Shattered Songs of Faith

by Sakura108645

Now, one does not expect to wake up in another body when they die. She did not expect to come to such a world that she had only read and played through technology. What's more, that she wakes up as Female Byleth during her childhood days. "Come and see the world in different ways from the River of Time before it all shatters away!" (SI OC) (AU)

95. Chapter 94:1183:Part 6:Entanglement

{Disclaimer: This chapter mentions suicide, harassment, and assault. If you are sensitive or triggered by these topics, you may skip this chapter. Proceed with caution)

[-]

"As if you are hungry."

Claude became silent as he looked at the woman who looked fearful. She said he looked at their friends as if he was hungry. As if he plans t—No…he already experienced firsthand the consequences of pushing his dream onto the professor, Chris, Amir, and Alexandra.

They all did…

When a person gives a gift, they do it out of love and appreciation for that person. There is no agenda behind it. No expectation. They do it because they want to. The four had always been there for everyone, having their backs, guiding them, and showing them a different view of the world. Even when they were children, they took their time to get to know them. They respected their boundaries and never pushed on subjects anyone did not want to speak about.

But him?

Emily was right. He didn't understand the word "no". He didn't understand at the time that his curiosity would lead to serious consequences. That pushing his ambition, his goals, his dreams onto the woman he loved and people he looked up to, would damn them. The burden of his dream…the cost of that dream…

Even if they were aligned…was it fair for them to bear the cost of those dreams?

They too have their dreams and ambitions, even if they were not sure what it was. Claude learned the hard way the cost of those dreams. The day Lonato was slain. The day Florencio was killed. The day Sandana sacrificed herself. The day Rhea went mad. The day the Academy was invaded. And the day the woman he loved was slain right before his eyes.

"As if you are hungry."

Marianne's words repeated in his mind. Looking back to the past, he realized he was being clingy to Alexandra. That he was always with her when the opportunity arose. Of course, he also knew that he needed to respect her boundaries. Alexandra established that early on when they first met. That she would respect him if he did the same.

But he didn't…

He broke that promise the day he started to investigate the others behind their backs. And she knew…Alexandra knew. She knew. She told him that it was natural that he would think of her as an enemy or pawn to survive. That it wasn't the first that she had been used or discarded. And it hurt hearing her say that. Guilt and anger plagued his heart for a long time. He denied that he saw her that way. He denied it. Yet, it still bothered him. She trusted him and opened up to him about her past. And how did pay back that trust?

He used her…

"I…" The words were stuck in his throat, "I…I do not see her as a piece of meat." He said but Marianne only took a step back from him, looking away.

"But…Claude, Alexandra has been hurt many times because of us. She and the professor along with others had always protected us. We even told them our dreams. But….why does it feel they are the ones bearing the burden of our dreams?" Marianne said and the air felt suffocating.

"Why are you suddenly bringing this topic up?" Claude said and the nagging feeling kept growing.

"What is wrong with bringing up a serious topic?!" Marianne said, "I'm tired of seeing our friend hurt because of us!" she said and Claude gritted his teeth.

"You're right." He said, "It's not fair for them to bear that burden. It's not right. We…I learned that the hard way." Claude said and looked at her seriously, "But I promise you I will face the consequences of my actions. I don't care how long it takes. They have been protecting us for a long time. It's our turn now to protect them." He said but…

"Why are you lying?"

"Excuse me?"

And the two started arguing and the nagging feeling grew.

[-]

"Something feels…off," Hilda said as Lorenz looked at her puzzled.

"If you mean all the madness we went through, yes. Everything feels off." Lorenz said but Hilda shook her head.

"No. It's not that." Hilda said, "I can't put my finger on it but..." she turned to look back at Claude and Marianne.

Claude turned his back on the blue-haired woman, clearly angry by something she said. But it was at that moment that an icicle formed in Marianne's hand and raised it.

"CLAUDE LOOK OUT!"

[-]

"You know what?! Let's drop this subject! I'm starting to get angry! I didn't think you were the type to bring up such things!" Claude said as he turned his back on her.

"You're dodging the question!" Marianne said back, "Don't think I don't know about you wanting to put the professor in power!" She said and Claude glanced her way with a dark gaze, "Lady Rhea announced publicly that she was giving the position of Archbishop to the professor should anything happen to her!" She said.

"I would never do such a thing!" Claude said but the voice deep in his mind, something in his blood, told him he was lying to himself.

"Look at you…" A voice whispered in his ear, "Running away from your problems…People like you are the reason those you love end up dead." It spat.

Clause turned his back on Marianne again, unaware of the smile forming on her face as she started to make her way toward him.

"You don't have any friends…Nobody likes you." It whispered as he mentally kept saying to shut up.

"Heheheh…" The spirit giggled mentally as water gathered in her hands and took on the form of an icicle, "That's right…keep looking away." Cirina whispered and raised her hand.

"Look, Alex! You're finally going to be free of this man! You won't die like me!" Cirina mentally screamed and brought the icicle down to his neck.

[-]

"CLAUDE LOOK OUT!" Hilda screamed and her crest activated, lunging at the two, and quickly summoned Freikugel to block the blue-haired woman.

Even Claude was stunned by the sudden action but he finally understood when he saw the icicle in Marianne's hand.

"Tch!" Marianne clicked her teeth and jumped back, "Almost." She spat as everyone quickly ran right to them.

[—-]

"Marianne?" Claude could barely comprehend what had just happened as the blue-haired woman spun an icicle in her hand, the shadows covered her eyes.

Marianne kept spinning it as Hilda was shaken by what had transpired along with the rest. The woman stopped and spoke in a low and dangerous tone. It felt so wrong. Her voice was filled with nothing but venom as each word came out. As if a blizzard had suddenly descended upon them.

"A pity..." Marianne said as she started to walk slowly to circle them, "I almost had you, descendent of Roman. But the bitch had to get in the way. Sharp instincts, I must admit." She chuckled darkly and stopped, pointing the icicle up, "Umbra would be proud of you. She was always the type to dote on her children. Hilda, I think your name is." And she cocked her head.

"M-Mari, this isn't funny!" Hilda stuttered as Marianne giggled lowly.

"Didn't I warn you all before?" Marianne lightly tapped the tip of the icicle, "Everything is a lair." And she fully turned to them with an insane grin.

Marianne's once blue eyes had turned to red slits and light blue scales on her cheeks. The atmosphere around her had become cold, some sort of purple aura started to surround her as her hair seemed to rise like snakes due to magic.

"Who are you?! What have you done to her?!" Lorenz yelled and raised Thyrsus.

"Ahh...Hugo's descendent. Hmm...though you look more towards his son..." the way her voice shifted to sounding as if she was underwater, "Let's see..."

The smile, the aura, everything looked so wrong! None of that evil belongs on Marianne's face! Marianne held up her wrist and rolled it, humming a tune as everyone was on guard. She then stopped and looked at her fingernails.

"Hmm...I thought Alexandra and this girl had a close relationship as friends but who would have thought they are distant relatives? Some of my and Ui's blood runs through her veins. No wonder I could possess her." She chuckled and looked back at them.

"Who. Are. You? I am not asking. I am demanding!" Lorenz yelled and was about to take a step but froze seeing how the woman immediately put the tip of the icicle on their neck.

"You descendants of the Elites have no right to know who I am. Let alone step into this tomb. The resting place of Cirina, The Lord of Ice and Snow." She grinned, "Nuh-uh! You don't want your friend to die now, would you?"

"Let go of her!"

In a blink of an eye, Flayn was suddenly behind Marianne, her staff glowing with light magic but Marianne was faster. She jumped back as Flayn glared at her. She was fully aware now of what was going on.

"Ahahahahaha!" Marianne suddenly burst into a dark fit of laughter as she jumped away, a scythe of ice formed in her hands, taking on the shape of a relic Claude knew all too well, "Well now, did you really think was going to let go of this girl so easily?" She said with a dark tone, her eyes turning to slits as she stood up straight, fixing her posture like a dancer.

"Marianne!" Hilda gasped as the blue-haired woman only smirked, her voice changing to a mixture of her own and another, "Let go of Mari! This isn't funny!" The woman said as her friend rolled her eyes.

"Oh, the descendent of Rubedo...how vexing. You look similar to his sister who died a horrible death at my hands for betraying me. Shall I do the same thing to you?" She grinned wickedly, small horns forming on her forehead.

"Who are you?" Claude spoke coldly as he waved his hand and summoned Failnaught, "You're not Marianne. I suggest you give her body back or else..." he raised his bow and pointed an arrow at her.

"Ahahahaha!" Marianne laughed as she began to circle them, "I suggest you all learn to let go of those relics. But be my guest and keep using them. After all, relic holders tend to become sick and die between the ages of 40 and 60 because those weapons consume your soul each time you use them. Huh..." she narrowed her eyes.

"The Hunter..." her eyes were on Failnaught before they traveled to Freikugel, "The Assiduous.." and lastly Thyrsus, "The Pillar of Adulation..." she chuckled softly and looked right at Claude, "You look just like Roman. Disgusting."

"Roman..." Claude muttered and gritted his teeth, "I keep hearing the names of our ancestors mentioned. What's your relationship to them?" He said and Marianne only smiled.

"You don't need to know because...You all die here today! HYAAAAA!" She yelled and raise the scythe, the mirrors of ice began to spin then suddenly a blinding light filled the space, the group quickly covered their eyes and when they opened them again, everyone found themselves alone.

"Welcome to my maze!"

The voice rang again all around as Claude held his relic up.

"See if you can get to me! If you do, I might set your friend free! Anahahaha! But in all reality, this one is the only one I plan on sparing. She is Maurice's descendent." She cackled.

"Dammit!" Claude said and looked at Zahra and Falco, "Come on. Let's go!" He said and ran to Zahra and was about to jump on but, Falco's wings stopped him, "What is it?! We need to get to the others and help Marianne!" He said and Falco growled.

But what surprised him was the wyvern bowed and nudged him to get on his back.

