As the midday sun cast a light through the clouds onto the Upper District, Aurelion and Sigrid walked side by side. Both held wooden boxes in their hands.
What was inside could easily be guessed from the expression on Aurelion's face. More damned balloons.
Sigrid, however, was cheerful as usual, her steps light, and she was beaming at her surroundings.
"It's been a long time since we went down to the shop together like this, Aurelion. You're always either in that training room or somewhere with the Captain."
Aurelion merely responded with a short grunt and continued to look ahead.
The morning's training, especially the frustration with the balloons, was still bothering him.
Sigrid noticed his mood but didn't let it dampen her spirits. She lightly shook the box in her hand. "These balloons... they remind me of my own apprenticeship days, you know?"
This comment caught Aurelion's interest. He turned his head and looked at Sigrid curiously.
Sigrid smiled. "Oh yes! We had this exercise in my time too. Believe me, it was quite a difficult task to hold that energy inside them without popping them." She sighed.
"Back then, I used to complain to myself, wondering how ridiculous it was, why I was bothering with such an annoying thing. I even got caught and scolded by my instructor a few times because of it."
Aurelion's eyebrows rose slightly."So," he asked. "When you started this training, in your first attempts... how many seconds could you last without popping the balloon?"
Sigrid paused, blinking as she tried to recall the past. "Hmm... It's been a very long time, of course... But I think, it wasn't anything too impressive... I think it was around sixteen seconds? Yes, something like sixteen seconds."
Then she turned her bright eyes to Aurelion. "And what about you? I'm sure you did a much better job!"
Aurelion's eyebrows furrowed again. Sigrid's expectation was a stark contrast.
He mumbled in a grumbling voice. "Seven seconds."
The smile on Sigrid's face froze for a moment. But she quickly composed herself and laughed lightly. "Oh, is that so? I actually expected more from you!"
Then added in a softer voice. "But it's still not bad, Aurelion. Besides, it's practically your first day! What matters is to keep practicing, you'll eventually get the hang of it. Just don't give up."
Aurelion grumbled again. He understood Sigrid's good intentions, but her consolation wasn't alleviating his annoyance.
Just then, another question popped into his mind. He looked up at Sigrid again. "What's the Rank of your Core, Sigrid?"
Sigrid was a bit surprised by this question but answered immediately. "Even though we are servants, to fully serve someone like Captain Roric, we are expected to be at least at a basic level to protect ourselves. My Core is Rank 3, mid stage." She shrugged. "It's not a very high Rank, of course, but it's still enough."
"Why enough? Why not higher?"
She turned to Aurelion, slight understanding on her face. "Not everyone can be as strong as Captain Roric or the War Chieftain, Aurelion," she said gently. "And don't need to be. Even as a servant, people like me are needed in this city, right?" She smiled again, this time more sincerely. "I'm just doing what I'm good at, and I'm happy with that."
Aurelion definitely didn't agree with this view. Being at such a level was unacceptable to him. He aimed for the pinnacle of power.
But seeing the calm acceptance on Sigrid's face, her being at peace with her own situation, an involuntary respect arose within him.
They were different, but Sigrid was happy in her own way. He nodded slightly. "I understand."
Just then, they arrived the house. As Sigrid opened the door and Aurelion was still thinking about how not to pop these damned balloons.
When they entered, Sigrid called out cheerfully, "We're back!"
Brynja appeared from the kitchen doorway at the end of the hall. "Welcome," she said and added, "We have a guest. The Captain hasn't returned yet, but... Faelan has arrived."
Faelan? Aurelion hadn't heard this name before. He walked curiously towards the lounge, Sigrid and Brynja followed him.
When he entered the lounge, he saw the man sitting in one of the armchairs opposite the fireplace.
He wore a faded grey robe that looked stained in places. His blonde hair was messy, his stubble a few days old. He was sitting with his elbows on his knees, leaning forward, and his thin legs were trembling slightly. As if he were filled with an restless energy.
When the man noticed Aurelion enter, he quickly lifted his head. A lively, almost manic expression suddenly appeared on his face. "Ah! Hello there, lad!"
Aurelion paused slightly, surprised by the contrast between the man's energy and his appearance. "Hello," he replied then he placed the box on the floor.
Just then, Faelan, with speed unexpected from his frail appearance, shot up from his seat.
His legs carried him in a few quick steps to Aurelion's side.
