"It snows, too, in my town back to where I live, so I guess this much will be fine."
Is what I said confidently. But this! This is definitely insane!
The cold temperature is making my body shiver!
"My lady here. Please hold my hand."
I grabbed her hands without a hitch and pull myself closer to her.
"How the hell is this place so cold?!" I mumble between my trembling lips.
"I thought you said you can handle this much?"
I glare at Eiliff who's obviously enjoying this! "I didn't know!" I hissed at him. Wanted to hit his arm, but I can't be separated with Flora.
This goddamn weather here! How can a single person able to live here!
"Where are we now? And that damned dragon disappear."
"He's probably nearby. My lady, here.." Sahana, who were about to remove his coat.
"No, Sahana." I stop him from removing his coat.
"But my lady...it will take us a few minutes before we arrive." He said in a very concern voice.
"He's right my lady." Arcon. "But we can do something for you."
"What..?"
I didn't know what Arcon did, but as soon as he stood next to me, somehow the cold I am feeling lessen.
"Will this be fine?" He even smile at me.
How can Arcon did this, but that Eiliff was just having fun seeing me in this state.
"Thank you. You are a life saver!" I mumble heartily.
"Then shall we continue?" Eiliff.
Baley started walking. "These guards won't leave me alone."
I look around those guards, five of them walking with us. No, they look like they're guarding Baley.
"What's with them?" I whisper to Flora.
"My lady, you may not be aware of it, but Sir Baley, was once the Lord of this land."
Huh?
"What? Baley?!" I even gasp when saying those words. But the guards look at me.
"You dare address his Grace informally!"
"Shut it man. She's way more important than your lives.." Arcon, became menacing against the guards.
They instantly lower their gazes and continue walking.
As I follow their lead, my eyes roam around the area. Snow everywhere. There are few houses but all of them are all close.
Looks like deserted. The way is somehow clean but there are few snow on the road. Just, how long must have it been this way?
'You are here now.'
I enhale, and tried to calm my nerves as I breathe out. This is saddening. To the point that everyone has live their lives this way.
"This way, the carriage will arrive sooner." Baley.
"Carriage again huh?" I sigh. "How long will it take us to get there? And where are we going now?"
Eiliff stood beside me. "Another hour-ish?"
'-ish?'
"Are you getting tired riding carriages, my lady?"
"A little bit." I smile awkwardly at him.
Travelling is quite hard with carriages. It's making me feel dizzy and tiring at the same time. And it's quite uncomfortable riding in it for a long time.
I heave a deep sigh, before entering the carriage. Two carriages arrived to pick us up. Sitting beside me is Eiliff. Across are Flora and Baley.
"Something urgent came up, so we will be teleporting to get into the residence." Baley.
"What is it?" Eiliff.
"They all panicked when they heard that I was coming. And they weren't expecting visitors." Baley.
"Is it a big deal arriving with visitors?" I curiously ask.
"Not really..." Baley. "But they weren't expecting for me to arrive with the master."
I look outside the small window, nothing but snows everywhere. "Has this always been like this? I mean with this weather?"
"There's a reason for that my lady." Baley. "But since the dragon is with us, he could somehow find answers."
"What does that mean?" I look at Eiliff who didn't even react.
What should I expect from this guy, anyway?
"Erm... We can discuss about that matter sooner my lady, but for now, we will teleport using the gate." Baley.
"Is that quicker for us to reach your residence?"
"If we take this carriage we will atleast take two hours to get there. But with teleportations, only twenty minutes at most."
I nod at what he said and keep my mouth shut. Entering this place is weird for me. It even feels like someone I know has been waiting for me.
Not the typical person I know, but what's making it feels weird is the voice I kept hearing. 'You are finally here.' Again and again.
I didn't want to bother them asking about it. Because for sure, they will tend to me more then those important matters.
The carriage suddenly moved in motion, again this is the feeling of being teleported!
"Hold on tight." Eiliff whisper and let me hold onto his arm.
Another minutes in this motion movement, and we finally stop.
"We are here my lady." Baley.
The door suddey opens and a middle-aged woman was the one I saw first.
"Your grace, we have been waiting for your arrival." Her voice is very low as she bows her head slowly.
"Did something happen while I was not here?" Baley offered his hand to me and I gladly accepted it. Helping me out from this carriage is really sweet of him.
"Your grace, may I know.." The woman didn't finish her question when her eyes lighten up with amazement. "You are accompanied by the Lord of the magicians."
"This is Lady Prestine, take care of her." Baley commanded to her.
"Yes, your grace."
"My lady, this is the head maid of the residence, Rosario, let her take care of you." Baley.
I slightly nod my head and look at Eiliff. "I must go and check something." He said without my questions and disappear.
"By the way Baley..." I just noticed that there are few people, lined up, waiting for Baley's arrival, their head are bowed.
"My lady, welcome to our residence." As soon as he said that he lead the way and just ignored these maids.
"He must be of a high ranking noble." I whisper to Flora.
"He is the Duke, my lady."