"Wait! Wait!" Claude shook his hand in disbelief, "Are you serious?" He said and Falco growled and then raised his tail, meaning he was about to wack him with it, "Alright! I'm going! I'm going!" He said.

Claude climbed on and it took a while for him to adjust as Zahra looked like she was smiling. Claude had heard stories of the giant wyverns from Sanadana and his father. That only three people in all of Almyra have ever been partners with one. The first is the founder of the kingdom of Almyra. The second was the 13th king of Almyra and the last, was his great x3 grandfather from his father's side. They were symbols of kings and queens of high power, like white wyverns.

"Alright, are you two ready?" Claude said and both wyverns roared, "Alright! Let's go!"

Falco began flapping his wings and ascended. Claude knew Falco had always been a proud wyvern because Alexandra was always the one riding. He never let anyone ride him unless it was her, Amir, Arisa, and some children. In a few rare cases, even Christian. The fact that Falco was letting him get on was considered an honor among those that knew of his breed. Giant Wyverns were especially territorial regarding their riding partners. And if they found their riding partner "unworthy" they would leave them. As much as Claude would love to celebrate being allowed to ride Falco, he needed to focus.

He pulled the reins and made Falco make a sharp turn to the left along with Zahra. The spirit again was going to great almost extreme lengths to torture them. Whether it was physical, emotional, or psychological, they were going so far. The spirit called them, Descendents of Sinners. That was first and the other thought that came to his mind was that they had a connection to Cirina. Which connected to House Aubin and his. They connected all back Alexandra and Rensen. It kept going back to Cirina and Roman Reigan. To House Aubin and House Reigan

"The 10 Elites...Cirina...Why did the spirit tell us the story of how Cirina's parents met? Even I don't understand this." Claude muttered, "But one thing is clear for sure," he said as the image of the dream he had a few days ago reappeared in his mind.

"My ancestor is involved in this and it's about damn time someone fixes it.

[—]

"Let me out!"

No matter how much Marianne pounded her fist on the ice mirrors, no one could hear her voice. No one could hear her yelling out her friend's name as she watched them all fight for their lives. In one mirror, Lysithea had managed to find Flayn and the two teamed up together as they flew through the maze. In another Hilda roared furiously as she fought off ice puppets and in the other Claude found Lorenz and the two were now fighting side by side. But...the one possessing her body suddenly appeared and engaged in a fight with Hilda, one on one.

"This is wrong! Stop this!" Marianne yelled as she watched herself spin and kick Hilda back, nearly dislocating her shoulder.

"Why should I?"

"Huh?" Marianne said and one mirror its reflection changed and showed herself with crimson eyes and a smirk.

"Look. Hilda is nothing but baggage. A prick on your shoulder. All she ever did was push her chores onto you and even at times would talk over you. Or, wouldn't even let your respond. Lysithea is nothing but a spoiled brat who has an inferiority complex. She doesn't even realize that her words have hurt others and by the time she does, it's too late. Flayn on the other hand is a naive sheltered girl. Lorenz...please you can do better. But I will admit, the man knows when to keep his mouth shut. He did make you smile after all so I will give him points for that. Claude on the other hand..." she narrowed her eyes.

"A man like that will only lead you to your doom. He doesn't understand the word no. He kept poking his nose in your business. Trying to figure out what your crest is and why you spoke so negatively of yourself. He did the same to Alexandra. People like him don't deserve to live." She huffed and turned her back on her, "Everyone one of your friends will live. But Claude...hehehe..." just for a moment, Marianne's reflections changed to a sickly pale woman and then back, "he is a dead man."

"Wait!" Marianne yelled but the spirit was gone, "Stop this please..." the woman wept, "Please..."

"Be a good girl and stay put. I'm going to cut off your connection to the real world."

Click.

She was trapped in whatever spiritual realm as the other used her body as she pleased. She was going to kill Claude. She was and with her hands.

"Why can't I do anything...?" Marianne fell to her knees as her hand remained on the mirror. All she could do was watch as the battle ensued.

Or so she thought...

"C...y—-.h..."

Marianne's weeping came to a slow halt as she heard a voice. At first, she thought she was imagining things but the more she listened, it became clearer. It sounded, choppy. Broken. That strange word Arisa would use called, "static?" Or the better way she could describe it, disoriented. Marianne carefully stood up and looked around. She was still in...she'll call it the mirror world that the spirit created. Each shard played a memory but they looked like they were contaminated. The more Marianne walked, she could feel conflicted emotions come from them.

Love. Pain. Adoration.

But also anger, rage, and more specifically...betrayal.

"C-Can you...psst! Hear me?!"

"That way," Marianne whispered and walked and walked till she reached a frozen tree sapling with a single leaf.

The woman was puzzled and she knelt, gently touching it.

"Hello?! Can you hear me?! Please!" The voice of a girl could now be heard clearly, "HELLO?!"

"Hello?" Marianne said, "Ah! Oh, thank the heavens! You finally answered!" The girl said, "Are you okay?! I swear that child is stubborn as a mule!"

"I am fine. I'm sorry, but...who are you? How are you able to communicate here?" Marianne said and the girl sighed.

"That's not important. Right now we need you to get your body back." The girl said.

"But how? The spirit locked me here in this...mirror world? I have no idea what to do." Marianne said and the girl hummed.

"Marianne, you can escape this place. You need to use the power of your crest." She said and the woman flinched, "I know you're scared but you must. I'm sure you heard that your ancestor is Marcel Maurice, correct?"

"Yes," Marianne whispered.

"Then let me tell you about the original owner of The Crest of Maurice before Marcel had it." The girl said and Marianne listened.

"I am also going to tell you who the spirit is. The spirit is Cirina, the founder of House Aubin. And...I want you to understand why she is angry but that doesn't excuse her actions."

[—-]

"Argh!" Lorenz felt the like the air was sucked out of their lungs as he was thrown off his wyvern and thankfully was caught on time by Hilda.

"I didn't think Marianne was that strong." Lorenz said as his wyvern flew close and jumped back on it, "What do we do? Whatever is possessing her is using it to their advantage. They know we won't harm Marianne." He said as Flayn jumped back to dodge the scythe that came her way.

"I don't know. But it's clear their target is Claude. They keep dodging us but aim for him." Hilda said as Claude launched an arrow at the woman.

Cirina smirked as she jumped and then spun her body as the scythe clashed repeatedly with Claude's sword.

"Argh!" The archer gritted his teeth as Cirina was pushing him back, "You... know how to pack a punch! How about fighting me yourself instead of possessing my friend?!" He yelled and his crest activated, giving him the boost needed to push back.

This surprised Cirina for a moment before she gained her composure back and gritted her teeth.

"You! Are nothing but a sinner!" Cirina yelled, "You are the cause of misfortune! Everything you touch will burn! You will ruin everything just like he did!" She roared and finally, Claude got the opening he needed.

"Forgive me, Marianne!" Claude said and did the one move that Alexandra taught him that not even Cirina or anyone else did not know about.

"Now, first you're going to concentrate wind magic on the sole of your foot." Alexandra began to explain to him and the soles of her feet glowed a bit green, "Now, depending on if you are trying to kill or disarm someone, you're going to concentrate even more." She said as he watched her show a demonstration.

Alexandra hopped and twisted her body so that her right foot would be the one kicking. Claude watched it become even brighter and slam into the wooden training dummy. He watched it explode on impact as she landed on one foot and then started hopping, switching between left and right.

"Wow." Claude said and clapped, "That was terrifying and amazing." He said as Alexandra stopped hopping, "Also, why did you continue hopping?"

"Oh." Alexandra said, "This is to release the magic I had accumulated in my feet for the attack. It's a combat art that I came up with."

"Interesting. But I am interested in why you came up with such a combat art. Its purpose is both to kill but depending on the situation, you can disarm a person." He said and Alexandra smiled bitterly as she looked to the ground.

"Well...The reason I came up with it was...because a woman I knew was suffering constant harassment." She said and the smile on Claude dropped, "She...would get harassed in her workplace and it was escalating. At some point, she was followed and was nearly assaulted by a man for rejecting him." She said as Claude listened carefully, "S-So we worked together and developed this combat art." She said.

"The woman...is she okay?" Claude asked and Alexandra looked at him surprised but nodded, smiling bitterly.

"She's okay. She ended up leaving the man that tried to assault her, sterilized." She said and Claude couldn't help chuckling.

"Good. Guys like him deserve it. As for the woman, I hope she can one day heal and live her best life." He said and Alexandra smiled softly as she closed her eyes and nodded.

"She did. She did heal."

"HAH!" Claude jumped on his left foot, twisted his body, gathered magic to his right foot, and kicked.

His foot made an impact with Marianne's hand that was holding the scythe and sent the woman flying back.

"URK!" Cirina was beyond caught off guard by the combat art, and the archer lunged at her again movements he started doing martial arts. She recognized the martial arts that people of the east knew.

But the combat art was different. It felt far too—"ARGH!" The woman yelled from the impact of the force and Skadi was knocked out of her hands and into the air. She panted and gasped for air, closing one eye as the other was open, baring her teeth as she held her right hand in pain. The others quickly arrived and started to push her back to a corner.

"You lost." Claude said coldly as he hopped for a bit then stopped, "Give back Marianne."

"Hahahaha..." Cirina laughed darkly, "Sure. You can have her." She said and she suddenly teleported behind Lorenz.

"IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS LIFE!" Cirina roared and quickly summoned a dagger in her hands, bringing it down.

Time seemed to slow down for everyone as they tried to get to Lorenz. The look of shock on his face as the blade came closer and closer...

Only to stop right at the tip of his nose. Lorenz was stunned by this but even more so as tears fell on his cheek. Marianne's hand trembled and her left eye had turned blue. She trembled and shook, everyone was suddenly shocked by this.

"Aaahh...Ahhh..." Marianne dropped the dagger and began to stagger back, raising her hands as they trembled.

"Why do you...fight me?! AAHHHHHHHH!" Cirina screamed and began to thrash around as her hand gripped her head.

"S-Stop it! GET OUT OF ME!" The blue-haired screamed as she threw her head back, shards of ice burst out of the ground and the maze began to crumble.

