brought to you by Tow
"The Frozen Lady"
Dusk had overtook the light that Lady Sol brought onto the grounds of the sapience. I was still, lost, in the maze-like Aerinewild Forest. Every tree seemed to look the same and I had that strange feeling I was walking in circles.
I was on my way home from Hashan, racing for time, I decided to take a shortcut I heard of which was through the Aerinewild Forest. The shadows of the trees slowly lengthened as the light got dimmer and dimmer. The chattering of chipmunks was clearly audible and this, accompanied with the fang-like branches of the trees was beginning to take a toll on my bravery. Fear crept stealthily into me and stayed there.
Bracing myself up and constantly muttering to myself in Xorani, I told myself there was nothing to be afraid of, I was a forestal and the forest would do nothing to harm me. I just wished I could reach the warmth of my own house soon. As I pushed away a branch blocking me, I was stunned momentarily.
In front of me was something I had never seen before. It was a huge block of ice. However, upon scrutiny, I noticed an image of a lady locked in the ice. Her hair was of a light green colour but other than that, her whole body was a pale green colour. I had never in my life come across such a situation before. I really did not know what to do.
Somehow, I felt this affinity between the lady and the forest and me. I made up my mind, I would do whatever I could to release her from that cold ice prison. Rummaging through my leather backpack, I found a vial. Taking a whiff at its contents, I nodded my head and pulled it out. It was a caloric vial and this salve was known to cure cold ailments.
I gently tipped the vial and poured a little of the salve onto the ice block. Normally, any ice when come into contact with a caloric salve would melt quickly, but this time, I was puzzled. The salve did not melt the ice but simply slid off it as though it were water.
Slowly I pondered. Then it struck me that the heat was no enough. Immediately, I focused my mind for the task ahead of me. With a clarion call, I let the spirit of the Wyvern enter my body. I needed the help of such an animal to save the green lady. Pausing a moment to catch my breath, I started focusing on the inner fire within me. After a few minutes, I felt a white flame spouting from my breath, I knew it was hot enough. I released the fire within me at the ice, the blast was so ferocious I knew nothing could stand in its way.
When the flame cleared off, I was dazed. Nothing had happened to the block of thick ice. In normal situations, any incineration made by my fiery breath would reduce a human to ashes yet nothing happened to this mere ice. Disappointed, I extended a finger from my right hand to touch it. Upon contact, a sharp cold pain raced through my body. I quickly withdrew my hand from the ice that seemed 100 times colder than normal ice. A moment more would freeze me. However, I got the greatest shock when I turned around.
There was a small depression in the ice. By the looks of it, my mortal warmth had melted a little of the ice. Then, I went into deep thought. Should I risk the freezing pain to save a lady I have never met but only feel an affinity with or should I continue my journey back home to rest safe and sound.
After contemplating this for a few minutes, I made up my mind. I did not know why but I did. I took out the caloric salve and spread it onto my skin. Then I began to once again focus on my inner heat. After a while, I lied on the block of ice. That very moment, the pain shocked my body so much I cringed in pain and tears trickled down my tanned face. The inner heat within me was draining away like water in a sink. The pain was increasing exponentially, greater and greater with every second. Looking down, I saw the ice melting, I knew the method was working.
I had no idea what gave me that courage but I stay still there. Trying my best to resist the terrible cold although I knew it was futile. The elixirs on me began to freeze quickly and they cracked into pieces which fell to the floor. I could feel life draining from me. Then, I slipped into oblivion.
After what seemed eternity, I awoke and in front of me was the green lady. Only this time she was standing up, alive. I could only feel joy as I knew the lady was saved but the sight below me stunned me. I could see a blue, frozen youth on the floor, palpably dead. Then, the lady spoke.
“Thank you for saving me, you have awoken me from my deep slumber, I shall once again aid the forest”
I could only mutter gibberish as this string of events really stunned me.
“You sacrificed yourself to save a lady who is stranger to you. Unknowingly, you have awoken me from my long deep slumber. I am Lady Demeter”
I nearly fainted when I heard that but then it struck me that souls couldn’t faint.
“A mere mortal with such courage is encouraging. Your time shouldn’t be up, you should return to the living world”
Then, she waved her hand slightly and tall grass starting sprouting next to my body all the way up to my soul. I felt myself being pulled downwards. Then, again, I was in total oblivion. After some time, I awoke to find myself in flesh and blood once again. I looked at the lady with a slight smile. I had awaken the great Lady Demeter……