Tanya hated lying to Lukas.

He had no way of knowing this, but that conversation in the borderland's heart had thrown her life into a major upheaval. She had finally found an ally she could trust and be herself with. One who had known the extent of her crimes, and despite that, offered to be her rock in the tumultuous ocean that was her life. He had not known this, but she had clenched her fists and looked down, hoping her bangs would hide her watery gaze. Rendered speechless by his proclamation, she had said nothing but a brief nod, doing her best to still her shaking shoulders as a single tear fell upon the back of her hand.

Lukas had given no signs of noticing her predicament back then. And by the goddess, had she been glad for it.

And yet, she had lied to him.

The truth was, she was already sold on whatever Solana was telling them. The very moment she had entered the Throne room, she felt the truth of her words resonate within herself.

All it had taken was one glance at the throne.

At Nidhogg’s lair.

Tanya knew with absolute certainty that her Everfrost was the same as this Empress Meynte. It didn’t matter if that meant she had a yokai heritage. She didn't care if it meant that her family had lied to her all her life. It didn’t even matter that Solana was systematically taking her whole life apart until she couldn’t distinguish between truth and lie.

Still, she had thrown questions at Solana. She had worn a mask of skepticism when all she could do was barely stay from breaking down on the inside. She didn’t know if she wanted to disprove her theories, or affirm them. She just… needed something to hold herself back from running across the room to the throne.

The throne that mocked her.

Just looking at it made her feel less. It drained away her strength and her will, reverting her back to that frightened girl that was afraid of what lurked underneath her bed. She knew that everything Solana was saying was exactly accurate.

But it was also wrong.

Tanya didn’t know how she knew it, but sitting on the Throne would bring the fear and the darkness back into her life. It would give her all the answers she had sought over the years, but in doing so, take away something very vital from her. It frightened her, and Tanya hated feeling afraid. All her life she had searched for answers, and now those answers were beckoning her.

All she had to do was step up and claim them.

Claim her throne.

“No fucking way,” she heard Lukas snap. The hostility in his voice was palpable. “I’m not letting her get anywhere close to that thing. And I won’t let you force her to do that either.”

Tanya internally winced. It was so like him to stand up for her when no one else did. He wasn’t exactly known for his subtlety. In fact, the deadlier the opponent, the less restraint Lukas seemed to have. Solana had the patience of a saint, but she was far, far more powerful than the bylestyrs Lukas had fought in the borderland. She definitely didn’t hold a candle to the King they had faced in the end, or worse, the Goddess Lukas worshiped, but she was definitely up there in her grandfather’s league — in skill and experience, if not raw power.

And she was six centuries old. One did not survive that long without growing into their power.

“No,” she said, and took a step forward. “I will sit on that throne.”

Lukas looked at her, surprised. “You don’t need to do this.”

Tanya felt her heart flutter. Seeing that desperation on his face sent a pang through her chest. But she needed to do this. He wouldn’t understand. Or maybe he just wasn’t trying to understand. She needed to know exactly what her heritage was, what she could truly accomplish with it. Didn’t Lukas want her to attain those answers? Why would he think that she’d be content to stay like she was, frightened of her power, running around from her past? Unless….

Unless he doesn’t want it. Yes, he had sealed my power away. Made me weak. He doesn’t care about my own desires any more than that. He’s just afraid that if I do this, I’ll forever be beyond his ability to control.

Yes. Yes, that's definitely it. How could I’ve been so stupid? I thought he… he… No; he didn’t have feelings for me. He’s just doing what that goddess wants. That’s all. I’m — I’m just a toy for that goddess. How could I’ve been so stupid as to think Lukas would be interested in me?

After all, I clearly deserve far, far better than him. How could anyone think he’d want to be with me? That would be like an insect falling in love with a Queen. He knows his station better than to do something like that. I, the Bringer of the End, Herald of the Fall, I will reign on that Throne, and the World will serve me, Queen of Ice, as I bring down the Wrath of the Cruelest—

Tanya staggered back in shock and not a small amount of shame the moment the thought crossed her mind unbidden. It was… she had been…

She hadn’t thought that. She — she wouldn’t! Such a thing would never cross her mind, not even for a heartbeat. And with it had come a sensation of such terrible pride, and a fury so cold that it made her sick to her stomach. It didn’t… it was in her head. It was in her thoughts, but it didn’t feel like her. She didn’t feel like herself while she thought that. It was just so wrong, and it wasn’t her at all. It was filthy and horrible and nothing she’d ever consider, but…

Don’t I have every right to feel that way? My grandfather wanted a monster. He ensured I was born with these powers. He wanted a weapon — a weapon that could bring the End Of All Things into his arsenal, and so he made me into his pretty little heir. And once I acted out, he captured me and tortured me.

Just like that goddess.

What did she say again? She’d turn me into a force that’d leave nothing but cold, hungry emptiness in its wake. I, who’d bring about the End, would be a slave to some has-been goddess of antiquity. And Lukas.. He’s just a chain. A distraction.

She took a step forward.

“No, Lukas,” she said, her gaze stuck at the throne that beckoned her. “I do.”

She took a step.

Why must this be my destiny?

And then another.

Why must I accept this?

One step became two. Two became four. Four became eight.

A coldness spread inside her. The world around her changed. No longer was she inside the throne room. No, she was somewhere else. In the backyard of a familiar building. There was blood on the floor. Blood and screams and…

Ice.

Crystals of pure white and crimson.

Why was she looking at herself? No, not herself. The thirteen-year-old Tanya. Trapped and kidnapped by insurgents. The girl who was sitting all by herself, her hands drenched in blood, her eyes silver and her hair white as snow.