"Oh, so now want to live when you tried to hang yourself four months ago and failed!" Cirina screamed and the group felt their heart shattered hearing this.

"I was wrong!" Marianne wailed as she kept thrashing around, her face scrunched in pain as she cradled her head, trying to remain in control, "I was so caught up in my emotions that I didn't think how it would affect the others! I didn't realize so many people cared about me! I'm sorry!" The woman screamed and the one possessing her gritted her teeth as she was trying to fight back for control.

"You blame yourself for the misfortune that falls onto others when it is not your fault! There have been multiple, accounts when you have tried to take your own life! You wallow in misery not realizing that there are people who love and care for you. You have jumped to conclusions that have led others to think some horrible had happened to you in the worst-case scenario like that man Yuri. He thought you were leaving to make yourself disappear." Cirina snarled but Marianne did the same.

"And you!" Marianne screamed back, "I was able to feel how you feel! You feel guilt! Angry! You don't want to kill us! You're just angry!" She said and the mirrors around them began to crack, "YOUR TRUE NAME IS THE ARROW OF ENDEARMENT, MORANA!"

"AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

[–]

"Then the one attacking us is...truly Cirina?" Marianne said as the voice of the girl seemed to agree with her, "But...we didn't do anything. None of us did yet...why are we being made to pay for something we did not do?" She questioned and the girl let out a heavy sigh.

"Cirina is her human name. The name that her mother gave her. The name Morana is the one her father gave her. And the title bestowed to her by the Goddess is The Arrow of Endearment." The girl said, "Now that you know Cirina's story, what do you think?"

"I feel...sorry for her." Marianne said, "Everything she went through is horrible. After she lost her family, she was blamed for their deaths by her relative whom she looked up to. Then she was scorned. And when she found hope, it was taken from her. But...now as a spirit, all she is doing is focusing on the tragedies that happened to her." Marianne said and looked sadly at one mirror.

"Does she not remember the precious times she spent with does she love? What about her friends? Even the man that she believes betrayed her genuinely loved her. I don't know what caused Reigan or the others to betray her but she shouldn't be projecting her anger onto us. I feel sorry for her but that does not excuse her actions!" She said and from the other side, Sothis smiled.

"This is why I like you." Sothis said, "Now, Cirina's biggest weakness right now is her name. Not her human name, but her Dragon name. Call her her true name and you will have the advantage you need. Once you scream it, Flayn will know what to do." She said and Marianne nodded.

"But, how do I leave? Cirina said she cut my connection with the real world." Marianne said Sothis giggled.

"Well, why don't we use the song that belongs to your Crest?" She said and Marianne was confused, "You heard it earlier. The song."

"...Oh!" Marianne gasped, "B-But...Is it really...I am not a good singer." She said.

"Nonsense!" Sothis huffed, "I've heard you sing before. You have a lovely voice. Thankfully only you and I can hear it here. No one outside will. That's our advantage. When you sing the song, you will weaken the structure of this world. That will be enough for you to fight for your body back." She said and Marianne nodded, taking deep breaths to face the mirror.

"Close your eyes..." Sothis manifested in a translucent form and gently placed her hands on Marianne's shoulders, "Take deep breaths..." Marianne did, "And listen to the songs of the storms. Listen to the song of your heart." She said.

Deep breaths Marianne took and slowly relaxed. The panic in her heart began to calm down. To help her, Sothis used some of her power to stir the storm dragon in Marianne's blood. And it worked. As Marianne kept taking deep breaths she felt herself sink into a darkness that did not feel dangerous or cold, but warm.

"So rare is it for someone to truly awaken my power."

"Who...are you?" Marianne whispered as a soft chuckle was heard.

"It is alright, child. I am only here to help you. I sensed...Mother. Ah, and I sense Cirina as well. Ah..." it seemed the gently and motherly voice was frowning, "She has been through hell and back. But her anger towards you all is not right. Sigh, time to teach that child a lesson I suppose." Footsteps could be heard in the darkness and standing before Marianne was a beautiful woman with sea foam-colored hair, giant ram horns, and dressed in a silk white dress. Her eyes remained closed. The woman smiled softly and gently took her hands.

"Oh, little one...Ah, if you existed in my time, I would have spoiled you rotten. Marcel was a kind boy but fate was cruel to him and the others once they learned the truth." The woman said and Marianne looked at her confused.

"Truth?" She said and the woman smiled sadly.

"That is for you to find out. You have been through so much. But you also realized many love you. Dear child, you've grown. Now come," the woman said, "It is time to put a stop to Cirina's sorrow. Now, repeat after me..."

Sothis was silent as she watched Marianne carefully. It seemed her daughter finally answered the call. Tiamat, the Storm Dragon and the original bearer of The Crest of Maurice. She was a kind woman who took care of children and had many adopted ones. She was seen as a motherly figure by many. But so few knew of her wrath as the storm dragon. Only when it was necessary would she show her strength.

"I see water in the weak..."

Sothis gasped as Marianne began singing and her hands held together in prayer. Her voice sounded soft and gentle yet it was filled with a strange loneliness.

"I see weak in the water~ I see in early the tree~"

The crystals began to turn a light purple and cracks began to form in the mirror. Sothis was shocked. The song was strong and meaningful. The girl was singing it from her heart. Perhaps it was because she understood the pain Cirina went through.

"I see water we there

I see the weak my way

I see water where the tree

Marianne opened her eyes and tilted her head up. The crest of Maurice manifested itself as she kept singing. The domain began to shake and the mirrors cracked more and more. Blurred reflections of the outside world started to show themselves. That meant the connection was being reestablished but...the first clear scene to play before them, was Cirina about to plunge a dagger aimed at Lorenz's heart. This quickly made Marianne break out of her trance and scream.

"NO!"

Creating a forced interference that she forced herself back into her body.

[—-]

"AAAAAAHHHHHH!" Cirina screamed in agony as well as Marianne as black flames surrounded them along with ice and snow.

The calling of her true name, her Nabatean name...no but her mother, father, and Sothis know it. The fact it was spoken was the biggest slap to the face Cirina had ever felt. Since she no longer has a body, the calling of her true name means that a person can have some control over her. It shouldn't even be possible for Marianne to know! She hadn't even told Alexandra yet!

"GHHAAAAAA!" Marianne screamed one final time and finally, Cirina was pushed out of her body.

Flayn quickly screamed out purify to make light magic burn away the dark magic.

The world around them began to glow once more and they were back to the place where everything started. Marianne fell to the ground, Lorenz had quickly run up to her and held her tight to his chest as the black mist left her body. The rest ran up but all again drew their weapons as the black magic began to swirl together and then disappeared.

"Marianne! Marianne! Oh, gods!" Lorenz yelled as the woman was cold in his arms.

Flayn quickly ran up and used Heal while Lysithea used Restore.

"Cough! Cough!" Marianne coughed and shivered, "C-Cold..." she whimpered and opened her eyes, "Lorenz? Brrrr..." She shivered, "Are you okay?"

Lorenz was stunned but chuckled, relieved that she was alright.

"I'm fine. You should be more concerned about yourself." The man said and the woman smiled softly.

"I'm glad you are all okay." Marianne whispered as she was handed a heated stone by Claude, "But..." she looked around the cave, her gaze suddenly became dark, "I'm angry..."

"And you have every right to be," Flayn said as they helped her stand up.

"Flayn, is she still around?" Marianne said as her voice was void of emotions and Flayn nodded.

"She's...still here. If anything, she's only glaring at us...where ever she is." Flayn sighed and Marianne nodded.

"She's going to answer us... whether she likes it or not." Marianne said and looked at them, "We all deserve to know why she is angry." She smiled sadly.

"Marianne?" Hilda said the woman smiled at them before she walked a bit forward.

She was silent for a moment before she took a deep breath and spoke.

"I know you are there!" Marianne yelled and there was no answer, "Come out! Show yourself!" No answer, "If you don't come out, I will call you by your real name!" Silence...

"One!" Marianne began counting, "Two!"

"Th-"

"ALRIGHT ALREADY!"

The voice screamed, "I don't need the entire damn world to know my Nabatean name! Not even my aunts and uncles knew it!" The voice growled then groaned.

"Come out!" Flayn yelled, the group looked at her shocked by her sudden outburst, "Come out Cirina! Just show yourself!" She yelled as the place was silent, "This unacceptable!"

"Ha!"

The voice rang.

"Wait, Cirina?" Claude whispered and looked around again as Falco let out a roar.

"Oh silence." The voice said that sounded a bit more on the higher pitch but at the same time sounded possessed, "But fine. I've played this game, long enough." The voice said.

Hilda, Marianne, and Lysithea screeched at the sudden gust of cold wind as Flayn held down her veil. Claude along with Lorenz put their arms up to shield themselves at the same time Lorenz used his cape to shield the three women. Before their eyes, blue and white dust swirled and began to take on a humanoid form. First slender hands formed with sharp nails, and a female body formed and was soon covered by a white long nightgown with blood stains.

The center of the chest had a whole. Floor-length sickly blue hair that was thick and messy. But her face...slender, closed eyes and they opened with a wicked gleam and a smirk on their lips. Crimson eyes with The crest of Aubin, they raised their hands and rolled their wrist, before their fingers curled like claws. As well as pale skin like a corpse. But it was the face that sent the group but Flayn reeling back.

"A-Alexandra?" Claude choked out as everyone was stunned, shaken by the woman that floated before them.

"Alexandra is the name of my vessel. But that is not my name. She and I may look like the splitting images of each other but we are different." The woman said and Claude stared at her, a bead of sweat running down his cheek.

The woman grinned, showing her fangs, her voice no longer sounding possessed or high pitch, but velvety, deep, and seductive.

"Cirina..." Flayn muttered as Cirina smiled but it was anything but kind, "You finally showed yourself..."

"Only because your little friend has a rope on me." Cirina said as her arms slowly dropped, "We finally meet properly, descendent of my cousin."

"Cousin?!" Lysithea screeched, "You two are related?!"

