Everyone looked up.
At the back of the room, atop a platform, an incredible ice egg shone with elemental magic. It was surrounded by a phoenix statue and shards of pure ice. An irresistible power radiated from it.
To their shock, an ethereal figure materialized: a tall ice harpy with long silver hair tied in a ponytail.
Lavender eyes with black sclera, just like Willa and Ornna.
Snow-white skin tinged with purple.
A curvy, mature body—her animal side only adding to her beauty.
"Who are you!?" Bruma barked, raising her shield protectively.
"Oh, forgive me! You don't recognize me in this form… I am the eternal guardian of these lands! I am Anivia, the Icy Wind of the Freljord!" she declared with dignity.
"Ani… Anivia, the mighty Cryophoenix of the Freljord…" Nouna whispered.
"Yes, and I'm glad to finally meet you, little notai! You too, Willa—last time you were as small as a poro."
She approached the two girls, gently caressing their heads.
"Anivia… why did you choose me instead of real heroes? Like Bruma?" Nouna asked.
"You're mistaken, Nouna. Everyone has a role to play. Mine is to protect the Freljord. Yours may be to lead its people toward a brighter future."
Bruma placed a hand on the young girl's shoulder.
"Little Nouna… hero or not, you're exactly where you're meant to be."
Anivia inclined her head.
"Legendary Bruma… Knowing you're with them comforts me. Thank you for protecting the Freljord where I cannot."
"It's nothing for Bruma! With a poro, nothing is impossible!!" Bruma laughed, pointing at Little-White.
"Haha! Yes, poros are incredible… Perhaps I should keep one myself," Anivia chuckled, scratching the creature like a cat. The poro purred in delight. Her expression then turned serious.
"Nouna, you have a pure heart and an extraordinary gift. With my power merged with yours, you can achieve wonders. Believe me."
Encouraged, Nouna eagerly began recounting her adventures.
As Anivia listened, her gaze shifted toward Alex. At first, she thought he was simply staring at her chest… but then her eyes widened.
Golden eyes with slit pupils.
Messy brown hair.
Chocolate-colored skin.
And at his waist—the sword she knew too well.
No doubt.
He looked like a younger version of… him.
That blade had been guarded by her elder sister. She would never have given it up—except for him.
Before anyone could react, Anivia had already moved like the wind. She appeared before Alex, cupped his face… and kissed him deeply.
Her cold, blue tongue slipped into his mouth, her breath fresh like frost.
Alex, stunned but unwilling to remain passive, pulled her closer and kissed her passionately back.
With a loud, obscene sound, Anivia finally broke the kiss, a string of saliva connecting their lips.
"Sorry… you looked so irresistible! What's your name?" she teased, pretending not to know.
The group was in shock. The pure, dignified guardian had just turned into a hungry woman.
Especially Bruma, who hadn't yet shared such intimacy with Alex.
"I'm Alex…" he replied, savoring the taste still lingering.
As if nothing had happened, Anivia returned to her solemn tone:
"I'm sorry, Nouna. At first, I wanted to tell you your mother was here. But complications forced me into my cycle of rebirth.. Only today, thanks to your aura, was I able to awaken. Guided by the instructions of an old friend, I found your mother gravely wounded. Like the yetis, I used my power to halt her death, awaiting a cure."
"My mother is hurt!? Where is she!?" Nouna cried out, panicked.
Anivia led them behind the phoenix statue. There, encased in ice, lay a beautiful woman—a more mature version of Nouna. But a gaping wound marred her back, at the level of her heart.
"No! Mother… I'm sorry… I wasn't there to protect you!!" Nouna sobbed.
Willa hugged her tightly.
"You were just a child. You couldn't have done anything. And Anivia said she's not dead. We'll find a way to save her, I promise!"
Alex sealed that promise with a gentle kiss to calm the girl.
What a womanizer… Anivia thought.
"Anivia, can't you heal her?" Alex asked.
"Not me. But if Nouna awakens her powers, she can. As for me… my true body rests in this egg. In this state, I'm not even as strong as you, Alex."
"Who forced you into rebirth?"
Her expression darkened.
"It was a colossal, bloodthirsty creature. A Darkin. Fortunately—or unfortunately—I managed to detonate my body, dragging it into death with me."
A heavy silence followed.
"At least the Freljord is calm these days…" Bruma muttered.
"NO!! Don't say that!" Alex shouted, instincts screaming.
BOOOOOOM!!!