Freya, observing Myra’s continued trembling and the clear ck of strength in her voice, decided the icy bath had served its immediate purpose, even if it had elicited a fresh wave of anger. With a sigh that hinted at the complexities of dealing with mortal emotions, she reached down and carefully lifted Myra from the cold water.
Despite her own cool skin, Freya could feel the intense chill radiating from Myra’s shivering body. She held her gently but firmly, her strength easily overcoming Myra’s weakened state. Water dripped from Myra’s soaked clothes, creating small puddles on the antique shop’s wooden floor.
“You are thoroughly chilled,” Freya observed, her tone now carrying a note of genuine concern for Myra’s physical well-being. “This has clearly taken more out of you than either of us anticipated. Come.”
With Myra still cradled in her arms, Freya moved with swift, silent steps towards a curtained-off section of the shop that Myra hadn't seen before. Pulling back the heavy velvet drapes revealed a small, sparsely furnished chamber. In the center of the room stood a rge, antique bed covered in dark, plush velvet.
“You should y down,” Freya said gently, lowering Myra onto the soft mattress. “You need to rest and allow your body to recover from this… unusual reaction.” She adjusted the damp strands of bck hair away from Myra’s face, her touch surprisingly tender. “Stay here and try to get warm. I will fetch you some dry clothes and perhaps another, less… invigorating, beverage.”
A soft groan escaped Myra’s lips as she sank into the surprisingly soft velvet of Freya’s bed. The chill from the bath still wracked her body, causing her to shiver uncontrolbly. She felt utterly drained, the strange energy that had surged through her moments before now completely dissipated, leaving behind a profound weakness.
Looking up at Freya, her eyes still wide with a lingering confusion and a touch of resentment at the abrupt icy treatment, Myra could only manage a shaky whisper. “I… I don’t understand what happened,” she said, her teeth chattering slightly. “One minute I felt… that strange heat, and the next… ice.” Her voice trailed off, the effort of speaking feeling immense.
A tear, born of cold and lingering emotional turmoil, escaped her eye and traced a wet path down her pale cheek. “Thank you… for the bed,” she added, her voice barely audible. Despite the lingering anger and confusion, a small part of her recognized the unexpected care Freya was now showing. The sudden shift from cold immersion to a soft bed was jarring, but not entirely unwelcome. She simply felt too weak and bewildered to fully process the strange turn of events.
