"Goodbye, Donshell!" I called out, waving cheerfully at the mouth of the cave. My voice echoed against the jagged walls, lingering like a fragile melody before fading into the depths.

  "Goodbye, too, Ice Princess," the old turtle replied with a knowing smile. His weathered face, etched with countless years of wisdom, radiated a kindness I would not soon forget. "Remember, my child, you may return here whenever the tides guide you."

  "And you, Skymint," he added, his tone dipping into a quiet seriousness. "Protect her well. I trust you’ll keep her safe, unseen by those who seek her."

  "Thank you, Shell," Skymint replied with a grin, tipping his hat as though brushing off the gravity of that responsibility. "We’ll come back—someday, perhaps, when the stars see fit. May they guide us to meet again."

  Skymint turned toward the cave's exit, his thick wool coat brushing against the rocky walls with every stride.

  For a moment, I lingered at the edge of the shadows. The icy blue cloak Donshell had gifted me fluttered gently as though it were part of the frosty air itself. Its hood, lined with soft white fur and intricate silver threads, shimmered faintly like frost catching the light. He’d transformed my flowing gown into a lavender tunic—simple yet elegant—and my fragile ice heels into silver-gray boots that clinked lightly against the stone floor. The transformation left me feeling unburdened, almost lighter, as if I’d shed the remnants of an old life.

  I cast one last glance over my shoulder, watching as Donshell disappeared into the tunnel's shadows, his silhouette dissolving into darkness. There was an ache in the stillness that followed, a quiet farewell I didn’t know how to put into words.

  I turned and hurried after Skymint, the gentle sound of my boots mingling with the rhythmic crash of waves beyond the cave. As we reached the shore, the sight of the waiting boat stirred something conflicted in me—a rush of anticipation mixed with a quiet sadness.

  I climbed aboard, settling into my seat as Skymint pushed us off. The horizon stretched out before us, vast and endless, the sky painted in sweeping strokes of twilight blue. Somewhere beyond the waves, the polar bear village awaited, hidden beneath the shimmering veil of the northern lights.

  And yet, excitement alone didn’t fill me. Beneath it, something else stirred—a sadness rooted in the truth. I couldn’t show myself to them, no matter how close we sailed. That thought pressed against my chest like a shard of ice, cold and unrelenting, a reminder of the distance between who I am and who I wish to be.

  ***

  Several minutes passed, and we finally reached the small island of polar bears—far faster than I had expected. We had traveled from the sea cave near the Glacia Kingdom in the north to the northeastern part of the hemisphere, a long way from where we had met. During the journey, Skymint had taught me a peculiar skill: the ability to transform myself into ice. I could only hold the form for a few minutes, but it was enough to ensure my concealment in his village.

  "Are you ready?" he asked, holding up a small jar with the lid slightly ajar.

  "Yes," I said. A single word, and then my form shifted—I became an ice cube.

  Inside the jar, I felt myself sealed in as Skymint screwed the lid shut and slipped it into his pocket. I wasn’t entirely alone, though—my fruit cube, a reminder of simpler times, sat by my side.

  The world outside became an indistinct hum, and the only thing I could perceive was the shiny black cube pressed against me. Every step Skymint took sent small vibrations through my icy form, tilting me slightly with his movements. Then, his footsteps stopped, and a familiar voice greeted him:

  "Hey, Skymint! Here are the ice bills," said the gruff but warm voice of Mister Puffin, the old bear.

  "Thank you very much, Mr. Puffin. I appreciate your service," Skymint replied politely.

  The bear chuckled. "No problem! Just don’t forget to sell me some fish next time, or I might take these bills for myself!"

  Skymint laughed lightly. "Well, this might be your last chance, Mister."

  After their exchange, Skymint continued walking until I felt the jar being lifted out of his pocket. Cool blue brick walls greeted me as he unscrewed the lid. I jumped out, instantly reverting to my true form.

  "I'm finally in the polar bear village—" My words trailed off as I looked around, realizing the harsh truth of my situation. "Well... stuck in an igloo because I’m a dead princess."

  "Don’t lose hope," Skymint said, his words steady and reassuring. "This is only temporary. Once the Guardian of Polarmen hears of your plight, he’ll ensure your safety."

  His encouragement sparked a flicker of warmth in my otherwise weary heart. His gaze, filled with genuine concern, reminded me that I wasn’t entirely alone in this.

  Just as I was about to thank him, Skymint frowned and turned, muttering, "Why does my back feel... heavier today?"

  I followed his gaze to his back and spotted something clinging to him—Chillbi.

  "Skymint—" I began, but before I could finish, the tiny creature leapt from his back and perched on my shoulder.

  Skymint’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Oh, Chillbi, what brought you here?"

  "Master say... guard Arie," the small creature said in a soft, almost childlike voice. Startled, I flung it off my shoulder.

  Chillbi landed on the icy floor with uncanny grace, its sharp, toothy grin unfazed by my reaction. Skymint crouched, his black, inverted-triangle nose almost brushing Chillbi’s pale blue face.

