<mark>Vinterra</mark> wasn’t just different from the mini-lands because it was bigger. It was… something else. Jimmy couldn’t quite put his finger on it. “Intense” felt close, but not quite right. He shook the thought off and squinted up at the sky—clear, blue, and freezing as hell.
Ahead, sticking out of the snow like a sore thumb, were these massive stone pillars. They looked old—ancient even—like something straight out of a fantasy movie. Weird energy flickered around them, not enough to be obvious, but just enough to make you feel like they were important.
Jimmy swiped open his map. Nothing. No markers, no labels, not even a little “Hey, check this out!” from the System. Just a blank, empty expanse of white. The whole thing was a joke. When they’d landed in <mark>Vinterra</mark>, the System had been very clear: no hand-holding this time. They were on their own. The dungeons they had to clear? Hidden. The path forward? Figure it out. Jimmy hated it, but what could you do?
“Hey, Garrick,” Jimmy called over his shoulder. “Mind pulling up your map? See if it’s got anything on those big, glowing sticks ahead?”
Yeah, that was another thing. Jimmy wasn’t flying solo anymore. After saving the Thorn family from a pissed-off Ice Goliath, he’d somehow ended up leading them through this frozen mess. Garrick, the dad and unofficial muscle of the group, was a good guy, even if he didn’t talk much.
Garrick stopped, swiped his hand, and stared at his map for a second. Then he let out a long, frustrated sigh. “Nothing. Zero. Just white space.” He closed the map and glanced at Jimmy, his hand resting on the <mark>axe</mark> strapped to his back. “You’d think glowing pillars would get a mention or something.”
“Yeah, no kidding,” Jimmy muttered.
Behind them, Elise and Lyra trudged along, sticking close but keeping their distance. Elise, Garrick’s wife, was still giving Jimmy the side-eye every chance she got, like she thought he was going to turn on them any second. Lyra, on the other hand, was the total opposite—wide-eyed, curious, and way too trusting for her own good.
They ran into a few monsters along the way, but nothing serious. Just the usual pests. Jimmy handled them with his katana, Garrick’s <mark>axe</mark> made quick work of the rest, and Elise even let a few arrows fly when she had to. But honestly? None of it was that bad.
The weird part wasn’t the monsters—it was the company. After weeks of being alone, even a random question from Lyra felt like it echoed in his skull.
“Hey, Jimmy,” Lyra said, skipping lightly over a patch of snow. Her voice had that upbeat tone he was starting to recognize—she was working her way toward another question. “What was your favorite movie before all this? You know, back when movies were still a thing?”
Jimmy hesitated. It was such a normal question, but it still caught him off guard. His favorite movie? He’d spent so much time surviving lately that it felt weird to think about something like that. But then it came to him, clear as day.
“12 Angry Men,” he said finally.
Lyra’s eyes widened. “Wait, what? The black-and-white movie with, like, a bunch of guys arguing in a room?”
Jimmy smirked faintly. “That’s the one.”
“But why?” Lyra asked, genuinely curious. “No offense, but that sounds kinda… boring.”
“It’s not,” Jimmy said, his voice softening just a little. “There’s this one shot—long, no cuts, just the camera following the tension. It’s… perfect. No explosions, no cheap tricks, just people. Real people, arguing, trying to figure each other out. It’s honest. Messy. You see what people are really like when they’re under pressure.”
Lyra nodded slowly, like she was processing that. “Okay, you just made it sound cool. I might have to find it someday. If the System ever decides to stop being a total jerk.”
Jimmy shrugged, glancing ahead. “Good luck with that.”
“What about books?” she asked, skipping another step closer. “You’re a reader, right? You’ve got that vibe.”
This time, Jimmy didn’t hesitate. “Jung.”The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
“Wait. Like… Jung Jung? The psychology guy?”
“Yeah,” Jimmy said. “I started with Man and His Symbols in high school. Thought it was pretentious at first, but it grew on me. Kept reading after that. Archetypes, shadows… it sticks with you.”
Lyra grinned. “So, deep thinker vibes. Got it. But, like, just Jung? Nothing fun?”
Jimmy gave her a side-eye, letting the pause hang there for just a second too long.
“…Fine. Harry Potter,” he admitted.
Lyra laughed, the sound bright against the icy wind. “Knew it. Total <mark>Gryffindor</mark> energy.”
Jimmy raised an eyebrow. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Sure I do,” she said, skipping ahead again. “Garrick’s a <mark>Hufflepuff</mark>, obviously. Mom’s a <mark>Ravenclaw</mark>, and me? Total <mark>Slytherin</mark>.”
Jimmy shook his head, but there was a faint twitch of a smile at the corner of his mouth. “This conversation’s ridiculous.”
