Chapter 2

"I forgot how cold Eternia was", Agnès admitted. The two girls were walking along a snowy path that would eventually lead them to the town of Eternia. Edea's guard silently followed them. After she had managed to get rid of him on the first day, her father had scolded her in such a frightening way that she didn't dare to climb out of her window ever again. She tried to ignore the guard instead, though not always successfully.

"You can have his armor", she suggested. "As far as I understood, this guard is here to keep me safe and happy, and I don't feel well knowing that my friend is freeezing."

"Unacceptable." Agnès violently shook her head. "I don't need his armor, but thank you for your concern. Say, how is Tiz? Has there been any change to his health? Will he awaken soon?"

"Uhm-" Edea bit her lip. How was she supposed to explain that she never visited him?

"Tiz?", the guard suddenly asked. "I thought you wanted to visit your mother?"

"This is none of your business", Edea snapped back. Turning around, she saw him clench his fists, but before she could make a comment on this, she heard Agnès scream. The knight dashed past her towards an icy monster that had appeared infront of the group without warning. It vanished as quickly, thanks to the guard's fast reaction and his swift sword thrusts.

"Not bad", she had to admit. "Although we could have taken care of it ourselves."

"No need to get your hands dirty, ladies", he answered before the group returned their march to Eternia's Healing tower.

"I am a horrible friend", Edea whispered to herself. After saying Hello to her mother, they went to see Tiz, but like uncountable times before, Edea again couldn't make it. She wanted to keep alive her memories of a Tiz who was always concerned, warm-hearted, full of life, instead of replacing the picture with whatever was waiting behind the doors Agnès had just silently closed behind her.

The wind vestal had shown no sign of anger or disappointment. If anything, she even seemed to understand Edea, but the blonde girl was still afraid to be thought of someone who abandoned a friend.

"I heard you and three of your friends saved this world", her guard said. Edea flinched. She almost forgot he was there. Without waiting for her answer, he continued: "I take it Tiz was one of these friends? Why is he here now?"

"If we knew, we would do everything to help him", she growled. "The thing is, we don't know. He was found lying on the ground, barely alive. There was no sign of him being sick and the White mages could not find any evidence of illness."

"How strange", he mumbled. "Nevertheless, I can insure you you are everything but a horrible friend. You being here in the White tower is what counts. I am positive your friend can feel your presence, whether you are inside or outside this room."

"You seem to know a lot about friendship", she said after some time.

"No", he answered grimly. "But I know a lot about being a horrible friend."

"Is that so?" She mustered him with curiosity. "Too bad, you nearly made it to my 'pure white list'."

Then the doors to Tiz' room swung open. Edea hurried to hug Agnès who looked unbearably sad. Tears were glittering in the corners of her large, dark eyes.

"If there was anything we could do for him", the vestal sobbed.

"I am sure the White mages here do the best they can", the guard said with an unreadable voice. "It is already getting dark outside. I suggest we stay at the inn."

"First we need to get something to eat." Edea was desperate to lighten up the mood or change the topic, at least. "I'm starving, but luckily I know a place where they have the best ice cream in Luxendarc. I swear."

"Ice cream?" Agnès raised an eyebrow, sounding doubtful.

When Edea woke up the next morning, she saw that Agnès was still asleep. The girls were sharing a small room at Eternia's inn and Edea had been surprised her guard hadn't insisted to sleep on the floor in case someone tried to murder the girls in the night. In fact, he seemed content to have his own room. Too bad. Edea got curious what was hidden beneath the guard's armor. He never took off his helmet, which was why she came to the conclusion he had to have a really ugly face.

Trying not to wake the wind vestal, Edea silently climbed out of her bed, grabbed her clothes and tiptoed out of the room. Then she headed for the only bathroom the inn offered, only to find it locked.

"Hurry up in there." She knocked against the door several times.

"Go away." Edea stumbled over the sound of his voice. Folding her arms, she said: "Remember how often I told you to go because I don't need a guard? And when exactly did you listen to me? Never. That's why I will wait until I can use the bathroom."

"I recommend you wait in your room instead. I ... forgot to bring my clothes and you shouldn't-"

"I've seen lots of naked men", she lied, keeping her place next to the bathroom's door. Finally she had the chance to see how her guard looked like, of course she wouldn't just leave.

There was no answer from inside the bathroom, but after a few minutes the doorknob moved. The door was teared open and the person she assumed was her guard bolted out of there, leaving a cloud of watery steam behind. A towel was wrapped around his hips, another around his head that was bent over as if he pretended to rub his hair dry. That way it was impossible for her to see his face. What she did see was pale skin stretching over a toned stomach. But of course he was muscled, she didn't expect anything else from someone who had proven his fighting skills.

Shaking her head over his ridiculous attempt to hide his face, she entered the bathroom and closed the door.