Feliks watched from the ramparts of the palace in Primgate as carrier pigeons and scouts rushed out in all directions from the castle. In the distance, the late summer afternoon sun was bathing the land in a heat that hadn't been properly felt in years.
The place had been in an uproar since high noon, when a gust of magical power came through from the north, brushed through the capital city and melted away the eternal winter. There were already parties assembling in the city, where the citizens were thrilled to suddenly have summer return after a long five years of winter.
Feliks glanced over to see Arthur approaching him on the rampart.
"Everyone's going crazy over this," Arthur observed, "I've never seen anyone so thrilled about it being summer."
"Does this happen in your world a lot?" Feliks quizzed, "Having a winter last five years, then having it suddenly transform into summer?"
"No, we don't have any strange winters like this," Arthur replied, "There are parts of my world that stay frozen all year long, even in the heights of summer with the midnight sun. Still, there is always the anticipation for the lush spring and summer heat after a long dark winter."
"That's normal here too," Feliks remarked, "This eternal winter spell was obviously not a natural occurrence, so having that lifted is a cause for celebration."
"Is there any word yet on how it happened?" Arthur asked.
"Nothing yet, we need to wait for information," Feliks answered, "All those rangers and carrier pigeons are heading out to all regions of Prathage right now to see what has happened."
"All regions of Prathage?" Arthur tested, "Shouldn't they pay closer attention to the north, where the strange gust came from?"
"Many of them are definitely heading that way," Feliks clarified, "The others are heading south, east and west to see how far that gust reached."
Hearing the cawing of birds behind them, Feliks turned around and looked north, leaning back against the rampart wall to see the birds circling overhead. There was one bird flying in the opposite direction, doing its best to dodge the others as it swooped lower in the air towards the castle. Feliks curiously watched the black bird swoop close over the castle, before spiralling down to the rampart and cawing directly at Feliks as it swooped in to land.
"Naktakė, is that you?" Feliks called as he reached out his left arm.
The bird started cawing enthusiastically as she landed on his arm and gained her balance, surprising Arthur by flying in so close.
"Is this Tolys's raven?" Arthur asked, "She has a letter in her claws."
"She sure does," Feliks noted, finally noticing the rolled parchment, "Naktakė, give it here please."
Naktakė slowly lifted her right foot, balancing precariously on her left as Feliks removed the paper from her claws.
"Good girl, Naktakė," Feliks applauded, "Arthur, would you like to hold her for a moment?"
"Oh sure," Arthur accepted, "If she'll let me, of course."
"Hold out your arm, and keep it steady," Feliks instructed.
Arthur held out his right arm parallel to Feliks's arm, allowing Naktakė to see it. The raven leaned in to sniff at it first, before deciding to hop over onto it.
"There we go, easy does it," Feliks encouraged, "Scratch her back and her neck, those are her favourite spots."
As Arthur cooed at the bird and went to scratch its neck, Feliks opened the letter and started reading.
Feliks,
I don't know if you've seen or heard anything about this yet, but the eternal winter has been lifted from the forest and valley at the southeastern tip of the Raevellian Mountains. Not only was I there to see it happen, but I have the young woman responsible for it in my care, and she is in dire need of help.
I crossed paths with her in the forest at the base of the mountain, just north of Glefield. After a brief conversation, the woman used magic to unfreeze a blueberry bush, revealing the fruit that was still as fresh and edible as it was five years ago when it was originally frozen. The young woman then cast the spell again, on a larger scale this time, and she managed to unfreeze the forest and the valley of fields beyond. As far as I could see with my eyes, there was no trace of winter on the horizon.
While this was incredible to witness, the spell-casting took a terrible toll on the young woman and froze her over. Her skin is now covered in frost, as if she is freezing to death. She barely has any breath or pulse now, and I don't know if she will survive this. Whatever this magic was that she used, she overexerted this power and has now put her own life on the line.
I have taken her into Glefield, where a farmer and his family have taken us into their cottage. They've bundled her in all their blankets and set her up by the fire, we have yet to see if the warmth is helping at all. I believe this may require some form of healing magic, which is where I need help. Perhaps the Prince and the Duke will know of a magical healer that can help this young woman recover.
Please get this letter to Prince Alfred, and let me know immediately if anything can be done.
Tolys
Feliks paused the moment to let the facts sink in. Tolys was there when a young woman lifted the spell, and casting the spell might have cost the woman's life. Tolys's letter might be the one chance for them to save the woman's life, and to learn who she is and how she lifted the spell.
"I need to get this to Alfred right now," Feliks realized, immediately moving towards the door back into the castle.
"What did he say?" Arthur pried, "Does Tolys know something about what happened?"
"He was there," Feliks told Arthur, "He watched a young woman lift the spell, and now she might have frozen herself to death."
Feliks pushed the door open, holding it briefly for Arthur to go through with Naktakė still balanced on his arm, before leading the way down the hall. They kept a brisk place as they rushed to the Prince's meeting room, servants and guards backing out of their way as they rushed past.
They reached the hallway outside the meeting room, where Feliks gave the two guards a hand signal to open the doors. They immediately obeyed, opening the two doors wide for Feliks and Arthur to enter the room. Inside, Alfred and Antonio were pouring over a map with Basch, while the twins stood nearby.
"My apologies for interrupting, Your Highness," Feliks addressed, "Tolys was there when the spell was lifted, he needs you to read this letter."
"He was there?" Alfred blurted, "Let me see that letter!"
Feliks handed it over, and Alfred began pacing the side of the room as he read it.
"Feliks, what does it say?" Feliciano demanded, "What happened?"
"Tolys encountered a woman in the woods, at the base of the Raevellian mountains near Glefield," Feliks narrated, "She's the one who cast the spell and lifted the winter. Not only did she unfreeze the forest, she also unfroze the valleys and fields below."
"And she nearly killed herself doing it," Alfred carried on, "He believes she overexerted her magic, and may have frozen herself to death."
"That's where he needs our help," Feliks finished, "As Tolys says, this frost was from magical causes, so some form of healing magic may save her life."
"Lovino, is that something you'd be able to help with?" Antonio proposed, "If you and Feliciano went to see her, would you be able to tell what it would take to save her?"
"If it's based on magic, that would definitely be possible," Lovino judged, "If she's already on the brink of death, though, it might be too late for us to find the cure after we get there."
"How far of a ride is it?" Basch inquired, "It looks like Glefield is only a short distance on the map, but that could be a full day of riding non-stop."
"It would be about 16 hours without stopping," Feliks explained, "Normally it's split into two half-days with an overnight stop."
"What if we ride through the night?" Alfred suggested, "If we left here at sunset, where would that put us?"
"We would arrive mid-morning," Feliks estimated, "That is a longer ride, and we only have a couple hours now before that to prepare."
"Still possible though, right?" Alfred checked, "We've gone longer on the battlefield, and now it will be nicer than travelling in snow."
"If we start getting ready now, it might be possible," Feliks answered.
"Then let's do it," Alfred decided, "We ride in two hours. Basch and Arthur, you're both welcome to join us if you'd like."
"I think this is where Arthur and I should part ways," Basch declined, "I've done what I can in this visit, and I should return to Inasdiff and tell Gilbert what has happened. Arthur can do what he believes he needs to do, which I suspect is staying with your group and discovering how this eternal winter spell was lifted."
"That's what I was thinking as well," Arthur agreed, "If you will accept me in your group as a travelling companion, of course."
"We'd be more than happy to have you," Alfred allowed, "And as for you, Basch, please give Gilbert our fondest regards."
"Of course, your Highness," Basch said, "And please let us know what becomes of Arthur, and if our help should be required."