"Yes..." Flayn whispered and Cirina scoffed, "But...we'll speak of that later. We have other matters to discuss." She said, looking back at the woman.

"Cirina? As in..." everyone looked back the spirit shocked as the woman clicked her teeth, "The Lord of Ice and Snow?! The Frosted Knight?! The Queen of Ice?!" Lorenz screeched as the woman's gaze only darkened.

"At least Hugo's descendent know his history. But my grudge toward your bloodlines will never end. After all, your ancestors damned me." She said flying past them.

"Isn't it the opposite?! Didn't you betray Saint Serios?!" Hilda said angrily, and Cirina's gaze became dark.

"How dare you do such a thing to Marianne?! She did no such thing to deserve such treatment!" Flayn yelled at the ghost but Cirina looked down at her with a half-lidded gaze.

"Really?" Cirina said, "Everyone here has chosen to trespass into my domain. What did you expect?" She pointed at the group, "Especially descendants of those sinners. The only exception I make is for Marianne." She said, "And you." She looked at Flayn.

"DON'T TAKE OUT YOUR ANGER ON THEM!"

Cirina just crossed her arms but became stiff as Claude stood up and stood by Flayn's side.

"Claude, don't," Flayn said but the man gave her a small smile before looking up to Cirina his gaze, serious.

"I know you. You're the one that tried to attack me in 1179, arent you? The spirit that watches over Alexandra." He said and the woman let out a dry laugh, "I never introduced myself. I am-"

"I know very well who you are." Cirina said coldly, "I know everyone here. I watched you all grow through Alexandra's eyes. Especially you...son of Tiana and Hassan of the Sands." She spat and Claude stiffened.

"The only reason I haven't killed you was because of Alexandra and Arisa. No, now that I have better look at you all..." Cirina circled them with narrowed eyes and then at Marianne, "UNBELIEVABLE!" The woman suddenly yelled, "You...Argh! Now I can't kill any of you! Dammit!" She pointed at Marianne, "You awakened the power of Storm Dragon! Not only that, Tiamat blessed you!"

"You speak...of the woman with sea foam hair I saw while I was trapped," Marianne said and Cirina looked at her shocked before her expression morphed to anger.

"Grrrr..." Cirina growled, "Hypocrites. Hypocrites! Hypocrites! All of you!" The woman roared.

"Aren't you a hypocrite yourself?!" Claude suddenly yelled, "Here you are attacking us and we don't even know why! Don't you used to be human too?!" He yelled, "And you used Marianne to say those things earlier to me…" He growled.

"HA! I only spoke the truth! To be human..." Cirina's lips parted for a moment before huffed and turned her head away, "Your ancestors took that away from me. I'll never forgive them. Not them. Not Serios. Not anyone." She said and Claude gritted his teeth.

Again, their ancestors were brought up. Again, nothing was being said. If anything, talking with Cirina was getting them nowhere. The conversation kept switching back and forth and it was starting to get on Claude's if not everyone's nerves. They need to know what their ancestors did for her to have so much fury. Marianne was trying to pinpoint it as well.

"But why do WE have to suffer for the mistakes our ancestors did?! Why are you unleashing your wrath on us?!" He yelled and the woman gritted her teeth.

"And don't think you showing mercy on me is kindness!" Marianne yelled, "Y-You...I felt your anger! I felt your pain! Yet you still cling to it! Maurice didn't do anything to you...he tried to...he tried to clear your name..." she sobbed.

"Yes, he tried to clear my name and it's what got him destroyed!" Cirina suddenly boomed, unleashing a cold gust of wind, "That fool should have stayed in his lane!"

"BUT HE CARED ABOUT YOU! THEY ALL DID!" Roared Marianne, taking everyone but Cirina by surprise, "You know deep down...Roman loved you."

Cirina froze. The spirit slowly turned to look at her, realizing that Marianne saw her memories. Or at least, a portion of them while she was trapped. Tiamat must have shown her. Cirina gritted her teeth as she hugged herself and her nails dug into her skin. Even as a spirit, she bled.

"He did not." she spat, "He did!" Marianne argued back.

"I said..." Everyone started to back away as the crystals of ice started to spike, "HE DID NOT!" And with a wave of her hand, a wave of ice crystals came towards them.

The group managed to jump out of the way on time but Cirina's nostrils flared as she was breathing hard. But Marianne wasn't having it. She remembered Tiamat's words.

"You need to make her speak. Hit her where she was the most vulnerable. Cirina is stubborn. You and your friend won't come out of this emotionally unscathed. Cirina will do everything she can to emotionally break you."

"THEN WHY ARE YOU PROJECTING YOUR DEATH ONTO ALEXANDRA?! THAT SHE WILL DIE LIKE YOU?! IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?! IS THAT WHY YOU CURSED YOUR OWN BLOODLINE?! TO SUFFER AS YOU DID?! ALL YOU ARE DOING IS PROJECTING YOUR INSECURITIES ONTO US AND ALEXANDRA! EVEN ONTO THE BLOODLINE AND DESCENDANTS OF YOUR FRIENDS!" Marianne roared and that was what finally made Cirina break.

They could see her eyes were conflicted when they went wide and she started trembling. That was the truth. The truth that she refused to hear. She was projecting her betrayal onto Alexandra. She was projecting herself onto her reincarnation, fearing that she will suffer the same fate as her. Cirina had grown to love and care for Alexandra over the years, having seen her past life. The two were different yet the same in a way. Have both lived through hardships and tragedies in their first life, and now the possibility of that happening again terrified Cirina.

The spirit that only seek revenge was starting to realize that it would lead her nowhere. That her bounding her soul only caused the suffering of the descendants of her friends. What would Hades say if he saw her? What would Vernata say if she saw her attacking her descendants? What would Baldr say? How would they look at her? Cirina looked back to the group and locked eyes with Marianne, who she realized was also part of her bloodline. But also the bloodline of her friend. Did Marcel try to clear her name?

Seconds felt like minutes and minutes felt like hours as they went by. The two women stared each other down, neither breaking eye contact. For a moment, the image of Maurice flickered where Marianne stood. Cirina let out a long breath as she closed her eyes and raised her hand, then pointed a finger at her.

"You sure grew a spine. Yet, you are a hypocrite." Cirina sneered, she wasn't going to break, "You say that to me but what about you? You are projecting your own insecurities using the excuse of your own cursed bloodline." She said and a chill ran down the other woman's spine as Cirina floated down.

"Oh, you should stay away from me. My Crest will bring misfortune."The spirit mocked Marianne's voice,"Oh, don't be near me, I am a waste of time. You shouldn't waste your time worrying about me." She kept one going, enjoying how shaken the girl was becoming.

"Enough..." Marianne whimpered but Cirina wasn't having it as she leaned in and whispered in her ear.

"Am I a nuisance to you, Professor? Am I a nuisance to you, brother?"

"Stop..."

Cirina grinned as her hand started to come closer to Marianne's cheeks.

"Goddess, please grant me a sweet relief of this l—-"

"STOP IT!"

Cirina stopped and looked over to the group with a half-lidded gaze to see that it was Hilda that shouted. The pink-haired woman pointed her relic at her.

"You...YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SPEAK TO MARI THAT WAY!" Hilda yelled and Cirina clicked her teeth as her eyes were on the glowing relic that twitched in Hilda's hand.

Cirina moved her hands and now floated towards Hilda. The pink-haired woman was terrified, she wanted to run away. Hilda had yet to receive a brutal verbal lashing but now... Cirina looked down at her with a void gaze and leaned down, her lips parting to display her fangs.

"I have no right?" Cirina leered, "How amusing..." And the tip of her fingernail was pressed lightly on the center of Hilda's chest, "Says the girl who comes from a family that disrespects life." She hissed.

"Your family turns those of the east to slaves! THAT GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING YOUR Ancestors FOUGHT FOR!" Cirina boomed in her face, and Hilda was frozen in place, terrified.

"You are nothing but a manipulative good-for-nothing woman. A woman who pretends to be weak and puts off her responsibilities or makes others do her work all to hide her shortcomings. You feel lesser compared to your brother. You are in his shadow. You discriminate against those of the east. Calling that boy Cyril, one of the good Almyrans. Ha! You're no better than that girl, Ingrid." She spat venomously, "You're always so focused on the task at hand. Sometimes, I almost forget you're Almyran. I always thought they were...rough and unreliable sort of people. Though you're not really like the rest of them. You seem normal for the most part." She mimicked Hilda's voice and the pink-haired woman was stunned hearing her repeat the conversation she had with Cyril in the past.

"Foolish, foolish, Hilda. Did you really think you were a kind and considerate woman? No, you look down on people. You have them all pick up your slack!" Cirina cackled wickedly.

"N-No...I-I'm not!" Hilda whimpered but was interrupted by crimson eyes looking into her own, and cold hands cupping her face.

"Your ancestors were once slaves. Slaves of those who looked down on them. Rubedo was a man who was thrown away by his mother because she deemed him imperfect. He grew up in the shadow of his twin brother who was deemed perfect. But one day, invaders from the south came and killed the men in his village and took him, the children of the village, and women as slaves. His mother was killed before his eyes along with his brother. He lived as a slave all his life till Nemesis arrived and set him free." She said as she wiped a tear away from Hilda's eyes.

"He fought the war to free those who suffered injustice. To end the suffering brought upon them by the world." Cirina snorted and floated away, "He gladly let himself be executed by Serios so his family may be spared. Your house stains his memories. How disappointed he would be to see the descendants fall to such wrenched ways." She spat and ignored how Hilda fell to her knees and everyone ran to her side.

"That's enough." Claude said coldly, "You've tormented us enough." He said and Cirina just stared at them.

"Seeing how you all somehow are still sane after my verbal lashing, I am impressed." Cirina looked at her nails, "The majority would have gone mad by now. In denial and such." She said as they helped Hilda up, the woman was shaken, and was quickly hugged by Flayn and Lysithea.

"You're a monster," Lysithea growled and Cirina chuckled dryly and smiled bitterly.

