"Alright..." I muttered to myself, feeling the pressure of the moment. "Where do we go from here?"

  We had to get a move on, lest the storm come and wipe us out. I didn't fully know what was going on, but I know a threat when I see one.

  Vesper’s glow flickered faintly, barely visible through the shifting white haze. “We need higher ground,” he said, his tone steady despite the rising wind. “We’ll be able to see more from there, scout the area, find shelter or, if we're lucky, civilization. But we can’t stay here.”

  I nodded and squinted into the wind. Higher ground made sense. No one could survive out here alone. Not for long. There had to be a place where people gathered, where supplies were traded, where the living still clung to existence.

  My gaze swept over the abandoned camp. “Whoever was here had to get their supplies from somewhere. Hopefully, that place isn’t as lifeless as this one.” I said out loud.

  Vesper hovered beside me, his glow steady. “A supply line would make sense,” he said, his voice thoughtful. “Even the most stubborn survivors need a way to restock. If we’re lucky, we’ll find traces of where they went.”

  “Any chance you can fly up and scout the area?” I asked. “See if you can spot anything useful. I’ll check around down here.”

  Vesper gave a small bob that looked close enough to a nod before drifting upward. I, on the other hand, turned my attention to my surroundings.

  I wandered through the camp, there was an eerie stillness settling over everything like a held breath before the storm. The wind had quieted, the calm before the storm, no doubt.

  Passing my tent, I climbed the small dune that had offered us a sliver of shelter and took in the desolate expanse before me. The landscape stretched out in cruel, fractured lines, great shards of ice jutting skyward like broken glass. Beneath them, deep scars split the frozen ground. One misstep out there, and I'd be gone.

  I noticed to my north, I don’t know if it’s actually north, but it is now in my head, so… to my north, a mountain in the far distance seemed climbable compared to the cliff faces of the other jagged ice walls around me.

  Eventually, Vesper returned. “That way,” he said, pointing towards what I now deemed north, “There's a climbable mountain.”

  “Okay, we see the same mountain. How far is it exactly?” I asked.

  Vesper’s form shimmered slightly as he moved around. “Not far. A few miles, I’m sure. But the path will be difficult. The storm is only going to get worse before it clears.” He paused, his voice low but firm. “We have no choice. The longer we stay on this ground, the more vulnerable we become.”

  I glanced at the empty stretch of frozen land ahead of us. No shelter, no cover, just endless, desolate white. It felt like being trapped inside a snow globe, everything too quiet, too still, except for the growing pressure of the storm.

  I tightened the straps of my pack. “Alright,” I said, taking a final glance back at the campsite that was filled with stillness and death. There was nothing left here for me, nothing left for me to search for.

  Vesper didn’t respond, but the faint flicker of his light, his presence a comforting force. “We should move now.”

  I grunted my agreement as we set out.

  The first steps were the hardest. Imagine waking up from a coma and being told to walk a few miles, like someone forgot to oil your joints. Thankfully, the more I walked, the more I got used to walking. The soft snow crunching beneath my boots was occasionally interrupted by solid patches of ice that necessitated my attention to traverse properly.

  But I kept moving, my eyes locked on the higher ground ahead. The storm was a literal force of nature, and my only option for survival was to avoid it.

  The hike was a slog. Snow concealed pitfalls, and the ice seemed hell-bent on knocking me down. It was exhausting but not impossible.

  This is going to be a long journey, isn't it?

  “So I guess we have time to kill as we walk… well, as you float, I guess,” I said, trying to break the ice. Heh, ice.

  Vesper's ethereal form flickered, almost like a chuckle, but it was hard to tell with the distortion of the cold air. “I suppose we do. What would you like to know?” Their voice was steady and calm, with a faint hint of curiosity.

  “Well, for starters,” I began, trying to sound casual, “you brought me back. Why me? Why did you choose me?”

  My breath puffed out in the freezing air as I glanced at the Phantom, trying to keep my voice even.

  Vesper floated a little closer, their light dimming slightly as though they were considering my question. “I didn’t choose you. At least… not consciously. It’s hard to explain. I simply found you. I was drawn to you, like a thread pulling me toward something I didn’t fully understand.” They paused, flickering as if unsure of how to continue. “All Phantoms are drawn to their partner. Once we find them, we revive them.”

  “Wait, so you’re telling me it’s not like you had a reason? It’s just… fate, or something like that?” I raised an eyebrow, trying to piece things together.

  Vesper’s form shimmered slightly. “It wasn’t random. There’s a pattern to it. I think, though I don’t fully understand it. I’ve been awakened, and now I’m here with you, to help or guide you.”

