A Story of Seasons Chapter 4

Winterfolk

The storm stopped at some point almost as the sun rose up, it was silent… no wind was blowing. Outside the snow was dense… you could hear the clumps of it falling from the trees.

The fireplace was out of wood, but the cabin kept isolated and warm from the fire that was lit earlier.

Nebbia opened her eyes slowly, she was curled up in the bed by herself, she sat up slowly as she stretched a bit… a slight pain felt on her arms… maybe the bruises that she had where a bit deeper. She looked around… the door up front was a bit open, a slim ray of light reflected from outside.

She adventured herself out of bed, as she grabbed the heavy blanket and walked towards the door … she hesitated to open it, after what happened last night she was expecting more horrors, but the light gave her some hope nothing bad would happen, at least in the day… . She opened the door slowly … the light blinded her a bit, it took a bit for her sight to adjust.

-oh...- she gasped, a white blanket of snow covered field shinning by the morning sun, she could now see the beauty of the forest, and for the first time that type of snow fall. She walked a bit, there was a rail, it looked like a little roof covered the entrance from any type of snow entering the home. As she saw around she could see a trail that was dug up recently down the field towards the trees. From the trees Frost came walking looking down on his steps as he was holding a shovel on his shoulder, he didn’t even noticed her standing there.

-Good morning! - she said loudly, Frost looked up a bit confused as he walked and stumbled a bit.

-Hello – he said a bit awkwardly. He stood there for a moment and then started to walk towards her – Feeling better I imagine- he said as he got closer.

-Yeah, I guess I just needed a good sleep… I am a bit sore but its nothing serious – she said smiling, Frost smiled and walked by her opening the door for her to get back in. He saw her walk in almost in a skip, he did not mentioned anything about the night, he kept that to himself.

- I’ll make some breakfast and we can start heading our way to the town. The earlier the better… we will have at least some time to get back here at a decent time, if anything comes out from the elders – she agreed with him smiling.

She took the clothes his mother gave her and walked towards the other room to change.

After a while she came back, she had a long purple garment that resembled a more cozy kimono, but she was wearing thick leggings under it. Some cozy boots as well. She felt comfortable and warm with this clothes… she walked out of the room to find Frost serving some kind of oatmeal on bowls. He raised his sight and smiled.

- Have some food Nebbia – he said politely. Nebbia stood on the door frame of the room.

- I just wanted to say…- Nebbia stood grabbing her hands and looking to the floor, almost like a child trying to express herself – Thank you for helping me… and I’m sorry for dragging you in to all this. It must be overwhelming for you...-

- Don’t fret about it, I did what was needed to be done – he only said as he sat on the chair – Come have some food, it’s going get cold -

Nebbia walked towards the table and sat on the chair… Frost seemed quiet and in his thoughts.

After finishing Nebbia arranged her kimono so she wouldn’t be cold. Suddenly felt Frost putting something over her. A long dark blue cape was put over her shoulders, he helped her tying it up good.

- You’ll be warmer with this, the cold can creep in if you are not careful – he said as he adjusted it on her, she blushed a bit as he carefully tied it right.

- Thank you – she said as he finished.

- lets go – he said as he fixed her cape properly.

---

The trail to the town was well kept, you could see tracks of wagons or horses on the uncovered dirt. The snow didn’t pile up on it because of the density of the trees that where along the road. Was a very beautiful sight for her, coming from a very suburban place and suddenly all this fresh cold air hitting her… there was such a perfume from the trees she never did experience before. She thought to herself that it looked like a tunnel but made out of thick trees.

- Are you doing OK? - Frost suddenly asked.

- Oh yeah, all this layers are making a difference… - she said as she walked behind him.

- Town isn’t that far off. If you feel tired we can stop for a moment if you wish -

- No, I’m doing fine – she said holding her cape a bit feeling the fabric. - I don’t mind walking I did that every day from school to work to home… so I’m used to it – she stumbled a bit with a pile of snow almost loosing her step, Frost almost in instinct tried to grab her but she kept her posture and kept walking as she smiled at him a bit embarrassed – Well… I’m not really good in snow and dirt trails-

They kept walking in silence, as the sound of their boots kicking the dirt under their feet was the only thing they could hear.

- So...- Frost asked suddenly – Tell me… how is it different your world from this – Nebbia was a bit surprised by the sudden question.

-Oh...- she scratched her chin a bit trying to think on how to explain – well… definitely not like this, we… do have snow but it depends of the season – she said, he turned back to her.

