwing my hands out in front of me to catch myself. My palms take most of the weight of my fall, but as soon as they make contact with the ice, a burning sensation travels up my arms. "Fuck!" I can't help but curse as a reflex, yanking my palms off the icy ground. It reminds me of being a kid, going outside without any gloves on and being dumb enough to scoop up a huge handful of snow, except maybe about ten times more agonising. I'm able to shuffle myself onto my knees, but of course, even my current thin clothes are no match for combating the terrible stinging ice.
"I… I don't..." This can't be the school. It can't be Oak Valley Academy. Unable to rationalise it at all, I trail my eyes over the scenery again, slower this time. Maybe it's a dream. Shit, think Kaito. What on earth happened last night, before the music event? I was searching for Gumi with Gakupo… They're nowhere to be seen here. How did I end up all alone?
In the distance, somewhere to the far east, I can just make out the edges of a gigantic, sparkling structure of some sort. Tilting my head back, I turn my focus to the sky. Okay, it's daytime. At least I think so. It's hard to tell if it's morning or noon, or even later. There's one sun in the sky. That's a good start. Means I'm not on some freakish alien planet or something… Releasing a shaky breath, I hug myself again, watching the cloud-like puff of air form and disappear in front of my face. I rub my arms as vigorously as I can, hoping I'll be able to feel some warmth. Any. I'm going to freeze to death here if I can't figure something out…!
Screwing my eyes tightly shut, the icy air begins to close in on me once more. It gently wraps itself around my body, letting me know there's nothing here except for me and the barren land. That I should accept the numbing embrace and let my worries sink away. I don't want to give in… But what other choice do I have…?
"...-san…! Kaito-san…!"
"H-Huh…?" Just before that chilling air wraps itself too tightly around my throat, I swear I hear someone calling my name. Reluctantly fluttering my eyes open, a teardrop gently splashes onto the ground beneath me.
"Kaito-san!" That desperate cry comes closer.
Slowly, I lift my head. A figure is running toward me, and I'm left stunned at the sight. It's impossible. I'm the only one here, aren't I? As they start to come into view, I'm able to see more and more of them. A girl is slipping all over the place as she makes a beeline my way; almost tripping and falling flat onto her face, but catching herself just before that happens. She finally comes into view. "H-Holy hell, Rin-san?" I call out, wondering what on earth she's doing in this unknown place with me.
"Haah… Hah…! I-I… m-made it…!" She comes to a halt at last, a few inches away from my pathetic self still kneeling on the ground, noticeably out of breath. Even though she slams the brakes on, she still skids forward a couple of paces without meaning to. "W-Whoa!" She sucks in a sharp gasp, throwing her arms outward to skilfully rebalance herself in the blink of an eye.
I'm honestly at a loss for words. Just when I think I can't be surprised any more… So many things just keep taking the cake, dangit. "Are you… are you okay?" That's all I can ask. She must have been pretty scared if she's been alone up until now.
She bends down to my level, awkwardly squatting to take in deep breaths. Her skirt sort of flaps along with the wind. Puffing her cheeks out, she straightens her skirt the best she can. "I'm not sure," she answers, with a crushing dose of honesty. "I didn't know what to do, so I just… started walking. Kept going until I found something. I'm so glad I found someone I know."
It's a little odd to hear that from her, considering we didn't exactly get along or even talk much during the Talent Trials, but at least now I know I'm able to trust her. Besides, if she hadn't come along, I'd have eventually succumbed to the clutches of the ice. "I thought I was here all alone," I mutter. "I don't even know where here is. Do you remember how you got here?"
Clasping her hands together, she raises them to her mouth and blows over them, while shaking her head. Her fingers are bright red, knuckles whitening from the slightest bend. She's worse off than me in terms of clothing… Just a simple top with short sleeves, a skirt, socks that don't even come up to her knees, and a thin summer jacket thrown over her shoulders. But at this point, it's starting to slide off her shoulders. "All I remember is… the way Dell-san and Neru-chan were arguing earlier…"
When she says that, I recall a fragment of that memory. It's not exactly the best memory though, so I quickly push it aside in my mind, lowering my eyes for a moment. The argument… That's right. "I sort of remember. Gakupo pulled me away from it, because he'd caught sight of something disturbing at the back end of the campus."
