Chapter 76 - A Rose In The Snow

In the frozen fields of a desolate island in the northern region, Rose arrived on her ship. The small queen of Neuval was on a mission most dear to her. A mission to seal away her brother so that she could complete the mission that God had granted her.

She had searched the caves that cluttered the north for a week, unable to find the cave of sealing. She heard from a local that there was such a cave on an island, so her knights relieved a group of merchants of their ship and their lives so that they may cross the sea.

"It's still freezing!" Rose complained as she exited the ship onto the frozen island. Thick snow and ice covered all the eye could see. In the far distance towards the center of the island stood a tall mountain. Rose saw it and pointed towards it. "There is our mountain boys!" She shouted.

The knights unloaded a chair that could be carried on their shoulders and Rose sat down on it. They picked her up and started to march. She had covered herself in blankets to keep warm. They hiked for a day in the deep snow, not stopping for a break once. Some of the men succumbed to the harsh environment due to the lack of environmental protection provided by cold steel armor. Almost all of the men suffered some type of frostbite by the end of the day.

As they arrived at the cave entrance they lowered the chair and Rose got off. "Thank you, my dear knights." She said, "Now build a fire and base camp. We need not waste any time. We shall find the chamber that seals all. And we shall find it tonight!"

The men said nothing and continued their work, doing as their queen commanded them. "Such obedient puppets my knights are!" She laughed to herself. "I am so happy I acquired this skill of Puppet Master. Now anyone whom I touch becomes my loyal and totally obedient puppet. At least as long as their level is lower than mine. I wish it did not have such a stipulation. If it didn't, I could just lure my brother in for a hug, the fool would do it easily. Then he would be my slave and killing everyone would be so easy."

One of the knights returned from scouting and saluted. "My queen, I have found the entrance to the chamber." He said.

"Very good." Rose said. "Take me there at once. I wish to leave this horridly cold place."

The knight showed her the chamber he had found. It was a large circular chamber made of jade with magical cravings placed throughout.

"This is wonderful!" She cheered. "Now I just need to test it. Knight enter the room and await instructions.

The knight did as instructed and stood in the center of the chamber.

Rose looked around and found a panel on the outside of the chamber. It was a magical plate. She learned of these from Donovan's books. They worked by converting magical power into functions. She figured this plate was most likely the activation mechanism for the chamber. Rose placed her hand on the plate and channeled her mana into it.

The jade that filled the room began to glow and the knight in the center began to slowly turn to jade. As he fully transformed into a jade statue of himself, he liquefied and melted into the floor. After this happened a new arcane craving appeared on the wall.

"So that is how the room functions." Rose said as she grinned wickedly. "Trapped forever in a tomb of jade. What a lovely way to rid myself of my big brother forever." She rolled the gem in her hand. "Alright let's do this. I am sure I can convince him to wait in the room for a moment while I activate it. He never was too bright."

Rose walked into the chamber and poured her mana into the stone, hoping to summon her brother as the old lion said. No matter how much mana she poured she could not get him to be summoned. "This damn thing is broken!" She complained. "I am sure the sappy fool still has it on his person. He must be too far away for my mana alone to reach. At least I read a lovely little book that gave instructions on how to boost a spell. Come to me, my knights!" She yelled loudly.

The knights all rushed into the chamber and circled her. "Alright now for this lovely spell, I have been itching to try it." She said as she raised her hand above her head and closed her eyes to focus. The knights around her began to glow as their very lives began to leave them. A stream of green light came forth from their mouths and poured into Rose's raised hand. The green energy formed a large ball as the knights turned to skeletons one by one and died.

When Rose had all of their life force, she slammed it into the stone to super charge it. The room started to shake from all of the magical energy being exerted. Rose's eyes lit up as she watched the stone begin to glow in an ever-brightening light. "This is perfect!" She yelled as she tossed the stone down to the floor. She rushed out into the entrance and waited by the panel. "Now as soon as big brother appears I will be able to seal him away forever!" She laughed maniacally. A beam of light shot from the stone towards the ceiling of the chamber. The light became so bright that Rose had to look away from it. When the light settled Rose prepared to seal away her brother for good but was shocked by the sight in front of her.

In the middle of the chamber stood an extremely confused police detective holding a small baggie that said the word EVIDENCE. Inside was the stone. "Where the devil am I?!" She screamed. "I was just processing this evidence and then bam!"

"Who are you?!" Rose yelled, angry that all her plans were ruined.