The frigid wind whipped Selina’s blonde hair back with a howling screech. Snow crunched under her numb feet as the world grew black. “I’m going to die here.” She paused, the dreaded realization wrapping her heart in its cold clutches, “alone.” she whispered, her breath catching as tears ran down her frozen cheeks. It took all her will to keep going. With every step her weight became heavier. Each breath, sharper. And still the world grew colder. The inky black sky rolled out over the vast expanse and covered the land with thick shadow. She held out her hands, feeling her surroundings rather than seeing them. She stepped carefully and slowly, moving from tree to tree as to keep balance. The snow pounded on the quickly deepening ground. She wished to run, to get out of this cold, cruel mountain, but her only path was forward. So forward she would go. She took a deep breath, lungs burning from exertion as she contemplated. “Perhaps pride has hardened my heart. I should have stopped long ago.” After a moment she shook her head, remembering her purpose, “No, I went for Keldur, and I continue to go for him. I'm here now, and the only thing I can do is take another step.” She stumbled blindly, holding her hope close to her heart. Everything she had planned for and desired, now depended on a story. A story that some old librarian told children. Yet somehow, it was the only way they could save him. Exhausted of all options and the cold spreading through her legs, she staggered under her weight. The fast-falling snow abruptly stopped as she took the final step. The wind slowed and the world seemed to hold its breath. Turning her crystal blue eyes up, her heart sank. Nothing. The far away stars blinked down on her coldly and uncaringly. A large lump lodged in her throat. She fell to the ground sobbing. “It really was just a myth. How can I go back now? How can I-” her mouth gaped in awe as the sky exploded with color. The mountain top was lit with greens and blues. The colors danced and swirled with an indescribable beauty. With her tears forgotten, her pale face lit as the heavens were covered with majesty. She pulled the clear diamond jar out of her pocket and opened it, hope once again welling. She sang aloud, the words she had practiced for so long now stained in her memory. The haunting melody swirled with the sky as she began.

“I searched long and far,

To find this mountain top,

I now forget all my scars,

To bring my feet to stop,

Each mortal breath now weighted,

Every bone aching with affliction,

Each step I take is hated,

A path I walk with conviction,

Oh spare me just a tear drop,

As I gave you all of mine,

On this horrid mountain top,

If my life you promise by design,

Just one tear, is as powerful as a spear…”

Her voice murmured as the song ended. She gazed up once more and watched as a silver tendril of blue and green floated. It hovered for a moment before her, as if to consider wether she was worthy. She held out the jar, afraid to move. It swirled around her, gradually moving up as it gained speed. Then, with a final swirl, a single drop fell into the jar, glistening with a strange light. Just as soon as it started, it was over. The light wound back up to the rest and the world once again went black. Though only one drop fell, it had filled the entire jar. Now it sparkled with splendor, spilling white light all around. Selina smiling in the frozen air. She would make it back, this she knew.