"Hey, dimwit! We've got a problem?"
"What problem crubs?"
"How are we going to tell them? We might disrupt their drama." Bane and Franco watch Aurora, Freya, and Tigreal as they talk about a certain topic. Afraid of enraging the Ice Queen, they fell in deep silent to think how they are going to announce something without disturbing them. Until Franco thought of an idea with high hopes that he can outsmart Bane.
"Bane, you're the King of Seven Seas, right?" Franco made sure that his face looks so interested in Bane's story.
"Yes" Bane answered proudly.
"You must be strong, bold, and fearless!!" Franco exclaimed seeing to it that he'll lead him right into the trap.
"Boy, you mustn't forget that I'm the one who ruined your home. HAHAHA!"
"Don't remind me of that, tsk." He whispered. "So…how fearless are you, Captain?"
"HAHAHA, calling me captain now? You must be cowering in fear! HAHAHA"
"Yes, that's make you the right person to tell the Queen and disrupt them! HAHAH" Franco stated followed by an expression that irritates Bane. "You fell into my trap hahahha" He said after pushing Bane forward, making him bump into an ice crystal that eventually alerted the three of his presence.
"What do you want? Can't you see that we're talking?" Aurora said in a calm but scary tone.
"I-it's…"
"What?"
"I-its dinner time, Queen Aurora" Bane sighed after being able to say those words without getting scold. Franco watches them and gave him a smirk that made him more irritated.
"That's the news? Why you're so afraid to speak up?"
"I don't want to disturb you."
Aurora turned her back to Bane. She nods her head as if inviting Freya and Tigreal to join her.
"You two, go ahead we'll follow after we secure again this cove. I need to do this before we alert anyone of what power it holds."
"Alright" They all proceed to exit the magical cove. Freya, Tigreal, and Aurora stayed at the entrance while Bane and Franco already go downstairs. Aurora casts another spell to add up more protection to conceal it. After successfully making the cove invisible from their sight, they headed to the dining area of the kingdom.
"We must fill ourselves before it gets cold. If Hylos accepted our request, he'll be here tonight."
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After dinner, Aurora let Freya to savor her stay in the castle; she let them do what she wanted after giving her appropriate clothes to endure the eternal winter in the Northern Land. She's aware that Freya needs time for herself too that is why she stays seated at her throne while waiting for the centaurs.
Meanwhile, Freya headed to the palace grounds after changing into the clothes that Aurora gave her. Tigreal is already there, watching the night sky as the snow falls.
"Seems like we have freed ourselves from stress, Tigreal" Freya wipes off the snow that covers the bench so she could sit.
"I agree, but you're supposed to be happy, what's with the dark aura?"
"Dark aura? I'm totally fine"
"Your words contradict the emotions there in your eyes" Tigreal said with a smile letting her know that she couldn't lie anymore.
"Well…" Freya heaved a sigh before she continues to speak about what's bothering her. "I'm just happy to see him, he looks fine even though he's lifeless. I am not expecting to see him like that."
"What are you talking about? So we've been searching for a dead person all along? But you haven't visited any cemetery."
"I didn't have a chance to witness if he really died and see his corpse as evidence. Yes, I admit that I wish for him to be alive, that all happened that night was just a nightmare and that his death is just a fabricated story of someone who wants to erase him in this world."
"What if we found a grave, instead of his body that seems to be infused with that ball?"
"I have prepared myself for that." She answered. Freya held the cloak tighter as she stood up, giving Tigreal a signal that she's going back inside the castle.
Tigreal didn't ask another question and rested his back at the pillar behind him. He watches the snowflakes drop and dissolve on his hand when he felt someone's presence. He carefully observed his surroundings and he saw a shadow that walks towards the castle.
"A horse? No, no... A person?" Tigreal is confused of what he saw but then he remembered that Queen Aurora asked someone in the Misty Mountains for help, but she never mentioned what kind of race they belong in.