"Says the girl who gets triggered and bratty for being called a child when you are. Despite the short life you have, you rush everything. You act so high and mighty that you don't realize the words you have said have hurt others. I don't understand what Emily saw in you. Let alone Arisa." She said and Lysithea looked ready to burst but somehow managed to stop herself from yelling.

She was speaking the truth. And that was what hurt. Cirina does not lie. She always spoke the truth, no matter how brutal it was.

"If I'm a monster, what does that make you all?" Cirina said and looked at Claude, "Especially you..."

"I am not my ancestor. I am not Roman Reigan. Stop projecting him on me." Claude said and Cirina burst out laughing yet it was hallowed.

"You're not him. But you're still a little shit like he was. He was a schemer, just like you. He had a dream where all could live and be treated equally." Cirina said with closed eyes.

She raised her hands and looked at them, glitching between normal and covered in blood.

"None of you know the pain of betrayal. None of you know the pain of being ostracized by the world. None of you. None of you know what it's like to be blamed for every little thing that goes wrong." She said and began cackling madly, her voice turning more demonic.

That was not good…

"None of you…UNDERSTAND!" She roared and began spinning, the alarm bells going loud in everyone's heads, "Do you love me?" She said as the group backed away, "I hate myself the most. Where can the snowflake hide?" she said and looked at them.

"Are you scared? Jealous? Excited? With me here…is it not enough?" She said as she cocked her head, "Everything is a lair!"

"Escape, self-abasement, hate, regret, guilt, tanha, be jealous of, cowardice, timidity…" Cirina began to speak, "Greed, envy, weakness, evade, pressure, solitude, anger, darkness, neglect, destruction…."Her eyes began to water, "Solitude, captivity, broken, vengeance, erasion, resentment, anxiety, frustration, rage…." She slowly put her hands down, "Is this…what I had to through? No…I…made everyone go through it…I..made them suffer…" She said falling deep into her own world of madness, the dark aura around her growing.

The white of her eyes turned black as her tears turned black. This terrified Flayn. If Cirin gave in to such emotions, she truly would become a full demonic spirit. Never able to pass on. Never able to see their friends and family again on the other side. Flay could now see the emotional chains that surrounded her friend. She truly…was a broken woman.

"Cirina…don't you remember, the precious moments you shared with those you love?" Marianne spoke carefully, making Cirina twitch, "Think. Do you…not remember when…" she gulped, "Someone extended their hand to you?"

"Mari, what are you doing?" Hilda said and Flayn softly shushed her.

"Cirina…Do you…remember your parent's fifth anniversary?" Flayn said, "You wore a glaze lily flower crown. You and I-Cethleann wore white dresses and threw flowers, celebrating the union between them." She said and the woman tilted her head up a bit.

"M-Mother…F-Father…" Her voice cracked.

"Do you…remember when you introduced Cethleann to Roman? You…trusted Cethleann with your secret. She…was there when you two got married in secret." The rest of the group looked at Flayn shocked.

"The flames are dwindling…" Lorenz whispered and indeed they were, "Does that mean, Cirina is my g-" Hilda had never been so fast slapping her hand over Claude's mouth to shut him up.

"No, she not!" Flayn hissed and turned back to her friend, "Cirina…The Frost Forrest…it's where you two got married. It was once known as The Forest of Dandelions…The flowers…your father proposed to your mother with. And…the flowers Roman proposed to you with." Flayn said and a strangled cry left Cirina's lips.

"D-Dan…de..lions…" Cirina croaked, "H-Home…"

"The memorial in Zanado…That was you, wasn't it?" Hilda whispered, "You recorded the names of every individual that lost their life there. So…even if they are no longer here, their memories will be. As long as you remember them, they live." Cirina moved her head a bit towards them.

"Those words…My uncle…Cryo once said them…" Cirina whispered, "Ah…A-Ah…"

"Cirina, you don't hate Roman…do you?" Flayn said, "You…love him. This forest…you didn't destroy it. You preserved it because you wanted to preserve the happy memories of your time together. Cirina…you're in so much pain...aren't you?" She whispered.

"Ah….Ah…"

Drip…Drop…

Finally, the tears fell.

"I'm so tired...I'm just so tired of all this." Cirina whispered and fully turned to them, the black of her eyes disappeared along with her crest.

Her crimson eyes…were human.

The tears that fell…They were real tears. The woman covered her eyes and started crying. Her body trembled as more and more sobs escaped her lips. The group remained silent but Flayn looked at her cousin sadly as she carefully took a step forward. All the pain she endured she kept to herself, finally came out.

"Why was I blamed for the death of my family? Why was I outed for being born half-Nabatean half-Agarthan? Why did everything go wrong? Why did everyone keep betraying me? Why did everyone hate me? Why was I even born that was all I was going to live through? Through suffering...My own family that survived discriminated against me...I tried to save Mesuline and look what Serios did!" Cirina wailed, "She went as far as staining my name after my death. She threaten to expose my love for Roman if I didn't kill him..." she sobbed, "Where did it all go wrong?"

"Cirina..." Flayn whispered and her hand was smacked away.

"I don't need your pity!" Cirina growled, "You all won...I'll show you where Alexandra is." Cirina floated towards a wall.

She raised her hands and took a deep breath before she opened her mouth and began to sing.

"Oh, ancient tears of slumber...Oh, broken heart weeps."

Claude became still, the song, he heard before, in his dreams. Cirina closed her eyes and continued as the world around them started to shift.

"Oh my love, why betray me? Oh, mother. Oh, father, how I yearn to be with you. I wish to enter a deep slumber, so I may no more."

"Oh ancient tears of slumber, why do you weep?"

"Oh ancient tears of slumber, can you see?"

"This frozen world No longer weeps. My love, please wake up for me..."

It was as if the place had become a Rubix cube puzzle. The walls turned left and right, then spun up and down as Cirina continued to sing in a melodic tone filled with sadness. The woman kept singing till a magic circle with The Crest of Aubin appeared and the walls of the temple were now stone cave walls. A division of ice split in half and turned to dust, revealing a cave entryway. Claude could not believe his eyes yet, a sharp pain went through his head, as did the others. A foggy vision clouded their minds, but they could hear joyful laughter, a blurred outline of what seemed like flowers, and...two individuals holding hands while those around them cheered and clapped.

Cirina merely glanced their way and floated forward. It was time to see Alexandra.

[—-]

The silence was beyond uncomfortable. The rage and anger Cirina had were gone. Only replaced with the will to mourn. Her eyes were dull as she floated and the others followed. They were going deeper into the place. No one knew if they should speak or even say anything. What they witnessed earlier was the pain of someone who suffered for hundreds of years. For years believing she was betrayed until she believed it was the truth. What would she do now?

The expression they saw was the most heartbroken thing they had ever seen. Truly the expression who had seen nothing but tragedy and hell in their lives.

"Flayn?" Claude spoke up as the girl looked his way, "Is...it true what Cirina said?" He whispered, "That Saint Serios...lied about her?" He asked because the history he grew up with was that Cirina betrayed Saint Serios and the other saints.

Flayn sighed heavily and nodded.

"It is true...Saint Serios stained her name. But even I do not know why. Lady Rhea did not say." Flayn said and they looked at Cirina wearily.

"It was because I failed to save Mesuline." Cirina stopped floating and the group stopped their movements, "It was the battle against Anacharis. The turning point of The War of Heroes. Mesuline gave her life to activate the magic cannon. She was killed in the process. I did everything I could to save her but I failed..." Cirina said, "Serios blamed me for her death..."

"I...was never told that." Flayn said and Cirina glanced her way, "What happened?"

"Enough." Cirina sighed, "Just ask Seteth. He'll tell you."

"...Cirina.", Claude said and the woman growled as they continued forward, "I don't forgive you."

"Of course, you and the brats wouldn't. There is no point in forgiving. Hate me if you all must. At this point, I don't care. But I swear the heavens and hells above and under if you hurt Alexandra in any form, I will personally kill you. And this time, I won't hesitate even if you are Vernata's blood." Cirina growled and they arrived at another door.

"Ooohhhh ohhhh..." Cirina sang a short tune and the doors opened but the place felt unsettling.

The path began to steep down, and the cave itself seemed to be pulsing. Strange dark blue crystals sprouted from the rock veins and there was some sort of black and blue substance splattered on the ground. Some vegetation, like grass, and some strange flowers were all a deep blue. From its roots to the tip of its petals. And blue firefly lights glowed around.

"What is this place?" Lorenz awed along with the others.

"This place feels creepy..." Hilda muttered, "But...Are those ice sapphires?!" The woman squealed seeing the unrefined gems sprouting from the ground.

"I suggest you keep your filthy hands off them," Cirina said coldly which made Hilda quickly back away from the one she was about to touch.

Just when Claude was about to speak...

Bubump

A heartbeat.

They heard the sound of a heartbeat. Cirina took a deep breath and floated in front then turned to them, her face grave.

"There is a reason why I kept trying to keep you all away. Alexandra wouldn't want you all to see her in the state she is in. Those who were saved that day by Amir, Arisa, and Alexandra, do you all remember where the blast hit her?" She questioned and Claude gulped along with Hilda, Lorenz, and Marianne.

"How can we forget?" Hilda said with an empty stare, "The blast...The blast... up!" She quickly covered her mouth as the horrible memory made her want to vomit.

"The blast ripped Alexandra like a ragged doll..." Lorenz said, "It..." he took deep breaths, "destroy the left side of Amir's body..."

"And it left Arisa in pieces..." Claude said as Cirina nodded.

"Exactly." Cirina said, "The Goddess used her power to save three, but not without repercussions. The three women were all put into a deep sleep in different environments corresponding to their crest. Amir slept at the bottle of The Lake of the Damn. Her torn body slowly regenerated itself by absorbing dark magic. That is the power of The Crest of Timotheos." The spirit explained as they looked at her shocked.

"Alexandra...she has my blood. It is only natural she and Amir would be placed in an environment humans have extreme difficulty accessing. In Alexandra's case, The Frost Forest." Cirina sighed.

