FIRE AND ICE

The first thing Kael remembered was the cold.It wasn't the ordinary cold that came with winter mornings. This cold seemed to live inside him, buried somewhere beneath his skin. Whenever he became angry, candles flickered around him. Whenever he was frightened, frost appeared on nearby windows. And whenever he dreamed, he saw the same impossible place. A valley divided into two worlds. On the left stood a magnificent castle surrounded by rivers of fire. On the right stood a palace made entirely of ice. And between them stood a boy. Kael could never see the boy's face. But somehow, he always knew the boy was him. That night, however, the dream changed. Kael stood in the valley. Flames roared behind him while ice stretched beneath his feet. A tall figure wearing a black cloak stood across the valley. “Who are you?” Kael asked. The figure remained silent. Then it raised one hand. The ground shook. “Find the truth,” the figure whispered. Kael stepped backward. “What truth?” The figure pointed at him. “You were never meant to survive.” The ground suddenly cracked open. Kael fell into darkness. He woke with a gasp. Kael sat upright in his bed, breathing heavily. Moonlight entered through the small window of his room. He looked at his hands. His left hand was covered in frost. He quickly pulled it beneath his blanket. “No,” he whispered. Slowly, the frost disappeared. Kael stared at his hand. For seventeen years, he had hidden strange things like this. He lived in Emberfall, a small village surrounded by mountains and thick forests. His guardian, Rowan, had raised him since he was a baby. According to Rowan, Kael's parents had died when he was very young. Kael had accepted that story. Until now. A loud noise suddenly came from outside. Bang! Kael froze. Another explosion followed. BOOM! The entire house shook. Kael jumped out of bed and ran downstairs. “Rowan!” There was no answer. The front door stood open. Kael stepped outside. The peaceful village had become chaos. Villagers were running through the streets. Smoke rose above the northern forest, and a strange red glow filled the sky. Then Kael noticed something falling from the clouds. Snow. Snow was falling in the middle of summer. He caught one in his hand. It melted instantly. Then another landed on his sleeve. This one turned black. Kael's stomach tightened. A deep rumbling sound came from the forest. Everyone became silent. A horse suddenly burst from the trees. It was terrified, and frost covered its body. There was no rider. Burned into its saddle was a silver symbol. Kael recognized it immediately. The crown of the Ice Kingdom. Someone screamed. “Ice soldiers!” The villagers panicked. Kael looked toward the forest. Figures were emerging from the darkness. Dozens of soldiers marched into Emberfall wearing silver and blue armor. Their weapons glowed with pale blue light. At their front stood a tall man with a scar across his face. He looked around the village. “Where is the boy?” Nobody answered. The commander raised his voice. “Where is Kael?” Kael's heart stopped. How did they know his name? Before he could move, someone grabbed his arm. “Kael!” He turned. Rowan. The old blacksmith looked frightened. “Come with me.” “What is happening?” “We have to leave.” “Who are those people?” “I'll explain later.” Rowan pulled him toward the forest. They ran between the trees as soldiers shouted behind them. “Find him!” “Search every house!” “Don't let him escape!” Kael struggled to keep up. “Rowan!” “Keep running!” “Why are they looking for me?” Rowan didn't answer. They continued deeper into the forest until they reached a narrow path between two cliffs. Then Rowan stopped. Kael nearly crashed into him. The old man turned. “Kael, there's something you need to know.” “What?” “Your parents.” Kael frowned. “What about them?” Rowan looked down. “I lied to you.” Kael stared at him. “What?” “Your parents didn't die.” The words struck Kael like a blow. “You said they were dead.” “I know.” “Then who are they?” “I can't tell you yet.” “Why?” “Because knowing the truth will put you in greater danger.” A sharp whistle cut through the forest. An arrow struck the tree beside Kael's head. Rowan pushed him aside. “Run!” They raced through the trees. Behind them, the soldiers were getting closer. Finally, the forest opened into a clearing. Kael stopped. A cliff stood directly ahead. There was nowhere to go. The soldiers emerged from the trees. The scarred commander walked toward him. “You have nowhere left to run.” Kael raised his knife. “Why are you hunting me?” The commander stared at him. “You really don't know?” “Know what?” The commander's expression became serious. “You are the last.” “The last what?” “You are Prince Kael Draven.” Kael's mouth fell open. “No.” Rowan stood silently behind him. Kael turned. “Is it true?” Rowan slowly nodded. “I wanted to protect you.” “You lied to me for seventeen years!” “I had no choice.” The commander raised his hand. Blue light gathered around his fingers. Ice suddenly erupted from the ground. Kael threw his arms up instinctively. A wall of fire exploded between him and the soldiers. Everyone froze. Kael stared at his hands. Flames danced around his left palm. He wasn't burned. Then frost spread across his right arm. Ice formed around his fingers. The commander stepped backward. “No…” Kael looked at him. “What am I?” The commander whispered: “Fire and Ice.” The forest became completely silent. Kael's heart pounded. He had spent his entire life believing he was an ordinary village boy. But he was something else. Something the Ice Kingdom feared. Something his own guardian had hidden for seventeen years. Then thunder shook the sky. Far beyond the mountains, a massive column of fire rose into the clouds. At the same moment, the northern horizon became white with snow. Kael could feel both forces calling to him. Fire. Ice. Two kingdoms. One impossible power. The commander looked toward the distant horizon. “The prophecy has begun.” Kael clenched his fists. Fire burned in one hand. Ice covered the other. For the first time, he wasn't afraid of his powers. He was afraid of the truth. And somewhere beyond the mountains, someone had been waiting seventeen years for him. His old life was over. His real story had finally begun.