He swiftly fastened his walking pace to get inside the castle and inform the queen of their presence.
"The Illuminating Elder has arrived." He announced. Aurora stood up from her throne and walk towards the castle's entrance to welcome their guess.
"Queen Aurora"
"Hylos, I am delighted that you accepted our request." Hylos approached them with a smile and Aurora bowed before him to pay him respect and express her gratitude for accepting their request. Tigreal, Bane, and Franco did the same.
The Grand Warden moves around his eyes to observe. Even when Aurora and the others are assisting him and the other centaur named Chiron inside the castle, it seems like Hylos is looking for something. He is about to ask where is Freya until his eyes caught a glimpse of a maiden which turned out to be Freya. He's not used to see her lady-like dresses, with no armor and shield.
"Elder Hylos" She greeted him with a smile.
"I thought you're not going to visit the land of mortals again. How have you been?"
"Never been better" Freya said.
"So why do you need my help?" Hylos asked Aurora hoping that she could discuss now the plans.
"Remember the thing we sealed here on the castle? The one we call as the pendant of light? Freya revealed its mystery and we managed to produce a soul scroll that contains a riddle written in moon runes"
"A soul scroll was produced? Freya, this is the prelude of an ancient ritual, are you brave enough to defy the odds?" Freya nodded and handed him the soul scroll.
"What do you want me to do? Translate iokharic characters and runes?" Hylos said while scanning the scroll that Freya handed to him.
"No, the symbol in the middle immediately disarranged itself into a phrase when we place it near the spirit ball. The maker of the soul scroll is known to be the Elven King. We want to know more about the phrase that is written in the scroll, what it means or how can we use it"
"So you want me to take them to the Elven Kingdom?"
"Yes, you should reach the place before the full moon of the 6th month. I built a carriage out of my magic; it will help you to travel safely." Aurora stated as she looks at each of their trying to get an answer if they're okay with her plans. "You can leave when the sun has completely risen"
"No, we need to leave now. We can't waste any time and I don't want to alert them of your presence." Hylos wants to convince them to leave and disregard the darkness and cold temperature in Nost Gal. "We'll take the path to the East, so we can reach the Elven Kingdom faster."
"Are you sure to leave now?" Bane asked Hylos while worrying about what will happen in case someone mistook them for a spy of the evil forces.
"Every ritual has a time limit, even its prelude. It may lose its effects when it reached its due." Freya stated. "Your Highness, if all these things will give us transition to an ancient ritual then we must know the rules before it's too late. Tigreal, get the carriage ready, we'll leave tonight." Aurora had no choice but to let them leave the castle immediately. Freya steps forward to face the queen closely and gave her a sincere look.
"I thought the hardest thing I've done is to look for someone who's forgotten by everybody. I never thought that the next one would be harder; to do something dangerous without having a clue how it's done" she explained. "Thank you, Queen Aurora"
Someone pinched Freya's heart when she needed to leave the queen alone again. Tears are starting form in her eyes. She is really thankful for Aurora for protecting the pendant of light that preserves Zilong body, her warm welcome to her, and everything.
"Follow your heart" Aurora held Freya in her arms for a warm embrace. She is also thankful because the goddess did not give up for the impossible. Freya proceeds to walk towards the carriage the moment they let go of each other, waving their right hands to bid goodbye as Freya get inside the carriage and shut its door.
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Hylos and Chiron continued running without minding the eternal winter in the Northern Land, they move faster aiming to reach the path on the Eastern Land before the cold temperature numb and immobilize them.
"Goddess, are you cold?" Hylos shouted to ensure that Freya could hear him inside the carriage.
"I'm alright, how about you? It's too cold outside, the blizzard's getting stronger. Shall we head back to the castle?" Freya replied in the loud voice, worrying about the centaurs if they can still continue.
