"NOOOOO!" Sierra shouted when the Ice Monster was about to take Tiara in it's mouth to eat it. It was very scary and they are both crying and throwing snow balls to the monster.
"Stop! You monster!" Fierre shouted while crying. Tiara is now unconcious and the monster seems to want to eat her so bad.
When the monster was about to declaw, a powerful fire magic hit him that made him toss Tiara around and gnawl.
"Tiara!!!!!!!!" and then Fierre and Sierra run to Tiara.
"Wow, I've never seen a monster this big! And it's in the middle of this cold, snowy mountain!" Fierro was so amazed at how big the monster is. Upon receiving his fire attack, it starts to growl again and stand.
"Ohmygosh are you two okay?" Shizuka asked Fierre and Sierra. The two was crying so bad and hugging Tiara.
"Lady Shizuka, please help sister Tiara, she is bleeding so much!" Fierre cried loudly so is Sierra. "Please... please..." Shizuka acted quickly and take her medicinal tools there.
"She is so cold! Fierro, lend me your fire!" she shouted when something suddenly feels hot in her pocket.
"What the?" then she started looking at Tiara. "It is the necklace Laria and I are experimenting! Did you have the other two? Do you know how dangerous it is?" She quickly acted and take the necklace from the girls.
The lights were glowing.
"W-we do not know..." Sierra answered.
Fierro got their attention when he suddenly throw a fire arrow in the monster and it suddenly slows down and kneels on the ground.
"You bastard standing again huh?" then Fierro started making fire balls. "Fire balls!" and he started hitting the monster, throwing about te fireballs per shot, but as long as the fight dragged on, the fire magic he possessed seems not have any effect on the monster.
"Hmp! I'm only starting!" Fierro smirked, "It's show time, baby!" he said and started throwing attacks.
He then let out a fire sword and started attacking the monster by jumping in the air, and cutting it's left arm. Then he started making a fire bow and attack it with arrows.
"Hey, Prince Fierro! I need some fire!" Shizuka shouted. When suddenly, the monster growls again and his arm started regenerating.
"Tch! Loki, assist them away! It's too cold!"
he paused and look at his surrounding, the monster is ready to attack again.
"Roger that," Loki answered and flew to Shizuka.
"This necklace is under experiment, and the side effects we have been working on to prevent is the draining of mana bank," Shizuka explained, "And look at Tiara exhausted from it," then she continue walking and taking them away from the cold. "If the necklace could no longer get a mana from your body, it will take your life force! And you could die!"
"We're sorry..." Fierre cries again.
"We really don't know..." Sierra added.
"Why are you girls here, by the way? We saw you from above the sky when riding Loki, wait--- did Laria even know this?" she continuously asked questions. But they just nodded, and she knew that Laria did not know anything about the tour.
They continue walking and ended up hitting an invisible wall. That made them stop but Sierra continue talking.
"We have to find the Yuki-onna," Sierra started. "We need to save Sister Laria, she might know the answer---" she was cut off by Loki.
"What?----" Loki asked but was stopped when seeing a very beautiful castle, like a diamond, where you can see through, except that it is not. The majestic tall castle is made of pure ice energy, and it was like they are in another dimension.
"Wow," Shizuka blurted out, "An ice castle in the middle of the Northern Mountains." Fierre and Sierra looked at each other, they have reached the castle of the Yuki-onna.
"Yuki-onna!" she started. "Maybe we can ask for her help," Fierre excitedly asked.
"And what makes you think that old hag will help you?" Loki raised his eyebrow that made Fierre pout.
"Hmp! it's a bird that's talking," she said.
"Stop, you two," Shizuka said. "Let's try knocking." she then lay Tiara and walk slowly to the door. Fierre and Sierra was still imagining Yuki-onna to be an old lady, but will offer her help to those in need. Loki was not very happy to see an old acquaintance either.
Meanwhile, Fierro was still fighting the monster. He is the only son of the Empress of the East, so he was born with golden spoon and thinks of himself above all. He is spoiled, and anything he desires was given to him with ease. Additionally, he was very talented, and was born with the beloved Guardian of the Empire, Loki.
Everyone was fond of him. This resulted in his brothers to be a target of their attack in the fight for the throne. But he was so strong. Or so he thought.
"Damn it..." he sparted vomiting blood because of the last attack of the monster. It was so strong. He held on his fire sword again to attack.
"You damn monster! haaa!" he was able to cut of its legs but it regenerates again. It was like absorbing his magic.
All this time he thinks that he can just trample on anything, and the whole world belongs to him. He thinks that he is so strong but it was Loki's power. He couldn't do anything by himself.
