Frozen Flame of Dawn - Chapter 70

Chapter 70: Chapter 34: Inroute to Icelorn_1

The Beacon of Hope in Ashmoor

In the plains of Ashmoor, a nurse named Alina had risen to prominence after the beast attack left her town’s nearby villages in ruins. Alina’s ability was unusual—she could amplify the healing process in others.

And after single-handedly saving dozens of injured villagers, word spread of her selflessness.

Alina stood in front of a makeshift clinic, her hands glowing as she treated a wounded hunter. With that happening the nearby volunteers—ordinary people with no powers—worked tirelessly to reinforce the town’s defenses with sharpened stakes and barricades.

“We’ll hold this line,” Jeremy, Alina’s brother said as he rallied every awakened people willing to defend with his dad Merrin who is police captain of the town. “Even if we’re just a dot on the map, we’re not giving up.”

Merrin nodded wiping sweat from his brow. “We’ll make this town stand even if we have to rebuild it stone by stone.”

The Corruption in Blackreach

In the mining town of Blackreach, the newly awakened foreman, Lior, declared himself “Governor” after murdering the town’s actual mayor in cold blood.

Lior’s ability to manipulate metal gave him a terrifying advantage. He turned the town’s mining tools back into crude, dangerous weapons and told everyone who dared to disagree that they would be sent to the mines for life.

A group of young miners who tried to resist were publicly executed to set an example. Lior loved his newfound control and was convinced that the Federation’s abandonment gave him the right to rule.

In the dimly lit mayor’s office, Lior raised his mug. “To freedom from those bureaucratic pigs in the capital! We make our own rules now!”

His loyalists cheered, but many in the shadows whispered prayers for someone—anyone—to come save them.

While many cases like this happening all over world, Aiden stepped into his office, the weight of the coming departure pressing down on him.

The only sound in the room was the lamp on his desk making a faint hum. He looked around the room, taking in every detail as if committing it to memory.

The bookshelves stacked with maps and documents, the coat rack by the door that still had his jacket from the last mission, and the quiet hum of the city beyond the window.

He knew it would be a long time before he returned. If I return at all, he thought, shaking the grim idea from his head.

Meanwhile, at the village

The first rays of dawn stretched across the sky, tinting it in hues of gold and pink. The chill of the morning still clung to the air, but the hum of engines and the chatter of the convoy crew filled the quiet village square.

The sound of movement near the barrier gate grew louder as trucks and buses began to line up in formation. Layla moved among the crowd with a commanding presence, with clipboard in hand. She meticulously checked every name, ensuring no one was left behind.

“All accounted for!” she called out.

Satisfied, Amira climbed into the lead armored vehicle. She glanced at the convoy behind her—rows of vehicles stretching back like an armored serpent. In the rear, Bella’s voice crackled over the radio.

“We’re good to go,” Bella said. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

The engines roared to life, and the convoy began to roll forward. Despite the steady rumble of the vehicles, there was a strange serenity in the air—the calm before the storm.

Amira rested her head against the seat, her silver hair catching the faint light that filtered through the window. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting herself enjoy the fleeting sense of comfort.

Behind Amira’s vehicle, Elias and his team worked methodically, laying down the wired communication line as they moved. Every 10 kilometers, they stopped briefly to ensure the transmitters were functioning.

Each stop was quick—no more than five minutes—but enough to slow the convoy’s pace. By the time they reached the edge of the basin, the sun was climbing higher in the sky, nearing noon.

The landscape stretched out before them—a vast plain bordered by jagged ridges. A narrow river wound its way down from the basin, its waters shimmering under the daylight.

A fractured but still passable road ran alongside it, winding toward the town entrance. Despite the cracks and wear, the road was in better shape than the one they had just traveled.

On either side of the path, the ridges formed a natural defense, almost as if the basin itself was cradled in the arms of the land.

The entrance to the town was marked by a large wooden sign that read Welcome to Icelorn Town. The lettering was chipped and weathered, but it still stood proudly as a testament to the town’s former life.

Inside one of the rear vehicles, Asher sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his brow furrowed in concentration. His breathing was steady as he circulated his spiritual energy, replenishing what he had lost.

His new skill to detect vibrations through the earth was a amazing, but it came at the cost of constant mental strain.

Suddenly, a faint tremor pulsed through the ground beneath his feet—almost imperceptible, but enough to send a warning through his senses. His eyes snapped open, and he reached for the radio.

“Captain,” his voice came steady but urgent. “There’s something ahead. It could be a light beast or small creatures… but there’s a high chance it’s people. I sense movement near the ridges.”

Amira’s gaze didn’t waver as Asher’s words crackled through the radio. Her expression remained calm, her eyes narrowing slightly. She picked up the radio and replied. “Okay, slow down your speed everyone.”

Amira took a steady breath, narrowing her focus as Asher’s told direction echoed in her mind. She expanded her consciousness outward, her spiritual sense casting an invisible net around the landscape.

Trees swayed gently in the wind, jagged ridges stood tall like sentinels, and the uneven terrain appeared in her mind as a vivid 3D image. Every detail, down to the smallest stone, became clear within a one-kilometer radius.

She exhaled slowly and pushed further. Her vision contracted from all directions and surged forward like a tidal wave in a single direction.

The range extended to 2.5 kilometers, a focused beam of perception. The strain on her mind was palpable, a dull thrum building at the back of her head, but she ignored it.