Main Market, Arian Core
Adam's blonde hair and amber eyes glimmered under the sunlight, his black blazer and blue leggings adding to the brightness of his cheerful demeanour. He was beaming, just like any other day.
Stepping out of the bakery, he looked around.
"It's weird… Where are Tia and Boreas? I wanted to brag about getting into the Knights Academy yesterday."
A small pout formed on his lips as he scanned the streets.
"I should go ask Mrs. Greyratt."
The streets of the main market were empty—no shops open, no people walking around, and no sound other than his own footsteps.
"Is today a national holiday or something?"
Then, a voice drifted through the still air.
"Look at the beauty of my so-ooul,"
A chill brushed his cheek. Flakes formed midair.
"Is killing me something you'd choose?"
A beautiful melody carried through the square, and Adam's eyes widened. Enchanted, he followed the sound, drawn toward the main plaza.
"Witness the magic of my vo-ice,
Is it not something you'll lose?"
The air chilled faintly with every note, and snowflakes started to form in the air.
"How cruel is the world that made me what I am,
Is it true or…. not, that I was born to be the Holy Lamb.
A child of frost, yet longing for the flame,
To die and rise, but never be the same."
As he stepped into the plaza, he saw her — a woman with dark blue hair and eyes, dressed in nothing but a rugged dark-brown fur coat that covered her body. She sat alone on the fountain at the centre of the square, eyes closed, a sitar resting gently on her lap.
Her fingers danced gracefully across the strings.
"I ran from the sky, where the stars had no name,
A man came to me, eyes of iron, words of blame.
"Hold the mountains on your head, the stars in your eyes,
Kill those men with your sight, and never let your soul die."
Look at the beauty of my so-ooul,
Is my face something you scorn?
Why see only what you hate,
When love was waiting to be born?"
As she sang, tears slid down her cheeks.
"O, cruel is the world that made me what I am,
A lamb among dragons, a mother without form.
My heart sings through dreams, where my child still stands,
Beneath suns that rise, and moons that mourn."
When her voice faded, silence seemed to weep in its place.
"......."
She slowly put the Sitar on her side and stood up, fixing her coat slightly.
"Adam… how are you? I haven't seen you since the day you were born."
She slowly opened her eyes and wiped away her tears, smiling faintly.
"You know me?" Adam asked, awe-struck, stepping closer. There was no smile—just wonder.
"Yes. I've been watching over you for a long time… my son," she said softly.
"You're my mother?" His voice trembled, eyes wide. She nodded gently.
The fountain stopped trickling for a breath. Adam just stood there, as though the word mother was in a language he hadn't learned.
"You probably haven't heard my name. Sira hasn't talked much about me, has she? My name is Rosen."
"Your voice is beautiful…" Adam murmured, a small smile forming.
"Thank you, Adam. I have something impor—"
Her words cut off. Suddenly, she vanished like mist, and the world dissolved into nothingness.
Sira's Bakery, Main Market
"Adam… wake up. How long do you plan to sleep?"
Sira frowned, slapping his cheek lightly.
"If you sleep any longer, the dough will rise better than you ever will."
Adam stirred, eyes half-open, still lost in drowsiness.
"Come down and help at the shop once you're up. The festival's starting—we need to open soon," she said as she left the room, heading downstairs to the bakery kitchen.
Adam closed his eyes again.
"…A dream, huh…"
A faint beautiful melody filled the air again.
"So listen, my love, though you cannot recall—
The frost remembers, even if you forget it all.
Sleep, little flame, till the veil is undone…
The world will remember what the frost has begun."
Adam sat up straight, his eyes wandered around searching for the source and finding none.
"Am I… still dreaming."
Roselight Hollow, Arian
On Horseback, Orion arrived at Roselight Hollow, A simple town.
Small houses that are humble as they come, wells made of blue bricks, Farms that grow different type of crops and pens of sheep and goats.
It was small — a town that slept beneath its own chimneys, breathing smoke and memory.
"Just as small as I remember." Prince Orion sighed with a small smile as he climbs off the horse. He tied a lead onto it and slowly walked towards the town.