"I… I didn't even notice you two were gone," she sheepishly giggles, dropping her arms and sliding them around her waist. "You should've told us, though. After those weird earthquakes, I wished we all stayed together." A light frown pulls at the corner of her lips.
I almost forgot the vulnerable state Rin had been in last night. At least, I think it's last night. Her brother had gone missing, along with Gumi. Perhaps it was best to stay together after all, but as usual, I couldn't think straight. "So much weird shit has happened. I'm exhausted," I sigh. As I say that, a small yawn slips out. Maybe it's the extreme cold making me sleepy.
"I know, but we should try to find a way out of here first… Or at least some sort of shelter," she says, and she makes a good point. We can't spend ages here going back and forth explaining events that have happened these past few days.
"Yeah..." I give a single nod. Can't give in. I had been ready to throw in the towel, but knowing Rin is by my side… A lump forms at the back of my throat as I realise something else. "So… Things are bad enough already, right…? I really hate to make it worse, but if I'm here and you're here..."
Rin's eyes slowly widen. There's definitely a stunned glint reflecting in those blue orbs of hers. I don't even need to finish my sentence. She understands what I mean. "Wh-What if they're-?"
"They'll be fine," I rudely interrupt her, a certain harshness to my words, without really thinking. I simply can't bear the thought of Miku lying somewhere out here, knocked out and left victim to this cursed ice. No, Miku is stronger than that. Knowing her, she'll have found shelter already. And I think I know where that shelter is. Turning my head, I trail my glance over to that towering structure in the distance. "See that?"
Rin lightly gulps, mimicking my movement and darting her eyes about to find what I'm referring to. "O-Oh..." It doesn't take her long. After all, it's kind of hard to miss. With the way the sun bounces off the top of the deadly beautiful ice, the glittering effect it produces sticks out like a sore thumb.
"It's our only chance at shelter," I continue. Who knows though, really… Maybe I'm delusional. Lying to myself in order to feel better. Giving myself hope that we have a chance of surviving this nightmare. Clenching my teeth together, I shuffle myself a little in preparation, before forcing myself to my feet. It hurts like hell, but I can't wimp out and stay here forever.
"Right..." With a nod in affirmation, Rin hops up effortlessly. I guess it's easier for her, since she's been supporting herself with just her feet the entire time and not actually kneeling… While she seems steady on the ice, it's a lot more difficult for me.
I don't think I've ever been ice skating. Sure, a bit of snow is fine, but I've always stayed indoors during winter. If I absolutely must go out when it's been snowing, I end up slipping and sliding all over. "Ugh," I mutter under my breath, firmly planting a foot forward, twisting the bottom of my shoe against the ice as a sort of test.
"Everything okay, Kaito-san?" Rin smiles at me, twirling around from her position, already having a decent head-start on me. There's a lot I've yet to learn about this Kagamine girl, apparently. "Oh… You're not still sore, are you?" She notices the way I wobble my legs practically like a chicken, too pussy to take even a single step.
"Well, yes. But I also hate ice and snow," I nervously chuckle. If I shift my other foot forward to make a whole step, I fear I'll topple back over onto my butt.
"Ah…" She scratches at the back of her head, pondering how to deal with my incompetence and childish fears. She carefully trots over to me, before sticking her arm out for me to grab. "Wanna hold onto me? I'll make sure you won't fall over."
I can't get over how kind this girl is. Without a second thought, I take hold of her arm, linking mine through hers. I try not to grip onto her too tightly, though. "Th-Thanks, you're a lifesaver." My teeth are starting to chatter, messing up my words.
"You really don't like ice and snow?" Rin lightens the mood a bit as we start to walk together.
