Back to where it all began

-- POV Gaya --

I had left Freya, Shiro and all the others for a while now to head alone to the cave where I had been sealed all those years ago. Not much time had passed since I met Freya, only a few weeks, but every day felt like a dream, as if the life I had spent locked up was already long gone, as if all the happiness I had not had washed over me in one fell swoop.

As my gray mare galloped through the trees, I replayed in my head the incredible events that had spiced up my life in every way. Life was full of surprises and my meeting with this exceptional she-wolf was the most beautiful, not to mention the little Shiro who had become our daughter as well by force of destiny. My mind wandered as a tree branch almost made me fall off my horse.

*Don't be distracted, you have a mission to accomplish !*

Regaining my concentration and still in a mad rush, I stared again at the horizon. For the first time, I was going to be able to directly help Freya by bringing back the first 100 subordinates she had saved during our visit to Yarlford. I knew the way to this cave far too well and even though it had been my prison, it was also the place where I had been rescued and the place where I had fallen madly in love with Freya at first sight.

*The return journey will take longer than the outward journey, so I must save as much time as possible now.*

Among the people I had to bring back were children, men, women of all races. Bringing back so many people in a discreet way was not an easy task but I was determined to bring them all back without a scratch. At this speed, I knew I would reach Syn's forest and the cave in just a few hours, but the return trip would take us 3-4 days if all went well. Freya and the others were moving slowly and would normally not reach the sea until the end of the day, while I was at full speed, going with the wind. I was torn between the desire to hurry up and get back as fast as possible and the desire not to fail and thus take more time.

*Sigh*

As I sighed, I could finally see a boundary among the trees in the distance. The ones in the Dark Forest were dark green, almost black, while the ones in the Syn Forest were green and sometimes even slightly yellow.

*Here we go !*

I slowed down instinctively as the border was ahead of me, I had finally arrived at the boundary that delimited the two forests. I had been gone for several hours now and the afternoon was getting hot and almost stifling. The sun was beating down hard on my face, turning it a light pastel pink. I hadn't put on my hooded cloak yet and without my horns that testified to my race, I currently looked like a human for safety.

"Ya !"

I was once again throwing my mare at full speed as I entered the Syn forest from the east, heading west. I was finally going to turn back to where everything had changed for me, where I had met my wife, where I had been set free.

"Where it all began.."

___

-- POV Yorr --

It had been several days since we had all left Yarlford with the help of the Empress. In the end we knew nothing about her except that she had promised to take us to a place she would build for all the abused races. Time passed and we still had no news from her. Had she abandoned us ? Was she like all the others, dangling unattainable dreams in front of us ?

*No ! She came to save us, we just have to be patient !*

Elyon and I were responsible for the 100 people in the cave. As the Empress had told us, there was indeed a hole in the big mountain west of the forest. Just as she had said, this mountain was full of mana in the air and the creatures living in the vicinity did not approach it by instinct. We hunted despite our strength, which was not great, and we simply lived waiting for the return of this powerful she-wolf.

Triss and Lia, Elyon's friends, were slowly recovering and although they had not witnessed the events that had taken place in the mansion, these young women were eager to meet their savior. These half-humans had not had the chance to pledge their allegiance to her and the wait was becoming quite long for them as it was for us.

Elyon had started training to feel the mana as requested by the Empress, accompanied by several volunteers. The Elf had discovered that he was of the wood element and that his skills were grouped into one rather special one because he could create trees capable of defending him and attacking. His creations were for the moment quite small because Elyon was only level 3 but the more he trained, the stronger and more resistant they became.

I was training my physique and helping to hunt to improve my reflexes, strength and endurance. I had never fought except for the creatures I was hunting, so I had no idea what moves to make or what weapons to use. In the back of my mind, I hoped to be able to join the Imperial army once we were picked up.

Speaking of weapons, there were also dwarves in our group, who spent their time inspecting the cave for minerals and stones that they could use to forge objects or weapons in the future. There were 15 of them and the most experienced one was called Yuric, small, bearded and always scowling.

We also found out that all the 10 children present were orphans, so the adults spoiled them as they could every day. This cave was our landmark, our home and our fort that we hoped would be impregnable.

While I was still in my thoughts, looking at the cave and these people with a thoughtful look, Elyon had approached me.

"Yorr ? How much longer do you think we'll stay here ?"

The elf couldn't help but ask me this question every day. Today he was not accompanied by Triss and Lia who seemed to be sleeping in a corner.

"I don't know, probably a few days, a few weeks..."

"Maybe the Empress had some problems and..."

Elyon hadn't finished his sentence as his eyes darkened. I knew he was imagining the worst and the thought made me shudder as well.

"No way ! Didn't you see how easily she freed us all ? When we were all locked up, no one believed the little one,me first and yet she was right. Let's believe in her highness, she will come I'm sure !"

No one knew if I was right or if we were waiting with vain hope but we were still waiting with a ball in our stomachs that was growing day by day. And while everyone was busy or killing time, suddenly mana vibrations were felt at the entrance of the cave. The entirety of the people were all present so I knew it couldn't be one of us.

"There's someone in the cave ! Everyone, back up !"

Elyon and I had felt this power that seemed different from the empress's. It was less startling, but still far too powerful for us who were just former slaves in hiding. The thing that had entered the cave was definitely coming towards us and I could read the panic on everyone's face.

"Don't be afraid ! We...we will find a way out of this situation if it turns out to be dangerous !"

I could only throw out baseless promises in hopes of appeasing those who had already begun to tremble. I didn't know what this creature was, or if it was hostile to us, but I could only wait by the side of the Elf who was preparing to incant at any moment.

