Chapter 19: Wolf’s Pride, Dragon’s Vow, Witch’s Beginning (2)
The pixies fluttered back and forth, as the couple walked through the moonlit forest, their chattering curiosity trailing behind them like a ribbon of light. Demond's steps grew lighter, the frosty trail thinner, as Adrei's scales glinted with a soft glow of solace. The couple walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, the rhythm of their movements in sync from years of unshared battles, untold stories, and unspoken understanding.
The wind blew through the trees with a cheerful sigh, carrying with it a sign of the clearing just up ahead. The witch's heart drummed in her chest as she recalled the countless mornings she had spent with Leona, watching the dawn break over the horizon from that very hill with the young Alice. The memory was bittersweet, but she pushed on, her hand finding its way to Adrei's scale-covered arm. The dragon looked down at her with a gentle gaze, the unspoken need for a companionship stronger than any words could ever convey.
The path converged as the trees grew sparse, revealing the clearing Demond had mentioned. The hill's peak lay before them, bathed in the soft light of the moon. The dragon felt a tickle in her chest as she saw the excitement in the witch's eyes, a hint of life returning to her weary soul. Adrei couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sight of the hill, as if it held secrets of joy and sorrow that only the two of them could unravel together.
The witch closed her eyes, her hand tightening around the dragon's arm. The wind sang of a chorus of memories, each note a drop of graced moonshot in her heart. The dragon felt the warmth of the witch's touch, the heaviness of her frosted steps and the promise of a new Chapter in their shared story. They began climbing the hill, their steps sure and steady, the night air crisp and pure with the scent of leaves and earth beneath the frosted path.
The pixies, whose home remained in the forest, watched the unusual sight of their two most fearsome yet loved figures walk away from the clearing. They giggled among themselves, the call of the leaves echoing their mirth. Grief is never rhymed in children's fairy tales, and the Pixies were the purest essence of those tales. Their laughter grew distant as the witch and the dragon climbed the hill, the moon's glow guiding their steps.
"May the moonlight shine everlasting, and the sun shall rise to meet us at dawn," Demond murmured as they reached the summit, the moon dangling on the horizon like a silver fruit ripe for the plucking. Adrei looked down at the witch, her eyes filled with a curiosity that transcended their usual fiery hue.
"Leona never told me much about the Frozen Night. Prideful as she always is, but she did say that this was where the gloriest battles froze in time, literally." Demond spoke as they reached the hilltop, the wind playing with her silver hair. She turned to face Adrei, her gaze reflecting the blue moonlight.
"I asked once if it is like a Vahalla thing back in my hometown, if my companions...find themselves there too, and you know what that stubborn wolf told me?" Demond chuckled, her eyes misty with pain, yet nostalgia and joy dancing within the depths of her blue orbs. "That battles are better forgotten for those drunkards, that she'd rather sleep through the afterlife than listen to their boasts and bluster again."
"That indeed sounds like the prideful queen I knew," Adrei said, her voice carrying a hint of amusement. "But tell me, what do you believe awaits beyond?"
"I know you're asking a trick question, but too bad, this old mage already studied from his stolen tomes!" Demond said with a smirk, the chilly air carrying her laugh. She took a deep breath, the moon casting a serene light across her face, a stark contrast to the flame of Adalon that scarred her past.
"The Spirit King's Fortress. The one I promised to conquer with Leona." Demond's voice grew solemn as she stared into the moonlit horizon. "I imagine it's a place where Alice would laugh as she reduces it to rubbles with a flick of her wrist, and Leona would be proud while scoffing at the disrespect."