  I mulled that over. “Okay, I get that… sort of. But what about you? What are you? Where did you come from?”

  Vesper’s glow flickered again, with hesitation in their voice. “I don’t have a clear answer for that. I don’t remember anything before this. I was… created somehow, with one purpose: to connect with my Revenant and revive them. Why? I don’t know. But I do know that there’s more to this world than just us, and I want to understand it. Something larger is at play, I'm sure, but I’m still learning.”

  Vesper hesitated before responding. “Only on this. It’s… strange. Like I was made to understand these things, I know the basic nature of the universe or fundamentals of how physics works, but ask me about anything outside of that, and I have no idea.”

  I frowned, thinking that over. “So, you’re basically a guide who doesn’t know where the road leads.”

  Vesper gave a small flicker, something between a sigh and a shrug. “That’s… not inaccurate.”

  I huffed out a small laugh. “Well, that’s comforting. At least I’m not the only one figuring things out.”

  Vesper’s glow pulsed faintly, almost in agreement. “No, you’re not.”

  I looked up at the flickering light that floated beside me. “Also, that was the first time I’ve heard that word. ‘Revenant.’ What’s that?”

  Vesper’s glow dimmed a little, considering the question. “A Revenant is someone who was dead but is now alive again. You, specifically, are a Revenant. It’s not just a second chance. It’s far more complex. You’ve been brought back for a reason. Maybe it’s fate, maybe something else, but either way, you’ve been chosen to return to this world. And as long as I am here and alive, you will be alive too.”

  I frowned. “So, I’m like… some kind of undead?”

  “Not exactly,” Vesper replied. “When a Revenant is resurrected, they’re more than just someone coming back from death. Because of me, you have access to extraordinary things. The main thing is that I can revive you again if you die, and over time, as we bond, you’ll unlock the ability to manipulate the world around us. For most Revenants, this manifests as elemental powers. They’re able to wield things like fire, lightning, and whatnot, but I'm simplifying it a lot.”

  “So, these abilities,” I said, trying to wrap my mind around it, “They come from… where?”

  Vesper’s light flickered again. “They come from the bond between us. Your return wasn’t just about bringing you back. I was basically infused with you when I revived you the first time. Your abilities are tied to me, and I to you. You’re not the person you once were, and the universe around you has changed because of it.”

  “And because of that, I can control the elements?” I asked, still piecing things together.

  Vesper's glow pulsed faintly, as if nodding. “Yes, but not immediately. Your abilities are raw at first. It will take time to learn to control them. But eventually, you’ll be able to wield them more powerfully, shaping them to suit your needs. It’s all about learning to work with the forces now awakened in you.”

  “And what’s the catch?” I asked, already suspecting there was one.

  “Well, we’re not invulnerable. If you die, I'm vulnerable when reviving you. Phantoms die all the time. And when they do…” Vesper trailed off, “Anyway, I’m just skimming the surface, and I’m probably making it sound better than it really is. Just because you have access to these powers doesn’t mean there aren’t greater forces that would want to strip you of everything that makes you… You.”

  I sighed, my thoughts swirling. “Alright, that’s a lot to take in. So, I’m technically immortal, and I’ll eventually wield forces of nature.” I said, bewildered.

  “There’s a purpose,” Vesper said softly. “A Revenant isn’t just someone brought back to life. They’re meant to shape the world in some way. How that plays out depends on you.”

  “So, I’m stuck with this ‘Revenant’ thing for good, huh?”

  “For better or worse,” Vesper replied, their tone almost like a quiet smile. “But it’s not all bad. With time, you’ll see what you’re truly capable of.”

  I nodded, processing it all. “Alright, so what’s next? How do I start figuring out these abilities?”

  Vesper’s glow flickered brighter. “One step at a time. You’ll need to experiment to see what comes naturally to you. But you have to be cautious. There’s a lot of danger out there. And not just from the environment.”

  I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What do you mean?”

  “The world’s not the same as it once was,” Vesper warned. “There are others—people like you, and people who fear what you’ve become. Some will want to control you. Some will want to destroy you.”

  “I mean, yeah, you hinted at that when saying ‘Phantoms’ plural. So I assumed there were others. Are we supposed to meet up and defend the galaxy or something?” I chuckled at my attempt at humor.

  “Well, yes and no,” Vesper replied, taking my attempt at humor at face value. “You’re not invincible, just immortal. Meaning you can be killed. If I were to die, you’d be back to being a powerless mortal. Also, there’s no doubt that people will use these powers for evil. It’s just how these things work.”

