Page 47 of Frostforge: Passage Two

They began the exercise, Thalia creating a small ice sculpture while Roran attempted to disrupt its formation without destroying it completely — a test of fine control.As Virek moved to the far side of the room to correct a particularly disastrous attempt, Thalia leaned forward.

"I wanted to apologize," she said in a low voice, continuing to shape the ice between them as cover for their conversation."For intervening in that fight with Nash and his cronies.You were right — it wasn't my place."

Roran's hands paused mid-gesture, surprise evident in his dark eyes.He exhaled sharply, then shook his head."I should be the one apologizing," he said, voice barely above a whisper."You were just trying to help — and I owe you one for that."

"You don't owe me anything," Thalia countered, sculpting a delicate arch of ice between her fingertips."I'm your friend.Friends defend each other."

The word seemed to settle between them, heavy with meaning.Friend.In the harsh environment of Frostforge, true friendship was as rare and precious as the purest metals.

"I'm tired, Thalia," Roran admitted after a moment, his focus ostensibly on the ice sculpture as he sent a controlled pulse of magic to alter its structure."Tired of proving myself.Tired of the accusations.Tired of being watched every moment as if I'm about to reveal myself as a traitor."

The raw honesty in his voice made something in Thalia's chest ache.She remembered their conversation after his fight, how he'd revealed he'd been searching for the raiders who killed his family.The weight of that grief, combined with the constant suspicion he faced, would crush most people — yet here he was, still standing, still fighting, even if his defenses were beginning to crack.

"Switch," called Instructor Virek from across the room.Partners reversed roles, creators becoming disruptors and vice versa.

Roran began crafting an ice formation, his movements mechanical, lacking his usual flair."It's maddening," he continued, voice pitched for her ears alone, "being accused of spying for the very people who took everything from me."His fingers tightened, causing a spike of ice to shoot upward through his creation."My father, my mother, my little brother — all gone in a single raid.Our home burned to ash.And now I have to smile and nod while these Northern bastards call me an Isle Warden spy?"

Anger flashed through Thalia, hot and protective."They're ignorant," she said fiercely."They've never lost anything, never had to fight for every scrap.They were born into their positions, handed their power and status."

"Like Nash," Roran agreed, nodding toward the boy across the room who was now creating an unnecessarily elaborate ice structure, showing off for Virek's benefit."His father's some high-ranking military commander.He's spent his whole life being told he's special."

Thalia sent a pulse of carefully controlled magic to reshape part of Roran's ice sculpture, smoothing an irregular edge."People like that can't understand people like us."

"People from the South?"Roran asked, a hint of his old humor lighting his eyes.“Because Brynn seems to get along with them just fine.Or at least, she pretends to.”

"People who've had to struggle," Thalia clarified."Who know what it means to lose."

The air between them grew quieter, more intimate despite the classroom setting.Roran's hands moved with greater confidence now, his ice patterns regaining some of their former complexity.

"I've heard you and Luna have been working to catch the actual thieves," he said, changing the subject slightly."That's why I wanted to apologize.I should be helping, not wallowing."

"You haven't been wallowing," Thalia protested."You've been fighting your own battles."

"Still."He completed a particularly intricate frost pattern, the first genuine display of his talent that day."I'd like to help, if you'll have me.Just don't expect me to be any good at forging — I'm rubbish at that."

The self-deprecating comment, delivered with a flash of his familiar crooked smile, broke the tension between them.For the first time in weeks, Thalia caught a glimpse of the Roran she'd befriended last year — charming, quick-witted, resilient despite the burdens he carried.Relief washed through her.He was still there, beneath the layers of grief and frustration and exhaustion.

"Final minute," Virek called, beginning his circuit of the room for final assessments.He paced toward Thalia and Roran first.

The instructor examined their ice creation with a critical eye."Acceptable structure," he pronounced, which from Virek was high praise indeed."Though your temperature control is still lacking, Bright.More precision, less force."

"Yes, sir," Roran replied, the formality not quite hiding the renewed spark in his eyes.

As class ended and students filed out into the marginally warmer corridor, Roran caught Thalia's arm."Thank you," he said simply."For still believing in me."

"Always," she responded without hesitation."We're going to catch the real culprits, Roran.We're going to prove your innocence."

He squeezed her arm once before letting go, a genuine smile warming his features for the first time in days."I know.Between your metal-sense, Luna's sneakiness, and Kaine's..."he paused, noting her expression, "...whatever redeeming qualities Kaine might have, we make a formidable team."

Thalia couldn't help but laugh, the sound echoing in the stone corridor."Careful.Your charm is showing again."

"Good," he said, falling into step beside her.

As they walked toward their next classes, Thalia felt something within her settle.The problems at Frostforge remained unsolved — the thief still at large, the sabotaged metals still threatening students' futures, the Gauntlet still looming on the horizon.But somehow, seeing that spark of Roran’s good humor return made the challenges ahead seem more manageable.

They would solve this mystery together.And when they did, perhaps the shadows hanging over all of them would finally begin to lift.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

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