Inside the Ice Palace, within a vast chamber isolated by divine protection, the golden-haired girl Yuria awoke from her slumber.
Her mind felt hazy, like that of someone who had drunk far too much half drowsy, half awake.
"Where… am I?"
She muttered the question aloud, as if she had forgotten everything that had happened before.
"You are inside the Royal Palace of Preservation, within the healthcare quarters beside the Holy Sanctuary."
The answer did not come from her own thoughts, but from somewhere else.
Startled, Yuria stiffened, yet she could see nothing her vision was completely cut off.
"Do not worry. The room is dark because you exhausted your power beyond its limits. If we were to forcibly channel additional divinity, there could be a severe backlash."
The voice continued calmly.
"Due to your excessive actions, you have temporarily lost your eyesight and several of your senses. Your vision will return gradually with time."
Perhaps sensing her anxiety, the speaker softened her tone.
"I would like to rest for a bit. Could you leave me alone?"
Yuria asked gently, but the response she received was cold.
"My apologies. I cannot fulfill that request. Our lord specifically ordered me to monitor you and report immediately upon your awakening."
Yuria sighed and closed her eyes.
So… it's finally time.
Soon, she would meet the living god of this region North Frozenlight, the one destined to awaken with the authority of a half-true god of Protection.
What should I do? What should I do?
As she pondered how to introduce herself to North Frozenlight, she reached a conclusion.
To survive, she needed to stay close to him.
In the original story, the Kingdom of Preservation was destroyed at the very end though in most routes, it barely survived.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door of the dark room and spoke to the woman seated nearby.
"The lord has returned. If she shows no major complications, escort her to the Divine Court of Ice."
With that, the person departed and returned to their duties.
Yuria opened her system interface. Though her vision remained narrow, it appeared before her like a floating screen.
Then, light returned.
A bluish-white-haired woman sat beside the bed. Yuria hadn't sensed her presence at all.
She was beautiful.
"It is time to prepare, my lady. What should I call you?"
"Yuria… I'm Yuria."
Yuria answered, momentarily enchanted even as a girl herself.
"A fine name."
The woman smiled.
Yuria felt her cheeks heat up.
"It is time to prepare you for your audience with our lord."
She hesitated briefly.
"Is it manageable for you?"
Her voice held a trace of apology.
"Other than my eyes, I'm completely fine," Yuria replied.
"I can walk."
Delaying a divine being would only bring trouble especially one worshipped so fervently by his people.
The woman smiled once more, took Yuria's hand, and led her into another room.
"You cannot appear before our lord like this, my lady. With such a lovely face, you deserve the finest attire."
She gave a gentle laugh.
"I will personally prepare you."
....
Some time ago…
In a distant chamber of the Ice Royal Palace, Else Frozenlight stood before her youngest son the strongest being of the Nation, North Frozenlight.
Anger and sorrow warred on her face, as if she were questioning a mistake she could never undo.
"Why did you come here without resolving the situation completely?" she demanded.
"If I had known the Demonic Gods were plotting to kill you, I would never have sent you there."
Her voice trembled before hardening again.
"And only after your brother was injured and corrupted did you return?"
I felt irritation rise within me, but I did not allow it to show. She was my mother, after all. She had never meant to harm us her sons.
"Mother," I said calmly, "my brother was in danger. He needed me as his family."
Before I could explain further, she interrupted me, her voice firm and unyielding.
"Is Raka the only family you have?"
"What about the people of this nation?"
"North, you are the god of this land. To them, you are their father. How could you leave before everything was settled?"
She took a step closer.
"Raka, even corrupted, is still an angel. His presence alone will not bring immediate ruin."
"But what of the women who lost their husbands?"
"What of the children who lost their fathers?"
"They need you your presence, your protection now more than ever."
Her gaze pierced me.
"North, as the father of this nation, you must see all its people equally. You must protect them all. Do you understand?"
I did not answer her directly. Instead, I asked a single question.
"Mother… who will protect me if I face a situation with no way out?"
She met my eyes without hesitation and gave me the cruel answer one I had always known, yet never wished to accept.
"No one," she said.
"No one will help you but yourself. Not your brother. Not even me."
"Only you can protect yourself."
Her eyes lingered on me as she spoke once more, already turning away.
"Next time, think carefully about the consequences of your actions."
"I will hold your words in my heart, Mother," I replied softly.
I bowed slightly.
When she vanished from my sight, I returned to the Divine Court to manage the aftermath alone.