I witness the agony consuming her as she collapses onto the smeared, icy ground. A shock of disbelief courses through me. She's weeping, and I'm left holding the dagger that has pierced her gut, its blade driven through her until it reaches the core of her chest.
Snow falls relentlessly from the mournful sky, and her life's essence spills onto the icy surface beneath her.
"Is it done?" a commanding voice demands.
"Yes, Your Grace. The winter heiress is dead," I reply, unable to suppress the unexplainable anguish that rips through my chest.
"Take her to the second region and await the birth of the spring heiress," His Grace's orders cut through the air. His eyes mirror the watery turmoil in my own. He shoulders the weight of pain and turns away.
"Shall I inform Graen Augu, Your Grace?" I inquire, my voice a shaky whisper. I kneel beside the fallen woman, my entire being trembling. My chest tightens further, and my heart constricts within me. I reach out and touch her pulse, chilled by the icy grip of death.
"It's better if no one knows the whereabouts of Idrish's body for now, Kenru. It's too dangerous if the secret council discovers our plan. This remains a secret between you and me, for the time being."
"Understood, Your Grace."
He departs, his shoulders slouched and his head hung low. I know his pain runs as deep as mine.
Once again, I turn to the lifeless form of Idrish. Her strength wanes, her body growing limp. Her eyelids droop, and I carefully pull her cold form into my arms. Tears, held at bay for so long, escape me as I hold her close.
I embrace her fiercely, savoring this last connection with her. Her fragrance, the same scent that greeted me when we first met, fills my senses. I commit it to memory, knowing it's the only part of her I'll have left.
I cast my gaze skyward, silently pleading for one final touch, one last sign of her presence. I wish for her to utter my name, to acknowledge my existence one more time.
But she remains silent.
A warmth fills my eyes, tears streaming down my face as I clasp her lifeless body.
"Idrish," I whisper, the pain in my chest overpowering me. "I'm sorry you had to endure this. I'm sorry you had to feel betrayed by the very people you trusted. And what pains me most is that I'm the source of that betrayal. You took your last breath believing I betrayed you."
The tears flow freely as I cradle her in my arms. "I vowed to protect you as your guardian, yet I broke that promise, replacing it with a new one—to safeguard you not out of duty, but because my heart beats only for you."
I press my face against her shoulder, a strangled sob escaping me as I clutch her lifeless form. "How do I convey all of this, knowing that upon your return, you may not recognize me? How?"
"Promise you'll return, Idrish. Promise me. I'll take solace in knowing you're alive, even if I'm no longer part of your world." I draw in a shuddering breath, struggling to contain the sob that threatens to break free.
But I fail. The anguish in my chest intensifies, and I release another wave of sorrow. I hold onto her even tighter, whispering her name over and over.
I exhale deeply before resolving to transport her to a place of safety.
I channel my power through my veins, feeling the cold energy flow within me. I lift her gently, enshrouding us in a cocoon of frigid air. We rise above the clouds, invisible to the world below. I clasp her to my chest, and though we ascend high above the clouds, the wind remains bitingly cold. Clarity returns to my mind, heightening my senses, yet my heart continues to ache.
The melancholic melody of my soul accompanies the Song of the Winter Solstice as we journey to the second region.
Come, O cold death, let me be swayed, As white lonely snow quells the fire's heat. My life shall take flight as my breath is paid, My life, my honor, and dignity to deplete.
May my royal armor be torn and stained, My life's battle, though losses I reap. Fought I so true as my heart oft beats, Now, oh memory, now, away from me sweep.
A grave forlorn my lonely bed shall be, Honor me as friend, warrior brave, Thus, my last words I give to thee, As deadly solstice forest claims my grave.
And I shall remember you, remember you, with grace.
"Please return. Your fate doesn't end like this. Come back and avenge your painful destiny. Return to us..." I whisper, just before I feel the ground pull us downward.
The descent is smooth, the wind energy wrapping around us like a protective shield. We sail past the blue mountain, crowned with the red Mir tree at its summit. Finally, the dome encircled by lush green canopies comes into view.
Once again, my chest tightens. Within inches, she'll be entirely removed from this world that betrayed and wounded her. She'll forget the memories of Borracho, Bonbon, Rouma... and me.
A new life will begin for her, as the guardian of the Winter Gauntlet.