Elora's eyelids fluttered open, her vision still hazy. The first thing she saw was Jett's face looming close to hers, his expression tense and focused. Her heart skipped a beat, though she couldn't tell if it was from surprise or the awkwardness of the situation.
Without thinking, her hand shot up and smacked Jett right across the face.
It took her a moment to fully process what was happening, but the proximity felt... strange. Weird, even.
"What did you do that for?!" Jett whined, rubbing his stinging cheek.
Elora blinked and then smirked slightly, "Oh, it's you. Reflexes, I guess."
Jett rolled his eyes. "Great reflexes."
Elora couldn't help but chuckle. It felt oddly satisfying to have landed a hit on him, especially since it was Jett. She sat up a little, feeling dazed. "So... what happened?"
"Apart from you going psycho and nearly killing me and the new guy over there, nothing much," Aiden responded sarcastically, slashing through yet another snow monster as they slowly advanced toward them.
"What are those?" Elora asked, pointing at the lumbering snow monsters that were still closing in. Then, her eyes widened with disbelief. "Wait... I tried killing you two? When?"
"Yep, you went on a rampage," Aiden confirmed, still occupied with taking down the incoming monsters. "And you got crazy strong too. It wasn't pretty."
Elora stared at the snow monsters, her mind still racing to catch up. "What... are those things?" she asked again, the surrealness of the situation only deepening.
"Great question," Jett replied dryly, before glancing down at her. "You think you're good enough to walk?"
Elora did a quick mental and physical check. Her head was pounding, and her legs felt like they were made of lead. "My head hurts a bit, and my legs are kinda numb right now," she grumbled.
"In that case," Jett said nonchalantly as he bent down and scooped her up into his arms in a bridal carry.
"What the hell?!" Elora yelped, clearly taken by surprise. She immediately began to struggle, trying to wriggle free. "Put me down right now!"
Jett held on tight, not letting go as she squirmed. He rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Gosh, you and Aiden really are related," he muttered. Despite her struggling, he continued to carry her with ease, his grip steady. "Stop moving. You're overthinking this whole thing."
Elora huffed, still fuming. "I don't need you to carry me! I'm fine."
"Sure, if fine means barely able to stand," Jett shot back. "Look, don't forget you're not fully recovered yet. Just hurry up and use your [Snow Guide] skill. I'll carry you the rest of the way, alright?"
Elora groaned but realized he had a point. Her body still felt weak, and with the snow monsters around, this wasn't the time for stubborn pride. She stopped resisting, albeit reluctantly.
"Fine," she muttered. "But you're letting me down as soon as I'm able to walk again."
Jett smirked but didn't say anything. He just kept moving forward, Elora in his arms, while Aiden covered their backs, cutting down snow monsters left and right.
"We're almost there," Jett said, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the path ahead. They continued to rush forward, the icy maze beginning to tremble and shift once more.
"Alex," she called in a low, dangerously calm tone.
"Yes, ma'am," Alex replied, standing a bit straighter under her intense gaze.
"You're in charge," she said abruptly, standing up from her chair with such force that it scraped against the floor.
"But Guildmaster..." Alex started, but before he could finish his sentence, all he heard was a deafening crash. He blinked, and Helen was gone, having smashed through the wall of her office in her haste, leaving a gaping hole in her wake.
Helen charged through the streets with blinding speed, heading straight for the king's palace. The urgency of the Red Star Seal had awakened something fierce inside her.
''A Red Star Seal? Just when I thought things had settled down... I guess peace never lasts for long,'' she mused as her feet barely touched the ground. ''I can already guess how troublesome this is going to be. At least I'll get to see some old friends.''
Her movements were swift and purposeful, every step echoing the tension that hung in the air. Helen's reaction made it clear: this was no ordinary summons. Something was amiss, something serious. And whatever it was, it threatened to disturb the fragile peace that had blanketed the kingdom.
'But what could it be?'
*****
At the main gate of the castle, two figures arrived at the same time, their footsteps in sync, though their attitudes couldn't have been more different.
Helen, her face set in a stern expression, immediately narrowed her eyes as she caught sight of the other person. The tension in her body was palpable, her annoyance barely restrained. She exhaled sharply before speaking, her voice laced with disdain. "I can't believe you can actually be this punctual," she hissed, clearly not thrilled to see the man beside her.
"Oh, me? What can I say? I'm just too patriotic," the man replied with an air of arrogance, flashing a smug grin. He was tall, with an almost lazy, yet sharp look in his eyes, as though everything around him was some sort of game.
"Patriotic my ass," Helen shot back, her nose wrinkling in disgust. "The direction you're coming from is the red light district. The scent is still on you." She frowned, her eyes flashing with disdain. "The fact that you have nothing better to do during the day than being at a place like that just shows how aimless your life really."
"You're hurting my feelings, Hell bear." The man chuckled lightly, utterly unbothered by her sharp words. "Just like always, I really can't hide anything from you, grandma," he teased, his voice playful, clearly trying to provoke her.
Helen's hands balled into fists, and for a brief second, it seemed like she might snap. "On a normal day, I'd want to smash your face into a wall," she growled, barely holding back. Her muscles tensed, but after a pause, she took a deep breath, reigning in her frustration. "But we have more important issues to address."
The man smirked, clearly amused by her restraint. "Sadly, the feeling's mutual." His tone, while still casual, shifted slightly as he glanced at the imposing castle before them. His gaze sharpened as his eyes landed on a figure standing high above them, watching from a balcony.
"She's here too?" the man muttered, his grin fading into something more serious. His jaw tightened, and he clenched his fists. "I really it must really be that bad."
Helen followed his gaze, her own face hardening. There, standing atop the balcony with a commanding presence, was a woman dressed in dark, regal attire, her eyes fixed on them both. The weight of the situation pressed down on them. Whatever was coming, it was far bigger than their petty bickering.
*
*
*
A storm is coming...