Katarina boarded a flight to Iceland, accompanied by her assigned bodyguard. Brynhildur, a six-foot-tall woman with pale skin and straight blonde hair, had a presence that matched the meaning of her name: "armored warrior woman." It suited her perfectly, as she carried herself with the grace and strength of a true protector.
The seven-hour flight landed in Reykjavík, Iceland's capital and the world's northernmost capital city. Despite the long journey, Katarina's excitement hadn't dimmed. The dark had already enveloped the country by the time their plane touched down, but the city's twinkling lights greeted them warmly.
Brynhildur escorted Katarina to the Seaside Hotel, an elegant structure with a perfect view of the ocean. After a quiet dinner at the hotel's restaurant, they headed to their room. Brynhildur had suggested separate accommodations, citing professionalism, but Katarina, reluctant to be alone in a new place, insisted they share.
The suite was luxurious, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows offering an uninterrupted view of the city and the dark expanse of the ocean beyond. Katarina stood by the window, mesmerized by the soft glow of city lights blending with the natural beauty of the Icelandic night.
"Have you ever seen the Northern Lights?" Katarina asked, her voice quiet but filled with curiosity.
Brynhildur, standing a respectful distance away, smiled faintly. "I have, Miss. I was born in this country, after all."
Katarina's round eyes widened in amazement. "Really? That's incredible! Why didn't you say anything?"
The bodyguard shrugged slightly, her tone calm. "Your mother hired me to look after you, not to talk about myself."
"That's true," Katarina admitted, though she smiled at the blunt response. "But we can talk, right? I don't have anyone else to chat with."
"Of course," Brynhildur replied, her gaze shifting to the dark horizon. "You've come at the perfect time, Miss. The Aurora Borealis is active this month."
Katarina nodded. "I read about it. It's visible from late August to early April, right?" She paused, thinking for a moment before continuing. "I even learned what causes it—collisions between charged particles from the sun and the Earth's atmosphere. The way they interact with oxygen and nitrogen creates those lights. It's fascinating how this happens, mostly near the poles."
Brynhildur looked at Katarina, slightly surprised by her knowledge. "That's correct, Miss. You've done your research."
Katarina chuckled softly, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. "I like knowing things. College will start soon, and I just wanted to clear my head before diving into the next chapter of my life."
Brynhildur hummed thoughtfully. "You've chosen the right place for that."
"I wonder…" Katarina murmured, her voice trailing off as she stared at the horizon. "Did I really come to the right place? I might be standing in the right location, but will it help me answer the questions that have been lingering in my head for years?"
The silence that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken thoughts.
Finally, Brynhildur spoke, her voice gentle yet firm. "Every question has an answer, Miss. It wouldn't exist if it didn't. You may not find it now, but as long as the morning rises again, you will find your answers—at the right moment."
Katarina turned to her bodyguard, her expression softening. Brynhildur's words resonated deeply, and a small smile appeared on her lips. "Merci, Brynhildur."
"You're welcome, Miss," the bodyguard replied with a polite nod.
The advice calmed Katarina's restless mind, allowing her to enjoy the present moment. She turned back to the window, her eyes fixed on the city lights as she whispered, "At the right moment."
Despite Iceland's undeniable beauty, Katarina had only one goal in mind: to witness the Aurora Borealis, the lights that had appeared in her dreams for as long as she could remember. Their mysterious presence in her subconscious often left her questioning their purpose. Why did they haunt her? What were they trying to tell her?
The long-awaited moment arrived. According to the Aurora forecast, the lights would be visible at nine. Katarina waited impatiently by the window, her heart racing as the time approached.
Then it happened. A green wave of light began to ripple across the night sky, growing more vivid with each passing second. Katarina's breath hitched as she pressed her palms against the cold glass.
"It's happening," Brynhildur said softly, observing Katarina's reaction with a faint smile.
Katarina couldn't respond. Her eyes were wide, her lips parted in awe. The lights were more magnificent than she had imagined, their ethereal beauty rendering her speechless. It was as if her dreams had come to life right before her eyes.
She tore her gaze away from the sky and turned to Brynhildur, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "Can you… take me to the seaside?" she asked hesitantly, her voice carrying the innocence of a child asking for a favor.
