Tolys led the group through the fields towards the western mountain, outside the city of Bruuburn. They had just arrived in Rochosta's largest city earlier that afternoon, and had already left their things at the inn. With Madeline's preference not to be disturbed by Bruuburnians while lifting the spell, they intentionally waited until later in the day to find a place for her to cast her magic. Since he had been here before, Tolys knew the perfect secluded area was in the forest at the base of the mountain.
A loud caw sounded above them, and Tolys glanced upwards to see Naktakė soaring in circles above them, checking the area as they reached the first row of trees.
"All clear," Naktakė reported, "No other humans in sight."
"Naktakė says we're alone in the area," Tolys translated, "We can use the first suitable clearing we find."
"Perfect, no distractions then," Arthur remarked, "Can it be any clearing, Madeline?"
"Yes, the first small clearing will be fine," Madeline replied, "We don't need that much space, it doesn't matter where I do it."
"How about this little spot just up here then?" Feliciano suggested, "A good amount of space between the trees, and even a couple of rocks for Arthur and Tolys to sit on if they like."
The five of them entered the clearing, seeing the rocks at the far end of it, and plenty of space to work with. Tolys looked back behind them, noticing that he still had an excellent view of the fields and Bruuburn beyond.
"I think this will work," Tolys agreed, "I can still see Bruuburn from here, we can confirm that the spell is lifted."
"Let's go for it then," Lovino said, "Should we go over the plan again, Madeline?"
"I will start the spell, and only do this clearing to start," Madeline laid out, "While I do this, the two of you will use your spells to connect to my magic and read it. Once you've confirmed that you're connected, I'll expand the spell as far North and East as I can, freeing as much of the Northern duchies as possible. If I pick up on the other spell, I will make sure you have the chance to read it."
"And if Lovino tells you to stop the spell, you will do as he says, right?" Arthur reminded, "We don't want you freezing yourself over again."
"Of course, Arthur," Madeline vowed, "I will stop the spell when he tells me to."
Madeline shuffled her skirts as she lowered herself to the ground, kneeling down as she did last time in Glefield. The twins also knelt to the ground as well, making sure they had steadied themselves before placing a hand each on Madeline's shoulders. Tolys leaned back against a tree where he stood, while Arthur did the same across the clearing. Naktakė gave a little caw as she landed on a branch above them to observe.
"Ready?" Madeline checked.
"Ready," Feliciano confirmed to her left.
"Ready," Lovino confirmed to her right.
"Be careful, Madeline," Tolys cautioned, earning a quick glance from Madeline.
"I will," she promised.
Madeline looked back down as she placed her hands on the snow-covered ground. A magic glow started at her fingertips before her full hands were enveloped, melting the ice beneath her upon the immediate touch. Lovino and Feliciano had to immediately adjust their positions as the snow melted directly beneath them, followed by Arthur and Tolys watching their step as the defrosted area expanded beyond their small clearing.
"I can feel the spell, it's a powerful one," Feliciano noted, "How about you, Lovi?"
"Yes, I can feel it too," Lovino confirmed, "You can expand the reach now, Madeline."
Tolys noticed the glow intensity around Madeline's hands as she ramped up the power of her spellcasting. He turned to look back out to the fields, and saw that the defrost had already reached the city and was now rushing onwards past the horizon.
"How long did it take before, Tolys?" Arthur asked, "How quickly did she defrost the South?"
"It only took about a minute or so last time," Tolys recalled, "It shouldn't take so long this time, I'd wager. Any moment now, in fact."
"You're reaching the limit," Lovino warned, "We need to stop the spell soon."
"Hold on, I feel something strange," Feliciano quickly declared, "Is that what I think it is?"
"Yes, that's the other spell," Madeline identified, "It's still active, and it's entwined with my spell."
"Okay, I've felt enough of it to work with for now," Feliciano informed, "How about you, Lovino?"
"Yes, we've done all we can for now," Lovino relayed, "Madeline, let go."
The glow faded from her hands, leaving Madeline and the twins to relax and catch their breaths. Arthur was the first to approach, offering his hand to help Madeline to her feet. She accepted the assistance and stood up, while Arthur held her hand to look at it.
"Your fingers are cold," Arthur noted, "Let me see your other hand, please."
"It's only my fingertips I can't feel right now," Madeline claimed as Arthur inspected her hands, "The rest of my body is fine."
"No frostbite quite yet, only the first signs of freezing," Arthur judged, "Dipping them in a bowl of warmed water by the inn's fireplace should be enough healing."
"That's a relief," Tolys commented as Madeline withdrew her hands from Arthur's inspection, "You said the other spell is still active?"
"Yes, and it is only in Ridudia," Madeline disclosed, "I was able to lift the winter entirely from Rochosta and Vousta, but at the edge of the third duchy, I hit the barrier where my spell is entangled with the other one."
"It turns out that Madeline's winter spell has some unexpected safeguards built in," Lovino took over, "Its purpose was to prevent the other spell from spreading, which is why it won't let her lift them individually. It is designed to keep Madeline from lifting the winter in Ridudia without also addressing the other spell. She needs to find the exact place where the malevolent spell was cast, and lift both spells at once."
"So we need to travel East then?" Arthur determined, "We need to track the other spell through Ridudia?"
"There was something familiar about the other spell," Feliciano detailed, "It was as if I've felt another spell similar to it before. Perhaps it was the same signature, energy or type of magic. I'll have to figure out where that feeling comes from."
As Feliciano spoke, Tolys glanced over and saw that Madeline was rubbing her hands together to warm them up.
"Perhaps we should continue our discussion at the inn," Tolys suggested, "Madeline clearly needs the spot by that fireplace as soon as possible."
"It's not that bad, Tolys," Madeline assured as she approached him with her hands outstretched, "See, nothing frozen here."
Tolys reached out to gently hold her fingers in his hands as he observed them, ignoring the chatter behind her as Arthur helped the twins get up. There were no signs of her fingertips freezing over, only the skin had paled over.
"Okay, you're fine," Tolys allowed, "I just don't want to watch you freeze yourself over again."
"There's no need to worry about that," Madeline comforted, "I shouldn't need to go to such lengths again."
"Wait a minute," Feliciano suddenly blurted, prompting Tolys and Madeline to look over, "Arthur, let me read you again."
"What is it?" Arthur asked as Feliciano touched his shoulder, "What's wrong?"
"It's you," Feliciano realized, "It's the same magical signature!"
"Magical signature?" Tolys inquired as Lovino also placed a hand on Arthur's shoulder, "What do you mean by that?"
"When someone with powerful magic casts a spell, they always leave their mark," Feliciano explained, "I felt that magical signature on the other spell, when I felt it intertwined with Madeline's winter spell, and I feel the same signature now from the spell that brought Arthur to our realm."
"Feliciano's right," Lovino certified, "Whoever cast that malevolent spell in Ridudia is the same person responsible for Arthur's spell!"