Seraphina: Whispers of the Flower and Frost

The guild master's office bore the weight of countless years. Dusty bookshelves, yellowed maps, and an old hourglass by the window whispered of time's relentless passage. As I took my seat, Beatrice stood beside me, her silver armor gleaming in the morning sunlight. Outside the window, the snow-capped peaks of Sia Kalt dazzled the eye, but we all knew the dangers hidden within that beauty. In the corner of the room, Ronflow's harp played a soft melody. The elf, who had lived over two hundred years, used his innate sensitivity to gently ease the tension, but the anxiety in my chest refused to subside. Even his ancient eyes, filled with the wisdom of ages, held a tension I'd never seen before.

Chloe's white ears twitched sensitively, and Gain leaned against the wall, never letting go of his spear. His cold gaze scanned the surroundings ceaselessly, as if battle could erupt at any moment.

"That flower... saved the village?"

Marianne clutched her holy symbol tightly as she replied. I could see her hands trembling faintly. "Yes... Under the red moonlight, a sweet fragrance spread, and all the monsters followed it and vanished. It was just like a miracle from Lady Michael. But..."

Lien cut in coldly. "It wasn't a miracle. Just the power of a monster."

The guild master's voice was heavy. "And then Frostia appeared."

At that name, the air in the room froze. Chloe's white ears quivered, and Gain gripped his spear shaft even tighter. Even Ronflow's harp fell silent for a moment.

Oldin spoke in a trembling voice. "The sight of that massive ice dragon transforming into a silver-haired woman... I can't forget it even now. That overwhelming presence... it felt like a god had descended."

Lady Michael... what was that vision I saw...

Confusion bloomed in my heart. The sacred being I'd seen in my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dreams every night—was it truly a subordinate of Frostia, the absolute ruler of the great labyrinth?

Hafel's sharp words snapped me from my thoughts. "She spared us, but warned us never to show our faces again. Or she'd turn us into fertilizer. And she said it with a smile."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Marianne spoke cautiously. "But that flower... it clearly had Lady Michael's divine power..."

"Quiet." Lien sharply silenced her. Her eyes mixed fear and wariness. "We agreed not to talk about that."

Did she notice my doubts? Arthur glanced out the window before explaining in a low voice. "That flower... it wanted to learn our language. We taught it for a fortnight. But if this gets out..."

"We could be branded followers of an evil god." Gain nodded.

Followers of an evil god? That doesn't make sense. More than that...

It... learned language?

My mind grew even more chaotic. The sacred being from my nightly dreams, a subordinate of Frostia, learning language... And how do we explain the divine power Marianne sensed?

"We all ate the flower nectar." Oldin's words tensed everyone. "What we felt then..."

Hafel hesitated. "It was like our consciousness expanded. As if our hearts connected..."

The guild master looked at Beatrice. His wrinkled eyes held his last glimmer of hope. But Beatrice slowly shook her head. "Frostia... is beyond my power..."

In that moment, something surged within me. Like the first time I received Lady Michael's revelation, a shiver ran through my entire body. I stood and declared, "There's still hope."

All eyes turned to me. Ronflow's harp paused, and Chloe's ears perked up.

"The flower from my dreams... it was clearly praying in Lady Michael's name. And it... it was calling me. This must be Her will."

A sigh escaped Oldin's beard. "But Saintess, the monsters..."

"I believe." I smiled, though a pang twisted in my chest. I recalled my childhood in the knight order, when Beatrice always worried about my stubbornness. Was I making such a reckless decision back then too?

Beatrice placed a hand on my shoulder. "I won't let you go alone."

Her golden hair shone radiantly in the sunlight, just like that day... the day I became the saintess and left, when she cried behind me. Back then, she didn't stop me. She only apologized for not being able to stay by my side until the end...

"I'll go with you. This time..."

Her words heated my eyes. Ronflow's harp fell silent, then resumed with an even more beautiful ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠melody. Chloe's tail swayed gently, and Gain's stern expression softened for a moment. Outside, Sia Kalt's snowy peaks blazed. Far off, the great ice wall of the labyrinth awaited us. There might be the truth of my vision... and perhaps an even greater terror.

