Frostbound

Austin

Austin stood and eyed the hunk of Ice next to him. The nip in the air forced him to circulate more mana through his body to ward it away but it wasn't anything he hadn't done before.

After so long, the frigid air and chilly, tingling sensation were normal conditions rather than hazardous.

There was a change, however, in something else and it wasn't readily apparent someone looking in from the outside.

It took Austin a while to notice it because his eyes had been preoccupied with the fighting, but now that he wasn't distracted, he noticed it immediately.

"You got lifts in that Ice or something? It feels like I'm breaking my neck over here." Austin poked as his gaze was forced up a few degrees.

Christopher's face wasn't clearly visible under the Ice, but the glowing dots of blue were easy to make out. They pierced through the thin layer trying to conceal them like it was glass.

And what they held was confusion, "What are you talking about?"

"Look, buddy, it's okay if you're insecure standing next to me. I can get you a box next time, you don't have to use lifts in your Ice." Austin said gesturing at their now much more apparent height difference.

Chris looked even more shocked, "I don't know what drugs you're on, but I've always been taller than you."

Austin laughed, "Yeah, okay, and Abigail isn't always controlling."

"Wait," Chris said, "You actually think you're taller than me?"