- Season? - he asked a bit confused

- yeah you know… Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer...- Frost reacted as when he heard EARTH, the same confused face. - OK… so every change of season the weather changes… when it’s cold and snowy its Winter time, after the snow melts and the trees bloom and the weather gets better its Spring, after that it gets warmer and it’s hot… so its Summer and after that it gets colder and the leaves on the trees fall is… well Fall or Autumn… you don’t have that here? -

-Sounds confusing, so the world has changes every...day? - he asked as he tried to understand.

-Er… no its every 3 months, give or take depending on where you live, people that live up north have a longer winters, when there’s people down south that have longer summers… it all depends on the region – she explained – Does it ever get warm here? -

- It always snows here, it gets better or worse – he point blank said.

- Wow, how do you endure this all the time? -

-It’s always been like that, there’s times that we have snow for days, sometimes it stops for weeks… sometimes we get a bit of thawing but… it’s always like this, cold. We have cloudy days, stormy day and even sunny days. Like I said before it gets either better or worse – he said smiling - But my real question is… how is living from where you come from? -

- Not like this – she said as she looked around the trees and the landscape of forests and snowy mountains up afar – I live in a city… buildings cover most of the view, some very high. I have visited the country but… it’s not like this. I like it here tho… I like how quiet it is – she said.

-Sounds a bit of what they speak of Summerland… it’s a very technological place, I heard they have high buildings but covered in glass domes. I have never been there, more because the heat -

-Oh, you can’t adapt to other places?- she asked as he stopped a bit to walked beside her.

-It is hard for us to do it, we live in the cold for so long it would takes a toll on us. We would be ok on FallLand, because it’s not as hot or warm… also our magic would drain out intensely, limping us in some way – he expressed as he lifted his hand and a sort of smoke came out making Nebbia stop and step back in shock.

-MAGIC??!!- Nebbia stopped as she looked at his hand. Frost looked a her puzzled.

-Yeah, you know – all of a sudden a big chunk of ice resembling a crystal formed on his hand floating – ice magic – he said.

-am...amazing – she finally expressed with her eyes wide open as she saw the unreal situation in front of her.

-OH… you don’t do magic, makes sense… you come from a technology world that's obvious – he said as he crashed and dissipated the ice crystal. He kept walking slowly as Nebbia stood for a bit there… and started following him walking faster – We are almost there… that… I need to mention something – he stopped and turned to her.

- What is it? - she asked as he turned towards her

- Whatever happens with the elders or any decision is taken… I am going to be by your side, you are not alone on all this. Just wanted to make that point across-

Nebbia was a bit surprised by his comment, and she felt a bit reassured. As he turned and kept walking she smiled to herself feeling a strange feeling of acceptance… but on the other hand a reality was hitting her on the back of her head. She kept walking trying to shrug it off her mind… she had a bad tendency of over thinking… but this time her gut was telling her something different.

As they started seeing some more farms and homes the town started to show its true colors… little homes and building huddles together almost like the old western movies towns. It was still early so there wasn’t a lot of movement in the main street, some of the shops where receiving their goods for the day. Frost suddenly took her cape and lifted the hood on covering her face a bit, he didn’t say anything but his expression was more than obvious… he looked a bit worried.

As they walked in the main road Frost started walking a bit faster to a place that looked like a big shop, some barrels with different materials where set outside near the main entrance. A sign outside said Hardware store.

Nebbia stood looking at the exterior and the other places of the area… it felt like she was stuck on a period movie for some reason, she had a weird feeling of fear in her stomach… why did she started feeling like this all of a sudden? It’s been already strange and out of her reality since she got there, but why now? Frost came out and called her in the place. As she walked in slowly she looked her surroundings, the store was well stocked with all sorts of hardware and different materials, there was a long counter on the back of the store beyond barrels and crates full of different things for sale. Behind the counter the women that helped her last night stood besides a tall and strong man, his blue skin was a bit darker than both of them and with black hair tied in a pony tail, he smiled a bit but seemed a bit troubled with the situation.

-Welcome, so you’re the one doing all this commotion this morning?- he suddenly said to her, Nebbia just felt a bit embarrassed as she stood a bit away almost in the entrance… she did not feel… welcome all of a sudden.

-You seem better- the woman addressed her – seems like Frost has been taking good care of you so far – she smiled a bit.

-Yes, thank you for all your troubles... I am sorry if I am being a burden… - she said with her eyes down to the floor… she did feel a bit out of place. Frost noticed her feeling off, he walked to her and putted his hand on her back as he accompanied her inside closer to his parents.