"I'm Faelan, lad!" he said, words tumbling out of his mouth with incredible speed. "Captain Roric said we'd be going with you to see those strange, cold types, you know, those white fellows! I've visited the White Frost clan a few times in the past. Though it's a bit of a boring place, oh well! If-"
Faelan suddenly fell silent. In the middle of his sentence, his eyes stared blankly ahead. Even the trembling in his knees had stopped.
Aurelion stared at this man. He slowly raised his hand and waved it in front of Faelan's face. No reaction from the man.
"Did Roric assign this weirdo to come with me?"
After seconds later, Faelan suddenly came alive again and as if nothing had happened, he continued his sentence: "...you're ready, let's go!" he said and turned, taking a few quick steps towards the exit.
"Wait a minute!" Aurelion called out after him.
Faelan instantly spun back to Aurelion. "Yes, lad?"
"Did Captain Roric give any specific instructions? Or is there anything else I should know before we go?"
Faelan waved his hand in the air. "We'll talk on the way, lad, on the way! We're wasting time, no need to dally!" he said with the same speed and headed for the door again.
Aurelion helplessly turned and looked at Sigrid and Brynja. He gestured towards Faelan with his hand as if to say, "Who is this?"
Both servants simultaneously shrugged slightly, as if they were used to Faelan's eccentricities.
Aurelion took a deep breath. It seemed this journey was going to be more... interesting than he had expected.
Seeing Faelan go out into the hall and head for the outer door without waiting for him, he quickly turned around and hurried out of the house.
Faelan, with quick steps, had already started down the street. Aurelion, speeding up as much as his small legs would allow, caught up with him from behind.
They passed through the streets of the Upper District. They moved away from the bustle of the city center, taking a quieter, tree lined path that led towards the foothills of the mountain.
Due to Faelan's speed, Aurelion almost had to run to keep up.
"Faelan!" Aurelion finally called out.
The man instantly stopped and quickly turned around. "Yes, lad?"
"What exactly did you discuss with Captain Roric? Was there anything specific things?"
Faelan turned forward again, continuing to walk at the same speed. "The usual stuff, lad, the usual stuff!" he said quickly.
"The clans are up to their old tricks again, causing trouble, blah blah blah... Frankly, I feel sorry for you, lad, look at the things you're dealing with at this age! I personally always try to-"
Faelan's voice suddenly cut off, his steps also halting. He had frozen again. His eyes stared expressionlessly ahead.
Aurelion sighed inwardly. Traveling with this man would indeed require patience. About three seconds later, Faelan started moving again.
"... to stay away from these types. Anyway, what we're going to do is simple. You'll see your little girlfriend inside, we'll take a look around, stay inside for a bit. I'll keep an eye out, in case these white fellows try any mischief. Then we won't stay too long, make excuses about your training with the Captain and all that, and quickly disappear from there. Which I think it is a very sen-"
Aurelion wasn't even surprised anymore. He waited patiently.
"-sible idea! Besides, I really don't want to see that crazy woman if possible."
"Crazy woman?"
"Yes, their Clan leader, you know... She always makes me uneasy whenever I see her."
"What do you mean?" Aurelion paused. He now sensed a genuine concern beneath Faelan's usual flippant demeanor.
This time, Faelan stopped and turned to Aurelion. The manic liveliness on his face was gone, replaced by a serious expression.
For the first time, his speech slowed. "That woman, lad, is someone obsessed with energy manipulation techniques. I've heard she has developed some methods of her own, but... they say they're very dangerous."
He leaned forward slightly. "You don't want to attract her attention. Especially... a high elf child like you. Don't draw her attention, avoid piquing her interest."
Aurelion paused for a moment at Faelan's sudden serious warning. His caution towards the clan leader had intensified with Faelan's words. He nodded. "I understand."
Seeing Aurelion understood, Faelan took a deep breath and instantly reverted to his old hyperactive self.
"Great! Glad we agree! Come on, lad, we're almost there!" he said and started walking again with quick steps.
A short while later, their destination came into view. In the middle of a wide, snow covered plain, stretched a compound surrounded by high, smooth stone walls.
There were no other structures nearby. Runes glowed on the walls, but unlike those of the Silverfang clan or the city walls, these shone with a dazzling, pure white light.
As Aurelion approached, he felt the intensity of the energy in the air. This was cold, almost static energy. On the ramparts, the clan banner, an elegant white ice crystal, fluttered gently.
The clan's main entrance was ajar, and right in front of it, a single figure sat cross legged on the snow.
