13 The Gilded Pearl

The cold water was like a thousand needles piercing her skin, they flared pain across her and muddled her thoughts until she was numb, until nothing but fear remained in her heart.

Nesrin knew what kind of person Izekiel was, but a small part of her still hoped he wouldn't turn a blind eye to her so easily.

Her vision blurred, as the icy water plunged her deeper and deeper. A cold fist of realization clenched around her heart.

He wasn't coming back.

Nesrin has never swam before, with her fading strength she tries to kick the water and flail her arms. Her chest was burning, she needed air but her attempts were futile and the remaining hope in her heart was extinguished when he still didn't come.

From the waves of fears inside her heart, a speck of anger rose.

No one will save her, no will care whether she lives or dies.

She was brought from a life of no meaning, to a life where she meant nothing. The breaths she was holding inside came out in a rush, replaced by heavy water. As she watched air bubbles, she knew she was done for.

Nesrin thought that she should fight a little more, but she didn't want to do anything anymore. She was tired. She just wanted to sleep.

The blackness clouds her vision as well as her mind.

[Hidden Quest Activated]

As if fog was drifting off from a murky lake, the darkness around her subsided. The air was misty and unclear, the familiar scene of the frozen lake stretched in front of her.

Nesrin was still aware of the cold and wetness, it seemed like only her consciousness had come to this place while she was still inside the water.

In front of her, things looked the same, yet different. The tree in the middle was young, there were a lot of flowers over the lake and a small child was kneeling above the frozen surface. Behind him stood a woman with a plain gown and long red hair.

Nesrin couldn't see her face.

This scene in front of her felt very strange, none of them noticed her even though she was standing right in front of them.

Nesrin wondered if this was some kind of dream.

The child lifted his face and pointed at the snow lilies.

"You want them?" the woman asked,

There was an enthusiastic nod from the boy.

"It's dangerous. I am not going." the woman replied plainly.

The boy watched the woman with pleading eyes. He seemed to be around six or seven years old but his silence was very unusual. Nesrin creased her brows together in thought, this boy seemed familiar…

"Well, I won't stop you, Ezra." the lady smiled.

Nesrin widened her eyes in shock and instinctively stood in front of the boy as he happily walked over the frozen lake.

"No! Don't go there!"

Ezra took small strides towards the snow lilies. There was an innocent smile on his lips and a bright light inside his eyes. He phased right through Nesrin, she helplessly glanced between the boy and the strange lady.

The lady's lips lifted in a smile.

It was a smile frighteningly similar to Izekiel.

Nesrin flinched at the loud crack sound, when she looked back the boy was flailing his arms. His eyes watched the lady desperately but not a single sound came out. There was not even a whimper or a cry.

"If you want help then say so." the lady said and crossed her arms together.

Izekiel's backstory was shortly told inside 'The Faery of Light'. There was not much known but it was mentioned that his own mother tried to kill him when he was born. It was implied that his mother was a cruel witch who had gone crazy after indulging too much in sorcery.

Nesrin realized that this cold hearted lady could be none other than his mother.

The color of Ezra's face became painfully pale and his eyes were now red. His mother didn't move and calmly watched him. She stayed still even when her son was barely holding on, she watched him silently even when a small choked sound escaped his throat and strength finally left his small body.

A scream sounded as another woman came running towards Ezra.

"Your highness!"

The ice beneath their feet cracked further at her sudden intrusion, the woman wore a simple elegant gown. Her face showed far more concern for Ezra than his actual mother. She carefully walked close towards the whole and grabbed his small hands in time.

This embraced the shivering child in her arms and glared at his mother.

"You disgust me."

Nesrin wondered who this woman was. It was daring of her to say such words towards a queen.

Ezra weakly watched his mother, there was sadness in his eyes but he clutched the lady's dress and shook his head. He didn't like what was said about his mother.

Ezra's mother simply turned and walked away.

"Don't just leave like that! How can you be so heartless to a child?!"

The reply was a scoff.

"He is no child."

Fog shrouded the surroundings, the ground beneath Nesrin's feet turned into water and the scene in front of her disappeared. The waves of cold reclaimed her body and her senses.

Her lungs burned, her state of mind was in a mess from physical and emotional conflict. She could barely make out the dim light in front of her blurry vision.

Nesrin lifted her heavy eyes.

There was a small glow of light in front of her, it was like a firefly. She slowly extended her hand and curled her fingers around the light like it was her lifeline.

[Treasure Acquired: The Gilded Black Pearl.]

[The character has been detected as unable to make decisions.]

[Treasure has been stored in inventory.]

Nesrin's consciousness faded away as she heard the system notifications.

[Collect all the missing pearls and finish the mysterious object in order to complete the hidden quest.]

[Penalty: None]

[Reward: ???]