One of the Seven Knights claimed they were the strongest in the kingdom and that they were led by Alexander. I don't know if he was telling the truth — we've never seen them before, only heard about them. The girl looked at the Ice Lord.
"Sir, are you really one of the Seven Knights?" she asked.
"Yes," he answered. "Then where is the rest of your team? Doesn't every knight have a squad? I'll form my own team here. Listen, I have two missions: the first is to make sure the demons don't come, and you'll learn the second soon enough."
At that moment, and because you are the people of this region, I believe those who should liberate the Ice Region are its own people and no one else. So whoever wishes to join, decide. Are you saying we should join? Are you joking with me? We fought a few demons but we were exhausted.
One of them stepped forward. "Listen, if you're one of the knights, then prove it. Bring your team and come to save us as you claim. If you can't, you are free to return to where you came from. I won't follow someone I don't even know."
The place fell silent. No one spoke; they waited for the Ice Lord's reaction. Would he respond to the insult or leave? The Ice Lord looked at the man. "As I said, I have two missions. The first is to free this region from the demons, and the second is a private mission. I will accomplish both alone. I see hearts that cannot fight — they have no courage. When I heard that everyone in the Ice Region remained despite knowing that demons were near and the place teemed with monsters and there was no plant to sow, I thought I would meet unwavering bravery. But what a disappointment. So, people, listen."
"I am the one who will protect you to the last drop of my blood, and I will start with that demon."
He dismantled and shattered the ice, and with it what was inside — all torn apart — except the sorcerer, who remained as he was, but the ice melted from his face. The demon looked at the Ice Lord. "So you were the one who ruined our plan."
The Ice Lord smiled. "You were hit. Now tell me, why did you break the old covenant?"
"I did not betray it; he did not appear yet," the demon replied.
Everyone was stunned. He did not show who he meant — a demon or something else?
"Calm down," the Ice Lord said. "You know who he is. When he appears, he will be the champion of the pact. But we are only twenty demons, level zero — that means we are not of a high level."
"You are right. That means my task is easier. Now tell me, why did you come here?"
The demon sighed and laughed. "As if I would tell you. No need for you, demon. Ice power — shatter!"
The ice continued to break, and the demon inside it slowly controlled it. "Kill me then," he hissed. "Consider this an order."
The demon kept suffering until it was completely shattered.
Rose approached, sorrowful. "Ice Lord, why did you torture him like that?"
"You're right; he was evil. But doesn't the hero show mercy? Killing that demon in such a way is not heroic, is it, girl?"
"You're right, but they're always the ones who betray."
The Ice Lord looked at her and put his hand on her shoulder. "Goodness is not everything. Absolute goodness is to assess and act accordingly. Neither the heart rules rightly alone nor the mind."
As he spoke to her, a spell emerged from the place where the sorcerer had died and appeared again. He attacked the Ice Lord. When Rose and the villagers saw him, they shouted loudly to warn him, but the magical force pierced the chest area so that the demon's hand entered the Ice Lord's chest. Is this how a knight of the Seven Knights dies — because he was foolish?
The girl grabbed the place of the wound in panic. "Ice Lord, don't worry. He didn't hit me."
"What? Are you alive?"
The Ice Lord removed — evaporated — amidst everyone's astonishment. "Now I know how you regenerate. I only needed to trace your magical power and destroy the source. I have done so. And how do you feel? You have only one soul left."
"Impossible. How can I—? I won't say you found the location of the gate."
"Impossible. We moved it so it would be impossible to find. Who do you think you are? I am the one who will finish you. That is a promise."
The demon gathered all his strength, prepared to attack, and then unleashed it. The power froze — the force stopped — to everyone's amazement. The Ice Lord grabbed his sword; the thin ice struck and split the demon in two.
When the girl saw that, she felt something strange, as if her reality had shifted and the prison in her heart would be released. Finally, the burden she carried was lifted. After eliminating the demon, the Ice Lord put his sword back in its place and looked at the entire tribe.
"I have fulfilled the first promise. As for the second, I will finish it as well. Know that my hope — to form a team from here — has not lost its resolve."
The girl shouted, "I want to join!"
"Huh? What did you say? You want someone to join the team? And I will join. My name is Rose and I am the team's deputy."
The Ice Lord gave a sarcastic smile. "I said I want grown people, not a child who doesn't exceed one hundred and twenty-five centimeters. Also, the cloak must be returned."
"Do you refuse me? Don't you know who I am? I'm Rose, the leader's daughter. If you want everyone to listen to you, you must include me."
Rose's brother, Folak, stepped forward. "I'm sorry for my sister's behavior, but she is right. See? I told you. Brother, there must be someone with you who the village listens to, so please accept me."
"You are acceptable, sort of. Fine — I appoint you deputy commander."
"What? But I wanted that position. I didn't include you in the team."
"Even for the team?" the Ice Lord said.
"Call Iris. I am the same age as Folak, so I want to join."
"Welcome. I accept both of you. And no — now give me back my cloak; it belongs to the team leader."
Rose's eyes shone. "So I am the team leader now, and my first order is that you are dismissed from the team until you acknowledge my leadership."
"No. Now give me the cloak."
She tried to take it; if she could, she stuck out her tongue and ran. "Your first order: be the team leader."
They grabbed that girl and smiled. "We were thinking the same."