  I turned to face Vesper. “So, we’re not just trying to survive here. We’ve got to watch out for other Revenants? I’m still confused about what the point of all of this is.”

  “That’s what we’re here to figure out together. There must be a purpose,” Vesper replied, their light dimming slightly, which made me uneasy.

  “So you don’t know either,” I muttered, my voice heavy with sarcasm.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Vesper didn’t respond immediately, and for a moment, the snow crunching under my boots was the only sound filling the air. Finally, Vesper spoke. “I know this is a lot to take in. But you’re alive. That means you still have a chance to change things. To make a difference. You’re not just a survivor. You’re something more.”

  I wasn’t sure if that was supposed to be comforting, but it did give me something to focus on. I had to survive this. Somehow. “Alright, fine. Focus on the positives, I guess.”

  We walked in silence for a while, or more like I walked and Vesper drifted effortlessly around me. Eventually, I sighed and glanced at Vesper.

  "So, just to confirm, where exactly are we?"

  Vesper answered without hesitation. "Europa."

  "Europa," I echoed. I mean, the planet it revolved around was right there. The logical conclusion was obvious, I just didn’t like the answer. "Yeah, makes sense, with the giant gas giant staring at me right there. But how? And why?"

  Vesper’s voice remained steady. "Technology has advanced significantly. Europa has been colonized for a long time now. There are settlements scattered across its surface. It is not exactly paradise, but people survive here."

  "So, what, we just got so good at space travel that setting up shop on a frozen moon became normal?"

  "More or less."

  “Man, how long was I out…”

  “You could have been one of the first people here for all we know,” Vesper replied.

  I kept moving, letting the revelation settle in. Europa. Once, it had been nothing more than a distant dream for scientists and explorers. And yet, here I was. Or did I just not remember humans reaching Europa? Man, it's so confusing thinking about what I remember and what I don't. I hope that changes over time.

  A few moments passed in silence, my mind still chewing on everything I had just learned. Then, another thought hit me.

  "Okay, so… how do we get stronger?" I flexed my fingers, waiting for some sensation, some proof that something inside me had changed. "Because I am pretty sure an ice pick is not gonna cut it." I looked at Vesper. "Do I just wait for my abilities to develop, or is there a way to speed things up?"

  Vesper floated beside me, quiet for a moment, as if considering the best way to answer. Then, with their usual measured tone, they spoke.

  "Your abilities will develop over time as we become more attuned to each other. But there are ways to accelerate the process."

  I raised an eyebrow. "Alright, I’m listening. What, do I need to meditate under a frozen waterfall? Swing my ice pick until my muscles remember something my brain does not?"

  "Experience is the key," Vesper said. "Using your abilities, pushing yourself in real situations, will strengthen the bond between us. The more you fight, the more you adapt, the faster your power will grow. Other than that, I wouldn’t know."

  I exhaled slowly, watching the mist of my breath fade into the cold air. "So trial by fire. Alright. So, where do we even start? Do I have to find some poor fool to pick a fight with, or is there a less suicidal method?"

  "Survival itself will be a challenge," Vesper said. "You are still recovering, and we need to find shelter. The cold will slow you down more than any enemy right now."

  I frowned, glancing around at the endless snow. "So basically, I have to make sure I don’t freeze to death first."

  "That would be preferable," Vesper said dryly.

  I sighed and adjusted my stance, already feeling the ache in my legs. "Alright, fine. First step, not dying. Second step, getting stronger. Sounds simple enough."

  Vesper hummed in agreement. "Then we should keep moving."

  With another breath, I pushed forward, my mind already racing through what little I knew. One step at a time.

  Eventually, we reached the mountain that we saw earlier. It looked larger than I expected, but so be it. The taller it was, the better the vantage point. I turned around to see how far the storm was, and it seemed to be almost upon the camp where I woke up. Now that I had a better look at it, the storm seemed more like an avalanche falling from the storm clouds that hovered above it.

  Man, storms on Europa seemed nasty.

  "That storm is worse than I thought," I commented.

  "Yeah, I’m glad we moved," Vesper agreed, drifting beside me. "I wouldn't want you stuck underneath all that."

  “Wait, did you say you could revive me if I die again?”

  “Do you want to be revived under a few tons of snow?”

  “I see your point,” I replied.

  I turned my attention back to the mountain, preparing for the climb ahead. It was not a sheer vertical wall, but it was definitely steeper than I would have liked. As we ascended, the wind picked up, and the air grew thinner and sharper. Every now and then, the snow gave way to smooth ice, forcing me to use my ice pick. Thank the stars I found one, or this climb would be nearly impossible. I chipped away at the ice, carving out handholds and footholds as I went.