"We'll waste time heading back, we cannot stop too. This temperature will freeze us before we even stretch our arms" Chiron said to them making him and Hylos run in a faster speed.
After a few minutes, they felt the temperature gets warmer. The amount of snow that can be seen in the road was minimized until they can only see few traces of winter in the land."
"We're near Elder Hylos, I can see some faint glow of lights here"
"Yes, and look we're almost out of the snowy path. Finally out of the frost bite."
"I think we need to rest for a while. Let's find a place to warm ourselves." Freya said with a worried smile on her face. She stares as the vastness of the sky full of stars; she utters a prayer in her mind, thanking God and the people who helped her even though it's hard for them to accomplish their tasks. They are never sure of what they need to gain to get out on the own labyrinth she created in her mind.
"We should be more careful, this forest is said to have aggressive wild animals." Hylos and Chiron slow down their pace to avoid disturbing any creature. Only the sound of the centaurs' footsteps can be heard as well as the sound of dragon flies in the trees nearby.
"I think we should stop here for now" Hylos said. Freya and Tigreal gets off the carriage to check Hylos and Chiron.
"You look pale" Freya said after seeing the two centaurs.
"You should stay inside the carriage. Don't worry about me; it's just because of the cold and the fact that we're a little tired." Hylos forced himself to look fine.
"It seems like the winter has its own aftermath." Tigreal used his cloak to cover Chiron who is currently shivering.
"Let's rest until dawn, we can't continue anymore tonight." Freya ordered. Hylos sat on the ground and Freya wrapped her cloak around him. Tigreal starts to create a bonfire to relieve the cold they are feeling. Freya headed back inside the carriage and Tigreal choose to stay with Hylos and Chiron to warm him up too.
It's passed midnight, because of being exhausted they immediately fell asleep except for Freya, who's only closing her eyes to rest but her mental state remains restless. She's unsure of what will happen to them and if all their effort and time will be worthy of such thing.
"I think he's still alive" the words that Tigreal uttered in the magical cove constantly plays in her thoughts. "That's impossible…" she whispered.
Freya was about to look at the outside through the carriage's window but she heard an indistinct noise. She closely listened to what could be the source of it. She heard that something is running fast in the bush and it's getting louder which means it's going towards their direction. Freya got nervous and rushed herself to get out of the carriage but the fire that gives them warmth ceased. Tigreal, Hylos, and Chiron immediately awakened. The centaurs hid in the nearest bush while Tigreal checks the spot where the bonfire is, and what he found was a massive amount of crossbow arrows thrown in their direction.
"Strafe technique? The feral woman's home base is this jungle?" Tigreal said and he heard a loud thud that hitted the carriage. The roar of the wild animal echoed in the forest. Tigreal failed to see what's happening because the moon is their only source of light.
"Hylos! Chiron! Quick." Freya screamed as she jumped off the carriage and run as fast she can towards the centaurs. She grabbed Tigreal's arm, forcing him to run too.
Tigreal grabbed their cloaks and the messenger bag and quickly followed Freya.
"Hylos, sorry we have no choice but to use you as horses. I'm really sorry" Freya stated and the centaurs did not refuse. "Come on, Tigreal hop on Chiron's back! I'll explain later, we need to get out of here."
Curious of what's happening, Hylos turned his back to see whom they are trying to escape. He can feel Freya's tension as he and Chiron saw the smilodon trying to chase them. They heard a deafening roar that stunned them for a second.
"It's going to be a long night." The centaurs fastened up their speed to make it harder for the smilodon to chase them.
"Don't be lazy Leo, Run!" A voice is heard by Freya and as she looked behind them, she saw that the smilodon that is being navigated by the woman who rides at his back is catching up to them.
"Careful! That woman can kill us with her crossbow" Tigreal warned.
"Why would she kill us?" Chiron asked while he continues to fasten up his speed to match Hylos'
"Because she doesn't trust people"
- E N D O F C H A P T E R S I X -