The fire crackles loudly, in defiance of the blizzard's powerful gusts of wind. Smoke huddles closely to the fire, trying to keep warm. Both cryomancers stray farther from the fire but remain within its haven of light.
Bi-Han gazes up on the fires twirling and crackling, the resilient flame invokes recognition in his young, but experienced eyes.
Kuai Liang circles the camp, he inspects the stakes supporting the tarp, ensuring they are secure, and brushes a thick layer of snow from the sagging tarp. He sits next to Tomas, catching a glance at his brother's unusual expression as he does so.
"What is on your mind, Sub Zero?"
Sub Zero shifts his head past the fire to respond.
"This is a mission Tundra; we are only to speak when it is called for."
"A pity, I know how much you miss embellishing your stories when we were young." Mocks Tundra, knowing his brother's ego could not withstand such a blow.
Smoke adds to the mockery.
"Like the time you saw green energy and a shrivelled old man with all white eyes exit the Grandmaster's personal chamber."
Bi-Han stares daggers at the duo and responds.
"This is not a camping trip, or an excursion to develop family bonding! This is a specialised training exercise to show we are capable of surviving on our own in even the most wretched conditions, so stop acting like children!
The wind howls and the fire crackles as Sub Zero looks sternly at Tundra and Smoke.
"We apologize for our conduct, Sub Zero." Both respond in a robotic fashion that irks Bi-Han, until realization hits him a few seconds later.
They were just happy to spend time with the lone man who has given them a modicum of compassion, to a relive a happier time that is long dead and will never return.
Bi-Han gives a relenting sigh, he rises to his feet and sits beside his brothers.
"I shall tell you of my mission that led to my extended absence. This is not a tale to excite or entertain, but to show how deadly the life of all assassins can be."
Kuai Liang and Tomas give a look of anticipation as they prepare their sleeping bags, the look further strengthens a long-subdued nostalgia within Bi-Han.
Clearing his throat, Bi-Han begins. "Almost a year ago, I was called to the main chamber by the Grandmaster, he told me of my opportunity to make history for the clan."
"I was instructed to steal a map from a Shaolin Temple, this map held a powerful secret of great interest to a wealthy benefactor."
"Because of how important this mission was, I would not be permitted to return until I was successful in my task."
"The Temple was hidden well within the mountains, and despite being outmatched, the Shaolin guards fought valiantly."
"I entered the temple's main chamber, a Shirai Ryu warrior had grabbed the map from the chest."
Bi-Han pauses for dramatics.
"He was not any Shirai Ryu thug… He was the clan's top assassin, Scorpion."
Bi-Han leans close whisper, despite no one else being around.
"Even though I had quarrel with his clan… I had no quarrel with him. But he could not be permitted to succeed, lest I bring dishonour on the Lin Kuei."
Rising to his knees, and looking down over the fire, Bi-Han resumes.
"He fought valiantly… Leaving with me with no other choice than to…"
The fire withers to nothing as Bi-Han exhales an icy breath onto it.
Kuai Liang and Tomas give an understanding look. Tomas unsuccessfully attempts to restart the fire. Bi-Han uses his body to shield the fire from the wind, as Kuai Liang puts dry firewood on the batch, igniting it with a match.
Bi-Han returns to his sitting position and resumes his story.
"Once I had brought the map to the Grandmaster, our benefactor appeared, his name was Quan Chi. He was a pale, bald man, his body covered in tattoos of foreign runes; the man was most certainly a sorcerer. He gave the Grandmaster his payment and explained my next mission."
"I was instructed by the sorcerer to sneak into the Temple of the Elements and retrieve an amulet that had sentimental value to him."
Tomas and Kuai Liang give a look of derision. Bi-Han cracks a slight smile.
"That's what I thought. But I was not able to question him further."
"After weeks of following the map, I approached a steep cliff, jutting into the heavens. It took several hours to scale the cliff, the air got so thin during the second half I almost lost consciousness but maintained my wits long enough to freeze a platform into the ice I rested on to catch my breath."
"Once I had pulled myself over the cliffside, I noticed the air had thickened, the wind was serene and peaceful, and the magnificent Temple of the Elements stood before me."
"I approached the door, expecting monks to ambush me. But no one did, I foolishly believed perhaps the temple was abandoned. I cautiously entered the temple but was again greeted with nothing. There were some glyphs on a pedestal in the middle of the room, the characters were like mandarin, allowing me to roughly translate."
Smoke interjects before Bi-Han can continue, "Why couldn't it have been Czech or English? My mandarin sucks."
Bi-Han answers swiftly and sarcastically, "Perhaps I will ask the gods when I return to the temple."
A stifled chuckle comes from Kuai Liang.
"Bi-Han continues, "The text roughly translated to, all trespassers in this sacred temple of elements, turn back and never return; lest you face the eternal wrath of five gods."
"I heeded their warning and entered the first chamber. The room was filled with dust, it blinded me and filled my lungs, forcing me to break my stealth with a cough."
"The dust settled, as deep, gravelly voice echoed through the chamber, it told me I was forbidden from being here as the room shook violently, forcing more dust up, I heard the sound of tumbling rocks."