Brynhildur's smile widened ever so slightly. "Of course, Miss Katarina."
Seaside.
"Brynhildur, your hometown is breathtaking," Katarina said, her voice filled with wonder as she captured the free light show with her camera. "It feels like I've stepped into a dream."
Brynhildur, her tall and stoic bodyguard, allowed herself a small smile at Katarina's childlike excitement. "The lights are putting on their best show for you tonight, Miss."
Katarina glanced at her and returned the smile. "Do you think I could stand closer to the water? It might give me a better angle for pictures."
Brynhildur's phone buzzed at that moment. She glanced at the caller ID before nodding. "Of course, Miss. Just watch your step. I'll be right here taking this call."
"Okay."
Carefully, Katarina navigated her way down the rocky shoreline, her boots crunching against the uneven surface. She kept her camera ready, her focus entirely on capturing the Aurora Borealis from the perfect perspective.
As she moved further south, an odd sensation washed over her. She froze mid-step as an afterimage from her dreams flashed vividly in her mind. It wasn't the current scene but something eerily similar—a vision of the Aurora, only in a different season. Everything in the vision was blanketed in white, the surroundings covered in snow and ice.
Shaking off the unease, she stepped closer to the water, peering into its glassy surface. Her reflection stared back at her: a young woman with soft, delicate features, her dark eyes wide with curiosity. She gazed at herself, almost searching for something.
And then, she saw it.
A white tiger's face, clear as day, appeared in the reflection. Its piercing eyes stared back at her, unblinking and intense. Katarina's breath caught in her throat. Bewildered, she stumbled back, her heart racing as she quickly shut her eyes and shook her head.
When she opened them again, the reflection was back to normal. It was just her—plain, ordinary Katarina. She exhaled shakily, unsure if what she'd seen was real or just her overactive imagination.
"What on earth was that?" she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the gentle lapping of the waves.
She lowered her gaze back to the water, watching the Aurora Borealis shimmer faintly in the reflection. The vision of the tiger, her dreams of the lights, and the strange sense of familiarity all coalesced into one swirling question: What does it all mean?
Shaking her head again, she tried to dismiss the thoughts. Her gaze lifted to the real Aurora above.
"It's beautiful to finally see you, Aurora," she murmured, her voice tinged with longing. "But why do you haunt me? What are you trying to tell me?"
The lights continued their silent dance across the sky, indifferent to her questions.
Katarina stayed there, watching until the display began to fade. It had lasted only twenty minutes, but according to the forecast, the Aurora would reappear every two hours throughout the night.
As the lights disappeared completely, she made a quiet vow. "The next time I see you, I'll have my answers. I'll know what this all means."
A soft smile crossed her lips as she turned to leave. But just as she took her first step away, something caught her eye.
A silhouette stood on the north side of the shoreline.
Katarina squinted, her heart skipping a beat. The figure belonged to a young woman, her profile illuminated faintly by the retreating glow of the Aurora. She appeared to be staring out at the horizon, lost in thought.
Without thinking, Katarina raised her camera, zooming in to capture the stranger. The frame revealed a delicate side profile, the woman's hair flowing gently in the cool breeze as the remnants of the Aurora painted soft shades of green behind her.
Then, as if sensing the attention, the woman turned her head.
Katarina froze as the stranger's face came into full view through her camera lens. She was beautiful—strikingly so—but what captured Katarina's attention wasn't her features. It was the tears streaming down her face.
The sight hit Katarina like a physical blow. Her chest tightened, an inexplicable ache settling deep within her. She immediately lowered the camera, unable to keep looking.
She turned away, her heart pounding. She didn't know why, but seeing the stranger cry felt unbearable. It hurt more than she could explain, more than any tears she'd witnessed before.
Brynhildur approached, concern evident in her expression. "Miss Katarina, is something wrong?"
Katarina quickly composed herself, plastering on a reassuring smile. "Not at all, Brynhildur."
The bodyguard studied her closely for a moment before nodding. "If you say so, Miss. It's getting cold. We should return to the hotel now."
Katarina nodded absently. "Alright."
Brynhildur extended a steadying hand, helping Katarina navigate her way back up the rocky path to the street. As they ascended, Katarina couldn't resist one last glance over her shoulder toward the north side.
The stranger was gone.