STAGE ELEVEN: Winter in Shimarar

"I'm so tired!" Freyja exclaimed, throwing herself onto the soft bed. "Ahh... finally a bed!" A week passed since they left Runerich. Just as Alaric suggested, they took the first airship going to the country of Shimarar, way up north of Cewon continent. And then, they travelled for another 2 days by foot to reach a small at the foot of mount Tristiss. Freyja wrapped herself with thick blankets. "Alaric was right, it's freezing cold here. Even colder than the airship port."

"I told you not to wear those bracelets, you're still too weak to be using those." Kirin said, pouring himself a cup of tea from the room's kitchen. Freyja tried wearing one of his training bracelets, but ended up exhausting herself like before.

"But you're the one who gave me that idea. And, I'll be going back to training soon anyway." She reasoned out.

"Well, yeah. But I should give you another training... or you'll end up being a midget forever." Kirin seriously stated.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY!?" Freyja ran to him and punched him several times, but Kirin is too fast that he is laughing while avoiding all of her futile attacks. "Your arms are too short too..."

Finally, Kirin patted her head and led her out. "Let's go get something to eat." Freyja's face lit up, following Kirin right away.

Kirin and Freyja spent the entire morning shopping for thick coats and food supplies. Mount Tristiss is another two days hike from the town and the temperature will be much lower. Freyja, already shivering cold in town, worried Kirin. She can't use aura to heat her body up unlike him. This is going to be difficult for her, which makes him more and more hesitant to continue. However, confident that they will find nothing there, Kirin is convinced that the only danger Freyja will be facing is the cold. In less than a week, with proper supplies and equipment, she should be able to survive.

Night came, and it's even colder. The temperature dropped to -2 degrees which is, already alarmingly cold for Freyja. However, sensing that Kirin is growing more and more worried, she grit her teeth and acted as normally as she would. "See you tomorrow Kirin!" The two of them headed up to their separate rooms in the town's inn. On the way to her room, Freyja overheard the maids talking.

"Last night, I heard it. I heard the cry of a lady... and then..."

The maids were telling stories about ghosts appearing every night in the old inn. It's not surprising for a town famous for mysterious light sightings. However, Freyja felt a chill ran up to her spine. Yes, she is definitely afraid of ghosts.

"And at the mirror, I saw... I saw that... lady in white!"

Freyja instinctively ran to Kirin. "What?"

"N-nothing! I.. I'll go to my room now!" She forced a laugh. Then, she walked to her room in an extremely slow pace. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing! G'night!" She waved before going inside the room with all courage. She hurriedly switched the crystal lamp on and jumped to the bed. She covered herself with a thick blanket. The maids' stories won't leave her mind. "I'm not scared!!" She told herself over and over.

The winds blew hard, and the mirror was very bright. Freyja could imagine what the maids were talking about. "Kirin..." She murmured under her breath. However, even though she wanted to call him, Freyja didn't want to make Kirin's worries worse. "I can do this. I'm not afraid!" She forced herself to sleep, but miserably failed.

Just then there was a knock on the door. Freyja is now badly trembling under the sheets. "I am not afraid!" She shouted. Then, she heard the doors slam open. She heard footsteps towards her. And then, someone pulled the sheets off her. She shrieked.

"HEY!" It was Kirin. "You are afraid of ghosts, aren't you?" He smirked. "I am not!" Kirin closed the door and jumped to one side of her bed, with his hands behind his neck. "I knew you were listening to that nonsense. Of all the times you need to conserve your energy and sleep well, it has to be NOW." He scolded her, as usual. "You just have to say so, if you're afraid."

Freyja just stared at him, unsure what to do next. "Shall I go back to my room?"

"Don't!" She cried, crawling beside him as fast as she could. Then, she held the sleeve of his shirt. "Don't leave, okay?" Kirin nodded, before pulling the thick blankets over her.

"Kirin, good night."

"You're scared, aren't you?" It's that voice again.

"No. I've decided, I'll find Astrid. I won't turn back."

"No. You're scared of something else, I know." Freyja fell silent. "Actually, you don't want to find Astrid! You can't lie to me." The voice continued.

"Because Freyja, when you find Astrid, he might send you back to your world." Every word that mysterious voice said disturbed her more and more. "And you'll never see Kirin again."

"I'm not! I just can't leave things like this! And only Astrid can give me answers. Whether I go back or not is up to me!" Freyja heard the voice chuckle to her answer. And though she can't see it, she felt it embrace her. She's suddenly enveloped by a warm, comfortable sensation she could fall asleep. "That's right. I will decide." It whispered.

"Lenfiare!" And then, she heard another voice. This time, it sounds more familiar. "Astrid! It's you, right?" The other voice, its presence is gone.

"It's you, right, Lenfiare?"

"What do you mean, Astrid!? Are you okay? We'll head up to Mount Tristiss tomorrow! Hold on, I'll be there soon! You're there, right?"

"Save me, Lenfiare."

"ASTRID!"

Freyja woke up, breathing heavily. She can sense that something's not right. Her dream is not an ordinary dream, she's sure. She's feeling more and more sure of her hunch that Astrid IS somewhere on Mount Tristiss.

"What's the matter?" Kirin, who was sleeping beside her, woke up.

"It's Astrid... I am sure of it Kirin, he is sealed in mount Tristiss!" She explained.

Kirin sat up in surprise. "He talked to you?" Freyja nodded.

"From here on, we have to even be more vigilant then."

It is morning already. Freyja felt a sudden urgency to find Astrid. His powers are weakening. She needs to go to him as soon as possible, that is, if she still wants to find answers.

At exactly 5:00 in the morning, Kirin and Freyja began their hike to the peak of Mount Tristiss.

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