- There’s no need to apologize, we will find a way to fix your situation – Frost said trying to reassure her. His parents just looked at each other in silence.

-Yes, we will take you to the elders and see what idea they have to help you get back … Hopefully we get some good news, don’t you worry dear – the mother said.

Nebbia noticed something was off, compared to the other night there was a very different vibe coming from her, and she even felt something off from his father. There was a very not welcoming vibe in that place… maybe she was reading too much in to it but it did seemed that way.

---

The main building or town hall was a massive place, made of logs and stones almost like entering a viking lord house from the olden times. Nebbia looked at it at a far as they walked towards the main street.

As they walked towards the main building they where in silence as they got closer. Nebbia started noticing looks… as people started to show up in the streets, it was uncomfortable in a way, she never felt so out of place in her life like in this situation.

All in her life she was just strolling unnoticed in every day, she was one of the bunch always… all this unwanted attention was something she didn’t expect.

Frost kept his eyes up front then suddenly felt her holding his arm a bit tight. Silently he whispered

-just keep your eyes up front, don’t pay attention to them… - Nebbia held tighter from him shivering almost.

The building was a big triangular building, with big wooden statues of old gods that protected the land. The huge doors where open, it reminded her of the old school churches in downtown… always threatening in a way. As they got in their steps echoed on the wooden floor in the empty building…

A group of old men with pale skins where standing in a group at the end of big room, there wasn’t any type of place to sit… it seemed it would but it was all left barren for the day. They all turned as they heard the steps get closer to them as they talked silently between themselves.

As they walked closer they looked at them and putting the full attention at their visitor.

-Ram and Pris… show us the wandering spirit girl you found.- one of them said.

Ram walked forward – It wasn’t us that found her, it was our son Frost… he was the one that had the encounter with the spirit girl – he said as Frost walked in front as Nebbia held from him on the back… she felt so scared at all this situation.

- Come closer child – said another elder one with dark garments – tell us your name -

Nebbia walked slowly and put back her hood showing her face, - My name is Nebbia… - she said with a nervous voice.

- Where did you find her, young Frost? - he asked

- Over the barrens on the forest, near the old farm -

-Oh… close to home it seems, explain us how – he said as they all stood quietly.

- Before I found her I was walking back home from town, it was… almost noon when I heard thunder all of a sudden, I thought a storm was brewing but then I saw the clouds open up… it was a bizarre event I had never seen – Nebbia heard him say all this for the first time… - Fang was with me and he started to howl and bark at something in the forest. I honestly thought there was something going on there so I had to look… what I found was something I can’t quite explain exactly...-

One of the elders walked towards him – try and explain at best… so we can understand – Frost looked at Nebbia, she still held from Frost’s arm nervously.

- I saw what I can only describe as a bubble of water, it wasn’t ice… it was just a bubble of water floating over the barrens. I got close and I could put my hand in and it’s when I felt her hand holding me, I could see her in the water and when I held from her the bubble just burst… the water instantly disappeared. She was unconscious when I took her in… she finally reacted when she was on my home-

They all mumbled between them as they heard his story. They looked towards her…

-Spirit girl Nebbia… how did you get here?- She got a bit startled by the question…

- Well… I… - she held tight from Frost, he held her hand a bit reassuring her… - I was taken by something… something like a dark man… with hands that pulled me in to the water… I was on my own world doing nothing wrong with anyone and he just appeared and took me – she walked slowly towards them and showed her arm full of bruises… - the hands held me tight and threw me in to a river that was under the bridge I was passing by and that’s when I lost consciousness… I am scared… I don’t know where I am… and I don’t know why I am here – she said almost crying, the elders walked back and started to talk between them. Frost held her from her shoulders…

- I think I can help more than all those crazy old farts standing mumbling at each other – a voice said loudly from the entrance behind the, one of the elders stomped the floor.

-Gavin! This does not concern you!!- he screamed. A Man in colorful rags and grayish long hair came in walking and standing in front of Frost and Nebbia, his skin was like Nebbias and he just stood between the elders and them.

- Excuse me for interrupting your “show” but THIS DOES concern me… She is FallFolk, she IS my problem -

- Mr. Gavin… - said Frost almost getting cut up.

-NO! Frost and… - looks at his family in a rather disgusted way – familiars I guess… I am not going to let you sentence this poor girl by a bunch of old geezers that don’t know about spiritual SHIT like I do… specially if you are putting her in more danger than she already is -

-This does not concern you crazy bastard – said Ram completely furious. Gavin turned towards him.