"In the dust, I saw a figure forming and attacked it, but it dispersed to avoid my attack and reformed above me as I turned to face it."
"The being was far bigger and stronger than I was, standing almost 5 times my height. But I used my size and skill to scale the beast and freeze him from within by channeling ice through my blade.
"I entered the next chamber, grains of sand sealing the one behind me. A chilling force knocked me into the wall, forcing the breath out me. This room was far smaller than the one before, as a figure blitzed past me multiple times."
"I could not comprehend its speed, but I too could utilize this icy terrain."
"As he charged me, I morphed in a cloud of frost, and tunneled through the ice, reappearing behind the demigod and landed multiple devastating strikes from the rear that send him careening into a wall.
"I did not let up my pressure, I slid across the ice and body slammed him, creating a crack in his torso. As he was stunned, I grabbed the back of his head and repeatedly slammed it into the wall, he began to crack, and then shattered into shards and powdered ice."
"Like the demigod of Earth, I could sense this ice elemental was also alive, if disfigured."
Kuai Liang chimes in. "Once we return to the temple, may you teach me that technique brother?"
"Only if you keep it a secret, I have been training it behind the Grandmasters back and have managed to utilize it without relying on ice to manifest through."
Kuai Liang nods, "Thank you brother."
"I entered the next chamber more prepared than the previous and avoided a blast of fire from across the room."
"A man, engulfed by flames stood across from me. He charged me, engulfing the entire chamber with flames, far hotter than what Sektor's flame thrower can produce."
"I was the far more skilled warrior, but his raw strength and powerful fire gave me many troubles. I would land 5 strikes for his one, but his one strike did far more damage than all of mine."
"The figure possessed the same properties as an ordinary fire, I entrapped him in barriers of ice that limited his oxygen and his power, leaving him a collection of sparks on the stone floor."
"I entered the fourth chamber and was instantly engulfed in waves that battered and suffocated me. The figure told me I whatever I was searching for in this temple was not worth the hell I would endure for violating the gods."
"The water elemental was a faster stronger and more capable warrior, but my cryomancy gave me a distinct advantage, I could endure and neutralize their most powerful attacks and land crippling damage on nearly every strike I connected."
"After a long-drawn-out battle, I landed the finishing blow, encasing the water elemental in ice for the final time."
"I entered the final chamber, preparing to stealthily steal the amulet and swap it with a glass duplicate. But I instead appeared outside, with multiple floating platforms as the wind gusted violently."
"A graceful, hovering man appeared in front of me, he introduced myself as 'Fujin', he angrily told me I was being played a fool, that whoever sent me was not to be trusted… And perhaps that I he could grant me mercy for sparing his fellow gods if I turned back immediately."
"I foolishly refused…"
"Once I had def-"
"Hey! You're skipping a big part of the story! How did you defeat Fujin?" Tomas interrupts.
Bi-Han looks down sighs, "I am ashamed to admit, but this encounter was the first time I truly felt like I had no hope of victory, let alone survival, because of how prolonged and brutal his beating of me was. Fujin was far superior to me in everyway, even my cryomancy, which had evened the odds against the lesser gods had little affect on him. Perhaps it was sheer determination to not fail the Grandmaster that allowed me to emerge victorious."
Kuai Liang and Tomas give sympathetic looks, recognizing they would likely never see this level of openness and vulnerability from him again.
"I finally entered the scared chamber containing the amulet I had fought so hard for…"
"Just for the sorcerer to appear before me and steal the amulet before I could reach the top of the stairs! He informed me of mission's true purpose and disappeared in a portal."
"As I turned to leave, a lightning bolt came down in front of me. Raiden, Earthrealm's protector told me I was a fool, and I was to follow the sorcerer into the Netherrealm and retrieve the amulet before he could bring about Shinnok and destroy the realms."
"This story is awesome Bi-Han… But it is long, and it is getting late." Tomas interrupts, showing the small watch fob to Bi-Han."
A yawn escapes from Kuai Liang, "Could you skip closer to the end?" He questions sleepily.
"Very well, but I must let you know some parts will not make sense."
"That is fine, as long as we hear the end." Both respond drowsily.
"As Quan Chi was about to finish me, a figure hits him from behind, stunning him long enough for me to return my feet. It was the demoness, Sareena; with her help we were able to turn the tide against Quan Chi and finish him off."
"She asked me to help her escape to Earthrrealm, as she had spent years trying to escape Quan Chi's hold of her and her sisters."
"Her beauty amazed me, but I had to reject her offer, as I had unfinished business in the Netherrealm."
Bi-Han stiffens in embarrassment, expecting stifled giggles, but nothing comes from Tomas or Kuai.
With a sigh of relief that the two are asleep, Bi- Han rises to his feet and puts some more firewood in the fire and tucks himself in to his sleeping bag.
Bi-Han's mind cannot help but slip back to Sareena as an unusual sensation fills his stomach. He closes his eyes to sleep, but all he sees is her brown eyes, died hair, and thin, tattooed face as Sareena's final words echo in his head.
Perhaps one day our paths may cross again, and I may reunite with the woman who unfroze my heart.
A small smile creeps across Bi-Han's face as he drifts to sleep