“It feels so good,” she murmurs. “All this lifeforce. It feels so… sweet.”

Tanya looked around. She was now atop the hill. Her father lay dying, his body perched against a boulder, as he pulled Tanya’s frost-encrusted hand deeper into him.

She looked closer.

Was it her father that was pulling it? Or was the girl that was pushing it?

Just a little more and life would flicker from his eyes.

Just a little more and she’d see him die.

He was in pain. She was in ecstasy.

He was a father saving his daughter. She was a predator feasting on her prey. For wasn’t this what she was? A predator of lifeforce?

“—anya!” Lukas yelled. Lukas? Outsider? No. Lukas. Lukas Aguilar. Her… friend. Yes. What was he—

Wait. Why was it so hard to think?

“You’re not yourself!” He was saying.

“Outsider!” Solana snapped. “You promised not to interfere! Do not break your oath!”

“Look!” Lukas’s voice was… strange. She couldn’t track what it was. But she knew it was inappropriate to the situation. “Look. All I’m saying is that maybe she needs to take a step back and think things through!”

His words disturbed the purity of her resolution. She couldn’t tell what it was, but it pissed her off.

Another step.

“—nya!” She heard Lukas yell again. It rankled her. Why was he being so obstinate? Good intentions or not, he did not have her clarity. What could’ve been a profoundly pure experience had been disrupted. This creature — Lukas, didn’t even deserve the patience she was meting out to him. He was beyond contempt.

With a wave of her hand, she conjured a wall of wind between herself and him. She felt the wind blast across his body, dissipating without effect.

How annoying!

“TANY—”

“WHAT DO YOU WANT?”

She had whirled around, her eyes blazing, Ezzeron’s power surging through her veins. Lukas would not walk away. He would not let her finish her business. She’d have to reason with him.

Why must I accept this treatment? There is no need.

“You are not yourself!” Lukas said, his face resolute.

“Why?” she snarled. “Because I’m not following your orders?”

“Tanya — Tanya, just look at how you’re acting! This — this is not you! This place — that throne is affecting you. We need to get out of this place.”

“NO,” she growled. “I’ve finally come this close to learning the truth of my heritage. I’m not going to step away just because you say so.”

“Tanya, what if the whispers come back?”

Despite herself, Tanya felt curious. She could sense something odd at work here, something strangely familiar but alien.

She paused.

Her lips twisted into a cruel smile.

“That is what this is about, isn’t it? You fear the whispers will return, and with it, your control over me shall fade. I remember what she said. She’d drag me to her dominion, kicking and screaming. She’d crush my defiance and turn me into a slave. A weapon for her tool. That is what you want to protect, not me. Isn’t it? Isn’t it?”

Tanya closed her eyes.

It is always like this.

Trapped.

Lied.

Violated.

Broken.

First by my grandfather. Now by Lukas’s Goddess.

Why must I accept this? Why shouldn’t I resist?

Because her grandfather was a monster? Because this goddess was too overwhelmingly powerful? Could they — Did they really understand what she was — what she could become?

She closed her eyes and shivered.

“Do you — do you really think that?” Lukas asked. Tanya opened her eyes, and watched him close his own, as if in pain.

And then he lunged at her.

A wall of wind met his dash. Tanya was fast and strong, but Lukas had a thousand tricks up his sleeve. A surprise hit would not take him down. He shifted at the last second, dodging her blast, and came for her. Tanya snapped one hand and hit him with raw force. It knocked him back and staggered him, but he kept his feet.

“Stay. Away.” she snarled, and took the last step. The throne. Her throne. It was there, right in front of her. Waiting for her for all this time. She’d not let him distract her from this.

She threw a palm in his direction and drastically altered the pressure. The entire area detonated, hitting him like a sledgehammer and sending him flying. Tanya clasped both hands, and two walls of wind smashed into Lukas, before throwing him further against the wall. Tanya did not stop there. Pulling in Ezzeron’s power, she pushed further, driving him deeper and deeper into the wall until he couldn’t even be seen.

Only for him to pop out of the floor.

Terraportation. She remembered with distaste.

“I won’t let you lose yourself again,” said the Outsider. “Even if I have to stop you myself.”

“Self-righteous loudmouth!” Tanya snarled. “This does not concern you.”

The throne was calling her. She had no time for distractions, as satisfying as they might have been. She turned around, and sat upon it and instantly, the draconic sculpture came to life. The dragon's head instantly stretched out, and twisted its long neck, with two pairs of limbs grabbing upon the arms of the throne, as if merging into it, while the wings expanded outward, unleashing a wintry violence into the air. The dragon's head extended outward, coming to rest right above Tanya’s head, as if serving as a crown.

She shivered and whispered.

“Ice is my soul.”

Frost exploded.

The floor itself turned white as jagged lines appeared, giving the appearance that the entire floor was made of glass, which had suddenly shattered. The lines did not limit themselves to the vicinity, and instead raced away across impossible distances, spreading up and around the intersection itself in three dimensions. A fierce, chilly wind billowed as the sudden shift in pressure and temperature filled the room with mist. The freezing extended, stretching between lines and stretching, coating everything in the room with thick sheets of wintry shelling. Ice erupted across the floor in spots, forming enormous stalagmites like raised coffins, teeth-like daggers of the element swelling and erupting with violent force. It only lasted a handful of moments, but in those seconds, the world changed into a scene straight out of an ice age.

Then she turned towards Solana.

“I have done what you asked. Now tell me the truth. Tell me, everything there is to know about Everfrost.”

“Of course,” said Solana, her lips twisted into something like victory. “But you already know everything, don’t you, Tsurara?”