“No, it’s human,” Lyra said, her voice quieter now. “It’s nice.”
Jimmy didn’t answer. She wasn’t wrong.
Up ahead, something new came into view—a cabin. Nestled between the trees, it looked old but sturdy, with smoke curling lazily out of the chimney. The sight of it made Jimmy pause.
“Someone’s home,” Garrick muttered, stepping up beside him.
Jimmy nodded, his eyes narrowing. A single building in the middle of nowhere wasn’t exactly screaming “safe.” But curiosity—or maybe boredom—got the better of him. He glanced at Garrick, and the two of them exchanged a quick, silent look.
The unspoken agreement was clear: We’re checking it out. Why not?
Reaching the cabin didn’t take long. The area around it was surprisingly quiet—no monsters, no threats, nothing lurking in the shadows. Jimmy had started to pick up on these things lately. It wasn’t just experience; it was something else.
He had a strong hunch it was tied to his Bound Core. That off-the-grid power boost had a habit of showing up in the middle of intense fights or life-or-death moments. But sometimes, like now, it made itself known in quieter ways. Walking through the snowy expanse, Jimmy could feel it—an almost subconscious awareness, like his instincts were dialed up to eleven.
It made sense in a way. He’d started to think the Bound Core wasn’t just raw power. It was tied to his subconscious, the part of him hardwired for survival. And the subconscious didn’t talk—it felt. It worked through instincts, gut reactions, emotions. If he could just figure out how to interpret those signals properly, it’d be a serious game-changer. No more falling for ambushes or walking blind into danger.
“Step by step,” Jimmy thought. “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
The phrase made him pause for half a second. Wait… wasn’t that a <mark>Morcheeba</mark> song? His brain threw the memory at him like a rock. Oh man, that was such a good track. Smooth, laid-back, the kind of song that just got you, even on the worst days. Jimmy could almost hear it now, the chill beats cutting through the frozen quiet of <mark>Vinterra</mark>.
He huffed a laugh, shaking his head. God damn, I could use some headphones right now. Music used to make everything easier—those long shifts at the gas station, the endless nights staring at the ceiling, even the occasional existential crisis.
The cabin loomed in front of them, small and wooden, tucked between the trees. Smoke curled lazily from the chimney, a sign of life—or at least, recent activity. Jimmy and the Thorn family stood a few feet away, staring at the door, no one quite sure what to do next.
“Could be abandoned,” Garrick said.
“Could be a trap,” Elise countered.
Jimmy glanced at them, then back at the cabin. Both were valid points, but standing around arguing wasn’t going to get them anywhere.
“Only one way to find out,” Jimmy said, stepping forward.
The snow crunched under his boots as he made his way to the door. He paused for a moment, his hand hovering over the wood. Then, with a shrug, he knocked. Three solid raps echoed into the still air.
The group held their breath, waiting. They waited three seconds.
The door slammed open. An old man stepped out, barefoot in the snow, wearing jeans and a white shirt with rolled sleeves. His long, silver hair spilled past his shoulders. He stood there for a moment, holding a steaming mug, grinning like he’d just won a bet.
“Well, well,” he said, raising the mug slightly. “What’s with the long face, hero? You miss your shot at the Ancient Consortium of Stars or something? Don’t worry—they’d have just stolen your soul and charged you for the paperwork.”
Jimmy stayed quiet but he glanced at Garrick, who gave a slight shrug and adjusted his <mark>axe</mark>.
The old man pointed his mug at them, his grin widening. “Ah, I see it. You two are doing the silent communication thing. What is this, a buddy cop movie? You gonna grunt twice for yes and once for no? Save me the suspense.”
Lyra snorted, trying to cover it up with a cough. Garrick’s jaw twitched. Elise didn’t budge, her bow still in her hand, her eyes narrowed on the man.
“Nothing? Really? Not even a chuckle?” He sighed and took a long sip. “Tough crowd. I’m telling you, humor’s been downhill since the Consortium sent their last guy to negotiate. And we all know how that went.”
Jimmy frowned. “No, we don’t.”
The man leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Bits of him are still out there. Spinning. Forever. Probably not his best day.”
Jimmy blinked slowly, nodded once. “Ah, sure. Makes sense.”
The man straightened up and waved toward the open door. “Well? Are you coming in, or are you planning to freeze to death? I’ve got chocolate. I’ve got chairs. I’ve even got answers, if you ask the right questions. But hey—your call.”
He disappeared inside without waiting for a response, leaving the door open. Warmth spilled out, along with the rich smell of cocoa.
Lyra finally broke the silence. “He’s insane.”
“Yeah,” Jimmy said, stepping toward the door. “But he’s got chocolate.”