2 Nozel Silva

Nozel thrust open the elaborate doors of the Frostwind family residence, his haste concealing the seriousness of the situation. The Frostwinds, one of the Great Royal Families of the hallowed Clover Kingdom, were powerful and formidable figures, their ancestry held in high regard for many years. The kingdom was shaken by the unexpected news of an attack on the Frostwind castle today, shattering the long-held myth of this distinguished family's invincibility.

It was said that an unidentified attacker was besieging the castle, which stood as a symbol of strength and resilience. Disbelief rushed across Nozel's head. How is it feasible for this to happen? The Frostwinds were known for their unmatched strength and unbreakable fortifications. It seemed unthinkable that their fortress could be overcome; it went against the fundamental rules of the kingdom's past.

Nozel's heart wrenched with every step he walked into the once-grand halls of the Frostwind castle at the terrifying scene that met his eyes. The sharp smell of fight and the sting of ice, which lingered as a somber witness to the intensity of the struggle, filled the air, making it crackle with tension. The interior of the castle was very unsettling, much more so than the outer destruction.

The inside, once a stronghold of grandeur and power, was in ruins, the magnificent architecture tarnished by the violent hand of anarchy. The hallways had become a warped battlefield due to a brutal conflict, as shown by the menacing ice spikes protruding from the walls. 

Nozel saw the bleak scene of loss and felt both grief and anger at the same time. His stern exterior was breached by the sight of the fallen, his friends, stripped of their warmth, causing a flurry of emotions to burst through. In a society that was already on the verge of despair, every fallen guard and every member of the Frostwind family represented a shattering of hope.

Through the disarray came Fuegoleon's voice, his frantic cry that cut through the atmosphere like a knife. His pulse was racing with a mixture of fear and hope as he ran towards his rival, exclaiming, "Nozel! Are there any survivors?!"

Nozel said nothing in return, wearing a mask of quiet agony. Rather, he closed his eyes, the destruction's weight bearing down on his shoulders like an overwhelming burden. His silence was a powerful statement about the terrible reality they were facing.

Fuegoleon felt a sickening jolt as he stepped through the broken doorway and saw the empty inside. The sheer scale of the bloodshed spread out in front of him seemed to freeze his whole essence. His breath was taken away by the sight of the fallen, the once-vibrant souls now reduced to nothing amid the wreckage.

His hands shook uncontrollably, a physical response to the avalanche of feelings that burst into his mind. Horror, grief, and an overwhelming sense of powerlessness battled fiercely for dominance inside his tormented soul. His broad eyes saw an event that shook his entire being and was etched in his mind for ever.

"H...How?" Fuegoleon exclaimed in disbelief. 

Nozel's quiet had a weight equal to the grief engulfing him. His thoughts turned to the happy preparations that had engulfed the Frostwind family only the day before. Princess Frostwind's birth had brought a sense of joy and celebration to the palace, with laughter resonating through the hallways as preparations were painstakingly put out.

A glimpse of insight broke through Nozel's mental chaos, a ray of hope breaking through the darkness that engulfed him. His mind raced trying to put the pieces of the recent past together. He blurted out, "Wait, the princess. The princess must have been born already," his voice breaking through the dense hush that shrouded the destroyed palace.

Nozel turned to face Fuegoleon with a fresh feeling of purpose, determination mixed with a glimmer of optimism in her eyes. "Fuegoleon, find the princess immediately!" was an order that could not wait to be obeyed, for somewhere in the middle of all the mayhem and sorrow, there could yet be a ray of hope.

The eerie silence that hung heavily in the air was broken by the sharp cry of a baby, a ray of hope among the despair. The voice was so clear that Nozel and Fuegoleon's hearts skipped a beat, a life-giving elixir amidst the mayhem that spurred them to action.

With no delay, their feet thudding against the chilly stone flooring, they ran with a sense of urgency verging on desperation. With a look of determination on their faces, they summoned their magic and were propelled forward at an unearthly pace by a blazing rush of power. With every step they took, they got closer to where the baby was crying, the echoes providing a lifeline in the eerie silence that filled the castle.

They reached the chamber of the Frostwind family's matriarch and patriarch. Upon entering, they discovered the motionless forms of the husband and wife. Positioned centrally in the room stood a substantial ice shield safeguarding a crib.

Fuegoleon gazed at the infant within the ice barrier and promptly identified her. 

"This is... Princess Alara!" Fuegoleon attempted to strike the ice barrier, yet it remained impervious, showing no sign of damage.

"Wait, Fuegoleon! This ice is imbued with life! I've seen this before!" Nozel scrutinized the ice, a sense of familiarity washing over him.

"What do we do now?" Fuegoleon's gaze met Nozel's, filled with desperation and urgency

Nozel's eyes fixated on the icy barrier ahead, his voice tinged with unwavering determination. "We're allies of Patriarch Alderick and Matriarch Isolde. Our mission is to rescue Princess Alara. Please, release the barrier."

The ice itself appeared to respond to Nozel's steadfast will and sincere intentions. His genuineness served as a light of unwavering purpose, and his unshakable will broke through the frozen barrier. The two of them were bathed in an ethereal light as the ice pulsed with a magnificent, blinding glow, seemingly sparked by his determination.

Then, in a spectacular display, the ice barrier dissolved into nothingness, vanishing as though it had never existed.

With the barrier dissolved, Nozel and Fuegoleon wasted no time, hastening towards the crib that held Princess Alara. Nozel's arms enveloped the newborn princess, cradling her close as he tried to soothe her, his touch gentle yet firm in an effort to provide comfort amidst the chaos.

When Nozel touched Alara, her sobs subsided and his comforting presence eased her pain. He hugged her close and comforted her gently, his voice full of sympathy. With a glimmer of relief upon seeing the newborn princess in capable hands, Fuegoleon stood by, a quiet protector, his eyes set on the priceless bundle in Nozel's arms.

Fuegoleon's voice carried a poignant sadness as he softly uttered, "Princess..." His heart ached with the weight of the moment, a solemn wish echoing in his words—a wish for the presence of Matriarch Isolde and Patriarch Alderick to witness and protect Alara in this time of turmoil.