"Cirina," Flayn said, "W-Where is Alexandra?" Cirina remained silent, "Cirina!"

Cirina remained silent and looked at them with a void gaze as she raised her hand and placed it over the hole in her chest.

"The heart of a dragon is the most precious thing in the world. If a dragon gives their heart willing to someone, it will gain its power. My heart was recovered by Hades. It somehow managed to survive Roman's attack." Cirina said, "You all saw the bones earlier? That is my body." Horror slowly fell on the group, "That is my corpse. The corpse of a dragon. And my heart..." she moved out of the show them, "Is where Alexandra is."

Veins stretched all around and were attached to a giant glowing blue stone that was 15 feet tall and 13 feet wide. A webbing surrounded it and the stone pulsed. The colors it gave off were different shades of blue. But nothing prepared them for what was inside the blue crystal. Inside was a woman in a fetal position, hugging their knees close to their chest. Claude carefully took a step forward and Cirina watched in silence but also disdain. For had she no will fight them anymore.

"Alex..." Claude whispered as he slowly walked the closer she got, the more he saw how cracked her body was, seeing those cracking glowing slowly mending themselves.

Many couldn't believe their eyes but then...

"Wait a minute..." Hilda suddenly gawked in horror, "SHE'S NAKED!" The woman screeched and lunged at Claude, covering his eyes as Marianne covered her face as Lorenz, Flayn, and Lysithea turned away.

"Why didn't you say that first?!" Hilda glared at Cirina who just cackled at their crimson faces while Claude felt shame but also wanted to take a peak but a tug on his ear said that Hilda would make him regret it.

"I did warn you." Cirina grinned as she waved her hands so frost would cover her friend's body, now only a headshot of her body could be seen from the crystal, "But again, I warned you all. This is the state Alexandra is now in." She said as everyone looked back to the giant gem and hold removed her hands from Claude.

"Cirina! Even after everything you still...ooohhhh! You're still a prankster!" Flayn yelled and Claude was seriously going to question her on why she spoke so naturally to the spirit.

"Oh, silence you. After everything that has happened, I needed a laugh." Cirina huffed, "But back to the subject, Alexandra can't see you. She can't hear you. She can't feel you. For she is asleep in my heart. Healing." She said and floated over to her.

"Wait...your heart? As in...an actual heart?" Lorenz said as Cirina's gaze became half-lidded.

"This place is where my body crash landed when I turned into a demonic dragon in the final moments. And this pulsing giant blue gem, the veins scattered all over this temple, are connected to my heart. You're all inside a cave where my heart is connected directly to the magic veins." She said and everyone looked around the place horrified.

"How is this even possible?" Claude said as he reached out to touch but hissed, stumbling back because of the sheer cold, "Ow!"

"Claude, are you okay?!" Lysithea said as the group now all came up and looked at their friend.

"If it were not for the cracks, I would think she is asleep." Lorenz said and Cirina smiled bitterly, "Will...she wakes up?"

"Unfortunately, no." Cirina said as she flew forward and they took a step back as she placed her hand on Alexandra's heart, "Alexandra's wounds of that day would have killed a normal human in an instant. If she wasn't a Champion of The Goddess, she would be dead." She explained and looked at them, "Alexandra won't awaken for a long while. Not until she is fully healed." She said.

"And that will be?" Claude said and Cirina pursed her lips.

"On the day you and your classmates chose to reunite." She said and they gasped.

"The Millennium Festival...1185." Claude said but let out a dried laugh, "We finally found her...and we can't even bring her home."

"...Claude von Reigan." Cirina said, "Do you truly love Alexandra? Or did you only choose to become closer to her, so you can use her to achieve your dream? Or because you wanted to use her and the Professor to get your hands on The Sword of the Creator?" She said and Claude looked at her with a bitter smile.

"You sure have a way with words." He said as the others looked at him worried, "So that was you speaking through Marianne…" He let out a heavy sigh as Marianne apologized.

Claude reassured the blue-haired woman that it was fine. That it wasn't her talking.

"Just answer the q—-" Cirina's eyes suddenly went wide and quickly flew past them.

"Cirina, what's wrong?" Flayn said noticing how the woman was suddenly startled.

"N-No way..." Cirina croaked, "N-No way...I-It can't be!" She whispered as she raised her hands and covered her mouth.

"What happened?!" Claude said and she looked at them.

"I'm getting you all to the surface now!" Cirina suddenly yelled and blue light suddenly engulfed them all.

[—-]

"Aahhhh! It's cold!" The woman screamed but Marianne was in Lorenz's arms.

"Raaahhh!" Falco suddenly roared furiously into the sky as the other flying mounts started either to chirp, whine or neigh loudly.

"Enemy incoming!" Marianne yelled, "They sense..." the color drained from her face, "D-DeadLord! A DeadLord is heading towards The Frost Forest!" She screamed.

"Dammit!" Claude cursed, "Alright everyone, looks like round two! Let's go!" He yelled and everyone went to get on their mounts.

Falco quickly knelt to let Claude climb on. The wyvern with a beat of his wings, unleashed a roar, and the wyverns, kinshi, and pegasus followed. Neighing, screeching, or roaring they all did, it was their form of war cries. Nagi and Shirou joined in as well. And they took off into the sky.

"Which direction?!" Claude yelled as they skyrocketed through the air.

"Near the area of the bones we passed!" Hilda yelled, "No...wait, didn't Cirina say that is her body?!" Lysithea screeched and Flayn snapped the reins of her kinshi harder.

"HYAA! GO! GO! GO! WE CAN'T LET THE DEAD LORD GET THOSE BONES!" Flayn yelled and they flew through the cold storm.

"Please, let us make it on time!"

[—-]

Snow fell softly as he looked around. The shades of blue made him remember his time in the war. It felt like yesterday when he breathed his last, killed by his eldest son as he ordered to. The wyvern rider looked around, surprised that somehow his body wasn't becoming solid ice at this point. If he was alive, he would just be cold. But as a walking corpse, it felt wrong not feeling any cold, or pain. The only heart that beat in his chest was one created using dark magic. He let out a breath, and not even a puff of air was formed, showing he wasn't human anymore.

"Grrr..." he turned, his giant wyvern, nudged his shoulder.

"It hurts seeing you also brought back with me, old friend." The wyvern rider said as he let out a heavy sigh, "Let's go. It's miracle Anacharis let me out." He said continuing to walk.

The more he did, the more the forest felt familiar. No, he could hear its whispers and magic trying to push him out but he would not budge. He could hear her voice screaming and wailing in the wind.

"Traitor!"

"Leave!"

"Sinner!"

"Sigh...Cirina..." he muttered and suddenly his wyvern began growling viciously, "Ho?" He looked up to where the wyvern growled, and let out a dry laugh, "So those are the kids Mila told me about. Sigh..." he felt Anacharis's magic activate, "So it's time to fight."

The wyvern rider jumped back as arrows flew his way as well as magic. His wyvern growled and hissed when the group landed. With weapons drawn, they were ready to fight. Claude raised his bow and pointed.

"Well, look what the cat dragged in. I don't think you and I met. You're most certainly not the one that attacked us at the academy." Claude said with a smirk on his face.

The wyvern rider had the armor of a Wyvern Lord, the master class of the skies and a class Claude was aiming for. The armor itself was a golden color that was fading away due to the rust. They were surrounded by dark and black magic, and through the opening of the helmet, Claude could see the wyvern lord had verdant eyes, just like his. But...his gaze trailed to the bow the Wyvern Lord held in his hands.

"That's Failnaught." Lorenz said as beads of sweat ran down their faces, "Claude...if what Sylvain said is correct about his ancestor, then the man standing in front of us is..."

"Roman Reigan." Claude said, "Hey, Gramps! Isn't it past your time to walk this earth? Let alone this forest?" He said and the wyvern lord's chuckle rumbled.

"I see my descendants have inherited that side of me." Roman said as all he did was walk to the left and kept looking at them, "I'm more surprised that all of you are even able to walk this for—" he stopped his gaze and landed on Flayn, "Cethleann..."

"What?" Lysithea said and looked at Flayn shocked but the mint-haired girl held her staff tightly, even if she was shaking.

"I suggest you all leave while you still can." His voice sounded possessed and distorted, "Anacharis is letting me talk to you all. I'm only hear to retrieve—"an arrow flew past him but he did not flinch one bit.

All he did was glance at the direction it went before looking back at Claude.

"I see you have balls of steel,"Roman said and Lorenz gawked while Claude had a weary smile.

"Well, we're not letting set one foot near Cirina's body." Claude and Roman's eyes went wide.

"Cirina's...body?" The man said and slowly a low chuckle was heard before he turned to a wrathful rage, "Damn you, Anacharis! Do you dare make me discrete her corpse?! Does your cruelty have no bounds?!" The wyvern lord yelled and laughter echoed around him.

"Oh, please! What better way to welcome you back to the world of the living than by making you see your lover?! Besides, you know the truth regarding that relic your grandson holds." Anacharis said as the wyvern lord gritted his teeth, "Anyhow, I'm having you kill everyone here. As well as harvest their hearts. But make sure to bring Cethleann's body. She would make a nice catalyst." She said and Flayn flinched.

"Argh!" Dark magic began to swirl around the wyvern lord in the form of a tornado.

Roman thrashed as he held his head in agony, trying to fight back Anacharis's control. The group was stunned but they knew they were about to fight.

They were about to fight number four of The 10 Elites.

Reigan in the books was said to be a man of words. That he was the man behind many schemes that led to the victory against Nemesis. That he worked from the shadows and knew how to use his words to turn around a problem. That each shot he did, never missed.

"RAAAH!" Roman screamed and his head slumped before it slowly rose again, the green in his disappeared and turned to red.

"Everyone get ready!" Claude yelled and the wyvern lord jumped onto his wyvern and lunged at them, "CHARGE!"

It was a battle in the skies. Falco roared and the fight ensued. Roman raised the cursed Failnaught and shot four arrows, each one glowed with the dark wind. Falco spun to dodge the arrow. Falco was surprised by the undead giant wyvern.

