Rebirth System: Blood and Ash

The cold morning air stung Aric's skin as he stepped out of his tent, now fully clad in the gifted steel armor of a Byzeth general.

The soldiers were already at work, dismantling the camp with practiced efficiency. The Northrender warriors moved in a way akin to shadows in the frost-laden dawn, silent but precise, preparing for the march ahead.

Aric made his way toward his horse, a stallion as black as night, though its temperament seemed to have soured.

The cold had started to affect not only the soldiers but the animals as well. His horse snorted angrily, stamping its hooves in irritation as Aric tried to steady it. It bucked slightly, resisting his grip on the reins. He gritted his teeth, cursing under his breath as he tried to bring it under control.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed Yrsa watching him, her piercing gaze like a burning flame at his side. The Northrender commander, already armored in her furs and leathers, strode toward him with that same confident, predatory grace she always carried.

"Horses are weak," she remarked, her tone filled with disdain. She crossed her arms over her chest, watching as Aric struggled with the stallion. "Have you ever ridden a Kriger?"

Aric turned to her, eyeing the massive beasts that the Northrender legion had arrived with. They were far different from anything he'd ever seen in the southern lands. Standing taller than any warhorse, their fur was thick and shaggy, with muscular bodies and glowing eyes that seemed more attuned to the harshness of the far north.

"Is that what those are?" he asked, nodding toward one of the creatures.

Yrsa nodded, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Yes. Krigers. One of the many beasts that roam the far north. They're far stronger than any horse, and the cold doesn't affect them. They're bred for endurance and war."

She gave a low whistle, and one of the beasts trotted over, its large hooves crunching through the snow. Yrsa ran her hand along its neck, calming it effortlessly.

"This one's called Skadi," she said, the name rolling off her tongue with the reverence of someone who spoke the language the name belonged to. "Get on."

Aric hesitated for a moment, eyeing the beast. Its sheer size and the wild look in its eyes gave him pause. "I think I'll stick with my stallion," he said, but Yrsa shook her head.

"Nonsense," she disagreed, her tone firm. "The stallion will die before the day's end in this cold. You want to survive, don't you?" Her violet eyes locked onto his, daring him.

With a resigned sigh, Aric approached the Kriger. He took the reins, and with a small leap, he mounted the creature's back.

Immediately, he could feel the difference—it wasn't like riding a horse. The Kriger's wild spirit was considerable beneath him, its muscles rippling as it shifted beneath his weight. He gripped the reins tightly, trying to direct it like he would any other mount, but the Kriger had no intention of obeying him.

It reared back suddenly, letting out a roar-like growl as it bucked and jerked violently.

"Whoa!" Aric tried to steady it, but the Kriger refused to be tamed. It bolted forward, nearly throwing him off, and he struggled to hold on as the beast surged through the camp, wild and unyielding. The Northrender soldiers erupted into laughter, their booming voices echoing through the frigid air.

Yrsa stood by, arms crossed, watching with amusement as Aric fought to control the Kriger. After a moment, she let out a short laugh and gave another sharp whistle. Instantly, the Kriger stopped in its tracks, turning obediently back toward her. With a hand gesture, she calmed the creature, bringing it to a halt beside her.

Aric let out a frustrated sigh, but before he could dismount, Yrsa was already moving. She climbed up onto the Kriger, seating herself in front of him. Her body was close, and Aric's hands naturally fell to her waist as she took the reins from his grip.

"You're going about it all wrong," she said, not looking back at him but clearly enjoying his discomfort. "A Kriger is not a horse, and it won't respond to the same commands. You have to be firm, but not rigid. Control it through its instincts, not against them."

Her hands guided his, showing him the subtleties of handling the reins. The warmth of her body against his was an unexpected distraction, but Aric still did his upmost to focus on learning. The Kriger shifted beneath them again, but this time, it was calm, moving in sync with Yrsa's subtle gestures.

"See?" she said, glancing over her shoulder with a teasing smile. "Not so difficult once you begin to follow it's rhythm"

Aric nodded, regaining his confidence. "I'll admit, it's different. But I'll manage."

With that, Yrsa dismounted gracefully, landing in the snow with a soft thud. She made her way over to another Kriger, mounting her own beast in one fluid motion.

The Byzeth soldiers had finished packing up their camp, and they now were all prepared to move. The dark, looming shapes of the Krigers dotted the snow-covered landscape, their breath fogging the air as they awaited their riders.

Aric, now in full control of his Kriger, gave a nod to Yrsa. She returned it with a smile, then looked over her troops.

"March!" Yrsa called, her voice ringing out through the cold morning air. The legion began to move as one, the Krigers' heavy footfalls echoing through the frozen landscape, while the still capable horses were rode by the Byzeth soldiers, and the incapacitated horses were left behind to die.

Aric rode at the head of the column, the beast beneath him surging forward with surprising power. Each step the beast beneath him took only brought him ever slightly closer to completing his goal.

He exhaled an icy chill beneath his mask but the cold didn't bother him anymore.