Aidan quietly gripped the sword hilt.

As a skilled warrior, he succeeded in smoothly raising his left hand to Phommel without making even the slightest sound of the swords colliding.

Fortunately, Calihel did not notice Aidan’s movements.

No, it seemed more accurate to say that he wasn’t interested in Aidan’s actions.

“Lady Cloria is aware, but we don’t know where she is. Why are you looking for Lady Cloria now?”

In response to Aidan’s question, Calihel raised his eyebrows. It was a gesture of confusion.

[Strange question. You’re Hieldieta’s child. Is there any reason other than Lady Hieldieta looking for Lady Cloria?]

“…….”

After responding with a counter-question, Calihel raised his head again.

Even though his head wasn’t fully raised, his hair had already risen to its fullest height above the pine forest canopy.

[Is that so……. Well, I didn’t know.]

Calihel looked up at the sky with his eyes shining like glass beads.

[Certainly…… I thought I could find her……. I have to find her for her…….]

The starlight in the night sky sparkled as it collided with his transparent pupils.

Woo woo woo woo. Aiden howled again. Once to the north and then turning his body, he howled in all directions. He threw deep howls in every direction.

As if, hoping that Cloria would hear the howls and come to him.

Brody heard their conversation and Calihel’s howls, trapped in the fur, unable to move.

Even though it was transmitted through the fur, the vibrations passed through Brody’s head and spread deep waves into his chest.

It seemed like Calihel’s heart and Hieldieta’s heart were being fully conveyed.

Unable to move a finger, unable to cover his ears. Brody just received the sound with his whole body and trembled quietly.

Is it because it’s scary? Is it because of powerlessness? Or is it because it’s just too, too sad?

Rustle. Tears rolled down outside her frosty eyebrows.

The teardrop didn’t even touch the ground but froze on her cheek.

‘Hieldieta, this foolish idiot. Why, why did I let her go. Why.’

Splish. After crying for a while, Calihel, bending his elastic Kamon legs, sent out a large curtain from his stomach.

The wings with eagle feathers spread out completely, covering the head of the pine forest.

As the large wings moved up and down, the surrounding trees began to sway in concentric circles.

Aidan embraced Brody in the fur, adjusting his posture so that he wouldn’t be blown away by the wind.

With that decision, the ice tear that had been stuck to Brody’s cheek disappeared somewhere.

Soon, with the majestic flapping sound, a mountain rose and flew into the sky.

Fortunately, the vast sky embraced even that large creature openly.
So Calihel disappeared on his own path.

Aidan quickly withdrew the ice aura that had surrounded Brody.

When he removed the fur, Brody’s pale face, blue lips, and frost on eyebrows and skin were evident.

Aidan felt a terrible sense of guilt as he wiped Brody’s face.

He wondered if his actions to protect her were a wrong judgment. He started to tremble all over, wondering if she might have died during that time.

He could freeze this damned ability, but he couldn’t melt it.

It was fortunate that his body temperature was relatively high.

Aidan hugged her and gently slapped her cheek. Fortunately, warmth slowly returned.

As warmth returned and Brody’s body began to move, she immediately frowned.

She spoke with lips trembling, “I…… talk……”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m listening.”

“It’s, difficult, really……. for me.”

“…….”.

Brody’s eyes were full of resentment. Aidan, who had met her eyes for a moment, couldn’t bear to look at those eyes any longer. He had no face.

Brody lifted her frozen hand with difficulty. Since her mobility was not yet free, her arm was shaking. With that shaky hand, she grabbed the collar of Aidan’s shirt.

It was like a gesture telling him not to avoid the conversation.

Aidan forced out an answer with difficulty.

“I had to hide you from Calihel. There was no other way to erase the energy.”

With a tight grip on the clothes, Brody’s hand exerted more force, once again.

She barely managed to calm herself down and spoke with difficulty, as if trying to collide forcefully.

“Why, why are you, doing this? Are you, fighting with Calihel alone? So, even if you get hurt or die, are you telling me to survive?”

Aidan understood what Brody was trying to say.

Perhaps it was in line with the words she said before, ‘Hieldieta and Cloria’s story.’

Even if Cloria were to face death, she wanted to respect her will to stay by Hieldieta’s side.

‘But…’

Aidan couldn’t understand.

It wasn’t about not wanting to respect her. He simply couldn’t let her die.

He understood Hieldieta’s feelings. She was willing to kneel, even if her body withered, endure any outcome, just to save Cloria. He couldn’t ignore that desperate hope, even if it was like a fleeting dream.

In the end, he failed. He made her die.

‘From the beginning, it shouldn’t have been like this. Hieldieta and Cloria shouldn’t have been together.’