"To think I see another Fernyiges. Back in the day, they were the most common wyverns in the lands. But the Agarthans saw them as threats and killed them off." Roman said as his wyvern maneuvered down to dodge the ice spear that Marianne launched at him and the dark spikes Lysithea did, "Glad to see they still live."

"You sure know your history for someone that should be back in the grave!" Lysithea yelled and raised Thyrsus, creating hundreds of dark spikes in the air.

"Hah. I see you mastered Hugo's spell! But one mistake girl," Roman raised Failnight but did not aim at her, "You left your front open." And he released the arrow up.

The arrow glowed and went past Lysithea but right at the top of a dark spike forming. The arrow pierced and silence fell. Then the first crack formed. Then another, and soon it quickly spread all over the spell and it shattered. Lysithea was too stunned to speak as well as the others but soon...

BUBUMP!

"A-AAAHHHHHH!" The woman unleashed an agonizing scream, her eyes turned white and purple veins spread all over her body.

"Lysithea!" Flayn yelled and screamed and the woman slumped and slid off her Pegasus.

"The weak point of Dark Spikes is at its very top. Hit it, and the spell breaks and backfires on the caster. Causing them agonizing pain." Roman said as Claude let out a snarl, "Ha. I know that growl. The growl of a dragon about to kill those who harm kin."

Flayn flew quickly as fast as she could but with the speed at that Lysithea was falling, she wouldn't make it. She could hear the others trying to fly to get to her but they wouldn't make it. At that moment, Flayn made a choice. She threw herself off her kinshi, sending the rest of the group screaming and Roman was shocked by her actions.

"Father, forgive me for what I am about to do!" Flayn said and closed her eyes, holding her dragon stone tightly in her hands.

Her body glowed brightly as she got closer and close to Lysithea and caught her. Wings spread open as the light faded, revealing their pure white feathers. Pearl iridescent scales formed on her cheeks and she opened her eyes, the pupils had turned to The Crest of Cethleann.

"Oh, my god..." Hilda covered her mouth along with Marianne, Claude, and Lorenz and could barely comprehend what had just happened.

Flayn flew in the air, beautiful white feathered wings had sprouted from her back. The girl held Lysithea in her arms, glowing a light green to heal her. Lysithea's eyes twitched and opened her eyes.

"F-Flayn?" She said and Flayn smiles softly, nodding, "Wait, Flayn?!" Now the woman was wide awake seeing the wings, "Y-You're..."

"Yes..." Flayn smiled sadly, "I am like the professor. A manakete." She said and the two looked up to the sky to see Roman looking down at them, shocked.

"Wait a damn minute..." Anacharis's voice suddenly rang, "You...you shouldn't have that power! You filthy beast lost it! SAME WITH CICHOL!" The woman suddenly roared angrily.

"Well you see Anacharis," Flayn said in a matter-of-fact tone as she gently placed Lysithea back on her Pegasus, "if only you believed in miracles, you would understand." She said as her tone shifted to cold and serious, truly displaying her age, "Oh wait...you can't. After all... Persephone is the one that truly understood miracles."

"Persephone?" Hilda whispered, "Who is that?" And even Roman was confused.

He had never heard the name before. It sounded foreign. But he could feel Anacharis becoming angrier by the second, and was about to take out her anger on him.

"KILL THEM ALL ROMAN!" The witch screamed and dark magic poured into him, his body now being forced under her control.

"Dammit...ALL OF YOU RUN!" Roman yelled along with the wyvern.

But they didn't even have time to move. Roman's Giant Wyvern was more trained, and more experience, his speed surprised Falco. Before Falco realized it, the two were behind him and Claude, that was the opportunity needed for Roman to suddenly be in Claude's face, raise his fist, and punch him in the stomach. Roman's wyvern raised its tail and swung it, slamming right into Falco's stomach.

The impact sent both towards the ground, crashing into and rolling. Thankfully this managed to soften the impact but, still...Claude tumbled not far from Falco. Again screams filled the place as one by one, his friend fell to the ground. He gritted his teeth, gasping for air, and spit out the blood that contaminated his mouth. Roman landed and raised his bow, aiming toward the archer. His hands trembled as the young man weakly looked up at him with a glare. It was the same look Romani did to him…

"Forgive me, boy," Roman said and released.

Time seemed to slow down as the arrow filled with magic came closer and closer till suddenly...

A wall of ice in the shape of a lotus flower sprouted in front of Claude and the others. The arrow made contact and exploded. The force sent a powerful gust of wind that felt like a hurricane had descended on them. Slowly, the smoke went away and was replaced with mist, but it was the person in front of Claude that stunned him.

"Sigh...I made it on time." Cirina whispered as she put her hands down.

She protected him.

The blue-haired woman glanced his way and then back at the DeadLord before her that was 15 feet away. The armor, the wyvern, even the rusted breastplate and dagger on his hip...Cirina placed a hand over her chest as her lips trembled.

"Roman..." Cirina said in a wobbly tone.

The Wyvern Lord was stunned. His hands trembled as he held Failnaught. Cirina was in front of him. She was Ali- but the joy of believing she was alive was destroyed when he saw her appearance. Her pale skin, the crimson eyes, and the nightgown she wore were bloody and torn as well as the hole in her chest.

"Cirina..." Roman croaked, "What has happened to you?" He thought, "Please, get them all out of here. I can't control my body." He quickly said.

Cirina remained silent and her lips formed a bitter smile as she looked up at him, tears forming in her eyes.

"Will you do what you did to me…will you do to them?" She said and his eyes widened.

If he was still human, it would have felt like a bucket of ice was poured on him. Cirina died believing he betrayed her.

"Cirina, please! Listen to me! I didn't be-" He had to tell her!

"LIES!" Cirina roared, "YOU WERE THE ONE THAT KILLED MY AUNT! YOU DRANK MY UNCLE'S BLOOD! YOU...YOU...I TRUSTED YOU! I LOVED YOU!" The woman wailed, "And now...LOOK AT WHAT I HAVE BECOME BECAUSE OF YOU!" She roared and ice burst from the ground toward the dead lord.

"CIRINA PLEASE! LISTEN TO M—-Ack!" Suddenly his voice was gone, and he could feel Anacharis smiling at his dilemma.

"Oh no, I can't have you telling her the truth." Her voice rang in his mind so only he could hear her, "Misunderstandings are the best. But she won't listen to you. Look at her." She forced Roman to look at his lover, "Do you see her?" She enjoyed how much he was struggling to go against her, "This is the result of your mistake in trying to cross me and Nemesis. Cirina has become a demonic spirit, because of you." She chuckled.

"Anacharis sent you here, didn't she?! Well!" Cirina gritted her, "I DECLARE THAT ALL THOSE OF THE 10 Elites BLOODLINE ARE FORBIDDEN FROM ENTERING THE FROST FOREST!" She yelled the entire forest began reacting to her command.

She quickly cast a barrier around Claude and the rest of the group to protect them from commands. It's a good thing too because the reason she wasn't with them earlier was that she was fortifying the defenses of the shrine, as well as making sure Alexandra was okay.

"Whoa!" Hilda screamed as they were all raised in the air, trapped in bubbles.

Before their eyes, they watch the magic veins of The Frost Forest glow and golems of ice appear. They charged at the dead lord, attacking viciously. Even the trees looked alive as they went after Roman.

"Dammit!" Roman yelled as he jumped back on his wyvern and pulled the reigns to maneuver them to escape the ice golems claws.

"I can hold him off for a while." Cirina's voice suddenly rang in their minds, "Alexandra will be okay. She's in my heart after all. But...you can't come back. You can't see her again. Only Marianne can." She said, "This is for everyone's safety!"

"Please! At least let us know when she will wake up!" Claude yelled and Cirina smiled bitterly.

"Don't worry. I have it planned out. Goodbye, all." Cirina said and the light engulfed them, teleporting them away.

Cirina smiled sadly and turned to look at Roman struggling to get away. The wyvern...

"Roman can live without." She said and raised her hand, "I only have enough power to break Hagrid free of Anacharis's control." She thought and the roots of the tree managed to get ahold of the risen wyvern.

"That bitch!" Anacharis yelled, "I'm pulling you back Roman!"

Roman gritted his teeth and looked at his wyvern, who looked terrified but he spoke.

"I know you'll be fine! Knowing Cirina, she'll be free from the witch's control!" He yelled and sunk into a puddle of black mud.

Cirina felt his presence gone and floated to Hagrid, who growled at her but stopped once he recognized who she was. The tree roots loosen just a bit and put him down. His head lowered as she placed her hand on his snout.

"It's been a while..." the woman smiled sadly, "I'm sorry but Aka is no longer here...Hades had her body cremated..." she said and the wyvern let out a whine hearing that his mate was dead.

Aka was the name of her giant wyvern. She was a beautiful red-green scaled giant wyvern with tree branch-like horns. The most ironic thing? Falco was their descendant. She hugged him, gently resting her forehead on his. With the sound of the click, she broke him free of Anacharis's control.

"Roman really cares for you. That's why he said you would be fine." She said as her power started to pour into him, "You're now under my command."

She took a step back and the dark magic turned the flames to white and blue. His scales turned white and his eyes are dark blue. She smiled and spoke.

"I bestow on you a new name. Your name is Argus, and you are the new guardian of this forest."

[—]

Judith came running to the courtyard along with others as the blinding light faded away. The first thing they saw was the giant wyvern roaring and shaking off as much snow as it could. Next, were the former students, all groaning from landing on top of each other. They all landed on Claude. The rest of the flying mounts were recovering and in panic. Edward along with Fernindad and Rensen ran to the mounts to try and calm them down as Robert and Judith went to Claude.

"My back!" Claude groaned, "Get off of me!" He croaked, and the group scrambled as fast as they could to get off.

"Well, at least his bones are back in place," Robert said and Judith burst out laughing as the rest of the Golden Deer arrived.

"Whoa! What's happened while I was away?" Leonie said gawking seeing the wings on Flayn as she made them disappear.