- You just want to not be involved with spirit crap because of the long trail of blood that your family has been dealing with… no one really cares about what this girl and your boy suffered already… GOD DAMN, this is a sham… - he looked at the elders – I will take matters and whatever the circumstances that are involved we will keep it in between us and not your … delicate mental states – He walked over to Nebbia and held her hand tenderly – come with me, both of you… and lets get the fuck out of this place – he said as he pulled them with him.

Nebbia and Frost walked with him as the elders started ranting with Frost’s parents… As they walked behind him Nebbia noticed Frost with his head down and with a very displeased face.

- Let’s get you home, well my home… it will be better if we talk in private there.- Gavin said as they walked slowly behind him.

---

Gavin turned some more candles in his main library room, he pushed some books off from a sofa that was covered in a blanket and more books – Please make yourself at home – Frost just walked quietly and grabbed a chair that was on a corner, he seemed to be there more than once and knew the place. Nebbia on the other hand walked towards the sofa slowly as she looked at all the books…

- My dear are you ok, after all that horrendous event ? - he said in a polite way as he gave her a cup with tea… the smell seemed familiar, like something she had before as a child.

-I’m ok… wow you… you… – Nebbia didn’t know how to explain herself – Like talk very… -

-Normal? - he said as he sat on the chair behind his desk – I know where you come from… Haven’t been there in a long while, but I know well enough of it – he said as he drank his tea.

- is she going to be alright ? - Frost suddenly asked in a weird somber tone

- Better than whatever the fuck they where planning on doing, for all I know she would have been dumped back in to another town. You know how your people act, like if any other different looking people are cursed or something stupid like that. – he said as he grabbed a cup and pored some tea for him.

- Cursed? - Nebbia asked.

- That’s the winterfolk way, but… I do sense some strange darkness surrounding you -

-It was actually a dark man… - Frost said still with his eyes focused on the floor.

-A dark man? -said Gavin as he scratched his chin, it didn’t sound like anything he heard before.

- It was… a man that looked like winterfolk, but he had hands growing from him. He said something like I needed to come back home… and that he needed her back… it was all very confusing.- she stood up and showed him the marks of the bruises in her arms.

- interesting… I have never heard of a dark man bringing people from other worlds or what not… it’s sounds fascinating –

- but… there was something else… a woman… - Frost turned to her.

- A woman you say? - Gavin asked.

-yes, when I was at Frost’s home… while I was waiting on him to come back I heard steps outside the door, I felt compelled to open the door and what I saw… was a gray lady with long hair… her face… her face was so horrible… its a thing I can’t explain with words I was just… -

-deformed – Frost said all of a sudden, Gavin glimpsed at him not saying anything as he kept drinking his tea.

-YES, but instead of the forest… it looked different -

- a cliff...- Frost said again, Nebbia stopped a bit shocked.

-yes… how did you know? - Nebbia was almost trembling in fear. Frost lean and rested his arms over his legs, let his head go down, he kept quiet. Gavin got up and left his tea on the desk.

- So IT … still is happening, still having the night terrors, right… Frost? - Frost kept still in silence.

- still? - Nebbia asked looking at Gavin.

- Frost is the soul survivor of the Farm incident, I think hmm… what 18 years ago? -

-20… this year – he said

-His parents where murdered on a horrible event, those people back there are his adoptive parents. He was a little guy when all this happened, lucky enough to be spared by the killer – he stood beside her crossed arms as he looked at him frozen on the corner.

- THIS CAN’T BE RELATED TO ME – he suddenly screamed, as he did the corner froze with ice, Gavin stood in front of Nebbia. Her tea fell from her hands as she felt completely scared.

- You need to accept, that it’s something… that you need to fix, and I’ve told you it will come around, some way or another… what I don’t understand is why her? - he turns towards her – I don’t see how she has to do anything with you - he said as he turned back at Frost that was shivering in anger.

Frost got up and walked towards the door, he opened it aggressively and shut it hard behind him. Gavin sighed a bit in relief– that boy has the temper of a volcano erupting - Nebbia stood up and ran towards the door, before being stopped by Gavin –NEBBIA! HE IS TROUBLE!- she didn’t answer as she just kept going.

---

COMING SOON CHAPTER 5

Thank you for reading!

If you want to check the little prelude Check it here!

Check The last Episodes here!

Check for updates of artworks and other stuff on my twitter - X and my streams on Twitch!

TWITTER - X

Twitch MAGIC NINJA ROBOT

Thanks for reading Ili’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.