  Vesper floated ahead, silent as ever, waiting for me to catch up.

  The higher we went, the worse the wind became. It tugged at my clothes, slipping through the gaps in my gear, biting at any exposed skin. I clenched my jaw and kept going.

  By the time I reached the peak, my legs and arms burned, but I pushed through the fatigue, straightening up to take in the view.

  Endless ice and rock stretched before me... Thick clouds loomed from the direction of the storm, turning the sky a dull, suffocating gray.

  Then… movement.

  I narrowed my eyes. A dark shape flickered against the ice far in the distance, moving fast, too smooth to be natural. I tracked it as best I could, watching as it disappeared behind a ridge before emerging again.

  "Vesper," I said, voice sharp.

  "I see it," they replied, drifting closer, their glow flickering faintly against the snow.

  It didn’t feel like an animal. My best bet would be a vehicle.

  My pulse quickened. That meant people. Civilization.

  Or, at the very least, someone who knew how to survive out here.

  “That could be good,” I said, watching it disappear again.

  “That could also be bad,” Vesper countered.

  I exhaled, considering my options. There was no telling what kind of people lived out here, what laws they followed, if any. But I knew one thing for certain: standing around in the cold wasn’t an option.

  I adjusted my grip on my pack and nodded. “I think that’s our next destination.”

  “I agree,” Vesper said, “as much as it could be dangerous, so is sitting around in the cold.”

  I turned back to the storm. It did not linger over the camp; it bulldozed over it, erasing every footprint I had made in the snow. I watched as the living avalanche pushed forward, tendrils of ice and snow bombarding the ground below.

  It was coming for us.

  "Vesper," I said, already scanning the terrain below. "We need to move. Now."

  Vesper floated closer, their voice calm but firm. "Agreed. We need shelter."

  I scanned the landscape ahead, squinting against the wind. The slope beyond the peak stretched downward into a rough expanse of jagged ridges and icy plains. And then—there. A dark gash in the rock face, off to the side and in the opposite direction of the white hurricane. A cave. It seemed good enough to hopefully weather the storm.

  "That," I said, pointing toward it. "That’s where we’re going."

  "It is in the direction of the shape we saw earlier," Vesper noted.

  "Two birds, one stone." I adjusted my grip on my backpack and ice pick and started down the other side of the mountain.

  The descent was just as brutal as the climb, if not worse. The wind clawed at me, threatening to knock me off balance. The ice beneath my boots was treacherous, forcing me to move carefully but quickly. Every second counted.

  I even opted to slide down some parts, which, I will admit, was fun—until the soft, powdery snow turned to slick ice beneath my boots, and I was rocketed into the air.

  It happened so fast. One moment, I was steadying myself for the next move, and the next, I was careening over the icy slope. My stomach lurched as I flew through the air, the world spinning around me in a blur of white and gray.

  I slammed into the ground, snow giving way to jagged ice and buried rock. Pain erupted with every bounce, sharp and sudden. My body jolted violently, every impact tearing at me. I clawed at the snow, desperate to stop the spin, but there was nothing to hold onto.

  The icy landscape whipped past as I collided with the ground once more. The pain hit me sharply but only for a moment, like a flash of fire before the cold swallowed it whole.

  I finally came to a stop, my body crumpled and sprawled across the snow, breath ragged. For a moment, all I could do was lie there, feeling the sting of the cold seep through my layers.

  After what felt like an eternity, I tried to push myself up, but a sharp, excruciating pain shot through my right leg. I froze, gasping in agony. My leg wasn’t okay. Slowly, I dared to look down and saw the unnatural angle it was bent at, just below my knee.

  I couldn’t stop the curse that slipped from my lips. My leg was fractured, the bone twisted at an unnatural angle. Blood poured from the wound, soaking through my pant leg and staining the snow a dark red. The pain was a white-hot spike, shooting through my body with every shallow breath.

  “Vesper…” I managed to rasp, the words barely making it past my clenched teeth. My chest felt tight, my body frozen in agony. The wind howled around me, but it was nothing compared to the searing pain in my leg. I had to move, I knew that much, but every time I tried to shift, the agony overwhelmed me. I couldn't stay here, not with that storm closing in.

  I gritted my teeth, trying to summon the strength to push myself up. But it felt impossible.

  Then Vesper’s calm voice pierced through the pain. “I’m here, I got you.”