"Nah… Hate it. It's all slippery. And snow just gets your clothes all soggy, not to mention the way it stings your hands..."
While I begin to rant and list off silly reasons why I dislike snow, Rin simply giggles along with me, and makes it her goal to change my mind by the time we reach the structure in the distance.
…
Tilting my head so far back that it starts to strain my neck a little, I stare up at the gorgeous, glistening structure that is a lot bigger than I anticipated. Even gawking up at it like this with a pain in my neck is barely enough to get the full view. My jaw drops ever so slightly, lips parted in awe. Thick layers of ice have wrapped their way around the entirety of the structure, and despite there probably being remnants of the walls beneath all that, it's likely the only thing supporting the building at this point. I can't imagine the inner walls being in decent shape any more. I also can't even begin to fathom how something as simple as ice can be that strong. Then again, I have no idea how long this building has been left victim to the cold.
"Is this… some sort of dream?" Rin quietly pipes up from beside me, breaking the silence at last.
"Maybe," I give an awkward shrug. It's not every day a couple of bratty teenagers like us stumble upon what can only be a castle of some sort. Or a mansion, maybe? Whatever it is, it's amazing, and I'm left speechless. Narrowing my eyes, I'm able to catch sight of a heavy blanket of untouched snow draping over the roof. There are several snow-topped mountains spread out in the distance behind the building. I guess the ice paths only go so far… Well, we're still stood on ice; I'm still clinging onto Rin for dear life, but…
The doors are right in front of our eyes. Sparkling softly in the lowering sun, beckoning us to step forward and enter. A chill tickles my back. I'm not sure if it's the cold or a genuinely unnerved sensation. This place feels like it holds many memories, ones Rin and I may not be ready to uncover. Fragments of the night of the music festival flicker in my mind. It's that same sort of uneasy feeling that I've had all week.
"Well… Do you think we should enter?" Rin asks the obvious question. As obvious as it is, I'm not sure of the answer. Logically, it'd be the best thing to do, so we can get out of the cold. Maybe. It should be at least a little more bearable inside.
"I guess we don't have a choice," I mutter, with a light shrug. I hate being the one having to make decisions. Rin pulls her arm from my grip, taking a step forward and pressing her fingertips lightly against the shimmering doors covered in more ice. I sort of stumble as she lets go of me, balancing on the slippery ground the best I can unattended. I know for a fact I won't be able to open those doors myself, so looks like it's up to her.
"Wow," she whispers in awe, shifting her hand to rest her entire palm against the solid surface. "It's cold." She giggles softly, looking over her shoulder at me.
"Will it budge?" I raise a brow. That's the most important part here.
"Mmh..." She lowers her fingers to the outline of where there should be some doorhandles, or perhaps they're knockers. Whatever they are, I'm sure the metal is underneath that thick layer of ice somewhere, but all that remains is a fragment of what it should be. Exerting a bit more strength, she pushes with all her might against one side of the two doors, but there's no sign of movement.
A soft huff passes my lips. "Should've known," I say. "It'll be stuck together. It's gonna be near impossible to-"
"Wah!" My words of pessimism are cut short when Rin is thrown forward out of nowhere, letting out a squeak and falling through the door that apparently decided to unstick itself abruptly in that moment. She tumbles, flailing her arms in front of her, but catching herself just before she plops to her knees – I try my best to make a move to help her, but one little slip on the ice, and I'm straight on my backside, too.
"Shit, sorry-! Are you okay?!" I look up to the girl, whose back is still turned to me. One of the doors to the castle is wide open now, at least…
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine!" She calls over her shoulder, leaning over to catch her breath for a moment. "Just got a bit of a fright. Didn't expect it to open like that!"
"Yeah, me neither..." I grumble, pressing my palms against the ground the best I can, before slowly picking myself up.
"Woah, Kaito-san…! This place is…!" Rin's words trail off as she takes a few steps further inside, full of awe and admiration.