  "Shell didn’t tell me about this," he muttered, irritation flickering across his features. "You should go back to him."

  "No! Me stay here!" Chillbi declared, scrambling up onto Skymint’s head. Its pleading black eyes locked onto mine, making me pause.

  I sighed, a smile tugging at my lips. "We should keep him."

  "Me thank you!" Chillbi exclaimed, leaping into my hands.

  Skymint still seemed uneasy. "It’s ironic how you were scared of it before. You do realize it’s still the Ice Monster, just... smaller."

  "Yes, but it’s too cute to be threatening now," I said with a shrug, placing Chillbi on the icy desk. "Besides, I know you have responsibilities—your community, your family. You can’t always be here with me."

  Skymint’s expression softened. "I understand... but I don’t want you to feel lonely."

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  He stood and headed for the door. "I’ll be back soon with dinner. Remember, don’t open the door unless the knock is three times."

  "Alright," I assured him, sliding the lock into place after he left. My hands trembled slightly as I secured the door, the silence of the igloo pressing in on me.

  Sitting on the small white bed beside Chillbi, I let my thoughts wander back to Skadar. The memory of his betrayal lingered like a phantom, gnawing at my resolve. I was supposed to be in the Fresha Kingdom by now, seeking help. Instead, I was here, questioning everything.

  Why didn’t he just kill me when he had the chance? That question haunted me. Was his loyalty genuine, or had I been deceived from the start?

  I thought back to the moment he saved me from the disguised Wolfmen. The rage in his eyes, the way he fought—it couldn’t have been fake. Could it? The memory of his warm hands holding mine felt so real, yet now it seemed tainted by doubt.

  As I stared at Chillbi, my thoughts shifted. "How did you become like this?" I asked the tiny creature.

  "Master bind me," it replied simply.

  "Bind? Binder’s Magic?"

  Chillbi nodded, confirming my suspicion. Donshell must have used Binder’s Magic not only to alter my clothes but to transform Chillbi as well. This kind of magic required consent from both parties—had the Ice Monster willingly agreed?

  The idea seemed strange, almost too bizarre to comprehend. But compared to everything else that had happened, was it really so unbelievable?

  Still, a voice from the past lingered in my mind—Dorsey’s voice, echoing her protest. "There’s no way I possess Binder’s Magic! It must be someone else using it against me!"

  Could Dorsey have been framed? The thought unsettled me, but I pushed it aside. Whatever happened in the Glacia Kingdom wasn’t my problem anymore.

  I needed to focus on the future, no matter how uncertain it seemed.

  ***

  Claudius' POV

  It was only yesterday that the palace crumbled into shards of ice. I had tried my best to salvage the royal library, but in the end, it too was lost—burned into memory, much like the girl I admired. I hadn’t even gathered the courage to ask her for a dance before she was gone. And Skadar... how could he, of all people, have failed to protect Arie from Felipe?

  It wasn’t just his failure that haunted me. He had purchased the rare Daysky flower from me, only to gift it to her. That should have been my gesture.

  I stormed out of our mansion and mounted my black horse, gripping the reins as if they could anchor me from the storm within. I needed to ride—fast, reckless—to drown out the weight pressing against my chest. The houses I passed blurred into mere backdrops, insignificant against the hurricane of my emotions. I had to see him.

  When I reached the marble mansion inlaid with gold, there he was—Skadar—calmly sipping tea on the terrace. He noticed me immediately, standing with that unnervingly warm smile that sent a chill down my spine.

  "What brings you here, Claudius?" he asked, voice smooth as silk.

  "I'm here to talk about how exactly you lost Arie," I replied, my tone sharp and unwavering.

  "Come, have tea with me," he offered, as though my words were as inconsequential as the wind.

  "No, thanks. I don’t drink tea." I dismounted, stepping closer, my fists already clenching.

  "Straightforward today, aren’t we? That’s not like you." He descended the terrace, his tone laced with mockery. "Desperate for her, are you? Even if she were alive, what would you gain?"

  The pause between us bristled with tension.

  "Either way," he continued, his smug expression twisting the knife, "I’d still be her first choice."

  That was it. My restraint shattered. My fist, blazing with phantom aura, collided with his face before he could even react. The blow was so abrupt, even his light-born reflexes couldn’t save him.

  And then it happened. A vision—his thoughts bleeding into my mind. I saw it. Skadar freezing Arie and burying her in the depths of the Great Glacia Ocean.

  The vision jolted me like lightning. The ability to see someone's thoughts through pain was a gift—no, a curse—of my phantom magic, one I could only use once every twenty-four hours. No one but my mother knew I possessed it.

  Skadar recovered quickly, glaring at me with eyes like molten gold.

  "Not in front of my mansion." His voice was ice, and in a flash, he teleported us to the backyard.

  Before I could react, a barrage of light rays rained down on me.

