Zied pulled out two sturdy animal skins from his bag. He handed one to Adachi and gently draped the other over his daughter's shoulders. The entrance to the mine was cloaked in a quiet white, the snow accumulating from within.
"Thanks for the fur," Adachi said, nodding appreciatively to the knight.
Shantotto bellowed, "Embrace for impact!" Her command echoed through the air as she tore a page from her grimoire. With swift determination, she cast the spell "Eukrasian", the incantation resonating in the air. Time pressed on, urgency forcing her to rip another page.
"Diagnosis!" she shouted, weaving the second spell with a sense of urgency, leaving no room for hesitation. The torn pages fluttered away, carrying the essence of her magic into the unfolding chaos.
As she uttered the word "Eukrasian," a spectacle unfolded. Before her, a sigil materialized, forming a two-triangle star embraced by twin circles. The incantation script danced in the space between the concentric circles, illuminated with a pristine white aura. A surge of magical energy pulsed through the intricate lines, creating an ethereal display.
Yet, as urgency pressed upon her, Shantotto wasted no time. With the swift rip of the second paper, the entire scene underwent a dramatic transformation. The once radiant white aura shifted seamlessly to a deep violet, casting an intense glow. The magical resonance intensified, echoing the urgency of her incantation, as she shouted, "Diagnosis!" The dual-colored brilliance lingered momentarily, marking the intersection of her potent spells in the unfolding mystical tableau.
A formidable shield materialized before her. Positioned defiantly at the forefront, she became the epicenter. The intricate sigil she had conjured expanded in size.
As an impending attack emanated from within the cave, her shield proved its might. The assault, originally destined for chaos, yielded to the power of Shantotto's magic. The sigil's aura curved the impending danger around her, forming a protective barrier that shielded everyone behind her.
with a measured poise, she glanced over her shoulder to survey the safety of those behind her. And with a sly grin, she quipped, "This little wolf will give us a story to tell." The nonchalance in her tone belied the intensity of the moment, as if weaving a narrative was as natural to her as the barrier she commanded.
Adachi's world shifted abruptly as he tumbled backward, shock etched across his face. Though not akin to falling into a summoning circle, the chilling reality of the moment sent a shiver down his spine.
As a frigid white beam enveloped them, a cinematic reel of his life flashed before his eyes. The planets surrounding them succumbed to an icy grip, freezing in time.
In the midst of this frozen spectacle, Lion, experiencing her first brush with mortal peril, became a statue of fear. Every limb locked in place, she stood motionless. Her father, anxiety etched on his face, rushed to her side. Embracing her, he placed protective hands around her elbows. Yet, the shock proved too overwhelming for the young girl; she crumpled to her knees, a casualty of the profound impact the magical onslaught wake.
In the midst of the frozen tableau, Shantotto's urgency cut through the crystalline silence. "Leave the kids here, let's go!" she barked at Zeid, her eyes locking onto Adachi. "Get yourself together. Stay close to the girl; her shield has a range of a yalm around her."
As the words left her lips, Shantotto, without waiting for a response, began to float towards the center of the mine. Zeid, caught off guard, found himself propelled forward, as if an unseen force was tugging at him. His body responded to the magical compulsion, floating from his waist as if tethered by an invisible rope.
As Zeid was propelled through the air, pressured by the force surrounding him, he shouted over the rush of wind, "Do you even know where the wolf is?" The urgency in his voice mingled with concern for his daughter, torn between the instinct to protect her and the necessity of facing the unknown within the mine.
she shot back, "My dear knight, specifics are for scholars and scribes! We're simply waltzing toward the center of this splendid snowstorm, where our illustrious dog awaits us; I think. Keep up, Zeid! The show's just getting started!"
Her words, despite the apparent logic in Shantotto's words, they failed to instill a sense of safety in the knight.
After a few tense minutes, Adachi managed to gather himself, his mumbled words carried away. "Why am I even here? It was all her fault. Oh God, just take me home already." His legs continued to tremble from the residual shock.
Turning his gaze toward Lion, he saw the young girl still seated on her knees, visibly shaken by the recent ordeal.
Despite his own lingering unease, Adachi prioritized the immediate needs. Though still trembling, he approached Lion and gently said, "We need to move to the side of the mine's entrance. This way, we can avoid some of this snow." He extended his hand, offering assistance.
However, Lion, just grasping the situation, pushed away Adachi's extended hand. Her voice echoed with a mix of fear and urgency as she cried, "Papa!" and darted into the cave. Adachi hesitated for a moment, torn between the impulse to follow her and the awareness that the mine's entrance will defiantly not be the fun thing to do.
Adachi let out a frustrated "Fu*k!" as he chased after Lion, urgently calling out, "Don't do this to me now! Let's go back!" The plea in his voice reverberated in the icy cavern, an earnest attempt to steer them away from the danger he knew was ahead of them.
In the midst of Lion's internal turmoil and Adachi's frantic calls, Shantotto and Zeid forged ahead, their journey through the arcane snowstorm leading them to Fenrir. The wolf, regal and otherworldly, stood at the heart of the cavern mines center
Amidst the frigid air, Fenrir stood with a piece of ice crystal delicately cradled between its formidable claws. Shantotto, laced with a hint of agony, exclaimed, "It's just like how Fenrir held Shiva when he was created the first time." Her eyes, brimming with a weight, shifted to the knight beside her, hinting at for him to take a closer look at what was inside the ice crystal.
The knight's gaze locked onto the heart of the crystal. There, shielded and safeguarded by the majestic ice wolf, Fenrir, was none other than Brayflox — the goblin friend he thought he had lost long ago. A surge of relief and disbelief coursed through Zeid as the intricate connection between Fenrir, the crystal, and his long-lost friend became vividly apparent in the frosty tableau before him.
In utter disbelief, Zeid stared atBrayflox. He said "But you said happened 21 years ago" refering to her converstaion with king Traut at the palace.
He continued saying "Brayflox was here for Lio..." he exclaimed, struggling to reconcile the timelines as Lion is only 8 years old.
Before he could delve into the mystery, Shantotto, with a swift command of her magic, whisked him away. Zeid felt the pull of unseen forces as Shantotto maneuvered them expertly, evading the lethal ice spikes hurled by Fenrir. The urgency of the moment overshadowed the questions that swirled in Zeid's mind, propelling them deeper into the heart of the snowstorm.
Shantotto's voice cut through the chaos, addressing Zeid with a stern, "Keep it together."
Zeid, seething with frustration, couldn't contain his anger any longer. "No one tells me anything!" he screamed, the words laced with irritation. He shot back at Shantotto as he stormed towards Fenrir, "Start casting, you witch!"
In response, she added, "Can you keep it hush? We've got a show to stage!"
In the midst of the icy skirmish, Zeid's role unfolded – to keep the formidable wolf occupied, a living distraction allowing the sorceress to weave her intricate spells undisturbed. The frozen battleground became a stage for their unconventional collaboration.
As the battle's overture unfolded, Zeid's fingers glided to his belt, retrieving an enhancement potion pulsating with an otherworldly glow. With a determined aura, he shattered the vial against his armor, unleashing a cascade of ethereal sparks that embraced him in a shimmering dance of arcane warmth.
As the chilling winds heralded the impending clash with Fenrir, Zeid, undeterred, marched forward. In his gloved hand, the sword unsheathed like a dormant awakening to life. The shield, a steadfast companion, found its place in his grip, a guardian against the encroaching tempest.