Phooooo... Phooooo...
The faint sounds of the blizzard echoed through my empty office.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Only the sounds of the blizzard and my footsteps could be heard across the vast room of ice, overlooking the view of the city.
"Haaaa... finally some peace and quiet. That stinging sensation...it still pierces through my skull..." as I let out a deep sigh, a tiny puff of visible cold air came out.
As I was feeling the touch of my frozen desk's surface, someone called out to me from the elevator.
"Another long day eh?"
"What are you doing here lea? I'd rather be alone right now so if you will..."
"Naww come on don't be like that grissy, I'm here to keep ya company so cheer up will ya. No one except for me would dare to go out of ere way to keep your boring ass company after all! Be grateful hehe~"
The woman wearing the stuffy maid outfit gave me a beaming smile so bright that I unconsciously averted my eyes.
"Haaa... fine, what do you have to talk to me about this time lea?"
"Gee... Do you always have to act like such a downer every time we meet? Haaah... Alright I'll get to it so could you pleaaase make a seat for me?"
I created a chair of ice for her to sit on in front of my desk, as I prepared to get seated accordingly. I sat down slouched against the desk with my cheek resting on my left palm.
As Lea started to talk, her aloof and carefree manner started to change into a more serious and stern demeanor.
"Y-You should stop this...gris."
She began stuttering and choking on her own words, noticing this she paused for a moment. After gathering up her thoughts once more she spoke.
"Gris, this thing you're doing isn't stable. You're going to crumble under all the stress eventually, you... You are aware of that aren't you? Is all this really worth it? You don't even feel like the same person I talked to a year ago. Its-" She interrupted herself before the sentence could be finished and stopped talking.
"You're right lea. This is probably foolish of me to do so huh. But despite how unstable everything has been... Peace, the peace I have accomplished doesn't just happen you know. Look around you, their smiling faces, their cheery eyes full of light. I ask you, is that not worth the suffering of a single man. If an insignificant person must suffer for the good of many then. What exactly is the problem?"
I stood up to face the glass window behind me, overlooking the city in its entirety
Though I could not see it, i felt her gaze on me growing darker
"You- you think you're so... hah nevermind, I can't even begin to decipher whats going on in that twisted head of yours." She said exasperatedly.
"Worry not, I promise you this Lea, the skies will eventually clear up in Frostnovum and the snow shall melt. The people will bear witness once more to the beautiful aubern blades of grass. Once I slay that edelweiss... Surely... A great repose awaits us. Until then, I'll gather up my power to stave off that calamity."
I turned to face her again. She was back to her usual self.
"That so? Well seems like I can't do anything for you to say otherwise. Even still, can't any of your knight friends do a thing about this? Your time is running out."
"I agree, I think I have about a couple months left in me. I-"
Lea's eyes widened with suprise, she swiftly came up to me and grabbed me by the collar.
"Y-You! You have a couple months left to live?! Are you crazy! Its not like the snow will melt over instantly once you stop! You need to rest, people are tougher than you think... We aren't going to keel over to that curse so easily you know."
"I cannot in my right mind risk such a thing just for my own convenience. You know that don't you? No matter, this will all be resolved soon." I swatted away her hand
"What do you mean? Are we finally..."
"Yep, the casino is rather successful ain't it? I had secured those to precisely hire them to do some odd jobs for me. What was it the name they used to go by...? Ah, yes the birds of prey, corny name really... Glad they changed it."
"Wait what?! You hired them?! What exactly are you plotting?"
"Just know that the hundred year legacy of the edelweiss will be coming to an end soon."
Lea spoke no more words after that and headed back to the elevator.
Tch... The edelweiss. It plagued both father and gramps. A curse placed upon those borne to or have set foot into frostnovum. Only offset by the cold and freezing winds. Ahh how I would pay to feel the sun shine on my skin atleast once. Deep in the depths of those abandoned mines... I will make sure to send you to your death.
Once again only silence and the sounds of the raging blizzard remained in the office.
I looked out into the bleak gray sky for a moment, reflecting on everything.
Well then, a meeting of the post meridiem huh...I need go get to work. A busy month is going to come. I sat down once more and resigned myself to doing paperwork for the rest of the day.