  I summoned translucent duplicates of myself, weaving left and right, trying to dodge his relentless assault. My mind raced. I should apologize—no, I shouldn’t. He deserved this. He needed to be punished.

  "Don’t you feel even a shred of guilt?" I yelled, my voice echoing through the yard. "I know what you did!"

  "A mind reader, are we?" Skadar sneered. "I’ll make you mind your own business!"

  Ice shot up from the ground, ensnaring my feet. Before I could break free, a searing blast of light struck me, scorching my skin.

  "I—I don’t have a business," I croaked, even as pain wracked my body. Somehow, I managed a grin—sharp, defiant.

  He approached, his expression a dangerous mix of amusement and malice. "I thought you’d finally grown serious. But never mind."

  His voice dropped. "Did you read my mind?"

  I spat blood, smirking through the agony. "Whatever I say, you’ll hurt me anyway. You’re doing this because you want to."

  His face twisted. "Don’t you think I constantly think about it?"

  "I don’t care what you feel," I said coldly. "You’re a horrible person."

  Summoning what strength I had left, I pushed myself off the ground and landed a swift, phantom-infused kick to his groin. His agonized scream pierced the air, but before I could savor the moment, a shadow loomed over me.

  "Lady Collfumes’ son," came a deep, icy voice. Skadar’s father, his blue eyes simmering with fury. "I didn’t expect this from you—especially not against my beloved son."

  His words carried the weight of a death sentence.

  "I’ll escort you to the dungeon. King Felipe himself will decide your fate."

  I glanced back at Skadar, who was still writhing in pain, his golden eyes burning with malice.

  I despised him—and his father, too. Hearing Felipe addressed as "king" was like waking up in a twisted dream. My foolishness had led me here, my inability to control my emotions overriding the logic I usually clung to. Now, I would face the consequences of my recklessness.

  And yet, I didn’t regret it. Not one bit.

  ***

  The dark gray walls of the dungeon loomed around me, their cold silence broken only by the occasional crackle of orange flames from the torches. Time dragged endlessly, each second stretching into eternity as I waited for my mother. She was supposed to come. She had to come.

  But the longer I waited, the more despair clawed at the edges of my mind. Just as I was about to give in, the sound of footsteps echoed through the stone halls. My heart lifted—only to freeze in place when the figure came into view.

  A man. Black hair framing a pale face, his crimson-red eyes glinting like a serpent’s, locked onto mine with an unnerving smile.

  "Oh, Claudius Collfumes," he began, his voice smooth but cutting. "You must be the son of the Dream Seer who’s gone missing..." His gaze lowered, his expression feigning pity. "What a shame. She left her own child behind."

  His words struck like a dagger, and I felt the air leave my lungs. "Th—there’s no way she’d do that," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

  He leaned forward, placing his hands on the table between us. "Perhaps," he mused, "but maybe she didn’t want to serve her visions to me. So she left you to take her place instead."

  The thought made my stomach churn, but he wasn’t done.

  "Think about it," he continued, his words heavy with calculated intent. "Arie wouldn’t want you to be imprisoned, would she?"

  The mention of Arie sent a sharp pang through my chest. Imprisoned? No. I couldn’t let that happen. The gravity of my situation finally hit me like a tidal wave. This wasn’t just about me anymore—it was about survival in a kingdom where loyalty meant nothing, and manipulation was king.

  "Serve me," Felipe offered, his tone deceptively kind. "And you’ll stay clean. Use that phantom magic of yours to prove your worth. You’re in the perfect position to do so."

  I clenched my fists under the table, my thoughts swirling. Arie was dead, and now this man wanted to pull me into his web of lies and schemes. His words were poison, and yet... what choice did I have?

  He leaned closer, his crimson gaze piercing. "I’m glad you’re considering it. To prove yourself, I have a task for you."

  I didn’t reply, but he smirked as though my silence was all the confirmation he needed.

  "I want you to use your powers on Dorsey," he said. "Read her mind. Find out if she’s plotting anything against me."

  The weight of his command settled over me like a crushing boulder.

  "I’ll hear your report next week," he added, rising from his chair. Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving the faint echo of his footsteps behind.

  The silence that followed was suffocating. My heartbeat thundered in my ears as Felipe’s words replayed in my mind.

  How could I possibly do what he asked? How could I not? If I refused, he’d destroy me without a second thought. But to betray Dorsey, to strike her just to use my phantom magic... I couldn’t stomach the idea.

  My hands trembled as I gripped the edge of the table, my thoughts turning to my mother. If she were here, would she be able to guide me out of this nightmare? Or would she look at me with disappointment, seeing the iron bars that now defined my existence?

  I exhaled shakily.

  Felipe thought he had me cornered, but he underestimated one thing: I wasn’t about to let him play me like a pawn. This kingdom might be corrupt, and I might be powerless now, but I wouldn’t stay that way.

  I would find a way to outsmart him. For my mother. For Arie. For myself.

  No matter what it took, I had to stay mentally strong. In a world of deception and chaos, my only weapon was my mind. And I intended to use it.