"Oh! You're back." Ruby said when she saw Natalia resting on the bench.
"I managed to sneak in where Tigreal and Freya is staying and I found this necklace in the entrance. I bet they headed for the Northern Kingdom already" She stated.
"So that explains why you're tired." Ruby replied while placing a food tray on the table beside the bench. "That's a good news, have you heard that Verri?"
"You missed Tiggy, don't you?" Ruby asked but Natalia did not even show any emotion.
"That was a long journey, Natalia." Pharsa said and she sat down beside Natalia.
"A tiring journey you mean? Yes it is."
Natalia straightened her body and pick up the cup of tea that Ruby prepared for her. "I miss the warmth. It's pretty cold in Nost Gal. I should've worn thicker clothes. Do you think they're near to the Frozen Seas?"
"The Northern Kingdom is located in Nost Gal. I suppose they'll reach the place before the sun sets." Pharsa stated as she caressed Natalia's forehead checking if she's sick. "And I hope my calculations are right." She added.
Natalia faced the two with a worried look, "Come to think of it, they don't own a horse right?"
"Oh no…" Ruby shunned.
"Don't worry about those two, they already live in Nost Gal for long and they'll reach the place before their energy drains for sure."
"Pharsa, do you know who exactly that Zilong is?"
"I'm afraid I don't" She answered frankly.
"So there's a possibility that you'll mislead them?" Natalia argued. "Why did you gave them information that might waste their time again?"
"Look, Freya kept on insisting that he's a well-known legend who sacrificed himself during the Blood Night but everyone wonder who could that person be and why we cannot remember him. I've done researches to explain this phenomenon but I only managed to obtain the thing can be used in the Prelude."
"Prelude? A ritual, isn't it? What thing?" Ruby asked.
"The spirit wheel, which contain moon runes and iokharic characters that needs to be unraveled." She explained.
"How can a scroll be useful?"
"Natalia please trust me I won't do anything that will put them in danger. Just please, have faith and let's hope they'll succeed." Pharsa's answer made Natalia quiet, she felt sorry for making her think that she doesn't trust her.
"My bad. I am just worried. We're aware of how many times they failed and--- ugh. I don't know how to explain myself anymore."
"Someone's jealous of the goddess" Ruby teased Natalia and she immediately threw her a deadly stare.
"Shut up Ruby will you? You're teasing doesn't help."
"I understand you Natalia, don't be sorry. We're all struggling to find someone we can't even remember. I don't even know if that guy exists." Pharsa smiled bitterly knowing how hopeless this search is.
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When they reached the castle, a red-haired man with a strong body built escorted Freya and Tigreal to the infirmary. Judging from his appearance, he is one of the Valkyries who used to live in parts of Northern Kingdom. Freya smiled as she stares at the man who's walking ahead of them along with the soldiers.
Just like how it was way back then.
"Goddess, you have taken a lot of damage." The red-haired man said. "Sorry for threatening your life and not being able to recognize you" He bowed down to Freya and left the room as fast as possible.
"Don't mind this Franco, a scratch won't kill me." She replied.
"You sure you're not hurt?" Freya nodded with a smile.
When Franco left, Freya sat down on the edge of the bed and took a deep breath. Meanwhile, in one corner of the room, there stood Tigreal who silently admire the interior of the castle. Freya observed the place with her eyes too. Nothing has changed, making it look more nostalgic to her.
"Freya, the soldiers… they are made of ice?" unable to hide his curiosity, Tigreal asked. Amused on Tigreal's expression, she laughed a little bit.
"Yes, Queen Aurora doesn't like dealing with humans." She answered. "Bane and Franco are real though. You see, the queen is as cold as ice."
"But how can they talk? How can they fight like real soldiers? Relentless, merciless, how can they do those?"
"There's a lot of mysterious thing here in the Land of Dawn, Tigreal. Queen Aurora made them to be fearless since for her, Ice doesn't fear."
"I never knew she own weird guards."
"Now you do. This castle's pretty lovely, am i right?"
She walks out of the castle's infirmary, and headed to the hallway as she start to remember things. The every corner of the castle reminds her of blissful moments.
Every memory of him that flashes through her mind pinches her heart. It widens the apparent void inside. It worsens her agony, as if it is torturing her resulting for her to be unsure of what to feel.
If there's a word to explain this, it would be….
Empty.
Freya shook her head and managed to get back to her senses somehow. Then, she saw Aurora as she walk and sit in her throne. Having a mind clouded with various questions, she did not waste any time and approached Aurora.
"Your Highness, forgive me for the sudden visit"
"I've heard you've been looking for something" Aurora initiated the conversation. "It's been a long while since you set your feet in my castle, we've been waiting for you."
"Forgive my soldiers for their action, but what brought you here?" Aurora asked. She is now sitting on her throne, wearing an apologetic look since her soldiers almost killed them both.
"I came here to see Zilong." Freya observed the reaction of Aurora; curiosity, confusion.
"Who?"
"Look, he was once a warrior who fought for this land's safety and we met here in this castle. You may not believe me again but I received news that I can find him here." She explained but those words failed to extinguish the remarks of confusion written in Aurora's face.
"I'm afraid that I have no knowledge about the man you spoke off." She immediately replied. While looking at Freya, she suddenly remembered something that the castle protects.
Something mysterious, something Freya might solve.
"Can you describe him? Is that the only thing you seek?"
"Yes, he's the one I am seeking for."
"Sorry Freya but…. "
Tigreal, who had just arrived, looked at Freya and saw the expression he expected.
Disappointment.
"Your Highness, you're making a mistake, he---"
"I have no memory of him" Aurora did not let Freya finish her complains and after the ice queen said those words, Freya's hope became shattered in pieces.
- E N D O F C H A P T E R T H R E E -