Then he suddenly remembers her young sister asking for help when his brothers came to attack, it was Loki who wiped those brothers of him. But what if Loki is not there anymore?
He is scared. He is trembling so bad. Is this his end? Is what he is thinking right now.
'No, Fierro, get ahold of yourself. You will be the Emperor of the East. You cannot die here.' with that he suddenly stand up and get branches of the tree.
"If magic will not work, I'll just crush you with my hands!" he shouted. After attacking the monster several times, he finally see something blinking like it's heart.
"You've given me a hard time, I'll end you now!" he then ready his position and stab it's core.
"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!"
The monsters blood splashed on him.
***
"The Central Market you're talking about is a promising, but it needs a large fund," Duke Winterialle said in the carriage. Ashton was listening and Laria's eyes glistened.
"Yes, I already prepared for that, so I ask for your cooperation," she smiled.
"Why do you need my cooperation when everything is settled already?" the Duke asked but that made Laria make a sad face.
"It has, however, some unfortunate things happened," she let out a long sighed, "You know, the Fordenn Marquessate is in dire situation because of father's excessive gambling and Consort Pamela's lavish spending without regards to the budget they are given. And what's worse is when I was unconcious, rhey dare use my funds to buy the gems from the imperial mine," she said.
"I need the support of the four other Dukedom, so I need your help, Grandfather," Laria was sincere when saying these. Although Duke Winterialle did bad things to her mother, she need to think rationally to survive.
Laria was born with silver spoon in her mouth, like your typical noble. A graceful and elegant noble lady. However, her circumstances force her to do things outside her limit since her mother died early. Also, she was born with innate talent and intelligent mind.
Laria does not like their Marquessate to fall-- firstly, because she does not want her sisters to live in poverty, although they will not fall that hard, she wanted them to be happy. And that will not happen if another house save them, and forces them to enter a political marriage. Surely, it's okay for Laria who always think of the advantages but it's another story for her sisters. She loved them so much that she's willing to sacrifice her own life for them.
And one more thing, she was not convinced at how her mother died. She believe that something is wrong with Goddess Rosana's tomb, the reason why every Marchioness die early.
"Alright," Duke Winterialle answered. "But right now, we need to rescue your sisters first." And with that the carriage stopped.
"This is how far the carriage can go," Ashton handed her a fur coat and gloves, "From here, we need to walk by foot," Laria was amazed at how big and wide the Northern Mountains is. It sure exceeded how her expectations were. But her worry started to consume her.
"Thanks, I need to go," She said and started walking on the snow.
"It will take us 2 long days to reach the peak," Ashton said. "Grandfather will not be coming with us due to his old body. Here," then he summoned two foxes.
"Don't worry, they are friendly," he said and petted them.
"Didn't you say that we'll need to walk from here?" Laria was shocked and amazed.
"Usually, but we need to hurry up, or we'll see them frozen to death," Then Ashton look at Duke Winterialle.
"Be careful," he said, Laria nodded, and they set off the journey.
The mountain was covered with pure white ice, and the more they walk the harder it is to to travel because the snow is getting more intense.
"Ow! What the hell?" Laria was shocked to see a frozen soldier in her way, cold and bones.
"It was common here, and you'll see more in your way to the top," Ashton explained. Laria's becoming more anxious because if this soldiers cannot keep up in the trail, how much more her sisters can?
"Don't worry, they have a Winterialle blood. It's their first time coming here, the Yuki-onna must have guided them," Ashton explained and Laria calmed a bit.
"I hope so," Laria continue walking in the snow.
It's been 5hours nonstop walking and Laria notice the snow is getting stronger when she suddenly sleep on something.
"Ohmygosh, Prince Fierro?" Laria started digging in the snow, Ashton helped too. "What are you doing here? Are you with my sisters?" Laria continouosly ask to half conscious Fierro. He was so cold and pale.
"Where is Loki? What happened to you?" Ashton then activated a magical tool to warm Fierro. He gave it to him so he could hold it and give him warm.
"T-they were with Shizuka," Fierro explained and closes his eyes. He seems very tired.
"Ashton, they are near here," Laria said. "I can feel a strong presence near but my eyes said otherwise," she explained when Ashton flinched.
"Yuki-onna is not a good guardian, she likes to deceive people," He said and a monster appeared in front of them. It growls. That made Laria kneels because she can feel a strong presence inside her. The Icetierre must have been reacting to it.
"Hey, Laria, are you okay? hey!" Ashton assisted her but she cannot control her body. She is now vomiting blood. The monster started walking to them. Ashton now brought out the Winterialle family seal and the monster dissapeared, so is Laria's consciousness.