Lady Michael... I don't know if this is the start of calamity or the path to salvation. But...

Beatrice's hand gripped my shoulder firmly.

We... must uncover the truth.

The dawn's biting wind clawed at my face. We pushed through knee-deep snow, but our footprints vanished almost immediately. Each step was agonizing, but not just physically.

Is this the right path...?

Beatrice cleared the snow ahead. Her silver armor sparkled in the morning light like a shining beacon. But I knew the same anxiety gnawed at her heart...

"Seraphina." Beatrice halted. "Are you... regretting it?"

I shook my head. "No. It's just..." I couldn't continue.

Beatrice turned, her blue eyes filled with deep understanding. "I know. I'm... scared too."

Her honest confession lightened my heart a little. We arrived at last—to nothing. Just endless white plains and, far away, the massive entrance to the great labyrinth. Were all those nightly dreams a lie?

"Is this the place...?" My voice scattered in the wind.

Chloe perked her ears. "Maybe... everyone saw the same illusion..."

"No." My voice rang cold. "Lady Michael's revelation... is never in vain."

Was it faith, or stubbornness? But turning back now was impossible.

Beatrice gazed at the labyrinth. "If it's Frostia's possession... it might be inside."

I looked too. The vast ice cave stretched into unfathomable depths, its majesty stealing one's breath.

"I'll go alone."

Beatrice blocked me. "Together."

Her voice trembled. "You all, return to the village. If we... don't come back, tell the Church of Light."

Ronflow's harp wailed mournfully. No one stopped his playing this time. The sad melody spread across the peaks, like a lament for parting.

Among the eight great labyrinths, Sia Kalt held the most mysteries. The entrance to the massive ice cave loomed in the darkness, sharp icicles hanging threateningly from the ceiling. What awaited there? A sacred being, or greater horror?

A wyvern flew far off, detouring wide around the labyrinth's domain. It showed just how perilous this place was.

Lady Michael... protect us.

Under the clear sky, our footprints faded one by one. As if wishing this journey had never begun... or foretelling what was to come...

Mmm... so boooring.

With Master gone, there's way too much nothing to do. I wanna go back and act all cute for her already! Now the bugz are hunting monsters on their own, and all I do is heal and drink blood...

Is this what they call auto-hunt?

I checked the bugz's status around me. Their average level had surpassed 100 already. Thanks to Master's finishing blows on those deep-layer monsters!

And me...

Does this even make sense?

It's only been about three weeks, and leveling up this fast? Is it because I drank the deep-layer monsters' blood? Or...

Maybe the first three years without evolving blocked my level-ups!?

The more I thought, the more it stung. If I'd stayed awake those three years, I'd be several times stronger now!

I let a drop of nectar flow, and the girl butterfly flew over. She looked more like a fairy now than a butterfly.

I'm so wronged! I could've been way stronger!

I poured my grievance into the sweet nectar. The butterfly nodded solemnly, stroking my petal with her tiny legs.

Gasp! She's comforting me? I hadn't expected much, but this is touching...

Thanks...

The butterfly blushed and flitted about. Hehe. She's weak to praise, as always.

Hmm, then.

Any news on Master?

She shook her head. Not yet, huh.

Hmm... She went to find a polymorph-capable monster, but it's taking forever.

Guess I'll keep watching the bugz. Right on cue, Crystal Beetle flew in carrying an injured Hyperborean Ant on its back from a fight. My pollen healed the ant's wounds quickly.

Good job. The corpse?

The butterfly flitted, and the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ant nodded, climbing the ice wall. Soon it returned dragging the monster corpse.

Auto-hunt is so convenient~

This life isn't bad... but I yawned.

Master... when will you come back...

Cecilia sparkled between my petals like a tiny ruby. Watching her beautiful form warmed my heart. My hotpack...

She's about due to wake up soon...