200 I Cannot Bear Losing You

CHAPTER 200

"Is there no other way?" Astrid quickly asked him, her hands clutched each other in front of her chest as she awaited his reply.

"There is, when you are between a life and death situation, they would activate to protect you. Remember this, water has memories."

"Water has memories," she repeated back his words silently.

"I think I have directed you on the answer you seek?"

"Yes, father."

"Good." He gave her a nod and moved further back, suspended in the air. 

"Astrid, if there is anyone who can end this war, it is you. You are proof that the realm can exist in peace, the races can unite. You are a child born of air, water and land. Only you have a connection to this world and war more than anyone."

As he spoke, the mist began to surround him just like they did her grandmother.

"Wait, don't go. Father, please I need you."

"Keep the words that you have heard today etched deep into your heart. Your grandmother and I would always be with you. Search deep and you would find us."

Her eyes began to tear up once more. She didn't want it to end. She wanted to stay with him some more. "But, father…"

"Astrid!"

"Who is calling me?"

Both of them looked at the mist and then returned their gazes to each other. "

"It is time. It is time for you to leave the valley of lost souls. The longer you stay, the more your soul would be unable to leave this place."

"But how do I do that?"

"The answer and what you need are all locked inside you. Look deep and you will find it. Never forget, water has memories."

"Father! Noo…"

Just like Leia, he too disappeared into the mist. With her outstretched arm, Astrid chased after him but suddenly stopped in her tracks when she heard her name being called again.

This time it came louder than the others and she could tell the owner of the voice was in a state of panic. 

"Astrid!!" 

The voice seemed to be coming from everywhere around her now. Immediately her mind became fuzzy as her head began to spin.

'What is happening to me? Stop, make it stop.' She yelled in her mind.

"Astrid! Astrid!"

Her eyes began to spin in their socket, twirling the world around in her eyes. She quickly closed her eyes shut and knelt down, placing her hands on the ground for support.

The moment she closed her eyes, her mind went blank and she was in a fog. She heard the same voice call her name again. and

"Astrid, come back to me," the voice came out softly again.

"Where are you?" she managed to ask.

"Find me, find the white line and hold on to it."

It didn't take her long, the next thing she knew, she saw a white line floating in the air. Quickly she mentally reached for it and grabbed unto it.

"Astrid."

Swiftly she turned towards the direction the voice was coming from. Her brows furrowed slightly causing the pace between them to wrinkle as her eyes narrowed at the sound.

"Snow?"

At the same time she mentioned its name, she saw the silhouette of a small figure rushing towards her. With that and the all too familiar voice in her head, there was no doubt about it. It was her little beast companion.

Before she knew it, he came into her full view. Astrid's eyes shot open at the confirmation and a smile broke out on her lips. "Snow!"

Not wasting another second, she dashed towards the little beast, kneeling down to scoop him into her arms and held him close.

"Snow, I missed you."

"I have been looking for you since we go separated, master."

"Same here, but I couldn't find you. The mist became thicker. How did you find me?"

"I was lucky, master, the valley doesn't affect beasts, so I was not lost. You, on the other hand, master, you were fading. I mean your soul was going away. If I hadn't seen you attack with your powers on the mist, then I would never have found you."

"Really, but I was still here. I heard a voice calling me and…"

"You answered master? Didn't you know that if we are going to leave this place alive, you should never answer the call of the dead?"

"No…"

"Really now! I could have lost you. I couldn't connect with you, the mind link was shut down. I was scared I had lost you. This is why you should have activated the bond, that way we would be linked more and I would be able to feel you."

"I know, that is the good side of it. I cannot bear anything happening to you if I get hurt," she said refuting his statement.

"I cannot bear losing you too."

"I know. I am sorry, but I cannot do this, at least not now when every race is out there to get me. It is too risky, Snow."

"How do you expect me to save you if I cannot sense you through the mind link when you are in danger? You are just stubborn. Admit it."

"No. Anyway, I am happy I answered the voice."

"Are you even listening to me? Once you answer them, you are stuck in a trance where they communicate with you and the deeper you dive in, the more time spent talking to them, the farther you are lost. For good!"

"I met my grandmother, the Fairy Queen, your great grandfather, Glacier's master."

Snow who was about to scold her but felt its words got stuck in his mind at her confession.

"You saw her?"

"Yes and my father."

"No wonder, you were going so fast. I am happy I could find you, master, let us find our way out of here as quickly as possible. I do not like the eerie feeling in this place."

"It is creepy knowing I was slowly fading away and did not even notice it. No worries, I would try and sense our way out of here."

"Jareth was right. This place is dangerous."