[003] ITrapped – IChance!!

The hall was silent — so silent it pressed against the ears. Tall windows, frosted from the inside, let in pale, lifeless light, reflected from endless snowfields. Beyond the glass stretched a frozen wasteland. ITrapped stood by the window, hands clasped behind his back. His silhouette was sharp and unmoving, carved from ice. Even the air feared to move. “Your Highness,” a guard said quietly. “The offender has been brought.” The doors opened. Chance was forced to his knees, the cold stone biting through the fabric. His head was pushed down, yet he could still see — dark boots, spears, and the prince’s back. “He is charged with violating the Quietest Law,” the guard continued. “Unauthorized use of warmth. He lit a fire within the inner circle of the capital.” The words hung in the air — dangerous, unforgivable. Fire. Here, where the sun was only a legend. ITrapped did not answer. He kept staring out the window as the wind stirred the snow beyond the glass, as if the world itself was waiting. After several long seconds, he slowly turned. His gaze was colder than the ice outside — not furious, but empty and calculating. He stepped closer. His footsteps made no echo. The hall swallowed the sound. “Lift your head,” ITrapped said quietly. It was not a request. When Chance obeyed, their eyes met. The prince studied him with distant curiosity. “Do you know why this law is called the Quietest?” He did not wait for an answer. “Because fire is loud. It lives. It reminds us of things that must not exist here.” He tilted his head slightly, as if examining a crack in perfect ice. “You brought warmth where it is forbidden. You disrupted order. And order is the only thing keeping this kingdom from collapse.” Straightening, he looked down at Chance. “Tell me, dear,” the name sounded almost gentle. “What was worth risking everything for?” The hall fell silent once more. The kind of silence people died for breaking.