  The warmth around my leg intensified, and within moments, the pain melted away, leaving only a faint ache where the injury once was. It was like the wound never happened at all. My leg straightened with a subtle shift, the bone snapping back into place, the blood that soaked into my pants slowly receding until nothing was left. Almost as if time had been rewound. My body felt like it had been reset—no lingering discomfort, no hint of weakness. It was like a perfect restoration, all in under a minute.

  I blinked, confused, as I stood slowly, testing my weight on the leg. It felt completely fine, with no signs of the fracture left.

  I looked up at Vesper, still hovering near me, their presence calm and steady as ever.

  "What the fuck did you do?" I asked, voice hoarse and bewildered. "I didn't know you could heal." For a second, I thought that was it. Everything was over.

  Just like that, I would have been stuck in place till the storm arrived and buried me.

  Vesper's voice was calm, though there was a hint of something in their tone that suggested they weren't entirely sure how to explain.

  "It’s... part of my nature," Vesper began, their voice calm and measured. "I possess abilities beyond simply guiding and protecting. Healing is one of them. But we need to be away from danger or combat for it to work."

  "You failed to mention this earlier," I shot back. "I mean, yeah, you said you could revive me if I die again, but this? What the fuck, man?" I stood up, the memory of pain seared in my mind as I searched for my ice pick.

  Vesper's tone softened, almost apologetic. "I understand your frustration. I didn’t want to overwhelm you with everything at once. You’ve just been revived, and that’s a lot to process. But... yes, I can do more than I initially let on."

  I found my ice pick a few paces away in the snow. Once I retrieved it, I scanned the area for anything else that may have fallen. Finding nothing, I set off again toward the cave we’d spotted earlier. "Yeah, I suppose that makes sense. But a little heads-up would’ve been nice... Whatever. Realizing I’m capable of this only makes me more curious, or maybe scared, about what the other Revenants can do. Anything else you want to fill me in on while we’re at it? What other tricks do you have?"

  Vesper's voice was tinged with regret as they answered. "Healing and reviving are just about all I can do. But you, as a Revenant... Revenants are similar in the way humans are. Everyone can run, but some are faster than others. It’s the same with your powers. Some naturally gravitate toward fire, while others understand lightning more easily. I’m sure you understand."

  They paused, considering their next words. "I should’ve told you sooner," Vesper continued, their voice quieter now, filled with sincerity. "I apologize for not being more transparent. You deserved that much, at least."

  As I continued walking toward our destination, pretending the conversation hadn’t left me unsettled, I asked, "Whatever, it’s done now. But while we’re on the subject, what are all the elements Revenants can use?"

  Vesper’s voice was calm but carried an undeniable weight, as though he had spent years contemplating these truths. His words were more deliberate.

  “The powers Revenants wield are not random. Each one represents something fundamental about the world we live in.”

  He paused. A flicker in his glow like hesitation. Then, slowly, he began to speak.

  “Solis is vitality and fire, embodying both the warmth of life and the fury of destruction. This fundamental embodies fire and energy.

  “Fulmen is the current of motion and balance, embodying both the relentless surge of energy and the precision of conduction. This fundamental embodies electricity and power.

  “Voidus is the abyss of entropy and absence, embodying both the pull of gravity and the hunger of oblivion. This fundamental embodies the void and decay.

  “Glacies is will and control. It slows, detains, and shatters. This fundamental embodies the reduction of entropy,” Vesper explained.

  “That's a lot,” I replied after a moment of pause to think about the words Vesper had spoken.

  “Each Revenant has an affinity for one of these forces, whether it is chosen or not. Some are drawn more easily to one than another, but remember that these powers are simply tools. What matters is how we choose to use them.

  “And that’s just a very quick summary. I’m skipping over a lot and not giving each fundamental its due justice, but everything falls under one of these 4 fundamentals. Everything depends on how you act, or how you will yourself to be. A Glacies user can be more deadly than a Voidus user, depending on a multitude of factors. But I digress. Did I answer your question?” Vesper asked, after dumping me in the deep end of confusion.

  I nodded slowly, the weight of his words sinking in. Each of these powers was dangerous in its own right, and the thought of wielding them was both thrilling and horrifying. The main question on my mind was which of these would I connect with, and how would it shape me?

  “Okay, I can see why you didn’t just say this earlier. This is a lot to take in… I- um… I’m not sure where to even start asking questions. But thank you,” I finally said. To be honest, Vesper was right. This was more information than I really knew what to do with right now.

  I guess I’ll revisit this topic later.

  "And, as I said earlier,” Vesper said, “I should've told you sooner. My apologies for holding back. You needed to know the truth of what we’re capable of."