He wore spotless, white clothes, apparently the clan's color. The man's eyes were closed, he was motionless, as if in a deep state of meditation.
When Faelan and Aurelion arrived right in front of him, the man slowly opened his eyes.
His eyes were also surprisingly pale, almost white. He looked at them calmly.
Faelan immediately stepped forward "Greetings! I'm Faelan from the Compass Guild!" he said. Then he gestured towards Aurelion with his hand. "And this here is Aurelion, under the protection of Captain Roric. This friend-"
Since Aurelion was used to this by now, he immediately interjected.
"A child named Elara, a friend from the orphanage, was adopted by someone from this clan some time ago. If possible, I would like to see my friend."
Just then, Faelan came to. "Exactly! This kid wants to see his girlfriend!"
Aurelion inwardly rolled his eyes. There was no change in the guard's expression.
He calmly stood up. "Of course, Clan Leader Morwenna informed us she was expecting guests. Please follow me."
Morwenna... The crazy woman. And she knew we were coming. The fact that the guard let them in so unquestioningly further increased Aurelion's suspicion.
"If they were only involved in this plan for Elara, they wouldn't let someone under Roric's protection in so easily. Their target is definitely me," he thought.
They followed the guard through the wide gate. The inside, atmosphere was calm. The buildings were elegant, curved structures of white stone and wood, seemed like a blend of Northerner solidity and aesthetic beauty.
The people were also dressed entirely in white, moving with slow, silent steps, minding their own business.
Unlike the city or other clan compounds, there was no hustle, no shouting, no rush here. Everything was serene, orderly, and possessed an almost ethereal tranquility.
Aurelion couldn't help but appreciate this atmosphere. It was beautiful and peaceful, but due to Faelan's warning and his own suspicions, he also sensed the potential danger underlying this peace. This was a different place, a place where rules worked differently.
The guard led them deeper into the clan. The buildings here were even fewer. Only a few larger and more magnificent looking manors were visible. Their path led to the shore of a massive, frozen lake, its surface smooth as glass, its edges adorned with blue leaved trees.
Finally, they stopped at the beginning of a stone paved path leading to a manor, larger the others. Its courtyard directly facing the frozen lake.
The guard turned "Your friend is in this manor. I am not permitted to proceed further. You will continue from here on your own." He gave a slight bow and silently walked away the way they had come.
When the guard disappeared from sight, Faelan and Aurelion looked at each other for a moment, then both their gazes turned to the manor.
"Wow, That little girlfriend of yours seems to be quite lucky, lad. She's landed in a nice spot."
"Or the exact opposite," Aurelion murmured. For an ordinary orphan like Elara to be kept in such a special place, likely indicating a high position within the clan...
This strengthened the thought that Elara was actually being used as bait or leverage against him.
They slowly entered the manor's wide courtyard. It was quiet, no one in sight.
The courtyard itself was like a work of art. Flowers, vines, and small statues that looked as if carved from pure ice poked through the snow. Each was so delicately crafted that they looked like frozen versions of living plants, the sunlight refracting on them.
Aurelion continued to look around as he walked towards the manor entrance. Just then, on the side of the courtyard facing the lake, among the blue-green leaved trees, he noticed a few moving figures. He took a step in that direction.
Faelan also followed him, but this time his steps were slower.
As they approached the trees, the figures became clearer.
Two people were kneeling on the snow. One was Elara, now wearing a flowing white dress. The other... woman beside her was exactly as Faelan had described. Her long, white hair cascaded down her shoulders, almost touching the ground. Her face was flawless and her skin was white as snow, and she also wore an elegant white dress.
Her hand placed on the snow in front of them.
Just then, from under the woman's hand a crystallized ice flower sprouted and bloomed from the snow.
The flower, with its transparent petals, caught the light and scattered tiny rainbows around.
A look of awe filled wonder appeared on Elara's face, and she reached out, touching the ice flower with her fingertip.
Faced with this calm and beautiful scene, Faelan suddenly tensed. He leaned towards Aurelion and whispered "That's... the crazy woman."
Aurelion's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he lightly hit Faelan's leg with his elbow.
While Elara was still looking at the flower with a smile, the woman beside her, as if she had known of their presence all along, slowly turned her head without breaking her kneeling position.
A faint smile, further enhancing her beauty, played on her lips. Her white eyes locked directly onto Aurelion's.
As Aurelion met this woman's gaze, he forced a smile onto his face.
"Shit."