"I wonder if Granny will tell me where the Roselight Hollow is now, I remember how she told me the legend of that Spiralling Sinkhole, It is supposed to be nearby, town got its name from it after all..."
By the Old Well, beneath a Sloped Roof, Roselight Hollow
The little cottage breathed with warmth; its walls steeped in the scent of lavender and sun-dried herbs. Light filtered through sheer curtains in golden ribbons, dancing across the wooden floor. A kettle hummed on the hearth. It felt like the kind of place time forgot.
Walking on a small rocky path, Orion arrived, with a small smile he tied the horse near the old well.
"It's been a year." He sighed as he knocks.
Knock… Knock
"Coming…" An old husky voice came from inside, sound of thumps of a cane.
With a smooth flow, door opened.
"Oh! If it is not my lovely grandson. How are you dear?" Granny Suri said with a smile on her face, hunched but fierce looking, with white curls wrapped in a fraying scarf and tiny red glasses perched on her nose.
"I am fine Grandma… it's so nice to see you again." Orion smiled, his face frowned as he smiled. Few tears started to form near his eyes.
"Oh, you missed me that much?" she giggled slightly as she leaned forward her hand to caress his face, "What are you waiting for? Come inside."
"Yes!" Orion said with a smile as he wiped his face and stepped forward to hug Granny Suri.
"There… There… Don't cry, I am here, aren't I? Let's head inside."
Inside the cottage, old walls breathed warmth and scent of lavender filled the air. An old table held a rusted stove, while Cupboards nearby were filled with old books and yellowed scrolls. A small bed with worn out sheets and vintage pillow. A desk filled with containers of miscellaneous things, an eye of frog and heart of a lizard, some hair of beasts and some scales of leviathans.
"Come sit down." Granny Suri said as she pulled out the char from her desk and then sat on the nearby bed.
"Thanks Granny." Orion replied as he sat down
"Want something to eat?" Granny Suri stood up as she went over to her table with the stove.
"Only if you promise not to add any of your weird stuff in it." Orion giggled.
"Weird? I call it seasoning, boy." she giggled as well.
After a minute or two, she walked towards Orion, giving him a Cup filled with an aromatic and splendid looking soup.
"Scent is so sweet…" Orion took a spoonful into his mouth and chewed. "Tastes Great as well, what is it?"
"It is Blind worm soup, they are delicious and have a effect on calming the heart, thanks to the aroma they add to the soup, I used some deadly nightshades as spices, they also increase vitality when made like I do." She smiled proudly.
"Ugh…. Never mind, thank Grandma." Orion smiled as he looked her up and down, she wore black tattered robes and a old shoes.
"You're still living like a hermit? Why not accept Mother's proposal?" He said with a small, worried smile.
"Hermit? These frogs would die of shame if they heard that."
Granny Suri flicked Orion's forehead and chuckled.
"I don't need help from her, not only she ran away with your father, she also never talked to me until she became pregnant and wanted my advice, the only nice thing she has ever done for me is giving birth to you."
She sighed as she looked at the closed window, "She used to pick the best Dragonfly's wings…. I hated better she was at it than me."
"Then at least visit me sometime in the capital. I will love to show you around." Orion smiled and leaned closer.
"Fine, I will visit sometime… that reminded me, your Coronation is coming soon. I was going to visit but It slipped my mind, is that why you are here?"
"About that… I wanted to ask some advice."
"...…."
"So that's how it is, and you are sure she doesn't love you?" Granny Suri said as she held his hand.
"I told you Grandma, Lady Iris told me herself, she has someone else in her heart." Orion said as he looked down and sighed.
"I had to ask; it's surprising a girl can say no to a guy like you after all. Well then let me ask you then. Do you still love her?"
Orion blinked and took a breath, "I don't think I do anymore, it has been some months since I have known about her feelings… I have moved on but I still can't shake this bad feeling."
"That's because you think you still must marry her. If you ask me, If both of you don't love each other anymore, then isn't that fine. You can always find someone else to marry."
"But the marriage has been announced in public for a while now." Orion's voice became shaky, trembling a little.
"Want me to write a letter to you Minerva and that Brat Orios?" Granny Suri said as she got up and walked towards her desk.
"No…, I will figure something out, Thanks for hearing me out Grandma."