Flayn shivered and looked around, seeing they were all back in Derdriu. Her kinshi was flying in the air with the other flying mounts to stretch their wings.

"FLAYN!"

Seteth seemed the appear out of thin air and hugged her tightly. The girl was surprised but after what happened, she hugged him tightly.

"Oh, Flayn! Thank goodness you are alright! Don't ever escape like that again!" The older man cried as she nodded but also noticed Naga was with him, but she was watching from a distance.

"What happened? And seeing Falco, I guess a lot of things." Fernindad said as the group had finally recovered and gathered together.

"Yes." Claude said, "Alexandra...is in the forest. Falco was watching over her." He said to them looking at the giant wyvern that was nuzzling Zahra, "I'm not going to get used to that..."

"Claude is hurt to know that his little girl is Falco's mate." Hilda snickered as the archer glared at her.

Rensen smiled softly but suddenly his eyes went blank his head slumped. His head rose again and his eyes were red.

"Falco is the least of your worries." Rensen's disoriented voice suddenly caught everyone's attention.

Judith, Edward, Robert, Seteth, and the golden deers that had arrived quickly raised their weapons but Claude stopped them, raising his hand. It seems the others sensed it as well.

"Cirina. I thought possessing others people's bodies you were done." He said and Cirina only chuckled as the rest lowered their weapons.

"Cirina? Is that really you?" Seteth said and the woman only glanced his way.

"I'm only here for a brief moment." Cirina said to them all, "Roman was forced to retreat. You won't be seeing him for a while." She said and walked up, raising her hand to make three bags appear in her hand then dropped them to the ground.

"This is your reward. As I said before, by my command, The Frost Forest will not allow anyone of the bloodline of the 10 elites or saints to enter. But the only exception I am making is for Marianne." Cirina declared, "And Falco." She turned to look at the giant wyvern, "Wait for that day I told you." And with that, she left Rensen's body and was gone.

Rensen fell forward and was quickly caught by Naga. The man muttered a thank you.

"Alright," Claude said, "I think...it's best we all tell you what happened. And Fernindad," the lancer gulped, "tell your boss he has a deal."

- Late at night -

The hours passed by and the group told everyone about what had happened. About the forest, finding Falco, the encounter with Cirina, the trials she put them through, as well as now a new DeadLord, Roman Reigan who was being controlled by Anacharis. Many questions sprung up, of course, Claude and the others left out the part of Flayn's wings for reasons. They could tell the matter was something private and they would keep it a secret.

"But why did Roman call Flayn Cethleann..." Claude muttered as he sat on his chair at his desk.

He was in his room finishing up the documents that had piled up. They were gone for three days, not six hours. Claude asked himself how was that even possible. For some reason, the scar on the left side of his chest ached.

"It's as if time runs differently in the forest," Claude muttered as he finished the last of his papers and picked up a journal.

In it, he wrote down everything they learned in The Frost Forest as well as the sights. But most of all...he couldn't get out of his head the image of Alexandra. But also the woman Theresa. No, there was much more to the story. Emily, Chris, Amir, Alexandra, Arisa...all four of them keep being brought up and certain problems go back to them. Anacharis called Arisa an Outworlder, and he along with the others was warned not to investigate or it will lead to some serious consequences.

"Yet, Cirina left us some pretty valuable things," Claude said as he held up a marble size ice sapphire.

"By the way, what are in these bags that Cirina left?" Leonie said as she held one up, "They feel pretty heavy." She said.

"I'll check." Hilda said and opened one but her eyebrows looked like they were going to fly off when her eyes widened the size of plates, "BLUE SAPPHIRES!" Hilda unleashed a squeal so loud that one of the mirrors cracked.

"Wait, seriously?!" Lorenz said as the pink-haired woman nodded excitedly as they were all recovering from the squeal.

Rensen went to open the third bag and sure enough, unrefined ice sapphires were in them.

"Wait." Rensen said, "There is a note." He pulled out the note and began to read it out loud.

This is my payment to you all to keep your mouths shut about what you saw happen between me and Roman. One bag is to be spilt between you and your friends. The other two bags are for Rensen. Blue Ice Sapphires can be used as a substitute for Umbral steel and Mythril. I know how difficult it is to obtain the materials to repair the sacred and hero relics.

Lastly, fuck you all. Except for Marianne.

Seteth and Flayn were frowning and beyond disappointed in Cirina. Edward, Judith, Manuela, and Robert were using each other as support to not burst out laughing while the Golden Deer had very offended looks but Marianne covered her face in shame and embarrassment. Rensen dropped his knees and bowed his head, making his forehead rest on the wooden floor as he kept apologizing repeatedly.

"I can't believe we got dragged into the old man's love life..." Claude sighed.

He really should start reading the journal that Edward gave him. He glanced at the old one next to his bed. From the talk earlier, he also left some things out. The first is that he may have a glimpse of his ancestor's past. The journal that was given to him was written by Romani Reigan, the eldest and first son of Roman Reigan. But what disturbed him was the woman that looked like a splitting image of Rhea. And again, he didn't get an answer on who exactly is Vernata. Cirina kept saying he had her friend's blood. But...which side of the family had her general's blood?

"Sigh," Claude sighed, "A lot more mysterious and more questions." He said and looked up to the sky, "Hey Alex, I'm looking forward to the day you wake up. When you do, the world hopefully is better." He smiled softly.

— The Next Day: Morning -

"Once a month I should be able to enter The Forest to check on Alexandra," Marianne said as Claude nodded.

Bright and early everyone had to get up but after everything they went through, Claude gave them the day off. Seteth was going to be staying for a while since he had business to take care of with Edward, Robert, and Manuela. Flayn was being shown around the city as well as finally having a proper date with Ignatz. They were doing it in secrecy for obvious reasons. As for Hilda, she accepted Rensen's offer of becoming his apprentice. It may not look like it but Hilda was excited to learn the art of a blacksmith. Holst informed her that there had been blacksmiths in their family in the past.

One of them was a woman named Dolca, which Seteth later told them was Florencio's wife. Hilda was shocked learning this as well as Holst, and they wanted to know more. Seteth said he would tell them little by little.

"Did Cirina say that to you?" Claude said and Marianne nodded, "Sigh...Alright. Also, I'm sorry I'm putting this on you." He said and the woman shook her head.

"Please do not be sorry. I understand why this is being done. But also, I am happy to know that you are trusting me with this task. Truly. Alexandra is important to and well...I'm happy to know I have more family other than Alm and Edward." Marianne smiled softly.

"Thank y—Wait, Alm is a relative of yours?" Claude was shocked hearing this and the woman chuckled a bit embarrassed as she scratched her cheek.

"Yes. He is my biological father's cousin. Alm was a bit too young back then to take me in. He's a few years older than me so that makes him my uncle." Marianne explained and Claude was shocked.

"Well now. Cough!" Claude coughed, "I'm happy for you. And once again, thank you for watching Alexandra." He said and she smiled.

"No problem." Marianne said, "Also…" Claude raised an eyebrow, "I want to apologize again. Especially with what happened in the forest." Marianne bowed.

"Marianne, it's alright. What happened back there was not your fault. You weren't yourself." Claude said but Marianne's lips became a thin line, "Marianne?"

"There…is some truth to Cirina's words." The woman said as she placed her balled right hand over her heart, "I…I do…think you are too clingy to Alexandra. I…don't want to see her or anyone one of our friends hurt. T-That's why…I have to ask!" She looked at him seriously.

"Do you trust us?" She asked and the words were stuck in Claude's throat.

"I-I..." Claude said and Marianne smiled sadly, "I'm sorry…I-I don't think I can give you an answer right now."

"It's okay." Marianne said as she walked to the door and stopped for a moment, "Claude, I…even if you don't have an answer, I…I want you to know," She turned to him with a warm smile, "we trust you. You're our precious leader and friend." She said and left.

In silence he was left as he sat down, burying his face in his hands. In moments like these, he was glad he was alone. He took deep breaths as the images of the Golden Deer, Black Eagles, Blue Lions, and Ashen Wolves came to his mind. Their smiling faces, his friends and family…

"I…" His lip quivered, "I'm so sorry…"

[—-]

Months passed and Marianne kept her promise. Once a month she would go to The Frost Forestcwhere she would go see Alexandra. As well as she had the opportunity to speak to Cirina. Marianne still couldn't forgive her for what she had done but Cirina said she didn't need to. But in those short hours, Cirina would tell Marianne Alexandra's progress in healing and that she would wake up soon. This brought joy to the blue-haired woman.

Now it was the 31st of The Blue Sea Moon, Alexandra's birthday.

Marianne hummed a tune as she walked through the shrine's hallways towards the underground area to see her friend. But she stopped, feeling something was off. She also found it strange she did not see Cirina's bones. But the spirit did say she was planning to move them to a different location so no one can find them.

"Cirina?" Marianne called the spirit's name yet she received no answer, "Cirina?" Again no answer.

Not only that, she didn't sense the barrier around the shrine anymore. Marianne broke into a sprint and started running towards the final stairs then down till she arrived at the fourth floor. The wall that led deeper underground was wide open, which was something Cirina never did.

"Cirina! Alexandra!" Marianne yelled and she ran in, stumbling and trying not to trip when she finally made it, her heart shattered.

Cirina's heart was gone. Alexandra was missing.

[—]

Looking down at The Frost Forest from high in the clouds, Inami smiled. Beside her was Balthus, who had a grave expression as they turned to head to Kupala.

"How is she?" Inami asked as she flew closer to see the woman in Balthus's arms.

"She's asleep. I am not looking forward to when she wakes up." Balthus said as Inami grinned as she moved a bit of the blanket around the woman to see her face.

Wrapped in warm blankets was a woman with aquamarine hair that turned to a gradient red. She snored softly as the moonlight showed some scales on her cheeks. The scars on her body all remained the same, and on her neck, she wore the relic necklace. Inami smiled softly as she cupped her cheek.

"Welcome back, Alexandra."

Chapter 94: 1183: Part 6: Emotional Entanglement of The Lord of Ice and Snow: End