"I..I'm not very strong, if a fight were to start here I wouldn't last long but I could at least buy you some time with my skill."

"..."

I didn't know what to say...saving as many people as possible was the most important but I didn't want it to be at the cost of anyone's life. We had all been saved, we had all survived and for what ? To finally die here ? No way ! If I had to, I was going to fight too.

"It arrives..."

___

-- POV General --

While inside the cellar, the half-humans were panicking and trembling with a sword of Damocles over their heads, Gaya walked along the corridor calmly and quietly. The dragoness was again lost in her thoughts after entering the mountain. Her heart was clenching and she needed a lot of courage to move forward, because even though this place was where she had met Freya, she had to remember that it was also the place where she had been imprisoned, too weak to defend herself. Her heart was beating faster and faster as she moved forward, sliding her hand over the cold rock filled with many memories.

The entrance to the great hall that was once her prison was in sight and the crimson-haired woman could already sense that there was some commotion inside. As she entered the place, the half-humans were huddled in a corner trembling with their eyes closed while a minotaur and an elf faced her.

"Who...who are you ?"

Yorr had spoken first, signaling Elyon to wait before doing anything stupid that might lead them all to their deaths. The two former slaves tried to hide their fears as best they could from this beautiful unknown woman who had ventured into their temporary home.

"Are you the ones Empress Freya rescued some time ago ?"

Gaya stepped forward as she in turn asked a question, eager to leave to join the others. As those present heard her words, their heads slowly rose and their eyes opened.

Yorr and Elyon did not know who she was and did not understand the situation. A woman was standing in front of them and seemed to be coming from the person they were most looking forward to but they were still confused. The dragoness grew impatient as she crossed her arms to show her annoyance.

"Yes...we were sent here by our Empress and we are still waiting for her to come and get us. May I ask again who you are ?"

The minotaur had relaxed slightly upon hearing that the dragoness knew the Empress, but he still didn't fully trust her. Gaya was much stronger than them and even if she wasn't as strong as Freya, she would have no trouble taking them all out.

"My name is Gaya, I've come here to get you all and take you to the Dark Forest where Freya is about to build the foundations of her kingdom. Over 200 people are already at her side to help her realize this dream and you are all welcome."

At these words, some had begun to weep with joy at the thought of not being forgotten while others hurried to gather what little they had to leave. What was her position in the Kingdom ? What was her relationship with Freya ? Yorr and Elyon still stood still as so many questions remained in their minds. With a smile on her face and having figured out what was going on, Gaya puffed out her chest slightly with pride, staring at the two curious people before answering.

"I am the Empress' wife.."

As the dragoness finished her sentence, the entire cave had suddenly become silent. Then suddenly, 102 people were once again on their knees, this time before the wife of their savior. Even the minotaur and the elf who had stood stunned for a moment were before her, their heads bowed and knees bent in respect.

"Forgive us for doubting you and being suspicious. We did not think the Empress had a wife, and still we did not think she would come for us."

Yorr felt ashamed of the behavior he had shown to the wife of the one he had admired since his rescue. The others weren't proud either but felt more relieved than disappointed, unlike the minotaur who felt bad about it. Gaya looked at them all with her amber eyes as she raised her hand to ask them to stand up.

"Please stand up, it is normal to be on guard. We have a lot to do and plan before we leave, I would like you to gather everything you want to take with you as we will be leaving as soon as possible. I will tell you all the details on the way."

"Yes !"

The dragoness had finally arrived in the place where it all began for her and was now working to bring back the subordinates of her dear and loving wife whom she wished to see again at all costs. The return trip was going to be more difficult and longer than the first one, but Gaya was determined to bring them all back even if she had to put herself in danger for that.

This unusual group that was about to leave didn't know it yet, but a few people were lurking around the mountain, still looking for that famous giant wolf whose bounty was plastered all over the walls of the Yarlford guild.

____

FULL STATUS

Name : Freya

Age : 0 years old / Mentally : 25 years old

Sex : Female

Course : Ice Demon Wolf of chaos - Adult

Race : Major Demon

Titles : Blessed by Titania, Goddess of endless Chaos and eternal frozen Hell.

Dragon tamer

Ruthless slayer

Level : 32/70

Exp needed for next level: 22 100 / 33 000

HP : 90 000 / 90 000 MP : 45 000 / 45 000

Strength : 390

Defense : 386

Agility : 400

Stamina : 403

Speed : 392

Intelligence : 390

Charisma : 410 (imperial she-wolf)

Attribute points to allocate : 0

Married to: Gaya

Daughter : Shiro

Kingdom (menu)

Subordinates : 385

Humans killed : 148

Elements: Ice / Chaos

Skills (all):

Attack - Demon Claws (Lvl 5)

- Bite of hell (Lvl 5)

- Infernal ice spikes (Lvl 6)

- Fighting techniques (lvl max)

- Mastery of the katana (lvl max)

- Demonic aura of the empress (lvl 5)

Defense - Ice demon wall (lvl 5)

- Demonic cloak (lvl 5)

Pain Resistance (lvl 3)

Attack/Defense - Domain of the Ice Empress "frozen wrath" (lvl 1) - (under condition)

Others - Humanoid form

- Ice creation (Lvl 4)

- Storage of chaos (Lvl 3)

- Devouring chaos (Lvl 4)

- Analysis

- Second soul (Lvl max) - unique

- Telepathy

Passives - Commander (lvl max)

- Natural Aura of the Ice Empress ]