Arezoo had died in that glacier. Snow had lived. The Old Realm word reflected more of what she was now than her given name ever did. The man who had freed her never questioned when she gave it as her name. The journey to shore had been uncomfortable and not just because they were on a rock of frozen ice as the cold didn’t seem to bother her anymore. No, the merchant captain had persisted in talking, often asking many questions. She wished she could have gotten away as soon as she was released but their situation made it impossible to do so. He had saved her from imprisonment but she had returned the favor by pulling him from the ocean, even if that was not the reason she had cut the lines from his body.
There were answers she needed though, so she tried to get what she could without venturing into anything personal. It was difficult, even the little conversing they did led to more and try as she might it was hard to hold on to any contempt she tried to harbor for the man. Yuki hated herself for it. During her slumber she had worked to fortify herself and prepare for being alone once the Jagged Maw let her go. Learning from the teachings of the God, she understood she would be shunned by most, viewed as a monstrous Lintha. It wasn’t even just that, Yuki had no desire to put herself in a position to be hurt by another again but she had at least hoped to outlive those who had. Fate had seemed to work against her though by sending someone adept at cracking ice.
For the first time in her life, she was happy to reach land. When her companion asked about getting her new clothing and finding supplies, she found that her resolve to leave had faded. Just a little while longer, she had told herself. The first town was where she learned to disguise herself, doing so despite his protests. It was safer that way, and she could easily pinch some coins to get them the things they needed before anyone noticed what she was. During that time, she made a dozen excuses to leave and a dozen more to stay. By the end of the day, her mind was set but she was not the kind to express her decision so openly so as they reached the inn, she kept her eyes fixed coldly forward as she asked, “Shall I get two rooms or one?”
There were answers she needed though, so she tried to get what she could without venturing into anything personal. It was difficult, even the little conversing they did led to more and try as she might it was hard to hold on to any contempt she tried to harbor for the man. Yuki hated herself for it. During her slumber she had worked to fortify herself and prepare for being alone once the Jagged Maw let her go. Learning from the teachings of the God, she understood she would be shunned by most, viewed as a monstrous Lintha. It wasn’t even just that, Yuki had no desire to put herself in a position to be hurt by another again but she had at least hoped to outlive those who had. Fate had seemed to work against her though by sending someone adept at cracking ice.
For the first time in her life, she was happy to reach land. When her companion asked about getting her new clothing and finding supplies, she found that her resolve to leave had faded. Just a little while longer, she had told herself. The first town was where she learned to disguise herself, doing so despite his protests. It was safer that way, and she could easily pinch some coins to get them the things they needed before anyone noticed what she was. During that time, she made a dozen excuses to leave and a dozen more to stay. By the end of the day, her mind was set but she was not the kind to express her decision so openly so as they reached the inn, she kept her eyes fixed coldly forward as she asked, “Shall I get two rooms or one?”