My eyes widen when I heard what Flora said. The duke? So, he wasn't just an ordinary noble? With that status, he is next second highest authority from a king?
And my shock continues as the huge double door opens. Another maids...and ah? Are those butlers? Welcomed us.
"Welcome back Your grace.!" They said in unison.
"This is lady Prestine, tend to her at your most care." Is what Baley said.
Everyone look at me with confusions in theie faces, but Baley just wave his hand and Rosario came at me.
"My lady, let me bring you to your room."
"Please rest for a bit my lady." Baley. "This won't take long. The others are arriving in a minute."
"Okay..."
Rosario lead the way, and the next I was walking is in a marble floor.
"Ahm, Rosario, don't bother that much, I have Flora with me."
"It was his grace commands my lady. This way please."
I see, it feels like I am not really welcome here if it isn't for Baley.
"This will be your room my lady." Rosario and opened the door for me.
"Thanks. I will call you if I need you."
"But.."
"Just leave us." I said and entered the room with Flora.
When I felt that Rosario left, I took myself to the bathroom immediately.
"My lady, you need to rest."
I sigh and close my eyes for a second and ask her for a bath. I needed it. I badly needed it.
Now that I am inside of a huge room, with that awesomely beautiful queen-sized bed, I realized how warm this place here. I didn't even get a chance to wander my eyes around this mansion.
When the other maids prepare for my bath, Flora keep telling them what I want, what I don't like when bathing.
She really knows how to tend someone.
After several minutes of bathing, she handed me a silky robe and dried my hair using a towel.
"I think I will nap after this." I said while yawning.
"You need to my lady. I will wake you up when dinner is ready." She answered with a smile.
After drying my hair, Flora tucked me in bed like a child. I even giggle when she left the room.
What a motherly care.
A mother huh?
'You are finally here..'
I was in bed ready to take a nap, but when I closed my eyes for a second. I came in this cold place again.
I am still wearing the night gown Flora gave me. Without any slippers. The cold floor. The wind that coming through from that small window. And this child, sitting on the ground. This was the dream. This is a dream!
'Come! Sit with me!' He waved his hand and even moped the floor with his small hands.
I tried to open my mouth, 'What...' When voice came out, I gave him a smile and sit next to him.
His small body full of cuts and bruises.
'What happened to you?'
'They, caught me, trying to take away my magic. Imprisoned me and torture me everyday.'
My heart pained feeling his sorrow. How could they do this to him? Just because of magic.
'Why do you keep appearing in my dream?' I blurted out.
'Dreams?' He looks confuse but then, his head hang low and pull him closer to me. I let him lay on my lap to rest. 'I know you. You are a lady who has the purest mana in here.'
'Know me? How?' I remember, that's how Basilisk told me too.
'Hmm? I know you. But you can't remember me?'
His words are making me confuse more and more.
'I don't..' should I tell him that I came from another world? Should I tell him that Sahana just made a mistake of pulling me in here?
'I don't really know you. ' I gently placed my palm on his forehead. 'What I want to know is, how did you know about me? How can I talk to you in my dreams?'
He look at me for a second and talk. 'They were so lenient on getting a hold of my magic.'
'They? Who are they?'
Another look on my face before he opens his mouth. But even before he could speak a word, my sorroundings suddenly changed. And I am back to the room I am occupying.
It was Eiliff who took my attention.
"I asked Flora to wake you up, but she said you are not waking up even how many times she tried." His cold voice echoes the whole room.
"Really? I was just taking a nap." I answered him and tried to get up. I remember that child I was talking to in my dreams.
"It's almost dawn. Were you that tired?"
I look at the closed window. I can't even say if it's dark outside.
"I didn't know. Maybe I am really tired."
"I'll call some maid to give you some food."
"Eiliff.." I called for his name when he was about to open the door. "C-can you, ah, can you just stay? For a minute?"
He look at me with a blank expressions. As I was trying to understand that look, I get up to open the window.
"But if you are busy you can just leave. Maybe I was just dreaming that's why I said that." I enhale the cold wind and got chilled through my skin.
"What happened?"
I did not bother looking at him but I answered. "I dreamed about this young child. Begging to be saved. In a dungeon." I started. "He said, he needs someone else's help to be freed."
"Child?" His voice became wary and worried at the same time. "Why would you be dreaming about a child now?"
His question made me face him. "How would I know? Isn't it weird?"
Another cold wind breeze through my skin. He may have noticed it, and the area where I am standing became warmer.
"What about it? How long have you been dreaming about that?"
I shrug my shoulders and look at the darkness covering the lands. "He said, he knew me, and I just don't remember him."
"You know, you are not a child to get scared about dreams right?"
I snorted at him. As I continue staring outside the window, a small hint of light is slowly covering the dark lands. "It's the sun.." I whisper.
I felt him closing his gap to me. "Do you wanna watch the sun rises?"
Feeling his warm body against mine, I nod as an answer.
There was a very slow motion happened between us, and the next my feet felt is a slightly wet grass.
Standing in a wide feild of grasses where I can watch the sun rises beautifully.