Lena swallowed and stepped closer. "The voice in my head… it told me to find you."
Winter's smile deepened, but there was a shadow behind her eyes, something ancient and guarded. "That voice has chosen well. Few can hear it, fewer still can follow."
The wind howled through the broken stones, and Winter pulled her cloak tighter around herself. "Sit with me," she said, gesturing to a fallen pillar. "There is much you need to understand."
Lena hesitated but complied, lowering herself onto the cold stone. Winter sat beside her, serene as the grave, her gaze piercing yet unreadable.
"So," Lena started, trying to break the silence, "how old are you?"
Winter's lips twitched, amused. "I get that a lot. You don't look like you belong to this age."
Lena glanced at her again, noting how flawless her skin was, how her eyes held the weight of something timeless. "Yeah… you look young. Maybe in your twenties? But there's something… different about you."
Winter's expression shifted, the playful glint replaced by a faraway look. "I am much older than I appear. Over two hundred years, if you want the truth."
Lena blinked, stunned. "Two hundred years?! That can't be real. How is that even possible?"
Winter looked up at the sky, her voice lowering to a reverent whisper. "Magic preserves what time tries to steal. As a snow witch, I am bound to the cold, to the ice. Time slows for me. The world moves, empires rise and fall, yet I remain."
Lena's mind reeled. "Two hundred years of watching everything change. That must be… lonely."
Winter nodded slowly. "Lonely is one word for it. Imagine outliving everyone you care for, witnessing the slow erosion of all you've known. Friends, lovers… all turned to dust. The only constant is the cold and the curse that binds me."
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Lena's voice was trembling with awe and a hint of fear.
"Because the truth is heavy," Winter said softly. "I had to see if you were ready to bear it."
Lena's eyes searched Winter's face, trying to find some sign of weakness, some crack in the armor. "What do you mean, ready?"
Winter's gaze sharpened. "Your mark, Lena. It's ancient, powerful, and dangerous. It has already begun to attract forces you don't understand. You are not just a girl lost between worlds. You are a key. And keys open doors, some that should remain shut."
Lena swallowed hard. "I don't know if I want to be a key to anything. I just wanted a simple life."
Winter's expression softened. "Simple lives are rare for those who walk between worlds. You have power, even if you don't see it yet. And with power comes a price."
Lena's thoughts raced back to the voice in her head, the warnings she'd received, the fear that something unseen was closing in on her. "I want to learn. Teach me how to control it, to protect myself."
Winter's smile returned, this time tinged with warmth. "Good. Because the dangers ahead will test you more than you can imagine. The mark you bear makes you a beacon—and some will come for you, drawn like moths to flame."
Lena shivered, not from the cold. "What kind of dangers?"
Winter's eyes darkened. "Creatures born from shadows, beings who would use your power to tear down worlds. Your presence here is fragile. One wrong move, and the balance will shatter."
Lena looked around the ruins, the weight of her destiny settling heavily on her shoulders. "How do you survive so long? How do you keep from losing yourself?"
Winter's voice was almost a whisper, filled with centuries of pain and resilience. "By knowing who I am beneath the magic. By holding onto the parts of myself that time cannot touch. But even that is a battle."
Lena felt a strange kinship with this mysterious woman, this snow witch who bore her own kind of curse. "I'm scared."
Winter's hand brushed gently over Lena's. "Good. Fear means you're alive, and it sharpens your senses. But never let it control you. You're stronger than you think."
For a long moment, the only sound was the wind weaving through the ruins. Then Winter stood, her figure casting long shadows in the fading light.
"Rest tonight, Lena. Tomorrow, we begin. You must be ready to face what comes next."
Lena nodded, feeling both the weight of her destiny and a flicker of hope. She wasn't alone anymore. Not with Winter by her side.
As she watched the snow witch disappear into the shadows, Lena realized one thing with chilling clarity: time might be cruel, but some bonds—no matter how old—were unbreakable.
---
Winter's footsteps slowed at the edge of the ruins, her icy gaze fixed on Lena. The chill in the air seemed to deepen as she reached into the folds of her cloak and pulled out a delicate necklace. The silver chain shimmered faintly, and the pendant—a small, intricately carved snowflake—glowed with an ethereal light.
"Take this," Winter said, holding it out. "It's more than just jewelry."
Lena reached out, fingers trembling slightly as she accepted the necklace. The cold metal felt surprisingly warm against her skin.
"What is it?" Lena asked, turning the pendant over in her hand.
"A tether," Winter replied, voice low and steady. "If ever you find yourself in danger, or if you need me, rub this pendant. It will summon me, no matter where I am."
Lena's eyes widened. "Anywhere? Even your realm?"
Winter nodded. "Even there. Magic has its limits, but this bond transcends them. It's connected to the mark you bear—a link between us. But use it wisely. Summoning me too often could draw attention you don't want."Lena clutched the necklace tightly, a new sense of responsibility settling over her. "How will I know when it's time to call for you?"
Winter's gaze softened, but there was a warning in her voice. "When the shadows close in, when fear overwhelms, or when you sense you can't fight alone. But don't rely on me to save you. This is your journey."
The snow witch stepped back, her cloak swirling around her like a whisper of winter wind.
"Remember, Lena. You are stronger than you realize. But even the strongest need allies."
With that, Winter turned and vanished into the mist, leaving Lena alone in the ruins—holding a promise, a lifeline, and a spark of hope in the palm of her hand.
---