The Sorceress: Blossoming Power

"What the…," Lofey dusted the snow off his face. Shocked to find they were not at the tunnel anymore, but they were in a place covered with nothing but snow.

"Where are we?" Xinyi said.

"What just happened?" gasped Tyriece.

The wind blew hard with the snows swirling with it, while fog engulfed five paces ahead of them, making it harder to see their surroundings.

"Let's stick together. We don't know what's in this blizzard," Lofey commanded as he used to do as a general. But when he turned around, only he, Tyriece, and Xinyi, were there. Nianshi and the Hutyuns were nowhere in sight.

They gathered around, with their backs on each other. The three of them stayed alert for any incoming beasts or creatures. But all they could hear was the heavy wind howling. 

Xinyi called the Hutyuns but couldn't see or feel their presence. She focused her mind, and they replied later but devastated to know they could hear her, but her words were blurry in their ears and couldn't feel her presence too. They could not go to her without sensing where she was. She asked the Hutyuns about Nianshi, but their voice faded before she could hear the answer. 

She did her best to make a connection again and to Nianshi too, but to no avail. The worst, she would not last standing in this freezing state. She rubbed her shoulders and blew hot air on her gloved palms, and placed it on her cheeks to help heat herself up. Somehow, she could not stop the biting cold gnawing at her flesh.

Xinyi tried controlling fire like she did in the cave against her mirror-self, but the bear fox spoke audibly. "May I remind you, Sorceress? You're now inside my domain. Unless you find the exit, you cannot use your powers."

In other words, they became normal human beings and on their own in this desolate snowy land. Unlike in the fox spider's domain, where they still had powers but only lacking its effectiveness.

Hearing those words made her frustrated. She clenched her fists and lifted her head high. "Don't call me with that title. If I am really one, then I can get out of here without a hitch. So don't mock me by using that stupid title." she yelled on the top of her lungs to the unseen bear fox, but the m.o.a.ning wind drowned her voice. 

Rage slowly formed inside her, but a soothing peace seized the budding anger in her. This confused her well. It seemed something within her intended to suppress her emotions. And that familiar feeling in this place, as if she was here before. 

She probed the place using her ability to contact animals to confirm if they were in the Illusion forest or not, but no response. Xinyi perfectly understood. She was a normal person in the bear fox's domain. But what of this familiar feeling? She had to find out; she thought.

While she was busy trying to contact Nianshi and the Hutyuns, General Lofey and Tyriece also tried using their powers, but the result was the same as hers. 

"Darn, we might be in that bear fox's domain. Let's keep moving and find the exit," Lofey grunted. They began moving to find shelter. When Tyriece turned his head around, he saw her standing still.

"Lady Wei, let's keep moving or we'll freeze here." Tyriece yelled at her ears to fight against the howling wind, waking her from her concentration.

"Uhm," she nodded, pulling her fur coat to cover her face while walking against the gusting wind.

They walked near each other in silence. Lofey walked ahead of them, Xinyi in the middle, and Tyriece last. 

While walking in this white land, Xinyi was thankful for listening to her Lifen Ma to wear these thick winter clothes, animal skin gloves, and bear-skin boots. At first, she thought of wearing normal clothes and keeping the thick outfit in her baggage and changing later since she had the Hutyuns to keep her warm, but Lifen insisted.

"Over there," Lofey shouted. The three ran to where the general pointed, only to see a small cavern enough for them to fit in. They had to huddle together to keep their bodies warm.

"Lady Lei, go inside," Tyriece said. She ran in and sat on a boulder to rest her weary feet. She tried using her healing powers to her painful feet, but even this power would not work here. She sighed in despair, hugging her knees to warm herself while massaging her legs.

"I hope you don't mind me sitting close beside you, My Lady. We need to keep each other warm," Tyriece said as their shoulders touched. 

"I don't mind," she said and looked at Lofey, who stood with his back on them and hands folded on his chest. 

"I'll keep watch," Lofey said, but his mind racing for a solution for their situation. The two at the back were thankful for the general. His large frame and coat protected them from the winds. 

"Lady Lei, do you know where we are?" Tyriece asked mindlessly, hugging himself.

"Stop asking her. If she could, she would have brought us out of here a long time ago," grunted Lofey.

"Sorry for asking." Tyriece's face became crimson in embarrassment.

Xinyi did not mind Tyriece's inquiry and replied, "We are in that bear fox's domain.".

"Another domain? But how do you know?"

Her shoulders slouched. "That sly bear fox warned me while I tried to use my power."

"Shit, you can't use your powers too?" Tyriece punched on the wall.

"All brawns, no brains. That's the result of your laziness. If you studied well rather than just excelling in combat, at least that brain of yours can think of a way for us to leave from this domain."

"Hey, give me some slack, okay? I tried to get strong so I can join you, the most revered General Lofey Lethmo, and this is what I get. Geez, thanks. So much for looking up to you." Tyriece scowled, stressing the phrase the most revered General Lofey. "You also know I hate reading. It takes so much of my time. I won't be with you now if I focused on academics."

"As someone aiming to become general, knowledge is important, you mutt," hissed Lofey.

"Stop with the insults, will you?" Tyriece resigned, choosing to stare at the partly whitened ground. He hated it when the general lashed out his frustrations on him. This man had been like this since he was young, but he knew the general cared for him like his own son. He was even closer to the man than the sons.

Their honest bickering and closeness intrigued her. "Are you father and son?" Xinyi said, watching both men with deep curiosity.