Well, the doors are only a few steps ahead of me… I can do this! Gritting my teeth together lightly, I tiptoe forward and make a grab for the edge of the other door that's still closed to balance myself. I poke my head around it, narrowing my eyes and immediately being met with the sight of a magnificent hall, and find myself at a loss for words just like Rin is.
She spins on her heels to face me, a big grin slapped across her features. "This is great! We'll be able to get some shelter here!" I'm a little unsettled by her enthusiasm, considering we're still fucked, shelter or not.
"I-I guess so?" Still gripping the edge of the door, I take it one step at a time and press a foot to the hard marble floor, and the difference between slippery and safe is instantly noticeable. I let out a quiet sigh in relief, relaxing my tense shoulders and making the final step inside the building. I scan my eyes over the huge main entrance hall, turning my head slowly from right to left. The tall white walls catch my attention first, and then my eyes are dragged over to the golden outlines just above. Something about this feels oddly familiar, but I'm not sure what. Trailing my glance up, following the splashes of fading yet beautiful gold, I tilt my head back to try and take in the entirety of the place.
"Woah…! Are those chandeliers hanging from the ceiling?" Rin pipes up before I get a chance to mention them, pointing up with widened eyes. She's right. They're at the very top floor, or at least that's what it looks like from here; the crystals hang still, reflecting the shining gold of the walls. They look like they've been here for years, yet I can barely make out any dust… "And look, there's the staircase."
I follow her pointing finger with my curious eyes, taking in the sight of a sizeable white marble staircase over on the left side of the hall. They sort of spiral around to a walkway a good distance off the ground floor here, and a little further around, there's another set of stairs. They lead to the second walkway, which is closer to the chandeliers. Being able to fit two whole walkways that lead into so many different rooms is insane. I can't even begin to imagine how much this would cost to build.
"Are you okay, Kaito-san?"
Actually, this is a lot to take in. That troubled expression pulling at my face must be a lot more troubled and obvious than I thought, though. Rin calls my name, snapping me out of fascination. Blinking a few times, I pull my eyes from the top floor, looking down to the girl now standing in front of me. "Uh… Yeah. It's just amazing, isn't it?" I know why this feels so familiar now. That one dream I had a little while ago… It's not like I can tell her about that. She'll either think I'm a liar or straight up nuts.
"Mhm," she smiles softly, in agreement. "Well, this looks like a castle of some sort. Perhaps an ancient royal palace?" Her suggestion should be absurd. There's no way we could've ended up trapped in some forgotten about castle. But it isn't absurd at all. I'm no genius on this kind of royal stuff, but with the amount of princess books and illustrations Miku has picked up and forced me to read with her… There's no mistaking it.
"I don't understand," I huff under my breath, folding my arms over my chest to warm myself up a little bit. A short distance in front of us, there's some more large doors, only these ones aren't covered in ice. That has to be… God, I feel sick.
"Oh, what do you think is behind here?" Rin must've traced my deadpan stare over to the doors. "Should we take a look?"
"No, we should… Uh..." I squint my eyes, trying to think of what to answer with. I can't focus properly. I barely even heard her asking that, damn it... I'm too busy making an attempt at piecing all this crazy shit together. Okay, think about it later. Right now we have to prevent freezing to death. "Ah, look. Up ahead." I gesture past the staircase; there's a small gap underneath the arch of the walkway that we should be able to pass under. It looks like it slopes downwards and leads to a corner of the castle. Maybe it'll lead us a floor down. We should be warmer slightly underground, right? Who knows.
Rin checks it out for a moment, before giving a nod. "Good find. Let's go."
I can only hope this leads to something where there's a fireplace or something warm and cozy. I mean, I have no idea how we'll even light a fireplace in this nightmarish place… But… Damn it. We begin to make our way down anyway. It's probably not a good idea to search the upper floors. If this really is a royal palace, it'll likely only lead to the abandoned bedrooms of royalty and other fancy rooms that'll be of no use to us. So there's no other choice but to head down into the heart of ice itself.
…
